The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series celebrates its 20th year of competition this year and, for the first time, will culminate in a true world championship as the best of the best compete to crown the first STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® World Champion. The ever-popular ESPN series promises an exciting change in format to keep fans riveted to the competition.
The series championship will be held in Virginia Beach, Va. the hometown of STIHL Inc., Sept. 23-25, in a battle of brains and brawn that will eventually hand out two crowns. Besides the crowning of the regular Series Champion, the finest competitors from 14 countries will compete in the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® World Championships.
"This is the first time we will showcase the top athletes from all the countries involved in STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® in a head-to-head competition to crown a true World Champion,” said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. " ‘The Battle at the Beach' will showcase three days of the best lumberjack sports competitors ever assembled, and will be broadcast to both U.S. and European audiences.”
As an added bonus to fans, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS has added 15 of the world's best pole climbers and female boom runners to the competition.
"The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series is about determining the best athletes in lumberjack sports,” said Phelps. "The two new disciplines we have added are an essential part of the lumberjack sports landscape.” The additional events will appear on the ESPN broadcasts, and competitions in the STIHL series are slated to become qualifiers for the 2006 ESPN Great Outdoor Games.
The series will also launch a new format this year that will have an Olympic-style pool elimination format to determine who moves on to the next round. The field of competitors has also expanded from the traditional 28 to 32. Notable among the athletes is the presence of Mike Koers, the 2004 STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series Champion.
"We launched the collegiate series two years ago,” said Phelps. "One of our goals is to ensure that the new generation of lumberjack athletes is introduced to this great sport. We are pleased to make a spot in our pro series available to the collegiate champion.”
Another significant addition to the athlete pool is the presence of Hermann Schönbächler of Switzerland. According to Roger Phelps, this is the first time that a European has qualified for the regular series in the U.S.
"The European series has been in full swing for about four years now,” said Phelps. "Having a European competitor make the cut shows just how much improvement these competitors have made in a short time.”
The 32 competitors will meet in Menomonie, Wisc., Aug. 6-7 for the first round of elimination, which will reduce the field to 16. The second round of elimination will take place Aug. 26-27 in Lake Charles, La. There, the pros will be joined by the six collegiate series finalists from the U.S. and Canada, who will vie for the Collegiate Championship title, and a place in the 2006 pro-series.
The elite eight STIHL TIMBERSPORTS competitors will face off in the final round in Virginia Beach. Returning to try to win his third consecutive title and fourth overall will be David Bolstad of Taumaruni, New Zealand. He will be challenged by five-time winner Jason Wynyard of Massey Auckland, New Zealand, Dion Lane, also of Massey Auckland, and Dave Jewett of Pittsfield, New York.
For more information log on to
www.stihltimbersports.com
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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