Stihl Timbersports Series Celebrates 25 Years as the Original Extreme Sport

Lumberjacks and Jills, ESPN2 cameras and 25 years of lumberjack history deliver excitement at the Oregon State Fair.

Courtesy: farm1.static.flickr.com

(VIRGINIA BEACH) - STIHL Inc., creator and owner of the premier lumberjack sports event, the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series presented by Carhartt, today announced that it has selected the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Ore., as the host venue for its 25th anniversary season of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series.

The Series’ quarterfinals, semifinals, U.S. Championship and Collegiate Championship will take place during the fair’s opening weekend Friday, Aug. 27-Sunday, Aug. 29.

The Pacific Northwest will be the backdrop for the premier lumberjack sporting event in the world. The Series features the world’s best lumberjacks and jills in the ultimate tests of strength, endurance, stamina, tool skill and agility. Thirty-two chopper/sawyers, six collegiate competitors, eight boom runners and eight speed climbers will converge on Oregon’s capital to chop, saw, climb, and run their way into the record books, and celebrate the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series tradition during its silver anniversary festivities.

ESPN cameras have followed the competition for 25 years, earning the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series the distinction of being one of the longest running programs on the network.

“We are excited about bringing the Series to the Northwest and to have the Oregon State Fair host The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series’ 25th Anniversary competition,” says Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc., “We look forward to bringing to Oregon the excitement and traditions of one of the most exciting sports championships on the air today.”

The 2010 Oregon State Fair claims the motto “Too BIG to Miss!” offering attendees more than 9,000 things to do, see and taste throughout 11 days of shows, hot-air balloon rides, carnival rides, six headlining concerts, arts and crafts, NPRA rodeo finals, Days of the Dinosaurs exhibit, and various other events and competitions. The Oregon State Fair opens its gates on Friday, Aug. 27 and culminates on Monday, Sept. 6.

“We can think of no better place to celebrate and highlight the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series and the timber industry, than in Oregon,” said Connie Bradley, Oregon State Fair Manager.

Since its inception in 1985, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series has challenged the world’s best competitors in lumberjack sports. Over the years the Series has gained popularity and expanded to 19 countries including athletes from the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Poland, France, Benelux and Germany, all looking to earn a place in the World Championships. New Zealander Jason Wynyard holds the title of 2009 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS World Champion. Arden Coger, Jr. from West Virginia holds the 2009 U.S. STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Champion title.

The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series quarterfinals, semifinals and U.S. Championship will span the three-day event challenging lumberjacks in six chopping and sawing disciplines: hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop with the top overall competitor being crowned the 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series champion and the top U.S. competitor named the 2010 U.S. champion. Both title holders will advance to the 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series World Championships presented by Carhartt in Austria Friday, Sept. 3-Sunday, Sept. 5.

The 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series will also culminate during the Oregon State Fair. This national competition pits six regional collegiate champions against each other in four professional disciplines: single buck, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop with the top contender earning the title of 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series champion and an automatic entry to the 2011 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series where they will compete among the professional ranks.

The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series boom run and speed climb specialty disciplines will also take place throughout the three-day event. Eight boom runners and speed climbers will compete in a bracket elimination format to determine the U.S. champion in each discipline.

For more details, visit www.ESPNOutdoors.com/timbersports and oregonstatefair.org.

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 independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast – not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. 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 STIHL's Web site at stihlusa.com.

STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades-old sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world.

The term TIMBERSPORTS® is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term TIMBERSPORTS such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS should always appear in conjunction with "STIHL."

About Carhartt, Inc
Established in 1889, Carhartt, Inc. exists to provide best-in-class, durable products for the active worker. Carhartt is a family owned, consumer focused, global company that is respectful of its heritage. We lead the way in developing durable, premium, high quality products and services for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 4,500 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit carhartt.com.

About Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department manages more than 200 state parks and the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center, plus programs for Oregon’s ocean shores, scenic waterways, the Willamette River Greenway and recreation trails. The department provides grants to local governments, and oversees state heritage preservation efforts through the State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Heritage Commission and Oregon Commission for Historic Cemeteries.