The sport has been attracting massive crowds in the United States for many years and now competitive wood chopping has arrived triumphantly in Europe. Thousands of spectators, imposing setups and widespread media coverage reflected the upwards trend of the sport at the “Stihl Timbersports World Championship“ in Roermond.

There were 22 national champions representing 22 countries in the battle for the title. There are six disciplines in the world championship, three each with the axe and three with the saw: Springboard, Stihl Stock Saw, Standing Block Chop, Single Buck, Underhand Chop and the especially spectacular Hot Saw, where the saw tuned with up to 80 PS is used.

The victory for the third straight time went to the giant from New Zealand Jason Wynyard. The Maori, who stands nearly 2 meters tall and weighs 130 kg, is a professional in the sport and duly impressed with his unbelievable combination of power and dynanism.

While the sport was dominated in the past by New Zealanders and Americans, the Europeans have narrowed the gap considerably in the last two years: Switzerland‘s Christophe Geissler got a sensational second place followed by Martin Komarek of the Czech Republic and Germany‘s Dirk Braun, who was on course for a podium before a defect in the Hot Saw cost him dearly.

Results: 1. Jason Wynyard (NZL) 86 points; 2. Christophe Geissler (SUI) 75, 3. Martin Komarek (CZE) 63, 4. Dirk Braun (GER) 62, 5. Brad Delosa (AUS) 61, 6. Arden Cogar (USA) 60, 7. Spike Milton (GBR) 50, David Bergen (BEL) 48, 9. Rik Rik van Drielen (NED) and Arkadiusz Drozdek (POL) 46.

Pictures: Andreas Schaad, Seb Marko and Andreas Langreiter for Global-Newsroom