My Other Hobby, Fun with Wood

[Cheese]

Some of you, many do not, but I compete in Collegiate Timbersports. If you have seen the Stihl series on ESPN, we do all of that except the Hot Saw stuff. I have been practicing pretty hard this summer, trying to keep on conditioning, etc. I have also been working technique. A large man without technique will lose to a small man who swings a good axe. A large man with technique will clean up, or so I am told.

This is what I do when I am out of normal blocks. It took me two hours to get this big pig wrestled into these holders. It is cottonwood measuring 24" in diameter and just over 6' long.
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182899979_dsc01753.jpg

Then you get on top of it and keep throwing the axe at it. The lines are guides to keep you honest, the only way to DQ is if you chop into your footholds, time out or come to a V. Yes, I am wearing sandals, because I always wear sandals. When I chop, I put on chainmail socks and shoes.
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900259_dsc01775.jpg

And you chop until you break through. Normally, a competition block is 12-14" and is held in a stand the keeps one end of the log trapped. Breaking through in the set up I had was really a lot more excitement than I cared for.
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900409_dsc01759.jpg

This is one of my practice axes. It is about 31" long, the head weighs about 6 pounds and the surface of the face is about 7.5". It is sharp enough to take the hair off my arm.
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900514_dsc01772.jpg
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900609_dsc01767.jpg

And here are the 54 blocks I have chopped since classes got out. I have a wager with myself that I will buy a new racing axe if I make it to 100 blocks. That should happen about the start of August if all goes well.
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900703_dsc01761.jpg

And of course I take the truck there...
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900780_dsc01782.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

thats so fricken awesome!

[MTL_4runner]

So when are you going to be on ESPN? :D

[Cheese]

The Collegiate Conclave is showing this month, my team was at the one in Idaho, but I was stuck here doing thesis work.

It is super cool.

This summer, since I have been alone, I chop shirtless. It is hard not to grunt and scratch swinging an axe that big, sweating and being a BMF.

[Texas Jim]

The lines are guides to keep you honest, the only way to DQ is if you chop into your footholds, time out or come to a V. Yes, I am wearing sandals, because I always wear sandals. When I chop, I put on chainmail socks and shoes.
http://pics.montypics.com/flygtenstein/2007-06-26/1182900259_dsc01775.jpg

And you chop until you break through. Normally, a competition block is 12-14" and is held in a stand the keeps one end of the log trapped. Breaking through in the set up I had was really a lot more excitement than I cared for.




What no chainmail cup???? :shake: TJ

But seriously, What does your Axe cost? or do you just buy the head only and then add the handle yourself?

[Cebby]

I totally dig the Stihl series when I can catch it. Those are some awesome skills at work there!

[reggie 00]

I totally dig the Stihl series when I can catch it. Those are some awesome skills at work there!


X2

they and it seems like Cheese here do some crazy stuff with an Axe and some saws.

Do you do any of the other stuff?

Those dudes that race up and down the stick on gafs are f-ing insane.

[EWAYota]

I enjoy watching the competitions on tv when it comes around. Got a chance to watch a guy perform a few years back, then his ego got the best of him and he left one toe lighter. I think its awesome that you compete in these competitions, best of luck.

[Seanz0rz]

cheese doesnt buy handles, he widdles them out of full trees with his finger and toe nails. he's hardcore like that.

seriously though, i love watching the lumberjack competitions! so much fun!

[reggie 00]

crazy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9x8rBKC4BE&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1D4IdO28JU&mode=related&search=

[Cheese]

I had a funny talk with one of our coaches. He asked what I liked to do, I said chop and saw. He said good, because big guys are really safer bets in those things. You don't need to be huge to do well with any of this, but being 6'5" and 250 makes low, light balance things almost too much of a challenge.

Members of our team do all the normal events like pole climb, birling, vertical and horizontal chops, single and double buck sawing. There are a couple other things like caber toss, axe throw, etc. that are really novel more than anything.

I chop vertical and horizontal, saw single, double and jack and jill. I some times axe throw, but it is mostly to pass time when I am waiting to chop and saw.

A good practice axe is $150-200. The one pictured is a practice grind on a racing axe, so it is larger and was more like $275. Racing axes ground for racing go from $350-500.

Oddly, being from Wisconsin, I get my axes from a Stihl series guy in southern Wisconsin, heads and handles. A friend is currently in New Zealand, one of the big logging sports places, where the factories that make my axes is located. I am trying to see if he can put some in a box.

I do this and am trying to get better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvaLAqbz-_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUMqHGsSieM

[reggie 00]

Oddly, being from Wisconsin,
I do this and am trying to get better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvaLAqbz-_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUMqHGsSieM


Where in Wisconsin? i use to live in Lacrosse Onalaska and Mindoro.

The whole log chopping thing you do is crazy coordination and mad physical stamina. Good luck to you.

[Cheese]

I grew up in Southern Wisconsin near Devil's Lake, the Dells, etc.

I went to school at UW-L for a year before I went to Madison where I graduated.

It is an odd balance of skill and stamina. That 24" block I was into called for a half time where I would wipe down my face and have a drink.

The professionals take a 14" block in between 20 and 30 seconds depending on horizontal or vertical chopping. Sawing too is endurance and skill, not just power.

[AxleIke]

Fun with Wood


24" in diameter and just over 6' long


vertical chopping


between 20 and 30 seconds


mad physical stamina

This is starting to sound a lot like a hobby I have.

Goodness, I'm obnoxious.

[ChickenLover]

:lol:

[fustercluck]

Fun with Wood


24" in diameter and just over 6' long


vertical chopping


between 20 and 30 seconds


mad physical stamina

This is starting to sound a lot like a hobby I have.





Goodness, I'm obnoxious.





Beat me to it.....


http://www.cssm.org/Images/athlete.jpg

[Texas Jim]

Cheese just the title of this topic alone???? brings a few questions to mind ...but, I though I recognized the kangaroo logo as being something I have seen before with that logo on it...Looks a lot like hard core endurance and concertration... Very interesting sport.... I would have loved to gotten into it younger...

Did notice the first guy cutting on the log mounted vertically, that he seemed to hit log so good his Axe was sticking and slowing him down! I have watched before and and noticed that some of the compitions have someone oil the saw and put in wedges... I realize that you wouldn't need a wedge, but can you have like a Teflon coated Axe?? TJ

Also what type of cross training can you do?? I would think rope jumping would help with car-do, but not working upper body?? I would thing a guy as smart as you are could approach a company that makes exercise equipment, and help or just design your own weight resistance trainer equipment, so as to not trash an expensive AXE just working out.... TJ

[Cheese]

I have kilts and skirts now too, just gotta post some fresh picks.

We toss the caber for distance, it is smaller than the highland stuff.

You would not believe the terrible innuendo at the field. I am pretty naughty but some stuff even makes me bluff.

We were chopping on the quad for Natural Resources Day at the end of the term. A guy comes up and asks what I am doing, I reply, "playing with my wood." He starts laughing and mentions he is a reporter for the paper. My buddy smilled and said, I don't think this guy knows what he is getting into. I closed the interview saying, "You know, this sport is Co-Ed. Being a giant, hairy man helps you blend in in this business, but we take all comers." The quote was definitely on the front page of the paper the next day.

I jump a lot of rope. I have been cutting some weight. All the power for this is core, from your tits to you hips. We do a lot of balance ball work as well. Mostly it is a good excuse to hang out with gorgeous women. When they ask why you are there, many just melt. Not enough to come home, but oh well.

The grind of the axe impacts how it sticks in the wood. It is also a product of your personal swing mechanics. Again, this is why I am trying to hit 100 blocks this summer, lots of things to get the feel of.

[Osiris]

choppin' wood, your rig, 6'5", 250#... ...you're definitely a mountain man!

[AxleIke]

When they ask why you are there, many just melt. Not enough to come home, but oh well.

Don't be so hard on yourself there man. You just haven't found the right one yet. She'll come, and you'll be happy you didn't settle for less.


choppin' wood, your rig, 6'5", 250#... ...you're definitely a mountain man!

And a sexy one at that. Good grief, i'm a jackass. :D