Willis takes second at logging games for U of I

MOSCOW — Bonners Ferry High School alumni Eika Willis took second place overall at her second logging games competition for the University of Idaho on Nov. 10 and 11.

Willis graduated from BFHS in 2022 and has joined the U of I’s Vandal Jacks C-team, one of the co-ed logger sports club teams that compete in woodsman competitions across the Northwest. 

The sport blends ax and crosscut saw skills of old-time lumberjacks with the modern twist of chainsaws and choker cables, University of Idaho officials announced on its website. 

In her first competition, Willis placed in all four of her events. 

She took fourth in the place for caber toss, which is a logging spin-off of the traditional Scottish athletic event of throwing a tapered pole, of “caber.”

She also took third in the obstacle pole, second in the chokers race and first in stalk saw. 

Willis took second for the Belle of the Woods, or champion for her first competition, as she scored the second highest points of any woman in the contest.

“It’s a misconception that logging games is a guy sport,” she said, noting there are more women in leadership for her team than men. 

Willis first joined the team this year in August, but had been intrigued by the sport and thought it would be applicable to the field she is interested in pursuing, a degree in ecology  and forestry resources. 

She said the logging games will give her experience, chainsaw skills and the opportunity to network with those with similar interests and future employers.

Approximately 150 competitors came out from seven different universities for the University of Idaho home meet. 

Although Willis does not have a lot of experience competing in logging games, she said she wasn’t nervous, rather she felt comfortable. 

Her favorite event is the obstacle pole, also known as the OP. In the racing event an approximately 20 foot log is perpendicularly placed on another long and propped into the air.

A competitor starts on the ground below the raised log with a chainsaw in hand. The competitor then runs up the log, starts the chainsaw, cuts off the end of the log and has to make it back to the starting point, aiming to have the fastest time. 

Willis also enjoys competing in the stock saw, also known as the power saw. For this event loggers must pick up a chainsaw and cut halfway down a log and then come up and cut from the bottom. This cuts out a piece of wood, many call a cookie. The goal is to match the cuts and not have a ledge for the cut. If the cuts do not meet the logger is disqualified from the event. 

The time stops when the cookie drops and the judges inspect the cuts. 

Willis’ best time for the stalls saw was approximately 11 seconds, which earned her first place in that event. 

Each competition event is divided by gender with points being given to the team. Willis plays for U of I Vandal Jacks C-team, which took second at the home competition. 

Each team is composed of four men and four women, with each school having multiple teams. 

Each member of the team competes in four events and can also compete in individual events such as axe throwing. 

Willis also participated in the Jack and Jill crosscut, which includes a male and female teammates working a two man crosscut saw. 

Other schools at the competition included Montana State, Oregon State, Colorado State, University of British Columbia and other schools. 

The next logging games contests are in the spring. Willis and the team will be competing in Montana and California at future competitions.

    Eika Willis competes in the stock cut event at the University of Idaho logging games contest on Nov. 11-12. she took first in the event.