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http://www.wltribune.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=37&cat=40&id=705454&more=
The Norwest Deaf Outdoors Club held it's Mini-Timberfest on the Stampede grounds this weekend - a new location that the group's chairperson said he would like to come back to.
Ken Pihl said the outdoors club holds a logger's sports weekend every four years, but that the last Mini-Timberfest was too large for the location on a friend's property outside Williams Lake. He said that 193 people came to the events this year.
"Now that we found this place we hope to do it every two years," Pihl said. "A lot of people are really enjoying it here."
He said that the grounds are already booked for the B.C. Day long weekend for the next two years, and that they may consider a different date for the events just to use the grounds.
Pihl said that all of the athletes are amateurs, although some are more experienced than others. The list of activities included bucksaw racing, choke cable, axe throwing, buck and pick up logs team, chainsaw racing, obstacle course, axe chopping, tug-o war, nail hammering, horseshoes plus children's games, pet games and more. Besides the loggers sports, club members had the opportunity to spend some of the long weekend fishing, riding all terrain vehicles and hiking.
Most of the members are deaf but their hearing spouses or children, for example, were also able to compete in events. Each competition cost $5 per person to enter. As long as the $5 was paid each time, they could try as many times as they wanted until the desired results were achieved.
The Mini-Timberfest was all non-profit, and some of the money collected as entrance fees was paid out to event winners.
"If you win the championships, you get the money," Pihl said.
With events like axe throwing and chainsaw racing, safety was of concern. Emily Cook, a hearing member, said that the organizers are very cautious when they set up an event.
"They're very very fussy, they do everything safe. As safe as it can be," Cook said.
The club members came to Williams Lake from all over the province and beyond. Pihl said that most were from Vancouver, but others came from Calgary, Victoria, Prince George, Kelowna, Seattle and elsewhere.
The Norwest Deaf Outdoors Club held it's Mini-Timberfest on the Stampede grounds this weekend - a new location that the group's chairperson said he would like to come back to.
Ken Pihl said the outdoors club holds a logger's sports weekend every four years, but that the last Mini-Timberfest was too large for the location on a friend's property outside Williams Lake. He said that 193 people came to the events this year.
"Now that we found this place we hope to do it every two years," Pihl said. "A lot of people are really enjoying it here."
He said that the grounds are already booked for the B.C. Day long weekend for the next two years, and that they may consider a different date for the events just to use the grounds.
Pihl said that all of the athletes are amateurs, although some are more experienced than others. The list of activities included bucksaw racing, choke cable, axe throwing, buck and pick up logs team, chainsaw racing, obstacle course, axe chopping, tug-o war, nail hammering, horseshoes plus children's games, pet games and more. Besides the loggers sports, club members had the opportunity to spend some of the long weekend fishing, riding all terrain vehicles and hiking.
Most of the members are deaf but their hearing spouses or children, for example, were also able to compete in events. Each competition cost $5 per person to enter. As long as the $5 was paid each time, they could try as many times as they wanted until the desired results were achieved.
The Mini-Timberfest was all non-profit, and some of the money collected as entrance fees was paid out to event winners.
"If you win the championships, you get the money," Pihl said.
With events like axe throwing and chainsaw racing, safety was of concern. Emily Cook, a hearing member, said that the organizers are very cautious when they set up an event.
"They're very very fussy, they do everything safe. As safe as it can be," Cook said.
The club members came to Williams Lake from all over the province and beyond. Pihl said that most were from Vancouver, but others came from Calgary, Victoria, Prince George, Kelowna, Seattle and elsewhere.