Lumberjack sports and woodchopping competitions emerged in the late 19th century in Australia as a way of testing the skill and strength of those working in the logging industry. By the early 20th century, the first competitive events were being held in North America.
Today, lumberjack sports are played out by both men and women in elite demonstrations of power, balance, and endurance. And they include a bewildering number of weird-sounding disciplines, for example logrolling, speed pole climbing, and the awesome hot saw.
In this gallery, we examine the origins of these unique contests and explain how they are played out. Click on to continue reading.