- STIHL Timbersports Series
The STIHL Timbersports Series is a series of competitions where the athletes compete in the use of axes and saws in manners typical for lumberjacks. It was founded in 1985, and currently include six different disciplines.
History
STIHL Timbersports was incepted in 1985, and the earliest broadcasts were made from a field in Wisconsin, USA, 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, and European athletes have been taking part in the Series since 2005.
The Series has also spawned a
college series, the STIHL Timbersports Collegiate Series, involving 50 colleges in the US and Canada. The winner of this series automatically receives a seed for next year's professional series.The Series is currently featured on
ESPN and attracts millions of viewers worldwide. [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/about/history.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]Tommy Sanders has served as on-air host of The Series since1992 .Events
The Series currently involved six disciplines [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/about/thisyear.html Stihl Timbersports ] ] .
*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 066M chain saws, 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 begins chopping through the log. Before chopping all the way through he 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 man 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.World Records for white pine
*Springboard - 32.77 seconds, set by David K. Bolstad in 2000, with a wood diameter of 11". [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/competitors/worldrecords.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]
*Stock Saw - 10.64 seconds, set by Harry Burnsworth in 2003, with a wood diameter of 16". [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/competitors/worldrecords.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]
*Standing Block Chop - 12.11 seconds, set by Jason Wynyard in 2003, with a wood diameter of 12". [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/competitors/worldrecords.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]
*Underhand Chop - 12.28 seconds, set by David K. Bolstad in 1999, with a wood diameter of 13". [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/competitors/worldrecords.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]
*Single Buck - 9.630 seconds, set by Jason Wynyard in 2005, with a wood diameter of 19". [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/competitors/worldrecords.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]
*Hot Saw - 5.085 second, set by Matt Bush in 2003, with a wood diameter of 19". [ [http://www.stihltimbersports.com/competitors/worldrecords.html Stihl Timbersports ] ]eries Champions
1985 - flagicon|USA Mike Sullivan1986 - flagicon|USA Mel Lentz1987 - flagicon|USA Rolin Eslinger1988 - flagicon|USA Mel Lentz1989 - flagicon|USA Rolin Eslinger1990 - flagicon|USA Mel Lentz1991 - flagicon|USA Mel Lentz1992 - flagicon|USA Mel Lentz1993 - flagicon|USA Rolin Eslinger1994 - flagicon|USA Matt Bush1995 - flagicon|USA Mel Lentz1996 - flagicon|USA Harry Burnsworth1997 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard1998 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard1999 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard2000 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard2001 - flagicon|NZL David Bolstad2002 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard2003 - flagicon|NZL David Bolstad2004 - flagicon|NZL David Bolstad2005 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard2006 - flagicon|NZL Jason Wynyard2007 - flagicon|NZL David Bolstad2008 - flagicon|NZL David Bolstad
See also
*
Stihl
* [http://www.stihltimbersports.com STIHL TIMBERSPORTS]References
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