Events

This is a traditional event where a competitor must remain on a floating log, or artificial Key Log in the water. Competitors can compete head to head in attempts to knock the other off the log where the person remaining wins. Birling can also be done by an individual for longest time on the log or number of rotations.

Canoeing events may be either singles or doubles events. Contestants may be judged on speed and/or accuracy while demonstrating their skill through a predetermined course. Some events may require the canoe to be carried over land called 'portage' to be handed off to another teammate.

A competitor must make anywhere from one to three complete cuts (cookies) through a pine or aspen log within a marked area. The event starts with the competitor’s hands on the wood, where they remain until signaled by the judges cadence. This event ends when the last cookie falls from the log, the fastest time wins. A competitor may be disqualified or receive a time penalty if they cut outside their designated marked wood, or if they 'cut out' and do not complete the required number of cookies.

This event requires one person to coil, by hand, a 200-link surveying chain as neatly as possible and complete a "throw". The "throw" is a maneuver by which the competitor twists the coiled chain in one motion to produce a smaller coil and ties the end off. Time is called when the chain is presented to the judge by the competitor.  A competitor may also have to lay out the chain neatly and in a timely fashion after the initial 'throw' is judged. While laying out the chain there can be time penalties added for stoppages or tangles.

This event can be a doubles or team event, and requires two teammates to work as a pair to quickly make their cuts through their allotted section of clear wood. As a doubles event there are a few variations as to how many cuts must be made, and on what size wood. A common format is to make one cut through a larger piece of round-wood, typically 16". Another way to see this event for doubles is with the pair making up to six consecutive cuts on either 6"x 6" or 8"x 8".

For this event a competitor uses their chainsaw to cut as many cookies in a vertical stack as possible. They are allotted anywhere from 16"-18" of wood to do this. If a competitor cuts past their allotted space, a time penalty or disqualification will be issued.

Here the competitors are given a specific amount of wood that they must use for starting a fire and sustaining the fire long enough to boil a pot of soapy water. An axe, knife, and matches are the only equipment allowed. The time stops when the water boils over the top of the pot.

Here a competitor is given two bolts of hardwood to split. All splitting may be done with either a splitting axe or a maul depending on specific meet regulations. There are multiple ways to complete this event, and vary by school. Some common ways are:

• Each bolt must be split into four full-length pieces or a penalty may be imposed
• The center of a bolt is painted with a dot, and a piece of this dot must be on at least four of the split pieces or time penalties may be imposed
• Each split piece must be small enough to fit through a predetermined hole in a board or bin, and all pieces must be inserted into the board or bin, if there is failure to do this a time penalty may be imposed

Here a contestant is required to cast a fly at a target for accuracy. Points are awarded for each cast which lands within the target area. This event is not as common, but still appears every so often.

Competitors are required to roll a log using only a peavey. The length of the course will vary and the size and shape of the log makes this event challenging. Time stops when both ends of the log make contact with the pins at the end of the course. Occasionally, the log will be put on rails for the length of the course. If it is knocked off the rails, competitors are disqualified.

Each competitor will complete an obstacle course in the fastest possible time. Skills may include “choker set,” “bow saw on an elevated pole,” “cookie split with paint dot,” or “skidder tire flip.” Time stops when the competitor has completed the last challenge. Penalties are imposed for uncompleted challenges.

Here a team must pack their board with a blanket, frying pan and as much as forty pounds of additional weight. Each team member must then run one leg of the event carrying the pack board. This event is often coupled with fire build, and when it is, all materials for making the fire must be included in the pack for the entire race.

The object of this event is for the contestant to climb the pole in the shortest amount of time. Time starts when the climber’s first spike hits the pole and ends when they ring the bell at the top of the pole. For safety, each competitor is harnessed in, and belayed by another person.

The object of this event is for team members to toss pulpwood back and forth between two sets of stakes as quickly as possible. This event typically goes to 48 points, with each piece landing between the stakes counting for one point. Only wood that lands between the stakes is scored, it cannot go past the stakes or fall short. If a piece falls short, it must be pulled through the pins by the next competitor before they can throw it.

Usually a doubles event, a team of two utilizing only a peavey must load a selected number of logs onto a platform as quickly as possible. This platform is raised and has angled rails from the ground to the top. One variation of this is competitors bring all logs down off the platform, roll them to pins located a set distance away, hit both pins, and then roll the logs back onto the raised platform. Another way is rolling just one larger log , starting on the ground, up a  scoot.

The competitor must make one complete cut through a 16” or larger white pine or aspen log using a one-person crosscut saw. A starting cut with a small arc is allowed for safety reasons, a standard arc is the length of a dollar bill. Time is called when the cookie drops.

Two competitors per team must chop through a block of pine or aspen. Competitor one starts on the lower side of the block and chops until reaching the half way point. The second competitor then begins to chop from the opposite upper side and completes the cut.  This can also be completed as a singles event where one competitor chops both sides of the block. Time stops when the block is severed.

This event can be done as a single, double, or triple event. When multiple people are competing on a team, each must chop through their entire block of pine or aspen. These can either be square or round pieces of wood, both posing different challenges. The total time for each chop will determine the winner.

As a single's event, Underhand Hard Hit is common. The goal of this variation is to have the least number of hits to sever the block. The competitor who has the lowest number of hits wins. If there is a tie, then time is used to determine the winner.