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New Zealanders dominate Men's Timber Endurance event
By Kevin Freking
Special to GOG
|  | | Jason Wynyard, right, outlasted Matt Bush to win the Timber Endurance event. |
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Jason Wynyard of New Zealand can once again claim that he is king of the lumberjacks after winning the men's endurance gold medal Saturday at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games.
Wynyard, a 6-foot 4-inch, 295-pound mountain of a man, made his second consecutive gold medal in this event look rather easy. He completed the the endurance finals in 59.37 seconds, defeating the only American who placed in the top four — Matt Bush of Croghan, N.Y. Bush did not complete the round after it was clear that Wynyard had won.
"There's a lot involved with this event. It takes a huge mental focus," Wynyard said. "You've got three disciplines that all require different techniques and they all have their ins-and-outs. It's very hard to put all three of them back-to-back. I really wanted to win it because it means a lot to me to be able to compete in these three major events."
The endurance competition is the ultimate event for the lumberjacks. If there were just one gold medal the lumberjacks could put around their neck at the end of the Great Outdoor Games, many competitors say it would be this event, which covers two chopping sequences and one sawing sequence. The Great Outdoor Games is the only tournament to have such an event.
Wynyard is one of only a handful of competitors who makes a living strictly by competing in lumberjack tournaments in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. He jumped out to a slight lead after the first sequence, in which, the men stand atop a 12-inch block of Aspen and then swing their six-pound ax between their feet until the block is severed.
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You have to really be on your game when you come here, because if you make one mistake, then you're done. ” |
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— Jason Wynyard
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Wynyard gradually lengthened his lead over Bush in the second event. That's when the competitors chopped another 12-inch block that was placed vertically in a stand. As the two men swung their axes, huge chunks of wood flew into the air. It took about 20 swings of the ax to sever both blocks.
"Everybody looks at the chopping like it's a real strength thing," Bush said. "But really, it's a lot like playing golf — taking proper angles and proper long swings. It's a real timing game."
Wynyard calmly walked to the third discipline in which competitors use a six-foot long saw to cut their way through a pine log that is 20 inches in diameter. He said he walks between the three disciplines to help him gain his breath. Bush was only about halfway through the final log when Wynyard finished.
"If you run to the sawing, you really peter out quickly," Wynyard said.
Bush defeated David Bolstad of New Zealand in the semifinals. He was behind after the chopping sequences, but quickly gained ground in the sawing event. He did this despite competing with an injured left thumb. Bush severed a tendon in the thumb about a month ago, and it required surgery. Bush said it didn't hurt his cutting any, but he clearly was in pain after the various competitions. The area where the thumb hurt most was in endurance, Bush said, because he did not get to train as much as he would have liked.
"The fact I was there has a lot to do with those guys from New Zealand," Bush said. "David has helped me with my chopping. Without them guys coming over here, Americans can't improve to that level."
The New Zealanders also took the top two spots last year. Bush took third and was viewed as the American's best shot of winning.
The bronze medal went to Bolstad (1:04.59), who defeated fellow countryman Dion Lane (1:05.32).
Wynyard said the New Zealanders have more chopping events in their tournaments, which gives them an advantage when they compete in the United States.
"We're lucky in that we have a lot more harder wood and we do a lot more wood chopping," Wynyard said. "We've got a little more skill in that area."
But Wynyard quickly added that New Zealanders are not cocky. They don't take the Americans lightly, and they realize that the American competitors can quickly take advantage of any mistakes his countrymen make in the competition.
Wynyard said he loves the Great Outdoor Games because the crowds are large and enthusiastic. He said the tournaments in New Zealand don't generate as much publicity. There are also more events in the New Zealand tournaments, giving the athletes more room for error.
"You have to really be on your game when you come here, because if you make one mistake, then you're done," Wynyard said. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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