Later this month the world’s best choppers, slicers and sawyers will descend on Liverpool for the 2018 Stihl TIMBERSPORTS World Championship.

Described as the “original extreme sport”, the history of TIMBERSPORTS stretches back to 19th Century Australia and competitive foresters who would challenge each other after work, testing their technique and speed of felling and cutting up trees.

By the late 20th Century these tests had graduated to a professional level and in 1985, the official Stihl TIMBERSPORTS Series was born in the USA.

Each competition consists of six disciplines; three with an axe and three with a saw. The events ape customary lumberjack skills – simulating the practice of felling or managing felled trees.

Great Britain is a relative newcomer to the professional game but can still boast a top 10 axeman from last year’s world championship in the shape of four-time national champion Elgan Pugh.

Ahead of the 2018 edition, YM Liverpool’s Lawrence Saunders went down to Echo Arena Liverpool to try out the “most exciting sport you’ve never heard of”.

I assumed we wouldn’t be let loose with a chainsaw straight away, but arriving for my TIMBERSPORTS taster session I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Greeted at the waterfront venue with the sight of an ambulance and two paramedics made me wonder whether this was really such a good idea.

But after signing a waiver which meant I couldn’t sue if I hacked off one of my toes, I felt much better.

Following some expert tuition from Stihl TIMBERSPORTS’ global director and former British champion, Spike Milton it was time to start chopping.

Spike looks impressed doesn’t he?

I would be attempting the ‘underhand chop’, a discipline which simulates cutting up a felled tree. Athletes stand on a horizontally positioned block and hack through a thick trunk with their axe.

Kiwi woodchopper David Bolstad holds the world record, smashing his way through a 30cm log in just 12.33 seconds in 2007.

Surprisingly, Dave’s top spot was never under any real threat from me.

Prior to picking up the axe I thought it would simply be a case of hitting the log as hard as possible and open sesame… nope.

Starting to lose his patience…

Strike the log at the wrong angle and your energy is wasted as the axe head only penetrates a couple of pitiful centimetres.

Fifteen minutes of furiously inaccurate swinging later and mercifully the wood split.

Luckily Team GB member Glen Penlington had been on hand to give me some pointers and lend an axe swing or two.

In defence of my time, Glen acknowledged my log was a lot sturdier than the one Spike had demonstrated on.

Wood woes and a nasty blister aside, the taster was a great chance to experience for myself just how difficult this extreme sport is and I left with a new found respect for these athletes.

It promises to be an explosive and exciting two days later this month when the world’s best woodchoppers roll into town.

I’m a lumberjack and I’m not very good

Speaking about the 2018 Stihl TIMBERSPORTS World Championship, Spike told me: “I’ve been very impressed with Liverpool – what a lovely, friendly city.

“The great thing about Liverpool as well is that it’s so keen on developing new sports.

“We couldn’t have wished for a better place and let’s just hope Liverpool is ready for the world of TIMBERSPORTS.

“There is something pleasurable about cutting wood. These guys are athletes and they train really, really hard.

“It’s a great show – you’ll go home with a smile on your face and you’ll know what TIMBERSPORTS is all about. ”

Check out the video below to see Glen demonstrate the ‘standing block chop’:

The 2018 Stihl TIMBERSPORTS World Championship is at Echo Arena Liverpool from 19-20 October.

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