On Saturday, April 16, Flathead Valley Community College’s logger sports team is hosting Stumpjumper Days, its annual home competition. The team enters the tournament having recently earned first-place finishes against much larger Division I schools at University of Idaho and the Association of Western Forestry Clubs Conclave at Cal Poly University, where the FVCC squad outscored 12 competing teams.
Events on Saturday include the axe throw, horizontal hard hit chop, obstacle pole buck, single buck and bonzaii logger, among others. Fifty-six students from four colleges and universities in the Northwest United States will compete: University of Montana, University of Idaho, Colorado State University and FVCC.
The competition is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at FVCC Logger Sports Arena, located east of Hutton Ranch Plaza off of U.S. Highway 93 in Kalispell. Turn east at first stop light just north of FVCC, which takes you through Hutton Ranch Plaza and onto a gravel road. Follow the road up the hill to the arena.
Loggers sports are a lot of fun to watch. But more than that, they remind us of this region’s logging heritage.
According to a press release:
“The purpose of logger sports is to acknowledge the rich history of forestry and logging and keep traditions alive. Event participants will be competing for the Bull of the Woods, Belle of the Woods and Top Team Awards. FVCC has hosted the annual competition since 1972, with the exception of 2006 when the new logger sports arena was under construction. Community members are invited to attend, and admission is free.”
Contact Bob Beall at 756-3898 or Annie Beall at [email protected] for more information.