Disciplines

Standing Block Chop

The Standing Block Chop simulates felling a tree. A block of wood 30 cm in diameter is anchored vertically in a metal stand and has to be chopped through from both sides as quickly as possible. Precise blows with the axe and a powerful swing are the deciders of success in the Standing Block Chop event. Top athletes take under 13 seconds in this discipline.

STIHL Stock Saw

In this discipline, all the competitors work with the new MS 661 C-M, a standard STIHL chain saw with all-electronic engine management. At the ‘Go' signal the athlete seizes the saw and applies it to the wood (diameter 40 cm). The competitors have to cut two cookies from a marked area of a horizontally mounted log with one downward cut and one upward cut. The cookies must be a specified thickness, otherwise the contenders will be disqualified in this discipline. Top athletes can complete this discipline in about ten seconds.

Underhand Chop

The Underhand Chop, which corresponds in practice to cutting up a felled tree, involves chopping through a 32 cm thick, horizontally mounted tree trunk from both sides with an axe. The athlete stands on top of the log. Cutting it through from one side only leads to disqualification. Best times for the Underhand Chop are under 15 seconds.

Single Buck

A wooden "cookie" is cut off a horizontally fixated tree trunk (diameter of 46 Centimeters or 1.5ft) with a cross-cut saw of roughly 2 meters length (6ft7). For this discipline, the rhythm and the dynamics of the athlete make all the difference. To enhance the lubricity of the saw, it may be sprayed with a mix of oil. Apart from that, a helper may drive a wedge between cookie and trunk.

Springboard

In this discipline the competitor places two platforms (springboards) into pockets cut in a vertically mounted log. The aim is to chop through a 27 cm diameter block of wood positioned at the tip of the log. Originally, this method was used by loggers in North America to make a cutting platform above the extremely hard root bases, which could be as much as a meter tall.

At the judge's starting signal the athlete cuts a first pocket about ten centimeters deep in the log at shoulder height. He slots the point of the first springboard into it. The athlete then stands on that board to cut a second pocket in the log. Standing on the second springboard, at a height of about two meters, he starts cutting through the block at the top. In this event too, the wood must be cut through from both sides. Springboard calls for a precise technique along with strength, balance and skill. International fastest times for Springboard are under 40 seconds.

Hot Saw

The aim is to cut three cookies of a specified thickness from a horizontally positioned trunk (diameter 46 cm) as quickly as possible using an extremely powerful, specially tuned chainsaw known as a hot saw.

The challenge in this discipline lies in controlling the power concentrated in the 60 to 80 HP chain saw. With a chain speed of approx. 250 km/h and a weight of nearly 30 kg, these machines demand maximum performance from the athletes.

International leading times in the Hot Saw event are under six seconds.