In the heart of Golden Bay, woodchopping is a sport built as much on community as it is on strength, skill and grit. It does not matter whether you live on a farm or on a residential street. All that is needed is a willingness to give it a go.
For Dave and Serena Gowland, woodchopping has become more than a hobby. It is a way of life.
Dave’s introduction to the sport came later than most. At 45, while surveying a farm in Kaihoka, he met a shepherd named John Waters, who also happened to be a woodchopper. That chance meeting sparked something. Before long, Dave was making the 100km round trip from Tākaka to Kaihoka just to train. Now nearly 59, he is still at it.
“It’s a unique sport,” Dave says. “You’ve got kids under 10 competing alongside people in their 80s. Men and women all in the same competition.”
That diversity, supported by a handicap system, is what sets woodchopping apart. Experience does not always guarantee a win.
“I’ve been beaten by an 80-year-old and a woman in the same race,” Dave laughs. “And I’ve beaten a world champion thanks to the handicap system. If you train hard, you’ve got a chance.”
Unlike team sports, woodchopping is an individual pursuit. There is no pressure to turn up for a team or risk letting others down.
“If you’re not there, you’re not holding anyone back,” Dave says. “But when you are there, you’re part of something.”
That “something” is the Golden Bay Axemen Club, a small but dedicated group with about six active choppers. They are supported by several others who may never pick up an axe but play a vital role behind the scenes. From working bees to event support, these members are, as Dave and Serena say, “invaluable”.
The benefits extend beyond competition. Training wood becomes firewood for family and community.
Serena’s journey into the sport began with curiosity and a touch of stubbornness.
“I only tried it to prove I wouldn’t like it,” she says. “But I loved it, even though I sucked at first.”
That was 10 years ago, and she has been hooked ever since.
“There’s kind of an unwritten rule,” Serena says. “You try it once and you either love it or you don’t.”
For her, the appeal lies in both the challenge and the camaraderie.
“It’s one of the few sports where age and gender don’t matter. Everyone’s involved, everyone supports each other.”
Training today looks different for the couple than it once did. Where they once trained up to five times a week, work, kids and other commitments now mean two or three sessions if they are lucky. Still, the physical demands remain.
Competitions usually feature two disciplines. Underhand sees competitors stand on a horizontal block, while standing is a more technical event performed beside the timber, cutting a vertical block. Races can take as little as 30 seconds on small softwood but can also become long tests of endurance and determination on large blocks of hardwood.
Equipment also matters. Serious competitors may own several sets of specialised axes, each costing about $1,000, designed for different types of wood.
One of the biggest challenges facing the Golden Bay Axemen is access to wood. Without the support of local farmers and volunteers, the club could not operate.
For those keen to learn more, Serena encourages people to start with a conversation.
“It you can get along to an A & P show and talk to the woodchoppers there, they will be able to help.”
Failing that, Serena says, there are axemen clubs scattered throughout the country and encourages people to look one up online.
“It's a cool sport, you should try it,” Serena exclaims. “It's a shame more people don’t give it a crack.”
Anyone with suitable wood to donate, or who would like to try woodchopping in Golden Bay, can contact Dave on 021 260 1610.
