TIMBERSPORTS® Knowledge
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® is the ultimate event for extreme sports enthusiasts worldwide. It's not just a competition; it's the pinnacle of sports lumberjacking. Here, the world's finest athletes come together, drawing the largest crowds, and enjoying the greatest of media attention.
Back in 1985, STIHL joined forces with ESPN to introduce the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series to the USA. The first-ever broadcast of the competitions in Wisconsin marked a turning point. The skill-level of the Athletes increase enormously, and we witnessed the emergence of legends like Arden Cogar Jr.
The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series quickly solidified its position as the premier competition series in the lumberjack world. Over the years, it continued to write its own history, producing genuine sports lumberjack icons like Matt Bush, David Bolstad, and Jason Wynyard.
The competitions are categorized into two levels: Rookie and Pro Athletes- since a few years STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® also established a female competition.
Sport logging has a rich 150-year history, earning the title of "The Original Extreme Sport." This ancient practice of woodcutting has deep roots and has been practiced for thousands of years across various countries and cultures. Pinpointing its exact origins is a challenge, as the sport's evolution began in the mid-19th century when forest laborers and lumberjacks began friendly competitions using axes and hand saws during their leisure time.
One fascinating story traces its beginnings to Ulverstone, Tasmania, around 1870, where two lumberjacks bet 25 pounds to determine who could fell trees faster. This narrative links the sport's beginnings to a time when forest work relied on manual tools, without motorised saws.
Initially rooted in Australia and New Zealand, the sport later spread to Canada and the USA, evolving from humble, improvised beginnings into a diverse collection of athletic disciplines, many simulating trees felling and cutting.
While sport woodcutting may appear male-dominated, women have been integral to development, contributing their skills and passion to the sport's rich history.