Hayward’s World Lumberjack Championship is called the Lumberjack Olympics and it’s no joke.
This unique event is a staple in Wisconsin and ensures that the best athletes return every year.
“This is Wisconsin. This is such a Wisconsin thing. Wisconsin is the perfect home for the greatest lumberjack competition in the world,” said Shana Verstegen, who has competed for 37 years. “Every year it’s so meaningful. When I first started coming here as a little seven-year-old kid, I was always so nervous, and now as an older athlete, it’s just fun to hear the crowd cheering and everyone is so excited about these sports that mean so much to us.”
Athletes like Verstegen come back every year, but never completely get rid of their nervousness before and even during the competition.
“The log roll is particularly strenuous because you are in a 30 centimetre diameter log in the middle of the water in front of thousands of people and if you make a small misstep, the competition is over,” said Verstegen. “So we have to get through a lot of nerves, but we have been training for this all year.”
“This is my sixth year as a professional log roller and the nerves definitely never go away,” said Livi Pappadopoulos, who has been competing in the world championships for 11 years. “You’re sitting on a spinning log with several thousand people watching you. The task is to stay up longer than your opponent. That seems pretty easy when you’ve been at it for a while and you’re really talented and skilled. However, it’s so nerve-wracking to be out there trying to stay on the log and when you fall in, your opponent is standing over you.”
The disciplines range from log rolling and log running to fast mast climbing, axe throwing and sawing.
All events have one thing in common: the excitement of each athlete when it is time to demonstrate their skills.
“My entire calendar year revolves around the Lumberjack World Championships,” Pappadopoulos said. “I train for it all year and look forward to it all year. I just love being here. It’s a magical place and a really cool atmosphere. Great community here in Hayward and some really amazing athletes that come here to compete.”
