10-29-2010, 09:11 PM
Virginia Beach, Va. - STIHL has announced exciting changes for the 2011 season of its popular lumberjack competition, the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. The Series will be bringing its 26th season of the "original extreme sport" to college campuses around the country. Both pro and collegiate qualifying competitions will be produced at five college campuses in the spring, and the U.S. and Collegiate Championship will return to the Oregon State Fair Aug. 26-28, 2011. The Series, seen by millions around the world, airs on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Professional and collegiate qualifiers will be held at the University of Georgia, California Polytechnic University, Penn State University-Mont Alto, Purdue University and SUNY-Cobleskill with ESPN2 and ESPNU cameras onsite to film the action. Schedule details are available at www.stihltimbersports.com.
"With this new format, we are bringing the excitement of our professional competition to college campuses and letting our college competitors share the stage with the pros," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager, STIHL Inc. "The college athletes will be competing on ESPNU at the same time for their shot at the championships, and fans will be able to enjoy a double dose of the world's premier lumberjack sports competition."
The new 2011 format will also increase the pool of pro competitors from 32 to 50, enabling more athletes to enter the competition than ever before. The pro competition will consist of six professional lumberjack disciplines, the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop. The qualifying rounds will be held in five regions with the top four pro athletes from each qualifier moving on to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series U.S. Championship at the Oregon State Fair. These four individuals will not only compete against other competitors from around the country for the championship crown, but will also join together to represent their regions in the exciting new STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Relay Competition.
"The sport continues to grow in popularity around the world and we want to ensure that we assist in the development of the next generation of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS competitor," Phelps said.
STIHL created the Collegiate Series in 2003 to help develop future U.S. competitors, and the Collegiate Series has grown from five participating schools to 55 traveling to college campuses across the country with the ESPNU cameras to seek out the best amateur athletes. The format of the Collegiate Series will remain the same in 2011 consisting of five regional events. At each event, the participating schools select their best lumberjacks/jills to go head-to-head in four disciplines, the single buck, stock saw, standing block chop and underhand chop using professional rules and professional-sized wood with the ESPNU cameras catching all the wood-chopping action. The competitor with the most cumulative points after all four disciplines advances to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Championship.
"By hosting the professional and collegiate events together, we're giving collegiate competitors more opportunities to grow in the sport and one day join the professional ranks," said Phelps.
The Collegiate Championship, held every year in conjunction with the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS U.S. Championship, pits the five regional collegiate champions and one wildcard pick against each other. The collegiate champion not only wins an automatic spot in the Professional Series the following season, but also a spot competing on the rookie relay team in the 2011 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series World Championship held in Holland.
The 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series broadcasts on ESPN2 beginning Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. ET. The complete ESPN2 schedule can be viewed here.
The 2011 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series*
Region / Location
Venue
City / State
Date
Southern Qualifier
University of Georgia
Athens, Ga.
March 17-19
Western Qualifier
Cal Poly University
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
March 23-26
Midwest Qualifier
Purdue University
West Lafayette, In.
April 9
Mid-Atlantic Qualifier
Penn State . Mont Alto
Mont Alto, Pa.
April16-17
Northeast Qualifier
SUNY-Cobleskill
Cobleskill, NY
April 29-30
U.S. and Collegiate Championship
Oregon State Fair
Salem, Ore.
August 26-28
World Championship
Roermond
Holland
September 3-4
*Dates and locations are subject to change.
Get the latest information and up-to-date news and video on all the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series competitions by going to www.stihltimbersports.com. Access behind-the-scenes photos and video on www.Facebook.com/STIHLTIMBERSPORTS and http://www.youtube.com/user/STIHLTIMBERSPORTSfan.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast - not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHL's website at www.stihlusa.com.
STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades old sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world.
The term TIMBERSPORTS® is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term TIMBERSPORTS such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS should always appear in conjunction with "STIHL."
Professional and collegiate qualifiers will be held at the University of Georgia, California Polytechnic University, Penn State University-Mont Alto, Purdue University and SUNY-Cobleskill with ESPN2 and ESPNU cameras onsite to film the action. Schedule details are available at www.stihltimbersports.com.
"With this new format, we are bringing the excitement of our professional competition to college campuses and letting our college competitors share the stage with the pros," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager, STIHL Inc. "The college athletes will be competing on ESPNU at the same time for their shot at the championships, and fans will be able to enjoy a double dose of the world's premier lumberjack sports competition."
The new 2011 format will also increase the pool of pro competitors from 32 to 50, enabling more athletes to enter the competition than ever before. The pro competition will consist of six professional lumberjack disciplines, the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop. The qualifying rounds will be held in five regions with the top four pro athletes from each qualifier moving on to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series U.S. Championship at the Oregon State Fair. These four individuals will not only compete against other competitors from around the country for the championship crown, but will also join together to represent their regions in the exciting new STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Relay Competition.
"The sport continues to grow in popularity around the world and we want to ensure that we assist in the development of the next generation of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS competitor," Phelps said.
STIHL created the Collegiate Series in 2003 to help develop future U.S. competitors, and the Collegiate Series has grown from five participating schools to 55 traveling to college campuses across the country with the ESPNU cameras to seek out the best amateur athletes. The format of the Collegiate Series will remain the same in 2011 consisting of five regional events. At each event, the participating schools select their best lumberjacks/jills to go head-to-head in four disciplines, the single buck, stock saw, standing block chop and underhand chop using professional rules and professional-sized wood with the ESPNU cameras catching all the wood-chopping action. The competitor with the most cumulative points after all four disciplines advances to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Championship.
"By hosting the professional and collegiate events together, we're giving collegiate competitors more opportunities to grow in the sport and one day join the professional ranks," said Phelps.
The Collegiate Championship, held every year in conjunction with the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS U.S. Championship, pits the five regional collegiate champions and one wildcard pick against each other. The collegiate champion not only wins an automatic spot in the Professional Series the following season, but also a spot competing on the rookie relay team in the 2011 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series World Championship held in Holland.
The 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series broadcasts on ESPN2 beginning Sunday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. ET. The complete ESPN2 schedule can be viewed here.
The 2011 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series*
Region / Location
Venue
City / State
Date
Southern Qualifier
University of Georgia
Athens, Ga.
March 17-19
Western Qualifier
Cal Poly University
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
March 23-26
Midwest Qualifier
Purdue University
West Lafayette, In.
April 9
Mid-Atlantic Qualifier
Penn State . Mont Alto
Mont Alto, Pa.
April16-17
Northeast Qualifier
SUNY-Cobleskill
Cobleskill, NY
April 29-30
U.S. and Collegiate Championship
Oregon State Fair
Salem, Ore.
August 26-28
World Championship
Roermond
Holland
September 3-4
*Dates and locations are subject to change.
Get the latest information and up-to-date news and video on all the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series competitions by going to www.stihltimbersports.com. Access behind-the-scenes photos and video on www.Facebook.com/STIHLTIMBERSPORTS and http://www.youtube.com/user/STIHLTIMBERSPORTSfan.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast - not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHL's website at www.stihlusa.com.
STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades old sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world.
The term TIMBERSPORTS® is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term TIMBERSPORTS such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS should always appear in conjunction with "STIHL."