OSHKOSH, Wisc. — It's back to the Clash of Titans in the Stihl TimberSports Series at the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoor Games Festival in Oshkosh, Wisc.

The same drama that punctuated the start of this series will carry over to the final day of competition, with the two giants of the sport going head to head, for what amounts to a meaningless points title and a nominal sum of money.

The 6 Lumberjacking Events

The Springboard, which is an event based on the days when lumberjacks were unable to cut large trees because their crosscut saws were often too small. To overcome this, loggers would use springboards to ascend the tree 10 to 15 feet up where they could make a cut through it. To get to the top, loggers cut a slot into the tree, shoved a board into it, climbed up on it, repeated the process and then chopped through the tree. The Underhand Chop, which recalls a time when woodsmen had to use their axes to "buck" or cut through a fallen tree. In this event, competitors stand atop a block of wood, chop the front side before turning around and finishing the cut on the backside. The Standing Chop, an event which simulates the felling of a tree with an axe. The Single Buck, one of the oldest events in logging sports, which requires the competitor to cut through an 18- or 20-inch log with a cross cut saw. The Stock Saw, which is a contest that measures the competitors' skill with identically tuned consumer-grade chainsaws. The Hot Saw, which is similar to the stock saw with the exception that these individually tuned saws utilize snowmobile engines fueled by high-test fuel.

"It (the points title) doesn't mean a whole lot," Jason Wynyard said. "The main thing is to be in the top 12 to make it to the final championship. But it would be nice to win it. I want to win it. I'll be going for it."

On one side is Wynyard, standing in at 6' 4" and weighing in around 275 pounds, and on the other is Dave Bolstad, 6' 4" and weighing 300 pounds. From the start of the series almost two months ago, the re-match of these giant lumberjacks has been at center stage.

Bolstad, of Taumarunui, New Zealand is the reigning TimberSports Champion. He won the title in 2001, virtually walking away with the championship after winning four of the six events. It was a convincing victory in the eyes of everyone but Wynyard.

In the four years preceding that contest, Wynyard of Auckland, New Zealand was the undisputed champion, having won four straight TimberSports championships.

When the 2002 season kicked off, it was evident to everyone that Wynyard was competing to prove that he hadn't lost the crown for good. And for most of the series, Wynyard had little trouble proving it.

He took the points lead in the initial four days of competition and has yet to relinquish it after seven days of chopping and sawing. But the seventh day, Friday, proved that Bolstad might have his sights set on giving Wynyard a run for the money.

Bolstad won every chopping event during Friday's round, narrowing Wynyard's lead in the point standings by a slim four-point margin. And while Bolstad was charging, Wynyard was faltering a bit, mainly by suffering a back injury in the underhand chop. Together, Wynyard's injury and Bolstad's come from behind charge, has set the stage for a no-holds barred finish in the final day of the Stihl TimberSports Series. At least from a spectator standpoint.

Both of the lumberjacks excel at understatement.

"Where I'd like to win most is in the championship, I'm not going to get carried away with points until the finals," Bolstad said.

"In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter," Wynyard said.

Their statements were made even though each was eyeing the overall point standings.

"Make no mistake about it, those guys want the bragging rights," said John Hughes, ESPN TimberSports analyst. "I know Wynyard wants it just to be back on top. He wants to prove something. Bolstad is charging and Wynyard is hurt, neither of these guys is going to let up. It means something to them and they are the ultimate competitors."

	Click here to see action from the last Stihl TimberSports Series stop.

Competitiveness would have to be the driving force. The lumberjacks are only two of 26 men who have competed all summer to make a final 12-man field. Those finalists will compete in the Stihl TimberSports Championship in September. Making the field is the primary goal, the only difference between first and second and is about $100 in prize money.

At the finals, each of the lumberjacks begin with a clean slate. Going into the final day both lumberjacks are basically assured of making the championship, but who wins the season won't be settled until the last log is cut on Saturday.

In Wynyard's favor is the fact he has qualified in all of the six events, while Bolstad has qualified for only five. The extra event could prove the margin in the points' standings. But Bolstad has come on so strong and Wynyard's back injury so unexpected that pundits believe the points' title is still up in the air.

All of the contests are judged on speed. And because the TimberSports Series requires each of the competitors to compete in each of the events, the overall champion becomes the undisputed lumberjack champion of the world.

The six events require the lumberjacks to exhibit a variety of skills that make up the overall woodsman (see sidebar).