So one of the catalyst in our getting a small cabin in the sierras was the series (maybe soap opera is more appropriate name) Virgin River: watching the beautiful opening and then all the amazing backdrops really generated interest in connect more with nature. So it could not be more ironic that the first year we partook in the local Cercedilla September patron-saint fiestas one of the first activities was a log chopping competition, just like the Lumberjack games in the “Jack and Jill” episode. Well, it was not just like it, as you can see from the animated gif above they do things differently in Cercedilla than Virgin River!

How it works

• Sets of 8 logs are setup in the “new” plaza.
• Each team consists of two members.
• Each team is assigned a set of logs by random drawing of the lots.
• A whistle is blown and they begin chopping like crazy.
• There are no stipulations on when they need to change who is chopping, or any other rules that I have observed.
• The first team to cut their 8 logs in half wins.

The crazy thing is they stand on the log they are chopping and wearing what must be regulation nike tennis shoes (because they all wear the simple tennis shoes) they begin chopping like crazy (note this was a warm up log and was not part of his lot):

As you can see they swing with full force which I guess even if you had steel toed boots would not help much in the case of an accident, but I can’t help think it would help more then nikes…
Actually this young fellow got cut last year: as he stepped off the log he brushed againt the axe of his teammate. Looked like just a brush, but both their expressions told the story and his white pants quickly were not so white. For this reason there is a ambulance onsite during the event. He did not not return to finish his lot and I imagine there were stitches, but he was completing again this year and did not seem axe shy as you can witness above…

2026 Results

• 8 teams participated
• Winner: 16 minutes 25 seconds
• Last place: 28 minutes 5 seconds

More images

• Close up of practice log:
• Time lapse of 2026 champions doing a log start to finish:
• One very tired lumber jack recovers as judges tally scores:

Thanks for reading and feel free to give feedback or comments via email (andrew@jupiterstation.net).