A member of the University of Idaho “Vandaljacks” cuts through a wood block during the singlebuck event at Oregon State’s Spring Thaw Competition in the George W. Brown Sports Arena on Feb. 28. The event requires athletes to cut a full disc from a horizontal log using a 2-meter, single-person crosscut saw known as a “misery whip.”

Photo Gallery: Beaver logging in action

Kiarra Ruff, Photographer

March 9, 2026

An Oregon State Logging SportsTeam member competes in the standing block chop — An Oregon State Logging Sports
Team member competes in the standing block chop at Peavy Arboretum during OSU’s Spring Thaw Competition on Feb. 28. Teams from the University of Idaho, Montana State and the University of British
Columbia competed over the final weekend of February. (Kiarra Ruff)

An Oregon State Logging Sports Team memberswings at a standing block — An Oregon State Logging Sports Team member
swings at a standing block at Peavy Arboretum during OSU’s Spring Thaw Competition on Feb. 28. The event brought competitors from the University of Idaho, Montana State and the University of British
Columbia for two days of collegiate logging sports. (Kiarra Ruff)

An OSU Logging Sports member fist bumps his teammate — An OSU Logging Sports member fist bumps his teammate in the George W. Brown
Sports Arena after landing a successful time for the Jack and Jill crosscut saw event on Feb 28,
2026. The Jack and Jill discipline is a two person event focusing on technique and speed. (Kiarra Ruff)

University of Idaho logging sports competitor climbs down a pole during the pole climb event — A University of Idaho logging sports competitor climbs down a pole during the pole climb event at OSU’s Spring Thaw Competition
in the George W. Brown Sports Arena on Feb. 28. Athletes race up and down a 60- to 90-foot wooden spar pole using climbing spurs and a safety rope. (Kiarra Ruff)

An OSU Logging Sports member cuts “cookies” from a vertical log — An OSU Logging Sports member cuts “cookies” from a vertical log on the grounds of
Peavy Arboretum on Feb 28, 2026. After carefully cutting 3 disks from the wood, participants
balanced the wood cuts and water cup to an adjacent log using the flat end of their chainsaws. (Kiarra Ruff)

Oregon State Logging Team member jumps a horizontal tree log — Oregon State Logging Team member jumps a horizontal tree log in the George W.
Brown Sports Arena as he competes in the choker race event for the 2026 Spring Thaw on Feb
28, 2026. The choker race requires participants to run over obstacles and carry a heavy metal
choker cable (roughly 20 lbs) to set around a log for the fastest time. (Kiarra Ruff)

Teammates from the University of Idaho “Vandaljacks” logging team share a saw for theJack and Jill event — Teammates from the University of Idaho “Vandaljacks” logging team share a saw for the
Jack and Jill event in the George W. Brown Sports Arena on Feb 28, 2026. Logging sports are
competitive athletic events that pull from traditional logging practices, with the Jack and Jill
event featuring mixed-gender pairs on the crosscut saw. (Kiarra Ruff)

A student from Montana State races to the finish — A student from Montana State races to the finish in OSU’s George W. Brown Sports
Arena during the women’s obstacle pole event on Feb 28, 2026. The obstacle pole event is a
fast-paced logging sports competition where participants sprint across a raised, often inclined,
tapering log while carrying a chainsaw. (Kiarra Ruff)

Friends of an OSU Logging Sports participant hold up a supportive sign during theSpring Thaw Competition — Friends of an OSU Logging Sports participant hold up a supportive sign during the
Spring Thaw Competition in the George W. Brown Sports Arena on Feb 28, 2026. A member of
the OSU Logging Team competed in the singlebuck, an event requiring the cutting of a wood
disc from a horizontal log using a 2-meter long crosscut saw. (Kiarra Ruff)

An Oregon State Logging Sports Team member stands on his severed block aftercompleting a horizontal speed chop — An Oregon State Logging Sports Team member stands on his severed block after
completing a horizontal speed chop on Feb 28, 2026 in Peavy Arboretum. The horizontal speed
chop is a competitive lumberjack sports event, requiring a participant to stand on a 12–14 inch
diameter horizontal log while chopping it in half as possible from both sides. (Kiarra Ruff)

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