STIHL has named its winners of its winners of its elite lumberjack competition. The top 16 men athletes from the U.S. and Canada tested their mettle in a rapid-fire trophy format. Top ranked athletes from the U.S. and Canada will advance to the world championships in Milan, Italy on May 25.
This year's winner of the North American competition was once again Matt Cogar, a 37-year-old from West Virginia, making him a seven-time national pro champion.
Watch a video recap of the event:
Saws roared and timber fell during an international showdown to kick off the 2024 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® U.S. season, as seven-time U.S. Pro Champion Matt Cogar reigned triumphant on an epic Saturday on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Cogar secured the inaugural North American Trophy gold medal against two-time U.S. Trophy Champion Jason Lentz in a narrow finish.
In the semifinals, Grafton, West Virginia’s Matt Cogar took down Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s Matt Slingerland for the second year in a row. Although Slingerland started a few cuts ahead, Cogar gained significant ground in both the Underhand Chop and Single Buck, finishing strong in the Standing Block Chop with a time of 1:01.35.
Diana, West Virginia’s Jason Lentz defeated North Fork, California’s Nate Hodges in a closely-contested second semifinal matchup. Lentz and Hodges were neck-and-neck until Lentz powered through his Standing Block in nearly 13 seconds, setting a new Trophy format personal best at 57.83, dispatching the bronze-medalist Hodges, and setting up another matchup between powerhouses Lentz and Cogar for the Trophy format title.
For the second year in a row, Lentz and Cogar battled it out in a final Trophy heat, adding another storied chapter in their long-standing rivalry. Cogar led for nearly the entire heat, gaining a solid advantage during the Underhand Chop, and ultimately drove through the Standing Block Chop with a blazing final time of 0:56.90 seconds, edging out Lentz by an almost four-second margin.
“It feels great to come out on top against fierce U.S. and Canadian competitors,” Cogar said of his gold medal finish this Saturday. “The competition was leveled up, and I’m incredibly proud of this win. It’s an emotional one. I’ve been close to the Trophy title for the last three years. Now, I get my opportunity to go up against the world’s best.”
As the top-ranking U.S. athlete, Cogar will represent the United States in the World Trophy event in Milan, Italy, on May 25, competing against 15 elite lumberjack sport athletes from across the globe, including Stirling Hart, the top-ranked Canadian athlete from the North American Trophy event.
Next Up: Milan, Italy
USA Team Manager Adam Wolff, coming off the momentum of the North American Trophy, said he is ready for Cogar to head to Italy, where he prepares to fight for gold.
“We were thrilled to host Canadian athletes in the hometown of STIHL Inc.,” Wolff said. “They brought the heat to the U.S. stage and upped the intensity of competition for our athletes. We’re eager for Matt Cogar to compete next on the world stage.”
OVERALL NORTH AMERICAN TROPHY FINAL RANKINGS*
1. Matt Cogar
2. Jason Lentz
3. Nate Hodges
*Stirling Hart was the highest-ranked athlete from Canada and will represent them at the World Trophy event in Milan, Italy, on May 25.
Full results from this weekend’s competitions can be found at https://data.stihl-timbersports.com/.
