Lumberjack World Championships - Hayward, Wisconsin

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POLE CLIMBERS

Brian Bartow
Brian Bartow from Grants Pass, Oregon is a fierce competitor, having held the 90-foot Speed Climb title in 1999,2000,2004, 2005 and in 2006 when he set a new world record with a time of: 19.87. Once again, Brian took home a first place finish last year with a time of :19.88, just 1/100th of a second off his world record time. Brian also holds the world record on the 60 foot speed climb with a time of: 12.33, which he set in 2005. Taught to climb by his father, Brian once again won the 60 ft. climb at last year's championships with a time of: 12.49. Bartow states that he was born into this sport as his father was also a multi-year world champion.

Guy German
German, 51, is a construction contractor from Columbus, Nebraska whose interest in timber sports began when he was vacationing in Sitka, Alaska and saw a local timber sports competition. Captivated by the danger and ruggedness of speed climbing, he then and there decided that this was something he would like to do. A Three-Time World Champion in the 90 ft. pole climb (1988, 1990, 2002) he took 4th place at the 2008 Lumberjack World Championships in the 90 ft. pole climb. Guy is also known in climbing circles as the man who revolutionized the toe gaff. With his modifications, times of speed climbers were able to be dramatically increased over those of the past.

Stirling Hart
Hart, a lumberjack entertainer hailing from Maple Ridge, British Columbia is the current title holder of the Steelhead Champion of Champions Award. Hart spent 6 months last summer traveling around New Zealand and Australia wood chopping. Making his very first appearance at the Lumberjack World Championships last year he took home third place in the 90 foot speed climb.

Joel Kapp
A Gregory, Michigan native, Kapp at age 28 is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to try new things and feels his best events are log rolling and speed climbing. Joel stays active as head coach of the Ketchikan Cohos, a co-ed log rolling team from Alaska that has 120 students. He speed climbs as often as he can with the goal of "each climb to be faster than the last". Evidently this training regimen is paying off, as Joel took home last year a 4th place finish in the 60 ft. speed climb.

Derek Knutson
Knutson, 22, a Hayward native, started his timber sports career working during the summer months for a local lumberjack show. Though relatively new to pro competition, Derek proved he could more than hold his own against such seasoned veterans as German and Bartow at last year's championships, placing second in both the 90 ft. and the 60 ft. climbs. Asked once to describe climbing in 3 words, his reply was "Escape from reality".

Shane Sabin
Sabin, a Hayward native and another relative newcomer to the pro ranks of speed climbing, works as a professional lumberjack entertainer during the summer months. In 2007 Sabin placed 5th in the 90 ft. Speed Climb and last year Sabin took home 3rd place in the 60 ft. Speed Climb.