To the best of my knowledge, there has not been a comprehensive account of the history of logger sports on the pacific coast.  The sport likely developed from the competitiveness of the forest workers.  For example, most operations paid their crews according to the work they produced -fallers were paid for the amount of timber they could fall, yarding crews were paid for the amount of wood that was delivered to the landing or mill pond.  Thus, a competitive nature was built into the logger - why not have a contest then to see who was the most agile boom-man, the most accurate axethrower or the fastest sawyer.

    Logger events or sports were usually held in conjunction with other logging camp/town celebrations.  In the Port Alberni area of Vancouver Island, there were documented log sawing competitions as early as 1910.  Large crowds would gather to cheer on the loggers as they wielded their axes and saws.  Both men and women competed in these events.  The women showed there skill in such events as the single bucking, double bucking, axe throwing and birling.   Money and trophies were given as prizes as well as merchandise from local stores (a common practice to this day).  The individual logging shows would often provide the equipment, and the local saw filer was customarily recognized for his participation.  Axe companies would hire the champions to demonstrate their products to try and boost sales.

    Many communities would open their events to outside competitors (from other towns or camps); other communities were not receptive to having outsiders at their sports day.  Although Can-Log was developed in the late 1960's to promote logger sports, the practice of "closed shows" continued to the early 1980's on Vancouver Island.  Some communities to this day prefer to have their own "local" events to keep the competition at a novice level.  Other communities join Can-Log or the American Lumberjack Association and welcome the professional competitors to see the very best from North America and the world compete for prizes.

    Just as the forest industry has gone through many technological changes, so have the logger sport events.    Chain saws significantly changed the productivity of the industry, and are popular at the present day events.  Today, the axe and the crosscut saw still predominate most events, although they look different from the original 4 peg-and-raker saws and double-bidded axes that were used.  Logger Sports has recently gained popularity from television coverage - now people can watch a condensed program featuring their favourite athletes from the comfort of their living rooms.

Submitted by Alan Boyko, Port Alberni, BC