Lumberjack show thrills Sisters crowd

The cry of "Yo-Ho!" rang out into a steel gray sky during the D.L. Weatherhead Timberworks Lumberjack Show, as a lively crew entertained a damp but energetic crowd on Saturday.

Forty-five-foot American-flag-topped climbing poles flanked the main stage and drew curious visitors onto bleachers and soggy haybales. The impromptu logging camp rose out of the barren field at the end of Hood Avenue, as lumberjacks, with axes and saws at the ready, showcased old-fashioned skills that formed the daily life of turn-of-the-century lumbermills and timber gangs.

Between shows, chainsaw artist Skip Armstrong provided a demonstration of his unique work at an outdoor gallery showcasing several dramatic sculptures of eagles in flight, swirling salmon and stampeding buffalo. Armstrong cut and diced a hunk of dark walnut with each grinding pass, while onlookers tried to guess what the finished animal would be. As he switched chainsaws for the more delicate details, a group of three great blue herons emerged.

Lumberjack Xander Waibel of Portland was back for his second year with the lumberjack troupe, after spending a summer in Alaska doing timbersports exhibitions for cruise ships and tourists.

"It's not quite competing, but it pays the bills," he said. "I was here last year, too, and the people seemed to really like it. We do an Ironjack show with two lumberjacks, one on each team. Everybody loves lumberjacks."

Sam Fenton, from Waupaca, Wisconsin, acts as the event's emcee and main performer.

"I'm just a college kid from the University of Wisconsin. I've been doing these events for about three years," he said, adjusting his orange suspenders. "My uncle, Fred Scheer, started lumberjack shows back in Wisconsin 30 years ago with his two brothers.

"It was raining for the early show but an excellent crowd," he said. "It's a real family-oriented show and we try to get the crowd involved."

After a short history lesson on the timber industry and the importance of a rousing timbersports "Yo-Ho" cheer, Fenton divided the crowd into two cheering sections for each lumberjack - Camp 9 and Camp 13.

Xander Waibel was pitted against Mike Palladino from Madison, Wisconsin, in a series of challenging events including an axe throw, single buck saw and springboard chop.

The shrieks of the high-revving hot-saws shook raindrops from umbrellas as their chainsaws chewed slices off solid blocks of white pine. After a thrilling speed-climbing duel up the twin poles, the show ended with both wool-shirted woodsmen taking a plunge into the pool after dancing atop a spinning log as the crowd delivered a final, hearty "Yo-Ho!"