Lumberjack has rough outing at event

David Green put his blood and sweat into competition in the Western Qualifier of the 2011 STIHL Timbersports Series on March 25 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California.

Green, 2009 and 2010 Western Collegiate champion, took ax and saw in hand for his first appearance as a professional, this time contending for one of four U.S. championship slots against nine other axmen from the woods of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Pros raced the clock and each other through six lumberjack disciplines: the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop.

When the woodchips cleared, third-generation competitor Mike Forrester of Idleyld Park, Oregon - steady from start to finish - won the top spot, with Green having a less-than-stellar morning on the main stage. Also qualifying for the championship from the West were Jeff Skirvin, Branden Sirguy, and David Moses.

"It was a rough day and very humbling. Unfortunately I let my nerves get the better of me," Green admitted. "We got rained out a couple days before and the rodeo grounds were a total mud pit. So there was an abandoned warehouse on campus they decided to set up in and that was pretty cool. But I let the magnitude of the show take over instead of getting things done. I'd just gotten new prescription glasses last week and was trying to get used to my depth perception. I decided that morning to take my glasses off and I think my eyes had already adjusted and I had a hard time focusing."

The mishaps and stolen moments of athletic competition can never be tamed, and Green's cloudy day got a bit darker in the single buck event.

"As soon as I finished my last cut I incidentally pulled the saw into my left kneecap and caught my leg. I set the saw down right away and hopped over to the EMT," he recalled. "It was bleeding a lot but I didn't want the ambulance to come. I was competing and wasn't going to leave with two events left. That's the last thing I'd ever do. So they wrapped me up tight, and about 10 minutes later I did the underhand chop. I was getting dizzy because I'd lost so much blood and I couldn't use my legs effectively. My time was pretty slow."

Green was in burly company at the pro ranks but unprepared for the debilitating butterflies.

"These guys have multiple years of experience competing in the STIHL pro series and that makes it slightly easier than being a first-timer.

I was last place in the spring board and sixth and seventh in a few other events, but overall it was a disappointment to myself.

I felt like I was more prepared than how I competed.

Sometimes your head gets in the way and you perform far below your ability.

I wanted to put on a good show and demonstrate to STIHL that I have the goods to go far in the sport. Plus, I compete with these guys during the summer and we're all friends so I felt comfortable around them.

It should have actually helped me more but it didn't.

Those guys are amazing and I salute all the winners."

Green has a busy slate of upcoming competitions scheduled this spring and summer, starting with a professional event in Missoula, Montana, on April 25, where many of the same competitors will be in attendance.

"It's similar to the STIHL series but smaller with the double buck and ax throw events tossed in," said Green. "Maybe I can kinda redeem myself and have a better day. I'll go to as many shows as possible this summer... as many as I can afford. There's some pressure now to improve at this level and show STIHL that I'm a force to be reckoned with and step up my game so I'll be invited back next

year."