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HOSTING A LUMBERJACK COMPETITION Most people have seen a lumberjack competition on ESPN television and marveled at the speed and strength of the lumberjack. Swinging heavy axes and sawing through tree trunks like its no big deal, the lumberjack is the epitome of strength. Lumberjack sports have been around for a long time and the lumberjack is an important part of our history. If you have enjoyed this sport for years and attended competitions, you might consider hosting your own event. You will find that lumberjack competitions are flexible and can be performed at a number of events such as a State or County Fair, Historical Villages, Craft Show Museums, Rodeos, Maple Festivals, Fourth of July festivities, Disneyland, Sea World, or even as a stand-alone event. The one thing you can be guaranteed is that the crowd will be in awe of the lumberjack’s skill. In most cases, the competitions are held on the weekends or long holiday weekends. The biggest consideration is to make sure you are not running against a group of lumberjacks already scheduled. You want to draw the best crowd possible. For 20 to 30 contestants, you would need an area of 50 feet by 75 feet. If you have any questions whatsoever contact the local Lumberjack Association or the closest one to your geographical area. The best option is to have the competition during the day so you do not have to worry about lighting and shadows. Additionally, you need the area to be fenced off for security reasons. With so many tools from the different lumberjacks, you should consider having a secured area where they can store their tools until needed. You need to decide on the type of chopping and sawing competition and again, the Lumberjack Association can assist you with choosing the right type of wood and figuring out how much you need. Additionally, you will need some friends and family to volunteer their time. You need an emcee to announce the various events. You also need a head judge. In this case, it would need to be someone that has some knowledge about lumberjacking and understands the rules. Their job is to ensure the rules are followed and they have the final say if an event is debated. The chopping blocks and sawing positions will need to be drawn and appropriately assigned. Keep in mind that poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. You also need to timers at each station with synchronized stopwatches. Not only will they be responsible for timing the events, but they are also the second pair of eyes for the head judge. Two people that can average and record the times of the lumberjacks should do scorekeeping. The times from each heat are averaged and recorded with a copy going to the Emcee to be announced to the audience. Wood handlers are the people that move the wood and props around. You should have several volunteers, as this is hard work. Finally, the amount you charge will depend on the purpose you have for the money. If you are trying to raise money, then you want to take money more on a donation basis. Otherwise, a $5.00 charge for adults and $2.00 for children is a nice set price. The only other consideration is insurance coverage. Again, contact the closest Lumberjack Association to you and they can guide you through this process. Most of all have fun and put on a great show!!! |
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