Women Cut Through Records in Lumberjack World Championships
Karolina Urbanova, a 24‑year‑old from a Czech village, discovered lumberjack sports through a neighbour’s invitation at age 15 and has risen to set two world records at the recent championships in Hayward, Wisconsin.
In her Standing Block category, Urbanova sliced through 9‑inch (22.8cm) white pine in 19.38 seconds, beating the previous record of 21.17 seconds. In the Underhand Chop, she cut 11‑inch of white pine in 21.28 seconds, outpacing the prior 24.26‑second mark.
Across the arena, Meredith Ingbretson of Hayward secured the Women’s Boom Run record, sprinting across eight linked cedar logs in 13.78 seconds, a fingertip faster than the last benchmark of 13.98 seconds.
The event, held annually since 1960, now hosts 40 female competitors alongside 66 male athletes—a notable rise from the few women who once took part.
"Most of the considerations for women came down to expanding the events we hold for them," said event director Samantha LaSalle. "We added the Standing Block in 2022, and hundreds of female athletes have followed suit, pushing the boundaries of the sport.”
The stories of Kolorina and Meredith highlight how community, family support and youth exposure through college programs are ushering an unprecedented wave of female participation in a traditionally male‑dominated field.
Training across training camps, log‑rolling, sawing and strengthening routines, these athletes combine technical skill with unyielding discipline. Their triumphs are not only about smashing records but also about inspiring younger girls who balance schooling and competitive lumberjack pursuits with equal grit.
