Woodchopping
Officially Competitive Woodchopping
COMPETITIVE FOREST/AXE SPORT with rich Australian, New Zealand, US + Canadian lumberjack heritage. Multiple disciplines: STANDING BLOCK CHOP, UNDERHAND CHOP, SPRINGBOARD CHOP, TREE FELLING, SAWING (single/double/hot saw). Athletes chop through logs as fast as possible; timed. STIHL TIMBERSPORTS SERIES is the global professional circuit (US, GER, AUS, CA). Featured at Royal Easter Show (Sydney), Sydney Royal Easter Show, Highland Games. Contemporary sport dating to 19th c logging traditions.
Quick facts
Category
Traditional & Cultural Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Duration
~5 min
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇦🇺 Australia
Estimated origin
1870s Tasmania Australia; organized competitions from 1890s; STIHL Timbersports Series 1985
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Complete assigned chop/saw discipline in shortest time.
Rules
Basic rules
Standing Block Chop: chop through vertical log with axe
Standard discipline.
Underhand Chop: chop through horizontal log standing on it
Athlete stands on log while chopping.
Springboard: cut horizontal notch, insert board, stand + chop from height
Historic tree-felling technique.
Single Buck: hand-saw through log with one-person saw
Solo saw discipline.
Double Buck: 2 sawyers cut through with 2-person saw
Team saw event.
Hot Saw: modified chainsaw makes 3 cuts through log
Modern powered event.
Scoring
Timed events; fastest time wins.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Standing Block Chop world record | ~20-30 seconds |
| Underhand Chop world record | ~15-25 seconds |
| Hot Saw world record | ~5-6 seconds |
| Single Buck | ~10-15 seconds |
Win condition · Fastest time across event.
Equipment
Racing axe (specialized 3-6lb high-carbon axe)
Handmade; sharp beyond utility axe
Racing bow saw (single, ~5kg)
For single-buck event
Double-buck crosscut saw (~2.5m, requires 2 people)
For double buck event
Hot saw (modified 2-stroke chainsaw)
For hot saw event
Blocks + logs (poplar, birch, aspen)
Uniform diameter targets
Springboards (thin planks)
For springboard chop discipline
Terminology
- Kerf
- The cut made by axe or saw.
- Springboard
- Thin plank inserted into log; athlete stands on it to chop higher.
- Timbersports
- The modern professional term for lumberjack sports.
- Hot Saw
- Modified 2-stroke chainsaw used in the fastest discipline.
- Underhand Chop
- Athlete stands ON the horizontal log while chopping through it under their feet.
Major competitions
STIHL Timbersports World Championship
annual · Global (rotating hosts) · since 2001
Sydney Royal Easter Show Woodchop
annual · Sydney, Australia · since 1899
Highland Games woodchop events
annual · Scotland + diaspora · since 1832
Where it is played
Governing bodies
STIHL Timbersports Series (professional circuit)
Founded 1985 · USA + Germany
Australian Axemen's Association
Founded 1891 · Australia
New Zealand Axemen's Association
Founded 1920 · New Zealand
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Jason Wynyard (New Zealand — legendary 12x world champion Timbersports)
- David Bolstad (New Zealand)
- Matt Cogar (USA)
- Danny Martin (Australia)
Frequently asked
Woodchopping vs Timbersports?+
TIMBERSPORTS is the modern professional brand (STIHL Timbersports Series) covering the international competitive circuit with standardized events + rules. WOODCHOPPING is the broader traditional heritage sport, especially in Australia + NZ (Royal Easter Show has held annual woodchop since 1899). Same core disciplines; Timbersports adds SAWING events (hot saw, stock saw) that traditional axe-only competitions omitted.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Woodchopping— Wikipedia