ESPN TIMBERSPORTS

By the time the Slingerland family arrives in Columbus, Ga., for a weekend of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series events, Father's Day 2008 will be two weeks in the past.

But it won't feel that way for professional lumberjack, coach, fan, and proud father, Mike Slingerland.

Of all the presents he received on his special day, the best gift a father can get will be featured onstage: Mike's son, Matt Slingerland, will be competing in the Collegiate Series championships for a chance to join his father on the Professional Series in 2009.

The Slingerlands are far from the first clan passing down an ax through the family tree. Because of its unique nature, the difficulty in learning technique and the close-knit culture of its participants, most families pass lumberjack sports down from generation to generation and from father to son.

"I think I was 6 months old when I went to my first competition as a family," said professional lumberjack Carson Bosworth. "I'm 41 now. That's 40 years of going to competitions."

Bosworth's father Bob, who still competes in the sport at age 66, joined the Woodmen's team decades ago at the University of Montana. Finding a passion for the sport, he brought the family with him across the country as he continued to compete professionally.

"I would not be involved if not for my father," said the STIHL pro, heading to Columbus for the next round of Professional Series competition. "He realized from an early age that I was interested in the sport."

Growing up in the heart of West Virginia's forestry industry, Arden Cogar Jr. developed a great knowledge of lumberjacking through family ties. After finding a calling with the UWV's Woodsmen's Team, future success in competition came naturally for the former high-school athlete.

"It's been in my family for three generations, now four generations," said the leader of the Utah event's Pool D.

Today, Cogar's 73-year-old father still remains involved with lumberjacking. And Cojar Jr.'s 10-year-old and 7-year-old daughters have already expressed interest in lumberjack sports.

"All of the big guys had fathers in the sport," Bosworth said: "Arden Cogar Jr., Bolstad and Wynyard, I'm sure. Dion Lane. Dale Ryan."

Most times, lessons in lumberjacking come from young children observing and attempting to emulate their heroes.

"At about 8 (years old), I saw my dad competing," said the younger Slingerland. "So he started letting me ax throw and chop with this little, tiny ax."

Two years later, Matt entered his first contest in New York — and he hasn't stopped yet.

"His goal is to be the youngest competitor to ever be on the professional series," said the beaming father after the 17-year-old's Collegiate Series win in North Carolina. "And if he can win it (the Collegiate Series Championship) in June, he'll be 18."

Even if they still live under the same roof, lumberjack sports give fathers and sons the chance to reunite at every event: The Slingerland family, for example, will drive to Columbus to support their son. The father will help Matt set blocks and supply advice throughout the competition.

"I think we get along better because of it," Matt said about bonding with his father through the sport. "We always have something to talk about; trying to figure out things with him, traveling with him. He teaches me what he knows."

After the season, Bosworth will spend a month with his father back in his native Idaho, where Bob still resides.

"We'll saw together, and train and chop together," said the son.