MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Jason Wynyard feels right at home when he wraps his fingers around the handle of 15-foot crosscut saw.

He should. Wynyard has been using one since he was a child. But that's about the only similarity to home when Wynyard grabs a saw during the Stihl TimberSports Series.

	Dave Bolstad, left, and Jason Wynyard not only compete against each other, but they train together back home, too.

For instance, at the latest event during the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival in Memphis, Tenn., Wynyard was competing in front of thousands of enthusiastic spectators and in front of ESPN television cameras that will show him competing to millions of viewers across the globe.

But when Wynyard returns to his native New Zealand, he will compete in tournaments just about every weekend in relative obscurity. On average, 50 or 60 spectators will witness many of the top lumberjacks in the world give their all, and it's only on race occasions that their talents are displayed on television for their countrymen to see or in print for them to read.

The irony is not lost on Wynyard, considering he and fellow countryman Dave Bolstad are considered the kings of the sport, with a combined five TimberSports Championship titles, all in the last five years. Unfortunately, while many of the world's top lumberjacks come from New Zealand, they must travel halfway across the world to find greater recognition and financial reward for their hard work.

"We don't hardly get any publicity back in New Zealand, which is a real big shame," said Wynyard, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 295 pounds. "It's really nice to have a large crowd screaming, hooting and hollering. It makes you proud when you compete in front of a crowd. We really enjoy it."

Such enthusiasm, though, did take some getting used to, he said.

"It was really hard for me when I came over here at the start. I've been coming over here for five years now, so I'm a little more used to it now," he said. "When I first came over, it was like, 'Oh, wow, look at all these people.' You really have to focus on what you're doing, but it's quite pleasing for me now."

It is in the chopping events that the New Zealanders excel at. Many got their first ax at about the time their counterparts in the U.S. got their first bicycle. Their proficiency with an ax coupled with their travel to the states is something many of the American competitors are happy about.

For instance, Matt Bush is thankful that the New Zealanders now spend two to three months of the year in the United States because it improves the performance of the Americans.

"The fact I (won the silver medal at the 2001 ESPN Great Outdoor Games) has a lot to do with the guys from New Zealand, like David (Bolstad), helping me out with my chopping. He comes to my house to stay in the summers and we train together. Without their influence, without those guys coming over here, Americans can't improve, really, to that level."

Bolstad said he comes to the United States because that is where the top tournaments are taking place. And the reason they are the top tournaments is because they offer greater purses.

"We're here because of the Stihl TimberSports Series and the Great Outdoor Games. These are two of the biggest things happening in the world today, and that's where your competitors are. If you want to be up there where the best competitors are, you've got to follow them."

Bolstad said the travel abroad is not something he gets a lot of joy from, but he feels compelled to do it.

"I have some personal goals," he said.

Many of the top lumberjacks in the world also come from Australia, where an annual show in Sydney also draws thousands of spectators. That show is part of a larger agriculture show in which Aussies go to view livestock, produce and farm equipment.

While the tournaments in New Zealand may not offer the financial incentives or the worldwide recognition that some events in the United States bring, Wynyard said people should not underestimate how much the New Zealand lumberjacks love to compete in their home country.

The tournaments are set up differently there. Most of the events focus on wood chopping, while in the U.S., there are climbing and log rolling competitions, too. The New Zealanders also use a handicap system that allows mid-level lumberjacks to compete with the best.

"The money in the states is a hell of a lot better than we get at home, but I think we have a lot of pride when we compete at home," Wynyard said. "It's not all about the money, you know. It's about trying to win that particular championship and for the love of the sport."