Stihl Timbersports, the sport of the Boscaioli who likes women

The Italian championship 2025 of Stihl timbersports, with the victory of the athlete Michel Perrinwho triumphed against the strongest blue athletes on the circuit.

The athletes and athletes of the Rookies Cup and Women’s Cup competitions also shone in the Südtirol Arena. The Italian Marta Poletti, champion of the 2024 edition, positioned himself in second place in this edition of 2025, establishing the national record in the Standing Block Chop and Single Buck disciplines.

But what are we talking about? Of extreme international sports competitions focus on the cutting of the wood. Not for nothing they are considered the “sport of the Boscaioli” par excellence.

A discipline, therefore, prerogative of men only? But no. To understand what pushes – above all a woman – to approach this type of sport we asked the Italian champion Marta Poletti.

Marta, how did you approach this discipline and why would you recommend practicing it?
«I approached this sport after seeing the Italian championship in Bormio in 2017 together with my boyfriend. Later, we decided to try to participate in a training camp and from that moment we have never stopped. We started training in the lawn behind the house and little by little we created our training areas where we spend most of our time together ».

What are the main physical and/or mental benefits for you?
«More than physical level I found mental benefits. Yes, of course, they are certainly more in the form of before, but this sport has taught me that calmly and willing strength the results come. I initially struggled a lot but the constancy and commitment that I put are finally repaying. The technique in this sport matters more than physical strength in itself and for me the goal is to achieve perfection from that point of view. They are one of the most minute athletes in this sport but I can also get it well in international contexts ».

How stihl timbersports® was born

In 1985, Stihl USA, a company that markets garden tools, launched the STIHL Timbersports® competitions in the United States together with the Espn sports channel. In Europe competitions landed in 2001.

In these competitions, both nationally and internationally, athletes generally challenge each other in three disciplines with ax and three others with the saw and chainsaw. Springboard, UnderHand Chop and Standing Block Chop are the classic ax disciplines. Instead, in the Single Buck (traditional saw), in Stock Saw (Standard STIHL MS 661 chainsaw) and in Hot Saw (enhanced chainsaws up to 80 HP) The athletes use different tools to complete the disciplines in the shortest possible time.

The “rules of the game”

Courtesy of stihl timbersports®

Just to give you an idea of how it works, in Springboard two wooden platforms (Springboard) must be placed inside a trunk anchored vertically, so as to be used as a support by the athletes in their attempt to split the wooden block with a diameter of 27 cm placed at the top, at about 2.80 meters in height. For rookie (debutants) only a Springboard table is used and then you work on a lower height. This is the most prestigious discipline, Because here it does not only count the precise technique and the strength of the athlete, but also the balance and the ability.

In the Single Buckwith a hand saw about two meters long, the athletes cut a wooden disc from a block fixed horizontally. The rhythm and technique are fundamental To cut quickly, trying to take the least possible time.

The Hot SawsInstead, they are extremely powerful chainsaws, developed individually by athletes. The purpose of this discipline is that of Cut three wooden discs as quickly as possible within 15 cm from the wooden block anchored horizontally. The challenge consists in controlling the power of these chainsaws that can reach up to 80 HP. With a speed of the chain that reaches 240 km/he weighing about 27 kg, they require, from the athletes, maximum lucidity and impeccable performance.

Have we intrigued you? The next stage of the World Championship 2025 It is held on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October 2025 at the Allianz Cloud in Milan. If you want to attend the race, tickets are already available On Ticketone.