Forest Sports Festival set for Oct. 5
September 25, 2019
Anyone who wants to try old-time logging sports is invited to the Farthest North Forest Sports Festival Oct. 5 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
The event is free, and beginners are welcomed. Participants 18 and older may compete in ax throwing, pulp tossing, log rolling, bow and crosscut sawing, fire building, and birling. Birling involves balancing on a floating log in Ballaine Lake and trying to stay upright longer than a competitor.
UAF students and faculty members developed the competition in 1998 as a way to commemorate old-time logging festivals. People may compete as individuals but are encouraged to form teams of four to six. At the end of the day, awards will be given to individuals, teams, and the top male and female competitors. Observers are welcome, but pets must be kept on a leash.
The 22nd annual Forest Fest begins at 10 a.m. at the Fairbanks Experiment Farm fields, across from the Georgeson Botanical Garden. At 1 p.m., the games move to Ballaine Lake. Refreshments will be available and donations are welcome. A warming fire and some grilled food will be available at the lake.
Participants are advised to dress warmly and to bring a change of clothes if they want to try birling. For more information or to volunteer at the event, contact Dave Valentine at or 907-474-7614 or dvalentine@alaska.edu.
Sponsors include UAF's Natural Resources and Environment program, the UAF Resource Management Society and Fairbanks Stump Grinders.