Lumberjack World Championship facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lumberjack World Championships |
|
|---|---|
Competition venue
|
|
| Date(s) | July 17, 18, 19, 2025 |
| 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 | 1, 2, and 3 August 2024 |
| Next event | 17, 18, and 19 July 2025 |
| Participants | 100+ |
| Attendance | 12,000+ |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
| Website | lumberjackworldchampionships.com |
The Lumberjack World Championships is an exciting yearly event held in Hayward, Wisconsin. This three-day competition started in 1960. It takes place at the Lumberjack Bowl, with about 12,000 people watching.
More than 100 athletes from many countries compete for over $75,000 in prize money. Competitors come from places like Canada, Ireland, Australia, and the United States. They show off their strength and skill in events like sawing, chopping, logrolling, and climbing.
In 2024, a big thunderstorm briefly stopped the final competitions. This was the first time in 64 years! But the exciting finals continued the next morning. Most of the athletes and fans returned to see the end.
The 65th annual Lumberjack World Championships happened on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, July 17th, 18th, and 19th, 2025. The final events took place on Saturday afternoon, July 19th.
Contents
What are the Lumberjack World Championships?
The Lumberjack World Championships is a big competition where athletes show off traditional lumberjack skills. These skills include chopping wood, sawing logs, and even running on floating logs. It's a test of strength, speed, and balance.
Women's Events: Skills and Records
Women's Single Buck Sawing
In this event, competitors use a special saw to cut through a 16-inch (406 mm) white pine log. The goal is to cut through the log as fast as possible. A small starting cut is allowed to help guide the saw.
The current world record is 11.43 seconds. Nancy Zalewski set this amazing record in 2017.
Women's Underhand Chop
Athletes use a single-bladed axe to chop through a horizontal aspen log. The log is about 11 inches (279 mm) thick and 15 to 28 inches (381 to 711 mm) long. They try to chop through it in the fastest time.
Stephanie Naud set the current underhand chop record in 2022. Before that, Amanda Beams held the record in 2017 with 26.23 seconds. Nancy Zalewski also held a record in 2009 with 29.24 seconds.
Women's Logrolling Challenge
Logrolling is a fun and tricky event. Two competitors step onto a floating log in the water. They use their feet to spin the log quickly. They also try to stop it suddenly to make their opponent lose balance and fall into the water. This is called 'wetting' your opponent.
The person who makes their opponent fall wins that round. The main rule is to always watch your opponent's feet! Women start on 14-inch (356 mm) logs. The winner is the first to get three falls out of five rounds.
Tina Bosworth set a world record in 2003 with 10 wins. Judy Scheer Hoeschler won the title seven times. Livi Papadopoulos has won six times in a row.
Women's Boom Run Race
Two competitors race head-to-head on floating logs called booms. They start on a dock and run across a chain of logs to another dock. Then, they circle a point and run back across the logs to the starting dock.
This event is timed very closely. If someone starts before the "go" signal, they get a 10-second penalty. Abby Hoeschler set a record of 13.98 seconds in 2011.
Jill and Jill Sawing Team
This is a team event where two women work together. They use a saw to cut through a 20-inch (508 mm) white pine log. They are allowed a small starting cut to help them begin.
The timing starts when the "go" signal is given and stops when the log is completely cut through. The world record for Jill and Jill was set in 2017. Stephanie Naud and Janet Walker finished in an amazing 9.81 seconds.
Men's Events: Strength and Speed
Men's Underhand Block Chop
Using a five-pound (2.3 kg) axe, competitors chop through a horizontal aspen log. The log is 12 inches (305 mm) thick and 28 inches (711 mm) long. The goal is to cut through it as fast as possible.
Jason Wynyard set a new world record in 2006 with a time of 15.94 seconds.
Men's Standing Block Chop
In this event, athletes chop through a vertical standing aspen log. It's also 12 inches (305 mm) thick and 28 inches (711 mm) long. This event is often combined with the underhand chop as an "endurance" event.
The world record for the standing block chop is 12.33 seconds. Jason Wynyard from New Zealand set this record in 2007.
Springboard Chop Challenge
This event combines chopping and climbing skills. Lumberjacks climb nine feet (2.7 m) up a pole using two springboards. Once at the top, they chop through a 12-inch (305 mm) aspen log.
Dave Bolstad set a new world record of 41.15 seconds in 2003.
Men's Single Buck Sawing
A single sawyer (one person using a saw) cuts through a 20-inch (508 mm) white pine log. They use a large, one-man saw to get the best time.
Dion Lane set a new world record in 2006 with a time of 10.78 seconds.
Hot Saw Race
The hot saw event uses a powerful, single-cylinder chainsaw. The sawyer makes three quick cuts—down, up, and down—through a 20-inch (508 mm) white pine log. This is a race against the clock.
Saws can be warmed up but must be off before the start. Dave Bolstad from New Zealand holds the world record with a time of 5.55 seconds, set in 2007.
60-Foot Speed Climb
Competitors race to climb a 60-foot (18 m) cedar pole and then climb back down. They use special spiked climbers and ropes. The race starts when the "go" signal is given and ends when they touch the ground after reaching the 60-foot mark.
Brian Bartow holds the world record of 12.28 seconds, set in 2012.
90-Foot Speed Climb
This is a similar event but on a taller, 90-foot (27 m) cedar pole. Climbers must touch bells at the top before coming back down.
Stirling Hart of Canada holds the world record with a time of 18.30 seconds, set in 2013.
Men's Logrolling (Birling)
Like the women's event, two opponents step onto a floating log. They use special shoes to spin the log and try to make their opponent fall into the water. The first to get three falls wins. Men start on 15-inch (381 mm) logs.
Both Jubiel Wickheim (1969) and JR Salzman (2015) have won this title 10 times each.
Men's Boom Run Race
This event is just like the women's boom run. Two competitors race across a chain of floating logs. They run from one dock to another, circle a point, and run back.
Will Hoeschler set a record of 12.26 seconds in 2011.
Team Events: Working Together
Jack and Jill Sawing Team
This is a sawing contest where a man and a woman, or two women, team up. They use a saw to cut through a 20-inch (508 mm) white pine log as fast as they can.
The world record for the Jack and Jill event was set in 2010. Dave Jewett and Lindsay Daun finished in a super-fast 6.00 seconds.
Double Buck Sawing Team
In this event, two men work together using a large two-man saw. They cut through a 20-inch (508 mm) white pine log. They are allowed a small starting cut.
Jason Wynyard and Dion Lane hold the world record with an incredible 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, a male and female boom runner, a hot sawyer, a women's single buck sawyer, and a standing block chopper.
The race starts with the climber. Once they touch the ground, the male boom runner races across the logs. Then the female boom runner takes her turn. Next, the hot sawyer cuts a log, followed by the women's single buck sawyer. Finally, the standing block chopper finishes the race. The team with the fastest time wins! This event truly shows off power, strength, and determination.
Awards: Recognizing Champions
All-Around Lady Jill Champion
This award goes to the female lumberjack who earns the most points across all events. To win, athletes need to be strong in many different competitions. 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 placement because they only earn points in the finals.
In 2024, the Women's All-Around Lady Jill award went to Erin LaVoie from Washington State. Martha King and Kate Wittcowski also had strong performances, placing second and third.
Tony Wise All-Around Champion
This award is named after Tony Wise, who started the Lumberjack World Championships. It goes to the male lumberjack who scores the most points. Like the Lady Jill award, it's about being good at many different events. Points are given for the top six places in most events.
For the springboard chop, the fastest competitors get double points. For logrolling, the top finishers get triple points.
In 2024, Matt Cogar from West Virginia was named the Tony Wise Men's All-Around Lumberjack. Jason Lentz and Matt Slingerland also placed high.
See also
- Stihl Timbersports Series
- Wood chopping
- Woodsman
- World Logging Championship
External links
- Official Website: http://lumberjackworldchampionships.com
