Torquay set for woodchopping showdown

TWO decades after taking up woodchopping by chance, Colac’s Scott Anderson is still swinging an axe.

The multiple-time champion and Western Victorian Axemen’s Association president will be among the competitors at this month’s Blackmans Brewery Woodchopping Championships in Torquay.

Anderson started wielding an axe 20 years ago, inspired by the camaraderie, respect and tenacity of the sport.

“I watched a mate do it down here in the country, and just really admired what they were doing,” he said. “I thought I better give it a crack.”

His success has taken him to competitions across Asia and New Zealand.

“It’s been a lot of hard work on and off the axe, but I love it,” Anderson said.

“I didn’t think I’d still be doing it 20 years after the fact.”

He said the friendships formed through the sport had kept him coming back year after year.

“The competition is fierce, but afterwards there’s a great group of people you have beers with cook a barbecue. These friends are living all over Australia.

“It’s a great sport that we continue to grow and try and get under the eyes of people of all ages.”

In competition, the winner is the first competitor to chop through their block, with handicaps applied based on previous results.

While many characteristics make a good woodchopper, Anderson said it is just as much about technique as it is strength.

“The good thing with this sport is you can see a big guy get beaten by a smaller skinnier person because of their niche technique,” he said.

“It’s a sport which really captures the attention of everyone. It’s a very exciting spectacle.”

The event at Blackman’s Brewery in Torquay will see 15 competitors compete in a series of one-on-one contests.

The winners will continue to the next round and so on until a champion is crowned.

“It’s fast paced action that’s for sure, and Torquay have loved it the last couple of the years,” Anderson said.

“We’ve started a bit of a woodchopping tour, and the success of the event at Mortlake recently, will see many of those spectators come down to Torquay to continue.”

Anderson said sustainability would also be a focus at the event, with a limited number of logs being used.

“Due to the lack of supply and scarcity of timber, we’ve looked at different ways to make it as sustainable as possible,” he said.

“By going one on one, we utilise less timber to run the event, therefore saving the environment in a small way.”

The Blackman’s Brewery Woodchopping Championships will be held on 27 June.

Entry is free and action begins at midday.