The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series Brings its National Lumberjack Competition to Arkansas The University of Arkansas at Monticello welcomes ESPNU cameras, lumberjacks and jills and good old Southern rivalry to its campus
Release Date: 3/8/2010 Media Contact: Cama Poffenberger CSE 770.955.1300 (office) 404.290.2906 (cell) [email protected]
Monticello, Ark. (March 8, 2010) – The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series presented by Carhartt, the nation’s premier collegiate lumberjack competition, seen by millions on ESPNU, takes its Southern Collegiate Challenge and ESPNU cameras to the University of Arkansas at Monticello to determine the best collegiate lumberjack in the region.
Forestry students from colleges and universities across the Southern region will converge on the Drew County Fairgrounds March 2527 for the 53rd annual Association of Southern Forestry Clubs conclave competition. The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Southern Collegiate Challenge kicks off the conclave events with its heartpumping, woodchopping competition, pitting the top collegiate lumberjacks in a oneonone, winnertakeall lumberjack challenge Thursday, March 25 at 6 p.m. CDT.
“As the only forestry school in Arkansas, the opportunity to host the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Challenge means so much to our school, our program and our forestry team,” said Dr. Lynne Thompson, professor of forestry and forestry team advisor.
Last year, the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s own Brad Sears beat out the favored competitor from North Carolina State to capture the Southern Collegiate Challenge title. As the 2009 Southern champion, Sears advanced to the Collegiate Championship last June.
“We’re excited to bring the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Challenge to the University of Arkansas at Monticello,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. “The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Professional Series is now in its 25th year, and the Southern Collegiate Challenge is a great chance for us to see the future American champions of the sport in action.”
In the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series events, each participating forestry team selects its best lumberjacks/jills to go headtohead in four disciplines, the single buck, stock saw, standing block chop and underhand chop, using professional rules and professionalsized wood. The competitor with the most cumulative points after all four disciplines earns a $1,000 scholarship from STIHL for his or her school and advances to the 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Championship during the 25th anniversary competition celebration of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series at the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Ore., Aug. 2729.
A training demonstration will be conducted by professional STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series competitor Mike Slingerland before the competition begins on Thursday at 6 p.m. Slingerland will provide pointers to the collegiate lumberjacks, demonstrate techniques involved in the lumberjack disciplines and assist the athletes in improving their skills.
Since 2003, the Collegiate Series has traveled to college campuses across the country to seek out the best amateur athletes and give them the opportunity to advance in the sport. More than 50 universities and colleges presently compete in the Series. The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series presented by Carhartt grooms student athletes to one day take their place among the professional elite. Additionally, ESPNU provides a national platform to not only highlight the competition and the sport, but also spotlight the hosting schools and their forestry programs in the Collegiate Series competition shows.
In addition to the Southern Collegiate Challenge, the Collegiate Series consists of four other regional events and one championship. The complete schedule for the 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series includes: • Central/Midwest hosted by Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale in Carbondale, Ill., Sept. 26, 2009 • Western hosted by Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., March 19, 2010 • MidAtlantic hosted by Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pa., April 17, 2010 • Northeast hosted by Paul Smith’s College in Paul Smith, NY, April 24, 2010 • Collegiate Championship in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series at the Oregon State Fair Aug. 2729
At the Collegiate Championship, the five regional winners and one wildcard pick will go headtohead to claim the 2010 Collegiate Championship title, who then earns a place in the professional ranks in the 2011 STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series presented by Carhartt.
Get the latest information and uptodate news and video on all the competitions by going to www.ESPNOutdoors.com and clicking on TIMBERSPORTS, or visit www.stihltimbersports.com .
Fans can be a part of all the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series’ action by joining the “Official STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series” Facebook fan page at www.Facebook.com/STIHLTIMBERSPORTS and visiting the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series’ YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/STIHLTIMBERSPORTSfan .
Fans can also sign up to receive the latest news, product information, services and specials, news and information about STIHL, its products and services as well as helpful seasonal tips through the STIHL Seasonal and Local Dealer eNewsletters by visiting www.stihlusa.com .
The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Southern Collegiate Challenge
When: March 25 at 6 p.m. CDT
Where: University Center Rodeo Arena 1642 U.S. Highway 425 South Monticello, Ark.
Participating Schools: Alabama A&M University (Huntsville, Ala.) Auburn University (Auburn, Ala.) Clemson University (Clemson, SC) Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.) Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, La.) Mississippi State University (Mississippi State, Miss.) North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) Stephen F. Austin University (Nacogdoches, Texas) Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) University of Arkansas at Monticello (Monticello, Ark.) University of Florida (Gainesville, Fla.) University of Georgia (Athens, Ga.) University of Kentucky (Lexington, Ky.) University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.) Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.)
About STIHL Inc. STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast – not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1800GO STIHL (18004678445) or visit STIHL's Web site at www.stihlusa.com.
STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades old sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world.
The term TIMBERSPORTS® is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term TIMBERSPORTS such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS should always appear in conjunction with "STIHL."
About Carhartt, Inc Established in 1889, Carhartt, Inc. exists to provide bestinclass, durable products for the active worker. Carhartt is a family owned, consumer focused, global company that is respectful of its heritage. We lead the way in developing durable, premium, high quality products and services for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 4,500 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.
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