Lumberjack Competition
Sponsored by Husqvarna Forest & Garden

The Great Northern Lumberjack Competition is proud to be the third largest Hayward style Lumberjack Competition in the Midwest and the only Lumberjack Competition held during the winter. We are very honored to have many of the world title holding competitors putting Klondike Days in there schedule every winter. It is the official start to the lumberjack season-and what a way to begin! Klondike Days competition has been the host of world records time and time again.

The Great Northern Lumberjack Competition will be held both days from 10 AM to 3 PM on the Rocking W Stable grounds. Individuals and teams, both men and women, will compete in 12 events in this Hayward-style event.

The roar of the chain saw and the crack of the ax will echo as lumberjacks (and jills) compete head-to-head in chain sawing, crosscutting, and ax throwing. There will be more than $7000 in cash and prizes at stake in this competition.

2011 brought about the breaking of a record for number of competitors signed up for the Great Northern Lumberjack Competition. The word is getting out about how great it is to compete in this event and what a great training ground it is for all other competitions held around the United States and overseas. The challenges are certainly different when competing in a winter background then in the spring or summer months and bring about a whole new set of challenges that one must overcome to compete successfully.

Klondike Days is very proud of the World Records that have been accomplished at the Midwest’s most unique competition. And the world class competitors that we draw to our event are second to none.

Nancy Zalewski & Lindsay Daun – World Champions and record holders in Jill & Jill Sawing

Lindsay Daun & Dave Jewett – World Champions in Jack & Jill Sawing

Dave Jewett & J.P. Mercier – World Champions and Record holders in Two Man Bucking

Mike Sullivan – World Champion in the Hot Saw competition and axe throw

Rick Halvorson – World Champion and Record holder in the Hot Saw competition

Jason Hiser – Record holder in the Modified Chainsaw competition

^{_{The Modified Chain Saw and Open-Modified Chain Saw competitions will be sponsored this year by Tilton Equipment – a Jonsered Chain Saw Dealer.  They have been a long-standing supporter of Klondike Days and we are glad to have them partner with us on providing a high quality lumberjack competition.  First places will be given a brand new CS2245 Chain Saw (value $420) and Second places will receive Chaps and a safety helmet assemblies (value $125).}}

 So… if you are looking for a must see competition… I would put the Great Northern Lumberjack Competition held only at Klondike Days in Eagle River, WI, March 3rd & 4th, 2012 on your calendar right now!

2012 Lumberjack Competitor Letter (PDF)

2012 Klondike Days Lumberjack Rules (PDF)

2012 Lumberjack Registration Form (PDF)

Great Northern Cut-off
Sponsored by Husqvarna

This event is going back many years and reviving an orginal competition that started Klondike Days. Competitors; in groups of three enter, into a timed competition to cut, split and stack an equal amount of firewood specified by the judges. If you want to see a fast-paced competition the seems to be over before it has started...this is it! This is the first eventto start out the Lumberjacks' day, so come and enjoy the excitement Saturday morning starting at 9:00 a.m.

Tribute to a Klondike Days family member…

With the planning of 2012’s event well underway we need to take a "time out" to show our respect for one of our Klondike family that passed away this year from Cancer, Alex Bildeaux, Sr. Alex and his wife Sue, and their son Alex Jr. have been coordinators of the Great Northern Lumberjack Competition since the very beginnings of the event over 20 years ago.

Alex, Sr. was an avid logger. He recently worked with his son Alex, Jr. in Minneapolis and St. Paul areas in the firewood business. He also worked for Carlton Saw Chain Co., Tilton Equipment (which is the Great Northern Cut-off’s sponsor) and the St. Paul Water District. He and his wife Sue, and their son Alex, Jr. have worked with Klondike Days to put on the Great Northern Lumberjack Competition which has grown into the third largest competition of its kind in the Midwest and the only one that takes place in the winter. It has become a great training ground for many of today’s World Champions that re-visit us year after year.

Alex, Sr. enjoyed being at, competing in, and coordinating lumberjack events. He was a chainsaw champion at the Lumberjack World Championship in Hayward, WI in 1972, along with many other titles in this historic sport. He loved the excitement and the challenges of the sport and worked very hard to make our competition the best around. For that we will be eternally grateful! The Bildeaux legacy will be forever linked with Klondike Days as we see Sue and Alex, Jr. continue to coordinate the lumberjack event.

The Board of Directors, both past and present, as well as myself, Christine Schilling, express our sincerest condolences to his wife, Sue, Alex, Jr. and Barb, and the entire Bildeaux family. May your faith and your family carry you through this very difficult time.

May his unfinished life remind us all of how important it is to live your life to the fullest, as he did, to cherish your family and friends, as he did, and to give back to those that continually support you, as he did. May he rest in peace!

 Christine A. Schilling, Executive Director, and the Klondike Days Board of Directors