Eying the finals
Sixteen lumberjacks hope to be a part of the eight that chop in the finals
The theory of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS has the competitors competing against the clock, and the sixteen competitors that will chop and saw in the semifinals of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Pro Series presented by Carhartt in Columbus Ga., on Saturday, will be doing just that.
There will be two pools of eight, and the four lumberjacks from each pool who accumulate the most points from the six disciplines will move on to the finals. But the eight who make it to the finals on Sunday can forget about the clock and start thinking about David Bolstad and Jason Wynyard.
The pro series started out in early June with 32 competitors in Lehi, Utah and was cut in half for the semis. Wynyard has the most dominating performance in his pool, scoring 46 out of a possible 48 points. Bolstad, who has won the past two U.S. championships, won his pool with 42 points.
With the competition in Lehi taking place on two separate days, with separate weather and wood taken from separate trees for each pool, it's hard to compare times and predict a favorite, but considering every championship since 1997 has gone to either Wynyard or Bolstad, they have to be at the top of the list.
"I think it's going to come down to the wire this year," Wynyard said.
All six of the lumberjack disciplines are important to the competitors and all contribute equally toward total points, but Wynyard singled out one event as crucial.
"I think the stock saw's going to be a major component in who gets to put more pressure on, and it being the second event up I think it's going to be a definite decider," he said. "It's a difficult event because you've all got the same saws. It comes down to operator skill and you just can't make a mistake."
The semifinals start on 1 p.m. ET and Saturday, and the finals will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Enjoy full coverage of the event on STIHLTIMBERSPORTS.com.
