Lumberjack Competitions (Timbersports)
Officially STIHL Timbersports (Lumberjack Sports)
COMPETITIVE MULTI-EVENT sport derived from HISTORIC LUMBERJACK camp contests — combines AXE + CHAINSAW + CROSSCUT SAW events for MAX SPEED cutting timber. 6 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS DISCIPLINES: SPRINGBOARD CHOP, STOCK SAW, UNDERHAND CHOP, SINGLE BUCK, STANDING BLOCK CHOP, HOT SAW. Also traditional LOG ROLLING + AXE THROWING + TREE CLIMBING. Roots in Pacific NW USA + Canadian + Scandinavian forestry camps 19th c.; STIHL TIMBERSPORTS World Championships since 1985; ESPN + Eurosport coverage.
Quick facts
Category
Strength Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1–6
Duration
~3 min
Where played
outdoor
Field / court
Purpose-built platform / stadium demo area with pre-cut logs
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Emerged from Pacific Northwest USA + Canadian + Nordic + Australian logging camps 19th c. — off-duty axe + saw races among lumberjacks; formal competitions from 1870s+; STIHL Timbersports founded 1985 (US) — professional international series; 6 standardized disciplines; ESPN coverage since 1997; ITTA (International Timber Sports Association) since 2003.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Cut through TIMBER in FASTEST TIME per discipline; all-around ranking sums 6 events.
Rules
Basic rules
SPRINGBOARD CHOP: chopper cuts POCKETS in vertical tree, inserts SPRINGBOARDS at 2 heights, climbs, then chops top log — signature spectacle event
Signature Springboard Chop event.
STOCK SAW: chainsaw makes 2 CUTS (down then up) through 46cm log — ~10-15 sec elite
Signature Stock Saw event.
UNDERHAND CHOP: log SECURED HORIZONTALLY, chopper STANDS ON LOG + chops between feet — ~15-25 sec elite
Signature Underhand Chop event.
SINGLE BUCK: 1-person CROSSCUT SAW cuts through 46cm log — ~10-15 sec elite (requires 'wedge' + oil)
Signature Single Buck event.
STANDING BLOCK CHOP: log stands VERTICAL, chopper cuts through from both sides — ~15-20 sec elite
Signature Standing Block Chop.
HOT SAW: 100+ HP CUSTOM chainsaw makes 3 CUTS (down-up-down) through 46cm log — ~5-8 sec elite (LOUDEST + FASTEST event)
Signature Hot Saw event.
TEAM RELAY: 4 athletes each do 1 discipline in sequence
Signature Team Relay format.
DISQUALIFICATION for: cutting past LINE-OF-INTENT, failing to complete cut, safety violation
Standard DQ rules.
Scoring
Each discipline: fastest time in class; all-around = ranking sum across 6 disciplines; team relay = combined time.
Win condition · Fastest single-event time or lowest all-around rank.
Playing area
Called
Purpose-built platform / stadium demo area with pre-cut logs
Dimensions
12-20 m demo area with 46 cm diameter × 60 cm long timber blocks
Equipment
COMPETITION AXE: SPECIALIZED RACING AXE, 1.5-2.5 kg, ULTRA-SHARP polished edge; often HAND-MADE by specialist smiths
Signature racing axe.
STOCK CHAINSAW (STIHL MS 500i for Stock Saw event) — standard production model
Signature stock chainsaw.
HOT SAW: CUSTOM-BUILT chainsaw with V8-truck engine, 50-100+ HP
Signature hot saw (custom-built).
CROSSCUT SAW (SINGLE BUCK): ~2 m long, ~5 kg, specialized racing tooth pattern
Signature crosscut saw.
SPRINGBOARD: PLATFORM inserted into TREE at ~2 m — competitor stands on it to chop overhead
Signature springboard platform.
SAFETY GEAR: HELMET + CHAINSAW-CHAP PANTS + STEEL-TOE BOOTS
Standard safety gear.
TIMBER: 46 cm diameter WHITE PINE or POPLAR blocks (standardized)
Signature standardized timber.
Terminology
- Timbersports
- STIHL-branded professional competitive umbrella term.
- Springboard
- Platform inserted into tree for elevated chopping.
- Underhand chop
- Chopping between feet while standing on log.
- Single Buck
- One-person crosscut saw event.
- Hot Saw
- Custom-built V8-powered chainsaw for fastest cuts.
- Wedge / Oil
- Applied to crosscut saw for smooth cuts.
- Line of intent
- Pre-marked cut line — must not cut past.
Major competitions
STIHL Timbersports World Championship
annual · Global (rotating hosts — Europe, USA, Canada, Australia) · since 1985
STIHL Timbersports Team World Championship (relay)
annual · Global · since 2008
STIHL Timbersports Champions Trophy
annual · Global · since 2007
Regional national championships (USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Scandinavia)
annual · National circuits · since 1985
Where it is played
Governing bodies
STIHL Timbersports International
Founded 1985 · USA (STIHL Inc.)
International Timber Sports Association (ITTA)
Founded 2003 · USA + Global
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Jason Wynyard (NZ, most successful ever — 13× World Champion)
- Matt Cogar (US, multi-World Champion)
- David Bolstad (NZ, multi-World Champion)
- Marcel Dupuis (CA)
- Ferry Svan (SE, 2023 World Champion)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Timbersports Series— Wikipedia
- STIHL Timbersports official— STIHL Timbersports