VandalJacks Cut Through Competition this Fall

Early on a Saturday morning in Moscow, a gravel road unfolds, adorned with tents, stacks of wood, and bustling crowds. Further up the road, a muddy gravel parking lot appeared, leaving my car’s traction uncertain. Despite the hesitancy, I persisted and found a spot. Wearing three layers of clothing, the cold persisted, prompting me to retrieve my quilt blanket from the car. Although the sun was shining, the air retained cold enough to make my breath visible. Approaching the outdoor arena, I was welcomed with the scent of fresh-cut wood, accompanied by the cackling of burning logs in the fire pits, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of camping. This calm walk to the arena, however, swiftly transformed into an atmosphere of cheers and screams, signaling that this was nothing like camping.

These enthusiastic sounds composed a symphony of encouragement from the gathered crowd who eagerly awaited the impressive displays of skill that were about to unfold in the traditional timber sports and lumberjack show-style. The arena belonged to the University of Idaho’s “Vandaljacks” timber sports team, hosting the annual Lumberjack Classic. Colleges from across the Pacific Northwest including Northern Arizona University, Flathead Valley Community College, Colorado State, Oregon State, University of British Columbia, Montana State, University of Idaho, and University of Montana, were all represented.

The rhythmic background noise of chainsaws humming added a touch of anticipation to the lively ambiance, setting the stage for a day filled with various events. Wood chips soared through the air as axes struck with precision into blocks of wood, each strike met with applause. The morning chill still lingered as participants exhaled variable puffs between swings of their axes. Dynamic events, like the Jack and Jill competition, featured duos using a 7-foot crosscut to carve through wood. Nick Barrett, an active competitor and transfer Forestry student from Hocking College in southern Ohio, emphasized the profound connections forged with teammates and competitors as the most rewarding aspect of logger sports, describing it as a community that shares common goals and hobbies.

On the other side of the arena, competitors lined up for a thrilling obstacle course, navigating log hurdles and wooden beam poles while carrying a choker–a cable and hook mechanism used to drag logs. Balancing on wet and muddy wooden beams proved challenging, with competitors enduring hard falls. Emma Macon, the club president from Auburn, California, not only competed in events like the choker race, she also played a pivotal role in the successful home competition turnout hosting seven different schools and roughly 150 competitors. Macon describes these numbers as being comparable to the Conclave, a big annual competition in the western U.S. “This was a huge accomplishment considering how small our competition grounds are and the fact that we had two days to do it”. 

The horizontal/vertical chop showcased competitors using axes to cut through wood, exhibiting precision and efficiency with every mesmerizing ax strike. In the horizontal chop, contestants stood on the wood, swinging their axes at the wood, often mere inches from their feet, strategically aiming to conserve energy. The exhaustion on their faces was evident with every strike, showcasing the fierce competition demanding both physical skill and mental fortitude.

Proficient in vertical chop, Chris Rau, Captain of the team and junior in Forestry, reflects on a memorable experience from his first competition in Fort Collins, CO, where he secured awards and solidified his passion for the sport. Rau describes logger sports as a competition with many events that are derived from traditional logging practices, and he likes to think of it as “a rodeo for people who work in the woods”.

Teammates became the heartbeat of the event, offering vocal support and coaching advice to not only their fellow teammates but also their competitors. Deep breaths were urged, and strategies were shared as athletes sought to maximize their energy in the demanding competitions. The dynamic of different teams supporting one another added an extra layer of camaraderie to the competition, transforming the arena into a collective celebration of skill and sportsmanship.

Preparing for such a demanding sport requires great preparation and lots of practice. Student athlete Josey Bouhanna, participating in five open events, emphasized the importance of repetition for mastering proper technique. Bouhanna, a junior majoring in Ecology and Conservation Biology, explains that there is always more to learn to continue to get better. She states that to mentally prepare for a competition she “tries to stay out of her head and cheer on her team while getting into the excitement”. Ryan Trenkel, another member of the team who serves as the Club EMT and is actively involved in various events, states that depending on the events each person chooses to practice will dictate how much physical conditioning a competitor would need per competition. 

The competition’s appeal reached a broad audience, captivating even those unfamiliar with logger sports. From the axe throw and horizontal hard-hit chop to the choker obstacle race and pole climb, the events showcased a harmonious fusion of tradition and modern excitement. As the day unfolded, the outdoor arena transformed into a captivating stage, where the legacy of lumberjacks met the enthusiasm of a diverse and captivated audience. Watching the “Vandaljacks” revealed the essence of camaraderie, aptly described by Nick Barrett with the words “grit, camaraderie, and rugged.”

Article by Makayla Kelly, Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences

Photo provided by VandalJack club

Published December 2023.