The world’s reigning lumberjack champion will cut a piece of wood atop a 9-foot pole on Saturday when he attempts to qualify for nationals, the first step in defending his title at Triple S Harley Davidson
And no, his name isn’t Paul Bunyan. And since Webster County native Matt Cogar, the world champion, isn’t a giant, in order to reach that wood 9 feet up he’ll need to make notches in the pole, stick a 6-inch-wide board in there, jump up and then do it again.
That event is called the springboard chop and is one of six disciplines the lumberjacks compete in. Others include the underhand chop, hot saw, stock saw, single buck and standing block chop.
Cogar is a six-time American champion and won his first world title this year at a competition in Sweden. Cogar said he got interested in the sport at a young age and used to travel to 10 or 15 events a year with his dad. He started learning the sport at 12, first from his dad, then other lumberjack athletes.
His cousin, Arden Cogar Jr. and other recognizable athletes from the Stihl Timbersports Series, such as Jason Lentz, Mike Sullivan and Australian champion Laurence O’Toole, will also be competing in Saturday’s mid-Atlantic regional national qualifier.
The competition begins at noon and gates open at 10 a.m. LaBeth Hall, owner of PR Plus Events and the event’s organizer, said there will be food trucks, and vendors, including a chainsaw carver who will make and sell custom carvings.
The cost for adults is $8, children 6-12 are $2 and under 6 are free.
The Dominion Post, Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau, WKKW, Middletown Tractor Sales, Glotfelty Tire Centers and Candlewood Suites are sponsoring the event.
