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INTO THE WOODS A look at the ESF timber sports team in full swing Words by Sophie Davis Photos by Owen Sellers | Designed by Abigail Aggarwara Axes swinging, logs rolling and blocks of wood cut perfectly in half with superhuman precision. For many, these images remain fossilized with the towering burliness of Paul Bunyan and other flannel-clad lumberjacks of American mythology (or worse, brooding “manly men” peddling Old Spice deodorant). Among the SUNY ESF woodsmen, however, timber sports feels as alive, authentic and human as ever. ESF’s oldest athletic team, The Woodsmen, were established as a club in 1912 before obtaining official school-affiliated team status in the 1950s. Today, the team boasts a roster of roughly 50 axethrowers, loggers and woodsmen of all trades. Competing with other colleges in team and single events based on preserving old forestry practices, ESF has developed a reputation as one of the most developed collegiate timber sports teams in the northeast. The Woodsmen have been able to achieve this status through faculty support, high interest from students and an active alumni network—many of whom have returned from professional timber sports careers to foster the next generation of woodsmen.
If the idea of a career in timber sports is new to you, fear not. We here at Jerk were also surprised to hear about this robust subculture, complete with events like super swede, cookie stack and crosscut to hell. Even current leaders on the team admit they were unfamiliar with its intricacies before joining the team. “It was one of those things that I was like, ‘where else am I ever going to do this?’” said Luke Myers, who has been a part of the Woodsmen for three years. “I’m at tree school, let’s do the tree sport,” said Woodsmen Vice President Siobhan Scully of her decision to join the quintessential ESF team. The fact that current leaders on the team have embraced the sport in such a relatively short time represents one of the core pillars of timber sports: regardless of stature or gender, everyone has an opportunity for success. “Most of the events, [...] it doesn’t matter how big or small you are, once you figure out that technique, you can figure it out. Also pretty much everyone is starting at the same level when it comes to collegiate timber sports. You don't need any experience,” said Woodsmen President Kaisa Mackey.