There is a sport in which lumberjacks compete in strength

Extreme sports logging is an increasingly popular competition in the world, which many people follow with great excitement, as it combines one of the world’s oldest traditions, work in the forest, with endurance, physical strength and precision. Moreover, although logging may initially bring to mind men in checkered shirts and bearded men, athletes compete in the competitions in men’s, women’s and junior categories. If you’re interested, here are some extra interesting facts to get you started.

1. The history of a sport that started with a bet

Sports logging grew out of the 19th-century traditions of Australian and New Zealand loggers. One of the most famous stories is that in 1870, two lumberjacks in Ulverstone, Australia, competed in a 25-pound bet to see who could cut down a tree faster. These spontaneous duels gave rise to a competition format that now has a strict set of rules, professional athletes and a global competition series. STIHL TIMBERSPORTS has elevated this tradition, which is over 150 years old, into a modern, international competitive sport.

2. You could even shave with a competition axe

Sports lumberjacks compete in axe, chainsaw and handsaw events. The mass-produced chainsaws used in the events are powered by an engine with a displacement of more than 90 cubic centimeters, which is almost twice the size of an average scooter. The handsaws used in one of the most spectacular competitions can be 2 meters long and have teeth up to 10 centimeters long. The competition axes are made of special steel and are so sharp that you could even shave with them. Athletes usually bring two of these tools to the stage, because if, for example, the handle of one of the axes breaks during cutting, the competitor can switch to a spare axe according to the rules.

3. The logs undergo special preparation and are not wasted after the competition

The logs used in the sport logging competitions are not brought to the stage at random, but come from certified, sustainable plantations in France and the Netherlands. After the competition trees are harvested, the logs are turned to the appropriate size and then stored in a cold storage until used. Each log is given a unique identifier, so it can be traced exactly which section of the trunk the log comes from. This helps to ensure that the wood arriving at the world competitions is of the same quality and hardness. Sustainability is also a top priority: 100 percent of the competition trees used in STIHL TIMBERSPORTS competitions and training camps in Europe are recycled.

4. Four different tasks in less than a minute

One of the most exciting elements of tree felling is undoubtedly the almost incomprehensible pace, which is best appreciated live. In the World Trophy format, competitors complete four tasks side by side in a duel without interruption: cutting with a chainsaw, working with an axe on a lying log, cutting a disc with a handsaw, and then cutting through a standing log with an axe again. The world record is held by New Zealander Jack Jordan, who completed the entire series of tasks in an incredible speed of just 52.53 seconds.

+1. The world’s fastest lumberjacks are coming to Budapest

Sports enthusiasts don’t have to wait long to experience this adrenaline-filled extreme sport live. The World Trophy is coming to Budapest on the first weekend of June 2026, where representatives of the international elite will clash at the Városliget Ice Rink – including world record holder Jack Jordan, and the best Hungarian sports lumberjacks. Moreover, we will be able to cheer on not only male but also female competitors thanks to the two separate categories. The exciting duels, the extraordinary pace, and the physical performance that can be experienced up close and personal promise an experience that brings the extraordinary world of sports tree felling closer to the domestic audience.