FOREST FOLLIES The annual Squamish Days Loggers Sports are set for Saturday and Sunday.
Competitive loggers from all over the world will converge on Squamish this weekend.
They will gather at the Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Grounds to climb, chop, cut and buck their way to thousands of dollars in prize money on Sunday, Aug. 5. Novice and intermediate loggers sports athletes will compete on Saturday, Aug. 4.
According to the president of the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Association, the number of competitors registered for the events on Sunday was at 55 early in the week.
Bryan Couture said that number is the highest since 2002 and there's greater interest than ever from Squamish residents.
The number of Squamish residents competing this year is up mainly because the CrossFit Gym in Squamish has taken an interest in loggers' sports, said Couture.
"The gym members have been training at the grounds," he said.
According to Amy Fast, the association's vice-president, competitors are coming from as far away as Australia and New Zealand along with athletes from across B.C., Alberta, Alaska, Montana, Idaho and California.
She said the Saturday competitions have attracted more than 50 competitors.
"We've got a young guy competing in the log rolling from Squamish this year," said Fast. She said he's the youngest competitor this year at about nine years old and he has been training with his older brother to prepare for competition.
Couture said the event organizers are going green this year by offering a bike valet service. Anyone who rides their bike to the loggers sports grounds will be offered secure bike storage.
Fast said this is something the association has wanted to do for many years but it just hasn't come together.
"Tantalus Bike Shop is sponsoring that," she said. "They're organizing it for us and manning it so people can ride their bikes to the loggers sports show."
Couture added that parking has been an issue in the past so if a large number of spectators ride to the show it will help ease the situation.
The other competitive events being held over the course of the long weekend include bed races, children's races, the Hot On Your Heels Women's Only Bike Race, an invitational axe throwing competition and the Squamish Days 10k Run and Flashback Mile.
Fast said the running event Sunday morning will include a stroller division and one mom in the stroller division will be trying to set a world record time running with her stroller.
The bed race competition is set for Friday while the kids event and bike race will go on Saturday.
There's more information on the festivities at www.squamishdays.ca.
