The Stihl Timbersports Series is a series of woodsman or wood chopping competitions where the athletes compete in the use of axes and saws in manners typical for lumberjacks. It was founded in 1985, and currently includes six different disciplines, with both professional and collegiate divisions. The terms 'timbersports' and 'timber sports' are trademarked by Stihl Inc.
History
Stihl Timbersports began in 1985, and the earliest broadcasts were made from a field in Wisconsin, United States, using a single camera on a forklift. At this time, there was no overall Series championship. Instead, awards were given for performances in individual events on venues around the country. Stihl, however, had a vision of a series that would bring the best athletes together and let them compete in several events and thus determine who was the best overall lumberjack.
With the help of Granite State Lumberjack Shows, the Series evolved and has become a very prestigious competition. Athletes from all around the world take part in the Series with European athletes taking part in the Series since 2005.
The Series has also spawned a college series, the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Series, involving over 60 collegiate woodsman teams in the US and Canada. The winner of this series automatically receives a seed for next year's professional series.
The Canadian Series created their first Women's Professional Division in 2013. 2017 marks the creation of their first Women's Professional Division.
The Series celebrated its 30th anniversary in the spring of 2015.
About The Series involves both men and women competitors. There are currently three divisions: Men's Rookie Division, Men's Professional Division and Women's Professional Division. The Pro Women's Division consists of either three or four disciplines: Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Stock Saw, and optionally Standing Block Chop. The four disciplines completed by the Men's Rookie Division are Underhand Chop, Standing Block Chop, Single Buck and Stock Saw. The six disciplines completed by the Men's Professional Division are Underhand Chop, Standing Block Chop, Spring Board, Single Buck, Hot Saw and Stock Saw.
In order to be chosen as a Stihl Timbersports Athlete, one must fill out an application form and an athlete resume. The resume consists of the best times with each discipline. After the application process they choose the top eight athletes from the East Coast for each division and the top eight from the West Coast. The Men's Professional Division automatically move on to the National Championship. The Men's Rookie and the Women's Professional Division have Qualifier Competitions on each coast, where the result being the top four competitors from each division move onto the National Championship. The Men's and Women's Professional Division does not have a maximum age limit. The Men's Rookie Division has a maximum age limit of 25. Currently there is not an established World Championship for the top female competitor. The men's divisions both compete for the top spot to move onto the World Men's Championship and the World Rookie Championship which is held in the European Union every fall. If one wins the World Rookie Division then one automatically must move up to compete in the Men's Professional Division. The Men's Professional Division also compete for spots on Team Canada to partake in the World Relay Champion's Trophy, also held in Europe every fall.
Events The Series currently involves six disciplines.Stihl TimbersportsLumberjack Planet Springboard - The competitor uses two spring boards to ascend to the top of a nine-foot pole and chop a firmly attached 12" diameter block from the top of the pole. The block must be chopped from both sides. STIHL Stock Saw - Competitors begin with both hands on the log. When the signal is given, the sawyers, using identical STIHL professional MS661 C-M chain saws with a 20-inch bar and 33RSC3 chain, make two cuts through identical logs. No more than 4" of wood, which is marked by a black line, can be cut.
Underhand Chop - The competitor stands, feet apart, on a 12"-14" log. At the signal, he or she begins chopping through the log. Before chopping all the way through he or she must turn and complete the cut from the other side. Time ends when the log is severed completely. Single Buck - Competitors make one cut through 18"-20" of white pine using a single person cross cut saw. The competitor may have a helper to wedge the log and keep the saw lubricated. Time ends when the block is clearly severed.
Standing Block Chop - Competitors race to chop through 12"-14" of white pine. The competitor must chop from both sides of the log and the time ends when the block is severed. Hot Saw - In this event the competitor uses a customized chain saw with a modified engine. At the signal, the competitor starts the saw and makes three cuts. The competitor must cut no more than 6" from the log which is marked with a black line.
Records World records Springboard - 35.67 seconds, set by Stirling Hart in 2016, with a wood diameter of 11" Stock Saw - 9.445 seconds, set by Martin Komarek in 2010, with a wood diameter of 16" Standing Block Chop - 12.11 seconds, set by Jason Wynyard in 2003, with a wood diameter of 12" Underhand Chop - 12.28 seconds, set by David K. Bolstad in 1999, with a wood diameter of 13" Single Buck - 9.395 seconds, set by Jason Wynyard in 2007, with a wood diameter of 19" Hot Saw - 4.83 seconds, set by Adam Lethco 2022, with a wood diameter of 19" Relay - 45.10 seconds, set by Australia in 2018 - teammates Brad De Losa, Brayden Meyer, Glen Gillam and Jamie Head
American records
Springboard - 39.96 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2004, with a wood diameter of 11"Stihl Timbersports Records Stock Saw - 9.67 seconds, set by Logan Scarborough in 2015, with a wood diameter of 16" Standing Block Chop - 13.15 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2003, with a wood diameter of 12" Underhand Chop - 13.78 seconds, set by Matt Cogar in 2017, with a wood diameter of 13" Single Buck - 10.34 seconds, set by Dave Jewett in 2015, with a wood diameter of 19" Hot Saw - 5.085 seconds, set by Matt Bush in 2003, with a wood diameter of 19" Relay - 51.45 seconds, set by American teammates Jewett, Cogar, Lentz and Willard in 2015
Australian records Springboard - 45.17 seconds, set by Brayden Meyer in 2017, with a wood diameter of 11"Stihl Timbersports Records Stock Saw - 11.45 seconds, set by Brad De Losa in 2016, with a wood diameter of 16" Standing Block Chop - 14.10 seconds, set by Mitch Argent in 2017, with a wood diameter of 12" Underhand Chop - 16.41 seconds, set by Glen Gilliam in 2019, with a wood diameter of 13" Single Buck - 14.71 seconds, set by Brad De Losa in 2015, with a wood diameter of 19" Hot Saw - 6.03 seconds, set by Brad De Losa in 2016, with a wood diameter of 19"
Canadian records Springboard - 35.67 seconds, set by Stirling Hart in 2016, with a wood diameter of 11" Stock Saw - 11:87 seconds, set by Ben Cumberland in 2016, with a wood diameter of 16" Standing Block Chop - 15:15 seconds, set by Nathan Cumberland in 2016, with a wood diameter of 12" Underhand Chop - 20:60 seconds, set by Marcel Dupuis in 2016, with a wood diameter of 13" Single Buck - 11:23 seconds, set by Ben Cumberland in 2016, with a wood diameter of 20" Hot Saw - 9:04 seconds, set by Stirling Hart in 2016, with a wood diameter of 20"
Television coverage The Series is currently seen by over 20 million viewers annually on a variety of networks across 62 countries, including ABC, ESPN, Eurosport, Outdoor Channel, Stadium and more. It is recognized as the longest running show on ESPN other than SportsCenter.Stihl Timbersports Tommy Sanders has served as on-air host of the American Series since 1985, whilst Dan Anstey has hosted the Australian edition since 2017.
Timbersports Champions Each year across the US and world, Timbersports athletes battle to be named series champion. The Timbersports Series champions since the competition's inception are:
Series Champions 1985 - Mike Sullivan 1986 - Mel Lentz 1987 - Rolin Eslinger 1988 - Mel Lentz 1989 - Rolin Eslinger 1990 - Mel Lentz 1991 - Mel Lentz 1992 - Mel Lentz 1993 - Rolin Eslinger 1994 - Matt Bush 1995 - Mel Lentz 1996 - Harry Burnsworth 1997 - Jason Wynyard 1998 - Jason Wynyard 1999 - Jason Wynyard 2000 - Jason Wynyard 2001 - David Bolstad 2002 - Jason Wynyard 2003 - David Bolstad 2004 - David Bolstad 2005 - Matt Bush 2006 - Jason Wynyard 2007 - David Bolstad 2008 - David Bolstad 2009 - Jason Wynyard 2010 - Jason Wynyard 2011 - Jason Wynyard 2012 - Jason Wynyard 2013 - Brad De Losa 2014 - Jason Wynyard 2015 - Jason Wynyard 2016 - Jason Wynyard 2017 - Jason Wynyard 2018 - Laurence O'Toole 2019 - Brayden Meyer 2021 - Jason Lentz 2022 - Brad De Losa 2023 - Jamie Head 2024 - Nate Hodges 2025 - Jack Jordan
World Relay Champions
2010 - New Zealand 2011 - Australia 2012 - New Zealand 2013 - New Zealand 2014 - Australia 2015 - Australia 2016 - Australia 2017 - New Zealand 2018 - Australia 2019 - Australia 2022 - Australia 2023 - Australia 2024 - Australia 2025 - Australia
World Rookie Champions 2014 - Nathan Cumberland 2015 - Ben Cumberland 2016 - Ben Cumberland 2017 - Ferry Svan 2018 - Daniel Gurr 2019 - Chris Lord 2022 - Jack Argent 2023 - Szymon Groenwald 2024 - Matt Coffey
United States Champion
2008 - Arden Cogar Jr. 2009 - Arden Cogar Jr. 2010 - Arden Cogar Jr. 2011 - Melvin Lentz 2012 - Arden Cogar Jr. 2013 - Matt Cogar 2014 - Matt Cogar 2015 - Matt Cogar 2016 - Matt Cogar 2017 - Matt Cogar 2018 - Matt Cogar 2019 - Cassidy Scheer 2021 - Jason Lentz 2022 - Matt Cogar 2024 - Nate Hodges 2025 - Nate Hodges
British Champion 2012 - Spike Milton 2014 - Robert Chatley 2015 - Elgan Pugh 2016 - Elgan Pugh 2017 - Elgan Pugh 2018 - Elgan Pugh 2019 - Elgan Pugh 2021 - Elgan Pugh 2022 - Glen Penlington
European Champion 2002 - Thomas Gerber 2003 - Martin Komarek 2004 - Martin Komarek 2005 - Martin Komarek 2006 - Martin Komarek 2007 - Dirk Braun 2008 - Dirk Braun
European Champion crew 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 -
Canadian Champion 2005 - J.P. Mercier 2007 - J.P. Mercier 2014 - Stirling Hart 2015 - Marcel Dupuis 2016 - Stirling Hart 2017 - Mitch Hewitt 2018 - Nathan Cumberland 2021 - Marcel Dupuis 2022 - Marcel Dupuis
Canadian Men's Rookie Champion 2014 - Nathan Cumberland 2015 - Ben Cumberland 2016 - George Williams 2017 - Thomas Henderson 2018 - Connor Morse 2022 - Thian Carman
Canadian's Women's Champion 2016 - Janet Walker 2016 - Caitlin Carroll 2017 - Kelly Bowness 2018 - Anita Jezowski 2021 - Janet Walker 2022 - Ally Briscoe
Hall of Fame Each year, starting in 2015, the Stihl Timbersports Series celebrates athletes who have made an impact in the sport by inducting them into the Timbersports Hall of Fame. Here are the inductees: Carson Bosworth - 2016 Harry Burnsworth - 2016 Spike Milton - 2016 David Bolstad - 2015 Matt Bush - 2015 Rolin Eslinger - 2015
References
External links
Hall of Fame