VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series turns 30 years old this season, and as part of the celebration, the sport is coming to America’s biggest city. For the first time in the event’s history, the U.S. Pro and Collegiate Championships will take place at Central Park in New York City on Saturday, June 20.
The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series – The Original Extreme Sport – pits the top lumberjack athletes from across the country in thrilling and grueling wood chopping, cutting and sawing competitions. The Championships will be broadcast on the ABC network.
“Thirty years is a tremendous milestone, and we thought the best way to celebrate would be to host our biggest event in the biggest city in America,” said STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Executive Producer Brad Sorgen. “The exposure New York City provides the sport, coupled with appearing on ABC and ESPN networks, will help make this anniversary year truly special.”
Since 1985, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series’ has grown from a small, niche sport for professional lumberjacks, to a sport with global reach, featuring the fiercest lumberjack athletes in the world. Along with appearing on ABC, the sport has aired on ESPN properties every year, making it the network’s longest tenured show behind only “SportsCenter.”
This season’s U.S. Championships will be part of a larger annual event at Central Park, Adventures NYC. The city’s large fanbase, and the footprint provided by the annual Adventures NYC event, made hosting the Championships in Central Park a natural fit.
“The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS Series will help connect even more New Yorkers with the exciting activities we feature at Adventures NYC,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “We’re honored that they chose to celebrate their 30th anniversary at Central Park.”
Selection for the Series took place earlier this month. Lumberjack athletes will qualify for the Championship by competing in one of five collegiate and four professional qualifiers. For the full season schedule, visit STIHLUSA.com/STIHL-TIMBERSPORTS/Schedules/.
Professional athletes compete in six lumberjack disciplines; the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop. The 2015 athlete roster includes the most talented crop of athletes ever. Matt Cogar has his sights set on becoming one of the best lumberjack athletes of all time as he targets a third straight U.S. Professional title win. Noteworthy athletes including four-time US Champion Arden Cogar, Jr., six-time Champion Mel Lentz, Walt Page, David Moses, Nathan Waterfield, 2014 U.S. Collegiate Champion Sam Mulholland-Wong, and more will return this season. For a full list of athletes participating, visit: http://www.stihlusa.com/stihl-timbersports/athletes/
“The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series has given me a tremendous opportunity to compete and excel in a sport that I love,” said Matt Cogar. “To be able to defend my championship at an iconic venue like Central Park against so many talented athletes will be an unbelievable thrill.”
The Series is presented by Ram Trucks. Additional 2015 sponsors include The Duluth Trading Company, Georgia Boot and John Deere.
The Championships and Adventures NYC are free events. For news, videos, and the latest information around the Series, please visit the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS website. Fans can also follow the Series through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.