Nothing to spoil the fun for spectators or athletes

The smooth, incident-free running of the competitions is a top priority at STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES events.  “Everything is done to make the contests an unforgettable experience for spectators and athletes alike”, explains chief umpire, Markus Kaluza.

Only seasoned athletes in their disciplines are permitted to compete against one another in the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES competitions.  Athletes must show perfect technical command of the disciplines before they are allowed to enter the events.  Training and development for athletes are provided at numerous training camps.  A standard international set of rules also applies to the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES.

Safe distances and protective panels Kaluza goes on to point out that “as well as the extensive safety equipment for the athletes, the public is also protected from the competition action by appropriate safe distances and protective panels.”

Protection against cuts and facial/ear protection
Athletes taking part in the chainsaw disciplines are required to wear leg protection with a cut-resistant layer as well as facial and ear protection.  The leg protectors can prevent injuries should the saw slip from the contestant’s grasp.  When the chain cuts through the top layer of material, the long, high-strength special fibres in the cut-resistant layer jam the sprocket, thus bringing the saw chain to an immediate standstill.

Overboots and shin guards To protect their feet and lower legs, competitors in axe disciplines wear steel overboots.  The alternative is iron shin guards, worn in the shoes.

”We are constantly working at making the competitions an exciting, incident-free experience for spectators and athletes alike”, says the chief umpire.  “That way, we will be able to keep on offering exciting competitions in the future”, Kaluza affirms.

Many thanks, Mr Kaluza, for this interesting background information about some of the less-known aspects of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES events.