Post-secondary students had an axe to grind — and a log to toss — at the annual Canadian Intercollegiate Lumberjacking Association Loggersports Competition in Lindsay, Ont., on Saturday.
The 35th annual event, hosted at Fleming College’s Frost campus, attracted more than 180 competitors from seven colleges and universities from across the country. The lumberjacks and lumberjills competed in several events including log decking, single buck, and standing block chop.
Among the competitors was Fleming’s Wyatt Brochert, who placed first in men’s pole climbing the past two years.
“It takes a lot of strength; you gotta be fast,” he said. “You have to have good form and you can’t be afraid of heights.”
Fleming’s role in competition can be traced back to 1973 when Fleming students travelled to McGill University to compete in the annual woodsmen competition.
Years later Fleming decided to host its own competition. It’s now one of the largest college/university events on the competitive circuit.
“This is one of the coolest things you’ll ever see,” said climbing judge Colin Isnor.
“It’s one of the most Canadian things you will ever see in your life.”
Aside from some physical strength, organizers say you don’t need much experience to participate.
“People that come here don’t have any experience,” said Fleming’s campus recreation co-ordinator Cory Campbell. “And they’ll start and they’ll take off. We’ve had guys that come here, competed for four years and then went and did this professionally.”
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