SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013 THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. PAGE 19 Carve Out Fun at Farmers Day BY ERIC DINKINS Slingerland has been lumberjacking for almost 35 to compete with the best in the world. Staff Writer years, and he influenced his son to take up the as “It’s almost impossible to compete with Australians Competitive lumberjacking may seem grounded in well. and New Zealanders,” Slingerland said. He pointed out Southern culture, but the sport existed long before it “There’s really two that their chopping became an athletic outlet for good ol’ country boys. ways to get into the ability is much Australians were chopping and sawing timber before sport. Either your stronger than Americans were introduced to folklore Paul family’s involved in it, Americans.’ Bunyan. or you can take it up Slingerland has According to the South Atlantic Woodsmen Association in college,” said brought a lot of (SAWA) co-founder Mike Slingerland, competitive Slingerland. foreign inspiration lumberjacking was born in the Land Down Under in the His son, who’s to the SAWA. He’s 1880s, and has since grown in popularity around the currently ranked been to the Pacific world. eighth in the U.S. several times to “International growth has been unbelievable,” Championships, compete against Slingerland said. Eight years ago, it was popular in only started training when the world’s best five countries, and now it’s competitive in about 25. he was 8 years old, lumberjacks, and But location isn’t important; lumberjack skills are the and competing at 10. spent time in same in the U.S. as they are everywhere else. “It’s something that Europe as an The SAWA adheres to the six competition disciplines young and old can get instructor. established by the Timbersports series in 1985: into … you just have “(The popularity hot saw, single buck, standing block chop, stock saw, to go at it,“ said of the sport) really underhand chop and springboard chop. Slingerland. forced us to all “Every event that we do started as the history of Without the improve,” said ,” said Jimmy Lawrence, president of the SAWA. influence of family Slingerland. “You need to be decent at everything if you want to get members, it’s easier Some of the (the most) overall points.” to get into the sport region’s best In addition to traditional events, this year’s competition by joining a collegiate competitors will be includes the double buck. It involves teams of two team. North Carolina at Farmers Day; sharing a cross-cut saw, which is the same saw has three schools with Lawrence said that competitors use in the single buck event. lumberjack teams, four national “It takes a lot of teamwork,” said Slingerland. “You North Carolina State, competitors are have to be in the appropriate rhythm.” Montgomery participating. The The SAWA season typically has about eight events, and Community College event will kick off competitors must be from one of the five states in the and Warren Wilson the SAWA season; mid-Atlantic region: North Carolina, South Carolina, College. it’s the first of six Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. Recent N.C. State scheduled Slingerland said he expects a couple of competitors graduate and 2013 competitions and from Tennessee, and “at least five or six” from Virginia STIHL Timbersports COURTESY OF JOSH HUSSEY the organization at Farmers Day. Collegiate finalist Robbins native Josh Hussey competes in the STIHL Timbersports hopes to schedule a To even out the playing field for newcomers, all of the Josh Hussey is Collegiate Championships, held June 9 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. couple more. events have several heats that establish staggered time competing at Farmers Hussey will compete at Farmers Day. The lumberjacks starts. Lawrence described it as a “handicap” system. Day. will add some “It gives the younger guys a chance,” he said. “It “Everyone likes to see N.C. State represented,” competitive diversity to the weekend’s entertainment makes it interesting for the crowd to see a young guy Slingerland said. lineup and food vendors. You can catch the competition beat someone that’s been doing it 30 years.” But Americans still have a long way to go if they hope Saturday, Aug. 3, at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

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