Rules and Regulations

GENERAL RULES

1. Safety will be the primary concern of the judges. A contestant may be disqualified for unsafe actions or equipment.
2. Contestants may use the equipment provided or furnish their own equipment. All personal equipment is subject to inspection by the judges.
3. Teams may be comprised of as few as 4 and as many as 6 individuals. However, a team cannot enter more than 3 members in any individual event, 3 pairs in the doubles events, and 1 team in the Pulp Toss and Fire Building events.
4. Contestants will be required to wear safety gear deemed necessary by the judges.
5. All decisions by the judges will be final.

AXE THROW

Objective: Throw axe 20 feet from throwing line and make it stick into target.

Scoring: 5 points for bullseye, 4 points for next ring, etc. Highest score wins. In case of tie, there will be a throw-off.

Rules:

1. Axes may be either single or double bitted, but must be a minimum of 24 inches total length and a minimum of 2 lbs. in weight.
2. Contestant may take up to 2 practice throws, followed by 3 throws for score. The contestant does not have to take any practice throws, but must declare their intention before any throws are taken.
3. To count for score, the axe must stick in the target until the judge gives the contestant permission to remove it.
4. If the blade hits in 2 or more rings, the highest ring touched is scored. If the head sticks with points of both blades sticking, the highest score counts.
5. The contestant may step on, but not over the foul line. If he/she steps over the line, that throw will be scored a zero.
6. Team score will be average of three best individual scores.

LOG ROLL

Objective: Roll log down the course and back, turning it 180 degrees (horizontally) once.

Scoring: This is a timed event.

Rules:

1. Contestants may not touch the log with anything other than a peavey. If hands or feet are used to roll the log there is no time taken and the team is disqualified.
2. At the start, the log is placed touching both stakes at the start/finish end of the course.
3. At the judge’s signal, the contestants will roll the log down the course until it is simultaneously touching the stakes at the far end of the course. They then roll it back to the start/finish line. At some point, either going up or coming back, they must spin the log 180 degrees (horizontally).
4. Time ends when the log is returned to the start/finish line and is simultaneously touching both stakes.

CROSS-CUT SAWING (DOUBLE BUCKING)

Classes: Men’s, Women’s, and mixed.

Objective: At the judge’s signal, saw through the log for time.

Scoring: These are timed events.

Rules:


1. Teams will begin at the judge's signal (a countdown).
2. If the moving saw blade touches the wood prior to the signal, it is a false start and the teams will be restarted. Only one false start is allowed per team. Subsequent false starts will result in disqualification for that team.
3. Time stops when the disk is cut completely free.
4. If a cut exits on the original face of the log, the team is disqualified.

BOW-SAWING (SINGLE BUCKING)

Classes: Men’s, Women’s.

Objective: At the judge’s signal, saw through the log for time.

Scoring: These are timed events.

Rules:

1. Contestants will begin at the judge’ signal (a countdown).
2. If the moving saw blade touches the wood prior to the signal, it is a false start and the contest will be restarted. Only one false start is allowed per contestant. Subsequent false starts will result in disqualification for that contestant.
3. Time stops when the disk is cut completely free.
4. If a cut exits on the original face of the log, the contestant is disqualified.

FIRE BUILDING

Objective: Each 2-person team gets an axe, 3 matches, a #10 tin can (containing 3 cups of soapy water) wit wire bail, and an 8" diameter bolt of spruce wood. The team must split the bolt, make kindling, start a fire, and boil the water.

Scoring: This is a timed event.

Rules:

1. Only two individuals per group entry will be allowed to participate.
2. Contestants begin by splitting the bolt and making kindling.
3. Contestants may make shavings for starter from the bolt, but only with the team’s axe. No second axe or any knife may be used.
4. Contestants may set the can and stack the wood in any manner they choose.
5. Time stops when water boils out of the can and into the fire. There is no time taken and the team is disqualified if any water spills from the can prior to boiling.

PULP THROW

Objective: Teams of four will begin with 2 people at each end of the course. Team members will throw 4’ long pulp sticks between 2 sets of stakes set 4' apart at opposite ends of a 20’ long course. After the first team member throws all 4 sticks, the second team member throws the pulp sticks back the opposite direction, then the third team member throws as did the first and the fourth as did the second. If the team has not yet scored 16 points, the sequence begins again with the first team member.

Scoring: This is a timed event. The team to score 16 points in the shortest amount of time is the winner. One point is awarded for each pulp stick that lands and stays between the stakes. Sticks must break the plane between the stakes to count.

Rules:

1. If the thrower’s foot is over the foul line (score line at near end) no point is scored with that stick.
2. There will be a ten-second penalty assessed for touching a moving pulp stick.
3. Judges will call out the points as they are scored.
4. Time stops after the team scores 16 total points.

AWARDS

Awards will be given to the following:

1. Winning individual for each individual event
2. Overall winning team, determined by best average rank

Pictures from previous years:

1999 http://nrm.salrm.uaf.edu/~abalser/forsports/forestsports.htm

2000 http://nrm.salrm.uaf.edu/~jfox/ForSciDept/forestsports00.html

For questions or general harassment of organizing officials please contact:

Forest Sports Festival Organizing Committee
c/o Dept. of Forest Sciences
P.O. Box 757200
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7200

Dr. T. Scott Rupp, (907) 474-7535, scott.rupp@uaf.edu

Dr. David W. Valentine, (907) 474-7614, david.valentine@uaf.edu