The Worldwide History of Timber Sports and Competitive Woodchopping
Do you want to know all about the world history of competitive woodchopping and timber sports? Look no further. This guide walks you through the entire history.
What if you could be a world-class athlete with nothing more than an axe and some strong arms?
Most people imagine chopping wood as a way of feeding a fire and staying warm in the winter. However, simple chopping has led to things like competitive timber sports.
So, what goes into a woodchopping competition, and where did these amazing sports come from? Please keep reading to discover our brief guide to the worldwide history of timber sports and competitive woodchopping.
Ancient History
In a way, timber sports are a bit like the Olympics. That’s because these sports are relatively modern, but they have their roots in ancient history.
For example, the simple act of chopping wood has been around since axes and other cutting implements were first invented. To survive during cold nights, countless men and women had to become very proficient at cutting wood.
Before it could become a competition, though, it had to become a game. When did this happen? Depending on who you talk to, it all started back in the 16th century when a fellow (whose name is lost to history) decided he needed to impress the woman he wanted to marry. So what did he do? Simple: he completed a marathon and then chopped 10 logs to prove his strength and virility to her.
At this point, professional competitions were still many years away. But this man’s legendary proposal proved that chopping could serve as a way to prove someone’s worth. In short, the world knew woodchopping could be about more than feeding fires.
When Did Timber Sports Begin?
Of course, ancient history is one thing. But when did chopping wood go from necessity and hobby and into the realm of professional sports? This transition all happened in the late 19th century.
For about two decades between 1870 and 1890, men around the world organized different woodchopping competitions. They grew in popularity as spectator sports that people could wager on.
Things got a bit more official in 1890. That was when H.R. Nicholas established the world’s very first axmen’s association in Tasmania, where the very first woodchopping rules were established.
All of this fun didn’t stay contained to Tasmania, though. And in the next 100 years, woodchopping and other timber sports held major competitions around the world.
What Makes a Woodchopping Competition Official?
If you’ve only chopped wood to keep warm, you probably have a simple question right now. What turns woodchopping into a competition? In other words, what makes this simple event into something official?
We already mentioned the most crucial part: official rules. Different axemen’s associations and other groups were able to establish official rules for their particular areas, such as the American Lumberjack Association. And they enforced these rules at the competitions they sponsored.
So, H.R. Nicholas and his association helped kick off the first “official” competition during the 1891 Bell’s Parade. Held in Latrobe, Tasmania, this event helped transformed timber sports into a popular and growing phenomenon.
To this day, you may encounter variations in rules from group to group and competition to competition. But the very existence of these competitions helped to codify the official rules and to separate the woodchopping pros from the woodchopping amateurs.
What Is the Woodchopping Home of the World?
We’ve touched on the fact that competitive woodchopping is widespread all around the world. Nonetheless, it’s more popular in some places than others. That leaves us with the question: where is the woodchopping home of the world?
Arguably, the answer to that question is “Australia.” In this country, most agricultural shows feature a woodchopping competition. And these events can be pretty gruelling, lasting up to 10 days of fierce competition.
Fortunately, the competitors are even fiercer. These Australian events (one of the biggest being the Royal Melbourne Show) each draw over a hundred competitors who don’t mind the physical grind of these timber sports.
And at the end of the day, there can be only one winner. And if you can triumph at an Australian woodchopping competition, you will be among the best woodchoppers in the world!
Different Timber Disciplines
So, what goes into an official timber sports competition? As we noted, different organizations and different competitions will feature different rules. At the Stihl Timbersports, events comprise of six different “timber disciplines.”
At these events, there is a mixture of equipment. Some events feature traditional axes while other events feature high-powered chainsaws.
What are the disciplines they focus on? These include single buck, hot saw, springboard chop, stock saw, standing block chop, and underhand chop.
As with other major competitions, no one person can excel in every category. And the diversity of disciplines means that axemen of different specialties each have their own chance to shine.
The Right Equipment
At first, you might think the necessary equipment for a woodchopping competition is pretty straightforward. All you need is an axe, right? The answer to this question is both “yes” and “no.”
While some competitions utilize other equipment (including the chainsaws mentioned above), most competitions do rely on a good, old-fashioned axe. But to do well in a competition, you need to use more than the old axe in your garage.
Competition axes usually feature special design considerations to assist with speed and efficiency. For example, a well crafted competitive axe will help provide soft, fresh cuts during a competition, and this helps avoid knotted wood as you cut that would otherwise slow you down.
And some axes are designed more for one kind of wood than another. Before you enter a competition, you should check out the type of wood involved, as this may ultimately make the difference between the axe grind and overall axe size you choose.
Finally, it would help if you chose the right axe handle. Whether to use a broader or a narrower handle ultimately comes down to your personal preferences.
Timber Sports and Your First Woodchopping Competition
Now you know about timber sports, and maybe you’re ready for your first woodchopping competition. So where do you go from here?
We specialize in woodchopping competitions, axe use, and axe maintenance. To see how we can help you get started, contact us today!