Woodsmen Team hosts championship

Wood chips will fly, sawdust will fill the air and logs will roll when the University of Montana Woodsmen Team hosts the Association of Western Forestry Clubs Conclave this week at Fort Missoula.

The regional competition for western forestry clubs began Wednesday and continues through Saturday.

Teams from each school will compete in a variety of events such as pole climbing, crosscut sawing, logrolling, chopping and axe throwing. 

On Saturday teams will compete in the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Series. A student from each school will compete head-to-head with competitors in three different events: the underhand chop, stock saw and single buck. Winners receive prize money and equipment for his or her forestry club, and advance to the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Championships in June.

Woodsmen Team co-captain Jennifer Benedict said the last time UM hosted the event was 2002.

“We found out last March that we would be hosting (the conclave) and it has been on our minds since then,” Benedict said. 

The student-run UM team organized the entire competition including gathering timber, getting contracts, organizing logging tours and raising money, Benedict said.

UM junior and third-year Woodsmen Team member Pat Johnson said he is proud that Montana is able to host such a unique event.

“There is a lot of history behind it,” he said. “The industry has kind of taken a hit recently, a lot of people are saying these skills are a lost art.”

Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager of Stihl, said his company began sponsoring the collegiate series four years ago. Stilh has hosted a pro series for 23 years.

“We were looking for that next great American competitor,” Phelps said. “We decided to sponsor the collegiate conclaves, and we fell in love with it.”

Hosting the regional conclave costs the Woodsmen Team nearly $20,000, plus $4,000 in prize money. Stilh helps by covering 25 percent of those costs.

“It is definitely a partnership,” Phelps said. “This is a terrific event. We are proud to support the passion of these competitors.”

Nearly 120 athletes are expected at the event. Participating schools include the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Northern Arizona University, Central Oregon Community College, Flathead Valley Community College, Humboldt State University, Cal Poly, University of California, University of California-Berkeley, Colorado State University and University of Nevada-Reno.

Montana is one of the favorites coming into the competition. The team has participated in four shows this season and has taken top honors at each.
“We have a strong program here,” Benedict said. “We are hoping to win it.”

The UM team has 27 members, including 12 women. The club is open to any student, and current members major in forestry, business, education, wildlife biology and pharmacy.

Johnson said the atmosphere surrounding timbersports is different than more traditional sporting competitions.

“The whole logging sports environment is about camaraderie and work,” he said. “We spend a lot of time with each other. You get to know one another and the other teams and develop friendships.”

The public is invited to attend Saturday’s competition at the Garrett Grothen Arena at Fort Missoula. Admission to the event costs $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and $1 for students.  Segments of Saturday’s competition will air on ESPN-U.