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Story & photos by Barb Rees
A clown dances atop a 32-metre pole. A chain-saw carver turns a log into a mermaid. This and more filled Powell River Logger Sports for its revival in 2016 as 25,000 people attended the three-day event.
Let’s go back to 1985 with Bob Marquis and his family who originally started it. Bob had travelled around the world on the logger sports circuit. He was one of 20 guys in the world who could chop through a 13-inch alder in 20 seconds. In 2000, he competed in Germany in a ‘Guinness World Records’ logger sports in the underhanded single buck and tree fall. From each venue he brought back ideas to create a world-class event in Powell River. Any logger sports that want to attract top competitors need to have top prize money. When the Marquis family started in 1985 all they had was $3,000 in sponsored prize money, but it still brought in top guys. That’s a far cry from 2017 when the prize money is $60,000 - $100,000. From its inception, they’ve awarded a special Powell River Logger Sports jacket to promote the sport and the town. Volunteer burn out ended the event in 2004, but like a pinecone seed it laid dormant waiting for someone to nourish it to life again.
That happened when Pieta Wooley of Powell River Living interviewed Bob Marquis for the 2015 issue of “Ferns & Fallers.” She asked him about bringing back Powell River Logger Sports. His answer was, “If you find 5,000 volunteers I’ll consider it.” When the magazine hit the streets along with launching a Facebook page, the idea took off like wildfire. Hundreds of people signed up within days. The town met Bob’s challenge. He ran with it. With the help of hundreds of volunteers a new improved version was born. They built a permanent amphitheatre called the “Loggers Memorial Bowl” on the side hill at Willingdon Beach along with raising two 32-metre poles.
By July 15th, 2016 everything was in place. 80-90 competitors, male and female, would compete in four categories. Food and craft vendors filled the park. Laura Passek, one of the organizers, brought in ten chain-saw carvers. They took over the waterfront above the park where they turned logs into intricate works of art. We watched as they turned out whales, salmon, bears, mermaids, benches, eagles, a cougar, a pirate with a monkey, and more. The City of Powell River sponsored three of the carvers and kept their carvings to situate around town. Willingdon Creek Care Facility set aside a special place at their entrance way for a whale and salmon. Other carvings would be displayed at sponsor’s locations.
As Bob stood with the mayor at the opening and looked at the huge crowd, they reminisced about events of this size in the past that gave back to the community. The Friday entrance fee was food or monetary donation to the Food Bank. $3,000 was donated. When people asked Bob why he got back into it, he answered, “It’s easy. Once you see the smiles on the people’s faces; that’s it. I don’t do it for the accolades.”
Part of the comedic entertainment was clown Sterling Hart being “chased” up one of the poles by an irate father. High above the crowds he wowed the crowds dancing and juggling. In the end he was shot by the father and fell down the zip line. When he’s not clowning around Sterling Hart is Canada’s top competitor on the springboard. He set a new world record.
Competitors arrived from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, USA and of course, Canada. Bob says that in Australia and New Zealand, speed chopping is as huge as hockey is over here. Events included tree climbing, axe throwing, springboard, Chokermen’s Race, Jack & Jill partners, and more. Champions included Sterling Hart, Jesse Whitehead, and Mitch Huet. The oldest competitor has been competing for over 45 years. Gordy Maul, at 72 years of age proved he still had it when he won the ‘Springboard chop’ and the ‘Intermediate All Round Logger of the Day.’ He also competed with his 10-year-old grandson on the springboard.
Bob’s peers took him by surprise when they presented him with a carved statue of himself. He always said there wasn’t room in town for two of him. There is now.
Andy Burns was honoured and presented with the special Logger Sports jacket for decades in the logging business, supporting generations of families in the area.
Besides the sports, food and craft vendors filled the lower park. Those not into watching the events grabbed a delicious morsel and sat on the beach or went for a walk along Willingdon Beach Trail.
During July 14th-16th, 2017, TSN will be filming Powell River Logger Sports with 5 World Championships and 12 Canadian Championships with $80,000-$100,000 in prize money. This will be one of the largest Logger Sports in the world. It is the only one to have 12 championships, while combining carving and logger’s events in the same area.
The best place in the city to camp is beside the venue at Willingdon Beach Campground with its beachfront location, but it is booked a year in advance for the Sports. They may have tenting sites left for 2017. Other places to camp outside the city are Haywire Bay Regional Park, Inland Provincial Park, Saltery Bay Provincial Park, Garnet Rock Campground and Sunlund by the Sea in Lund. Check with tourism for details and availability www.powellriver.info; www.powellriver.info/willingdon_campground
Put Powell River on your destination list this summer for the Logger Sports - www.powellriverloggersports.com