A Family Tradition

Staff Photo by Michael Williams

For Arden Cogar, timbersports is more than a competition. It’s a family tradition. Six generations of his family have competed in the sport going back several decades.

“I have a grandfather, a great uncle, my father, 16 cousins a wife and daughter and myself who have all competed in the sport,” said Cogar. “My father continues to compete and he is in his late 70s.”

Timbersports is a sport that challenges skill, endurance and strength. The timberjacks compete in a variety of events such as the hot saw competition which involves a chain saw with a modified engine. At the signal, the competitors start their saws and make three cuts. With only six inches of wood to work with, precision is key

In the single buck competition, the competitor makes one cut through 19 inches of white pine using a single man cross-cut saw.

The springboard chop is a discipline based on the need for old-time loggers to establish a cutting platform above the massive root bases of old growth trees, the competitor uses an ax to chop pockets into a 9-foot poplar pole and then place 6-inch wide springboard platforms into the pockets. Climbing up on the springboards, the competitor chops through a 12-inch diameter white pine log at the top of the pole.

The standing block chop mimics the felling of a tree, the competitor races to chop through 12 to 14 inches of vertical white pine. The competitor must chop from both sides of the log with the time ending when the block is severed.

The stock saw discipline is a true test of operator ability. The competitor uses a MS 660 STIHL MAGNUM® chain saw and begins with both hands on the log and the chain saw idling on the deck. At the gun, the sawyer makes two cuts through 16 inches of white pine. With only four inches of wood to work with, precision is key.

Because the sport relies more on skill than strength, competitors often become more proficient at the sport in later years.

“I use the analogy of comparing it to golf,” Cogar said. “In golf the older players have acquired more skill and discipline. You will see these more experienced players hit the ball down the fare way. The younger players have a difficult time keeping it straight. It either goes right or left. In timbersports, it’s the same way. The younger competitors aren’t as proficient with their axes or their saws. Technique and timing are crucial to competing in the sport. Those skills come with experience.”

While many older competitors have been successful at the sport, Cogar said the sport is extremely physically demanding. His father, who continues to compete late in his 70s, had been a lumberjack for years and has competed for decades.

Currently Cogar is the reigning U.S. Timbersports champion. He will be competing in Pigeon Forge on June 7-9 at the Great Smoky Mountain Lumberjack Feud located on the Parkway. The event will be televised on ESPN and the Outdoor channel. If Cogar should emerge victorious he will advance to the World Championship competition in Stuttgart, Germany in the fall. Last year Cogar was one of many athletes from 24 countries that competed in Lillehammer, Norway for the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series World Championship in front of 10,000 international fans. Cogar , placed fourth in the World Championship individual competition.

That’s a big if. Cogar will be facing stiff competition from around the world. Tickets for the Stihl Timbersports Series U.S. Championship are now on sale. For more information about the competition visit www.stihltimbersportsus.com. Or call the Great Smoky Mountain Lumberjack Feud at 855-244-3383.