(Lake Charles, La.) -Those who crave entertainment will not be disappointed by the unique and extreme sporting event making its way to the Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles, La., August 26-27. This year marks the 20th anniversary for the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series, with Lake Charles hosting the final qualifying event for a bid to the Series Championships in Virginia Beach, Va., Sept 23-24.
Spectators will be riveted to the action by a variety of gut-wrenching, sweat-flying disciplines, such as the Single Buck, Stock and Hot Saw, Underhand, Standing and Springboard Chops. Only the best have qualified to compete and top athletes from all over the world, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, will participate at this venue.
"Spectators will witness the precision, power and speed of professional axe men competing at breakneck speeds," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. "If you have ever watched the Series on ESPN and said 'Bet I could do that,' once you see the competition up close you will know that it's not that easy."
This year's change of competitive format will provide head-to-head competition in an olympic-style pool format. The original lineup of 32 competitors as cut in half in the opening competition in Menomonie, Wisc. The "sweet 16" of the world's best choppers and sawyers will compete in Lake Charles and will be joined by three of the world's best speed climbers and 11 female boom runners. These new series competitors will endure their first round of bracketed qualifying events in Lake Charles in order to be eligible for the championship in Virginia Beach, Va.
"Our goal with the new format was to stay true to the traditions and premiere status of our athletes while adding an exciting new element," said Phelps. "The new format allows for a greater number of new competitors and we were able to recognize some of the other disciplines that are a part of lumberjack sports, such as speed climbing and women's boom running."
Lake Charles will also host the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Championships, now in its third year. Since last year, the significance of winning this college competition has increased as the champion receives an automatic seed in the following year's pro STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series.
"What is significant about the collegiate series is that the champion gets a chance to become a part of the pro series," said Phelps. "This year, Mike Koers, last year's collegiate champion, was able to experience what it's like to compete with the world's best on the big stage. These younger athletes love the sport, and we are pleased to give them their shot at competing with the icons of the sport.
These college athletes have been selected from a series of STIHL sponsored events held throughout the spring. From the over 50 Universities and Colleges that participated, six from the U.S. and Canada will be represented in the competition at the Lake Charles site, including Penn State Mont Alto in Pennsylvania; Oregon State in Oregon; University of Arkansas at Monticello in Arkansas; SUNY ESF in New York; Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Canada, and MacDonald Campus in McGill, Quebec, Canada.
Contestants of the chopping and sawing series will compete for points and qualifying positions in the overall battle for the 2005 STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® championship title, a new Dodge RAM pick-up truck, a prize purse valued at more than $250,000 and a shot at being called World Champion.
Dodge, the official truck of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series, will showcase some of the latest Dodge vehicles and Carhartt, official workwear sponsor for the Series, will operate its show trailer with displays and prizes. ESPN2 will air the events this November and December and rebroadcast them throughout the year.
For more information log on to
www.stihltimbersports.com
.
Competitive Schedule:
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Friday, Aug. 26
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12:00pm-2:00pm
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STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS®Collegiate Championships
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2:00pm-3:00pm
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Speed Climbing
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4:00pm-5:30pm
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Women's Boom Run
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Saturday, Aug. 27
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11:00am-1:30pm
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STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Pro Series Pool 1 vs. Pool 2
(Spring Board; STIHL Stock Saw; Standing Chop),
STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® European Competition, and Speed Climbing Medal Rounds.
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4:00pm-7:00pm
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STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Pro Series Pool 1 vs. Pool 2
(Underhand Chop, Single Buck, Hot Saw)
STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® European Competition, and Women's Boom Run Medal Rounds.
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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.
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