Endurance
 |
Some lumberjacks are excellent choppers. Some are better sawyers. But only one can demonstrate their all-around skills and take home the gold medal as the Endurance champion.
In this event, unique to the ESPN Great Outdoor Games, the top lumberjacks in the world will compete in three different events consecutively. They'll start with the underhand chop and then move to the standing block for another quick chop. If that isn't draining enough, they will then move on to the single buck phase to saw through big wood and post their time.
The timed competition begins as 16 male and eight female competitors participate in the three grueling events. The Underhand Chop and the Single Buck are performed by both men and women. Women begin with the Stock Saw competition and the Men's competition includes the Standing Block Chop.
The reigning Women's Endurance gold medalist, Penny Halvorson, of Alma Center, Wis., will be sidelined this summer due to a torn rotator cuff. That leaves the door open for Sheree Taylor of Te Aroha, New Zealand to reprise her gold performance from the 2000 games when she arrives stateside this summer.
Matt Bush, of Croghan, N.Y., did the impossible at the 2002 Great Outdoor Games. He beat the unbeatable, as he tripped and slipped his way to the gold medal in the Men's Endurance. Bush, who has won bronze and silver medals in the past two years, captured his first gold medal in an event New Zealand has owned. Bush bested Dion Lane of New Zealand in the final. Until that point, it looked as if Lane was unbeatable. The huge lumberjack eliminated his brother-in-law, Jason Wynyard with an incredible round of 50.92 seconds.
Wynyard, considered the top lumberjack in the world, won the gold medal in 2000 and 2001. Look for the big New Zealander to be back with a vengeance this summer in Reno, Nev.
Qualifying Criteria
Athletes have been selected for competition in the Great Outdoor Games based on their rankings in the respective disciplines. The top three winners from each of last year's timber events will receive automatic invitations, with the exception of the Team Relay and the Mixed Doubles Boom Run.
Timber athletes are ranked by the Lumberjack Sports World Ranking Association. Rankings are determined by the average of points assigned by regional committee representatives.
Endurance terms
Buck
To cut a fallen tree into smaller sections.
Cookie
The section of wood that is severed during crosscut or power sawing events.
Cut-out
To cut over the line marked on wood by the judge that indicates the width of wood to be sawed within.
Drivers
Power hits in any chopping event used to severe the wood.
Slab
A portion of the log which has been dislodged as a result of a split off to a foothold or running up of the first chip in the standing event. May result in disqualification. Note - competitors prepare their competition blocks by using "slab nail" around the edges to prevent this.
Scarf
In chopping events, the portion of wood that has been removed from the block.
Wedger
Assistant used in the cross-cut sawing events who wedges the wood open & lubricates the saw.
