Lentz me entertain you: USA’s Jason Lentz crowned 2021 Individual World Champion in dramatic night of axe-tion.
USA’s Jason Lentz was tonight crowned the 2021 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Individual World Champion after a dramatic night of elite logger sports action at Motorworld Munich, Germany.
Lentz edged out Canada’s Marcel Dupuis and Martin Komárek of the Czech Republic on an evening which saw several personal bests and a new world record, as the best athletes from around the globe competed for the Individual World Championship.
The competition culminated in a tense How Saw in which Lentz faced an agonising wait to find out whether his time of 5.70 would stand as the judges checked for a possible false start.
Dupuis had already suffered a disqualification in the Stock Saw, with the judges ruling he had failed to cut two complete cookies. The decision had a huge bearing on the final standings, with Dupuis finishing just four points behind Lentz.
Three-time runner-up Martin Komárek had the opportunity to win the Individual World Championship for the first time. Stepping up last in the Hot Saw, he required the second fastest time of the round to finish top. He managed 7.20 seconds, enough for the fourth fastest time of the round and the bronze medal.
The competition got underway with a thrilling Underhand Chop which saw Dupuis lay down a marker with a first-place finish and personal best time of 16.43. His second-round disqualification dented his momentum, whilst Lentz grew into the competition, securing fourth place finishes in the first two disciplines, before setting a personal best 18.83 in the Standing Block Chop.
The fourth discipline saw the competition step up a gear. Six athletes set personal bests in the Single Buck – including France’s Pierre Puybaret with a new world record time of 11.58, in one of the standout moments of the night.
With Lentz, Dupuis and Komárek impressing in the Springboard, Dupuis heaped on the pressure with a personal best of 5.43 in the Hot Saw. Lentz responded with a personal best time of 5.70 to finish second in the round and secure top spot on the podium.
Jason Lentz, the 2021 Individual World Champion, commented:
“I feel amazing. Winning the gold medal has been a lifelong goal of mine, so to do it is an unbelievable feeling. It was a hard fight. Marcel Dupuis and Martin Komárek finishing on the podium with me, along with all the other competitors – everyone was right there until the end.”
Marcel Dupuis, the runner-up, said: “I feel great. The last time I was here I never made the podium, so this time I was trying to make the podium and it happened, I made it. I had one bad event but apart from that I did as well as I could have imagined. I’m proud of the way I competed and congratulations to Jason Lentz, he was better than me today.”
Martin Komárek, who finished third on the podium, added: “I feel so happy because it’s hard just to go to the World Championship. I’m so happy to make the podium, thank you everyone who supported me.”
Full results and final standings for the Individual World Championship can be found on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® database.
With the 2021 Individual World Championship now over, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® is delighted to confirm that the 2022 World Championship – which will see the return of the Team Event after a two-year absence due to COVID – will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden on 28-29 October 2022. Tickets for the event, which will be held at the Partille Arena, are now on sale.