Lumberjack World Championship facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lumberjack World Championships |
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Competition venue
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| Date(s) | 29–31 July 2021 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Lumberjack Bowl |
| Location(s) | Hayward, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 46°0′19.6268″N 91°28′36.8929″W / 46.005451889°N 91.476914694°W |
| Inaugurated | 1960 |
| Founder | Tony Wise |
| Most recent | 25–28 July 2019 |
| Next event | 20-22 July 2023 |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
The Lumberjack World Championships is an exciting yearly event held in Hayward, Wisconsin. It's a huge competition where skilled lumberjacks and jills show off their amazing strength and speed. The event started way back in 1960 and takes place at the special Lumberjack Bowl.
More than 100 competitors from countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand come to compete. They battle it out in 21 different events for both men and women. There's over $50,000 in prize money up for grabs! Events include sawing, chopping, logrolling, and climbing. These challenges really test how strong and quick the lumberjacks are. In 2020, no events were held.
About the Championships
The Lumberjack World Championships have been held every year since 1960. It's always in Hayward, Wisconsin. This event brings together the best lumberjack athletes from around the world. They compete in many different challenges.
Women's Events
Single Buck Sawing
In this event, women use a special one-person saw. They cut through a white pine log that's about 16 inches (400 mm) wide. The goal is to saw through the log as fast as possible. Timing starts when the signal "GO" is given. It stops when the log is completely cut in half. Nancy Zalewski set a world record in 2006 with a time of 11.61 seconds.
Underhand Chopping
Competitors use a single-bladed axe to chop a horizontal aspen log. The log is about 11 inches (280 mm) wide and 15 to 28 inches (380 to 710 mm) long. The fastest time wins this event. Erin Lavoie holds the record with a time of 25.38 seconds, set in 2016.
Logrolling Fun
Logrolling, also called birling, is a super fun event! Two people step onto a floating log in the water. They use their feet to spin the log very fast. The goal is to make their opponent fall into the water. This is called 'wetting' them. The most important rule is to always watch your opponent's feet!
The referee starts each match. Competitors get onto the log from a dock. They use poles to help them balance at first. Once they are steady, the referee tells them to drop their poles. Then the match begins! If no one falls, they move to a smaller log. The winner is the first to get three falls out of five. Women start on 14-inch logs. Tina Bosworth set a record in 2003 with 10 wins.
Boom Run Race
The boom run is a race across logs floating in the water. Two competitors race side-by-side. They start on the log-rolling dock. Then they run across a line of floating logs to another dock. They circle a point and run back across the logs to the start. The first person to touch the starting point on the dock wins. If someone starts too early, they get a 10-second penalty.
Men's Events
Underhand Block Chopping
Men use a five-pound axe to chop through a horizontal aspen log. The log is 12 inches (300 mm) wide and 28 inches (710 mm) long. The clock starts on "go" and stops when the log is cut through. Jason Wynyard set a world record in 2006 with a time of 15.94 seconds.
Standing Block Chopping
This event is similar to the underhand chop, but the log stands upright. Competitors use a five-pound axe to chop through a vertical aspen log. It's 12 inches (300 mm) wide and 28 inches (710 mm) long. The fastest time wins. Jason Wynyard holds the world record of 12.33 seconds, set in 2007. This event is sometimes combined with the underhand chop for an "endurance" challenge.
Springboard Chopping
This event combines chopping with climbing. Lumberjacks used this skill to reach softer wood higher up a tree. Competitors climb nine feet using two springboards. They then chop through a 12-inch (300 mm) aspen log at the top of a pole. Dave Bolstad set a world record of 41.15 seconds in 2003.
Single Buck Sawing
A single sawyer uses a large one-man saw to cut through a 20-inch (510 mm) white pine log. The goal is to finish in the shortest time. Dion Lane set a new world record in 2006 with a time of 10.78 seconds.
Hot Saw Race
In the hot saw event, one person uses a powerful, custom-built chainsaw. They make three cuts through a 20-inch (510 mm) white pine log. The cuts go down, up, and then down again. This is a race against the clock. The saws must be off before the start signal. Dave Bolstad from New Zealand holds the world record with an amazing time of 5.55 seconds, set in 2007.
60-Foot Speed Climb
This event is all about climbing fast! Competitors race up a 60-foot (18 m) cedar pole and then climb back down. They use special spiked climbers and ropes. Two climbers race at the same time on different poles. The clock starts on "go" and stops when they touch the ground after reaching the 60-foot mark. Brian Bartow holds the world record of 12.33 seconds.
90-Foot Speed Climb
This is an even taller climb! Contestants scale a 90-foot (27 m) cedar pole and return to the ground. They must touch a bell at the top. Like the 60-foot climb, they use spiked climbers and ropes. Brian Bartow also holds the world record for this event, with a time of 19.87 seconds set in 2006.
Logrolling (Birling)
This is the men's version of logrolling. It's the same exciting challenge as the women's event. Two opponents try to make each other fall off a floating log into the water. They use their feet to spin the log. The winner is the first to get three falls out of five. Men start on 15-inch logs.
Boom Run Race
The men's boom run is just like the women's event. Two competitors race across a chain of floating logs. They run from one dock to another, circle a point, and run back. It's a timed event, and the fastest runner wins.
Team Events
Jack and Jill Sawing
This is a team event where a man and a woman work together. They use a two-person saw to cut through a 20-inch white pine log. They try to get the best time. Jason and Karmyn Wynyard set the world record in 2005 with a time of 6.17 seconds.
Double Buck Sawing
In this event, two men work as a team. They use a large two-man saw to cut through a 20-inch (510 mm) white pine log. They work together to saw through the log as quickly as possible. Jason Wynyard and Dion Lane hold the world record with a time of 4.77 seconds, set in 2005.
Team Relay Race
The team relay is an exciting event that combines many lumberjack skills. Each team has a 60-foot climber, two boom runners (one male, one female), a hot sawyer, a women's single buck sawyer, and a standing block chopper.
First, the climber goes up and down the 60-foot pole. When their feet touch the ground, the male boom runner starts. He runs across the logs. When he touches the next dock, the female boom runner goes. She runs across the logs to another dock. Then the hot sawyer cuts a log. After that, the women's single buck sawyer cuts her log. Finally, the standing block chopper finishes the race. The team with the fastest total time wins! This event truly shows off power, strength, and determination.
Awards
All-Around Lady Jill Champion
This award goes to the woman who earns the most points across many events. To win, a Lady Jill needs to be good at many different challenges. Points are given for the top six places in each event every day. First place gets 6 points, second gets 5, and so on. Logrollers get triple points for their final score. The events that count for this award are the underhand chop, single buck, Jack and Jill, logrolling, and boom run. Nancy Zalewski has won this award five times!
Tony Wise All-Around Champion
This top award is named after Tony Wise, who started the Lumberjack World Championships. It goes to the man who scores the most points in the competition. Like the Lady Jill award, it takes a lot of endurance and skill in many events. Points are given for the top six places in each event. Some events, like springboard chop and logrolling, have special point rules. The Tony Wise All-Around events include underhand chop, standing chop, springboard chop, double buck, single buck, hot saw, Jack & Jill, logrolling, boom run, 60-foot climb, and 90-foot climb. Jason Wynyard won this award 11 years in a row!
Sponsors
Many companies help make this event possible. Some of the sponsors include Stihl, Plum Creek Timber, SBI Pepsi, and local radio stations.
See also
- Stihl Timbersports Series
- Wood chopping
- Woodsman
- World Logging Championship
