The Stihl Timbersports Series is a series of woodsman or wood chopping competitions where the athletes compete in the use of axes and saws in manners typical for lumberjacks. It was founded in 1985, and currently includes six different disciplines, with both professional and collegiate divisions. The terms 'timbersports' and 'timber sports' are trademarked by Stihl Inc.
Stihl Timbersports began in 1985, and the earliest broadcasts were made from a field in Wisconsin, United States, using a single camera on a forklift. At this time, there was no overall Series championship. Instead, awards were given for performances in individual events on venues around the country. Stihl, however, had a vision of a series that would bring the best athletes together and let them compete in several events and thus determine who was the best overall lumberjack.
With the help of Granite State Lumberjack Shows, the Series evolved and has become a very prestigious competition. Athletes from all around the world take part in the Series with European athletes taking part in the Series since 2005.
The Series has also spawned a college series, the Stihl Timbersports Collegiate Series, involving over 60 collegiate woodsman teams in the US and Canada. The winner of this series automatically receives a seed for next year's professional series.
The Canadian Series created their first Women's Professional Division in 2013. 2017 marks the creation of their first Women's Professional Division.
The Series celebrated its 30th anniversary in the spring of 2015.
The Series involves both men and women competitors. There are currently three divisions: Men's Rookie Division, Men's Professional Division and Women's Professional Division. The three disciplines that are completed by the Pro Women's Division are Underhand Chop, Single Buck and Stock Saw. The four disciplines completed by the Men's Rookie Division are Underhand Chop, Standing Block Chop, Single Buck and Stock Saw. The six disciplines completed by the Men's Professional Division are Underhand Chop, Standing Block Chop, Spring Board, Single Buck, Hot Saw and Stock Saw.
In order to be chosen as a Stihl Timbersports Athlete, one must fill out an application form and an athlete resume. The resume consists of the best times with each discipline. After the application process they choose the top eight athletes from the East Coast for each division and the top eight from the West Coast. The Men's Professional Division automatically move on to the National Championship. The Men's Rookie and the Women's Professional Division have Qualifier Competitions on each coast, where the result being the top four competitors from each division move onto the National Championship. The Men's and Women's Professional Division does not have a maximum age limit. The Men's Rookie Division has a maximum age limit of 25. Currently there is not an established World Championship for the top female competitor. The men's divisions both compete for the top spot to move onto the World Men's Championship and the World Rookie Championship which is held in the European Union every fall. If one wins the World Rookie Division then one automatically must move up to compete in the Men's Professional Division. The Men's Professional Division also compete for spots on Team Canada to partake in the World Relay Champion's Trophy, also held in Europe every fall.[1]
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Each year, starting in 2015, the Stihl Timbersports Series celebrates athletes who have made an impact in the sport by inducting them into the Timbersports Hall of Fame. Here are the inductees:[6]
The Series is currently seen by over 20 million viewers annually on a variety of networks across 62 countries, including ABC, ESPN, Eurosport, Outdoor Channel, Stadium and more. It is recognized as the longest running show on ESPN other than SportsCenter.[7] Tommy Sanders has served as on-air host of the American Series since 1992, whilst Dan Anstey has hosted the Australian edition since 2017.
The Series currently involves six disciplines.[8][9][10]
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Each year across the US and world, Timbersports athletes battle to be named series champion. The Timbersports Series champions since the competition's inception are:
1985 - 
Mike Sullivan
1986 - Mel Lentz
1987 - Rolin Eslinger
1988 - Mel Lentz
1989 - Rolin Eslinger
1990 - Mel Lentz
1991 - Mel Lentz
1992 - Mel Lentz
1993 - Rolin Eslinger
1994 - Matt Bush
1995 - Mel Lentz
1996 - Harry Burnsworth
1997 - 
Jason Wynyard
1998 - Jason Wynyard
1999 - Jason Wynyard
2000 - Jason Wynyard
2001 - David Bolstad
2002 - Jason Wynyard
2003 - David Bolstad
2004 - David Bolstad
2005 - Matt Bush
2006 - Jason Wynyard
2007 - David Bolstad
2008 - David Bolstad
2009 - Jason Wynyard
2010 - Jason Wynyard
2011 - Jason Wynyard
2012 - Jason Wynyard
2013 - 
Brad De Losa
2014 - Jason Wynyard
2015 - Jason Wynyard
2016 - Jason Wynyard
2017 - Jason Wynyard
2018 - Laurence O'Toole
2019 - Brayden Meyer
2021 - Jason Lentz
2022 - Brad De Losa
2010 - New Zealand
2011 - Australia
2012 - New Zealand
2013 - New Zealand
2014 - Australia
2015 - Australia
2016 - Australia
2017 - New Zealand[11]
2018 - Australia
2019 - Australia
2022 - Australia
Nathan Cumberland[12] Ben Cumberland[13] Ben Cumberland
Ferry Svan[14] Daniel Gurr Chris Lord Jack Argent Arden Cogar Jr. Arden Cogar Jr. Arden Cogar Jr. Melvin Lentz Arden Cogar Jr. Matt Cogar Matt Cogar Matt Cogar Matt Cogar[15] Matt Cogar[16] Matt Cogar Cassidy Scheer Jason Lentz Matt Cogar
Spike Milton Robert Chatley Elgan Pugh Elgan Pugh Elgan Pugh Elgan Pugh Elgan Pugh Elgan Pugh Glen Penlington
Thomas Gerber
Martin Komarek Martin Komarek Martin Komarek Martin Komarek
Dirk Braun Dirk Braun United Kingdom
France
Switzerland Switzerland Czech Republic J.P. Mercier[17] J.P. Mercier[17] Stirling Hart[18] Marcel Dupuis[19] Stirling Hart[18] Mitch Hewitt Nathan Cumberland Marcel Dupuis Marcel Dupuis Nathan Cumberland[12] Ben Cumberland[13] George Williams[20] Thomas Henderson Connor Morse Thian Carman
