Less than twelve seconds. It is within a few tenths (11”58) of the time it takes Pierre Puybaret to cut a 46 cm diameter slice of wood with a saw. Impressive ? This kind of performance has been visible for a few years on television. Since the chain The Team has decided to broadcast an ultra-confidential sport: sports logging.
“Becoming visible has done us a lot of good”, appreciates the six-time reigning French champion. Don’t be fooled, however: his passion still attracts very few licensees. Officially, they are 63, according to figures provided by the National Federation of Sport in rural areas. “More and more young people are interested in it, but when they are told that there are only seven or eight clubs in France, and that you sometimes have to travel 300 km to train, it blocks you”, continues the Corrézien by birth, now settled in Isère.
“I built a 45 m² shed right next to my house”
Because sports logging, which organizes its world championships rookies (under 25), Friday in Vienna (Austria), cannot be reduced to stupidly chopping wood. There are up to six disciplines in competition: three with the ax (vertical, horizontal, on a springboard), two with the chainsaw and one with the master saw. “Each one is very different,” notes the Alsatian Loïc Voinson, national champion among the rookies, and therefore in the running this week at the World Cup. Loud of sound world record gleaned on April 23 in single buckwhen he cut a 40 centimeter washer with a master saw in 11”09.
He trains “up to four times a week”. Often with another practitioner who lives nearby, Julien Meyer. Or directly to his home. “I built a 45 m² hangar right next to my house just for that,” he explains. Without being an exception: another member of the France team, Alexandre Meurisse did the same. “For me, it’s more complicated, but the town hall of my village provides me with a small piece of land”, continues Pierre Puybaret, emphasizing the “technical” side of his sport.
None of these athletes obviously looks like a twig
Why ? “Because already, you have to know the species of wood well”, answers Loïc Voinson, well equipped in the matter since he is… a lumberjack by profession. Oak won’t cut the same way as fir and poplar, which are said to be the easiest to work with. Unlike eucalyptus or beech. From these differences will arise a sharpening of the tool to be constantly adapted. “People sometimes think that it’s more difficult to tackle this or that wood, but that’s not true, you’ll just have to change equipment”, insists Pierre Puybaret, who will defend his national title from 1st to 3rd July in Schirrhein (Bas-Rhin).
Of course, the physical aspect is not to be neglected. None of the three athletes mentioned so far obviously looks like a twig. Loïc Voinson for example, it is 1.85 m for 98 kg. Result of a few specific sessions: “I have a bodybuilding coach with a specific program to develop explosive strength and maximum strength”. In order to adapt to an intense effort which can last a dozen seconds, just like 1’30” for the trophy, when four events are chained. “It’s like a little decathlon,” laughs Pierre Puybaret, admitting his current difficulties in reconciling family life and training since the birth of his daughter.
Australian Jason Wynyard looks invincible
Especially since sport logging does not pay or pays little. Even the best French people work in parallel. “I believe that in the world there is only one pro, the Australian Jason Wynyardthe man to beat (14 times world champion)”, continues the man who finished fifth in the last Worlds.
Like many, he performs a few demonstrations in demonstrations to “pay for the equipment”, but not enough to live on. None of this takes anything away from their passion. “It’s really fun to chop wood,” summarizes Alexandre Meurisse, aware that his declaration of love for his sport should not convince many people. “Until we try, we can’t know…”