STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES COMPETITORS ANNOUNCED
Another Strong Field in Pursuit of Championship Title

Press Contacts:
Anita Gambill (757) 486-9151 or
Terry Kelley (757) 340-7425
All other inquiries:
STIHL Incorporated
(757) 486-9100

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (June 23, 2004) Twenty-eight of the worlds top lumbersports competitors have landed a position in the 2004 STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. Competitors from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States will vie for the championship crown, a new Dodge RAM pick-up and a share of the Series prize purse, valued at over $250,000.

“Each year we attract the worlds best all-around lumberjacks to compete for the TIMBERSPORTS® title,” said Roger Phelps, STIHL promotional communications manager and producer of the Series. “This year is no exception. For our 19th season we have several former champions, some promising contenders and a few surprises.”

Defending champion David Bolstad returns to pursue yet another TIMBERSPORTS® crown to accompany his two titles in the past three years. “David was on a mission last year to regain the title.” Phelps noted. “The rest of the field will certainly be gunning for him.”

Five-time TIMBERSPORTS? champion and last years runner up, Jason Wynyard is back for another season, as well as first runner-up Matt Bush. More familiar faces include Australians Brad Turner and Dale Ryan, New Zealander Dion Lane, and Americans Carson Bosworth and Mel Lentz.

“The remainder of the top 12 finalists from last season, Dave Jewett, Justin Beckett and Mike Sullivan will also return in 2004,” Phelps added. Twelve other axemen from the 2003 season qualified for the field of 28 again this year; Jack Brown-John, Harry Burnsworth, Arden Cogar, Gaston Duperre, Mike Forrester, Warrick Hallett, “Big Rick” Halvorson, Jean-Pierre Mercier, Jerry Scutt, Mike Slingerland, Cecil Starr, and Harold Winkel are all popular with the fans.

Competition for spots in the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series is always tight, according to Phelps. “Competitors know that an appearance on the Series means serious prize money and significant exposure,” he said. “This means that we are choosing from the worlds best, and that is no easy task.”

The competition will remain fierce among the returning contenders, as only five American newcomers will join the line-up since the 2003 campaign.

Brad Stevens and Rich Jordan will debut as first-time competitors in this seasons event, while Wally Robarge and Mike Eash return for their sixth and 14th appearances respectively.

This years competition will also feature special appearances by four of the European STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series competitors, including current European Champion Martin Komarek from the Czech Republic. While not eligible for prize money, they will compete for experience and bragging rights. “For one of the Europeans to beat any one of our pros would be a major accomplishment,” said Phelps. “Over the past three years we have seen a significant rise in the level of talent in Europe, so we will be watching this closely.”

In all, 17 Americans, four Australians, four Canadians, and three New Zealanders reflect the international composition of the 2004 STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series 28-man field.

ESPN2 airs the popular and long-running TIMBERSPORTS® cable sports program each December and rebroadcast it throughout the year. Fans can see the worlds elite logging sports athletes competing live this summer at the following locations:

STIHL Incorporated has produced the STIHL® Timbersports® Series on ESPN and ESPN2 since 1985. Sponsors of the Timbersports Series are Dodge, Carhartt, and Cabelas. For more information on STIHL Timbersports, visit the STIHL Web site: www.stihlusa.com/timbersports. For more information on the competition sites, go to: New Jersey State Fair: www.njstatefair.com; Allen Co. Fair (Lima, OH) www.allencofair.org; and (Chippewa Falls, WI) www.chippewavalley.net.

Click here for more STIHL® Timbersports® Series information

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 servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast— not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.

For information on job opportunities with STIHL Inc., please go to www.stihlcareers.com. STIHL is an EEO and drug-free work environment.

Back to Press Office