On Saturday, June 20, 2015 the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series U.S. Professional Championships will be held in Central Park, in New York City – with the largest audience TIMBERSPORTS® has probably ever seen. The competition will be broadcast by ABC and ESPN, allowing spectators across the country to experience the event – and see Snoqualmie’s own, David Moses, JR compete.
Sometimes called ‘the original extreme sport,’ since 1985, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series has grown from a small, niche sport for professional lumberjacks, to a sport with global reach, featuring the top lumberjack athletes in the world. Professional athletes compete in six lumberjack disciplines: the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop.
Organizers say the driving force behind TIMBERSPORTS® rise in popularity is the spectator’s appetite for unique extreme sports, which has elevated the sport far beyond its humble beginnings 100 years ago as a means to determine the best logger in logging camps.
Snoqualmie resident and son of a logger, David Moses, JR has spent the past 20 years extensively training and has become a consistent Timbersports top finisher – at the local, regional, national and even international level. He credits much of his success to his decision to become sober 14 years ago.
Moses’s supporters say in addition to TIMBERSPORTS® training and his work as a tile layer, he “finds the time to hone his mind and body daily, allowing him to be the best he can be.” Because of this dedication to preparation, other competitors often seek David out as a training partner and/or coach when they need to refine their own techniques.
How good is he at his craft? To put it in perspective, ESPN recently did a piece on David in which their data determined he swings an axe faster and with more power than the hardest hitting major league baseball player can swing a bat.
And he’s made an impact. Moses is not only recognized as a top athlete, but fans say his ‘saint-like’ character and unmistakable image (including trademark mohawk haircut) make him recognizable worldwide, explaining when competing internationally, it is not uncommon for fans who don’t speak English to cheer for David by name.
David is described by his fans and followers as an ambassador for professional Timber Athletes, his community, Native Americans, as well as being an example to all as a devoted father and husband.
Best of luck to David Moses in Central Park this weekend!! You can keep up with David by following him on Facebook.
David Moses JR, Timber Athlete Accolades:
- 2015 STIHL® Series Western Regional Qualifier attending US Championships in NYC
- 2014 STIHL® Series Western Regional Qualifier attending US Championships in Norfolk, VA & American Lumberjack Association All Around Champion
- 2013 STIHL® Series USA Relay Team Member, placing 2nd in Stuggart, Germany
- 2012 STIHL® Series Western Regional Qualifier Champion attending US Championships in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
- 2011 STIHL® Series Western Regional Qualifier Champion attending US Championships in Pigeon Forge, Tenn & World Champion 2-man relay
- 2010 American Lumberjack Association All Around Champion
- 2009 US National Single Buck Champion
- 2008 American Lumberjack Association All Around Champion
You can see David in action closer to the Snoqualmie Valley this summer at the upcoming events:
- 57th Libby Logger Days in Libby, MT Logging events are Saturday, June 27, 2015
- Go Fourth Festival in Longview, WA Logging events are Saturday, July 4, 2015
- Priest River Timber Days in Priest River, ID Logging events are Saturday, July 25, 2015
- Morton Logger Days in Morton, WA Logging show is both Saturday + Sunday, August 8-9, 2015
