How Halder supports Florian Hägele in training for the toughest events in timber sports:
Splitting wood, sawing logs, hitting the mark with the axe – all under time pressure, with maximum force, and absolute precision: Welcome to STIHL TIMBERSPORTS®, easily the most spectacular extreme sport ever to rise from the forest to the big stage. And one man who lives and breathes this sport is Florian Hägele. At only 25, he is one of the most promising newcomers to arrive on the scene. Even though he has only been a contender at official competitions since 2023, he managed to work his way into the professional league in record time – relying not only on discipline and muscle power, but also on the right tool. Why? Because success in this sport hinges on the smallest details. And that is why Florian relies on our hand tools in his training routines – from the hand axe to prepare the logs to the SIMPLEX splitting maul to further process the training wood in a sustainable way.
Born and raised by parents with an agricultural background in the rural Hohenlohe district, Florian was introduced to chainsaws and axes at an early age. He first discovered the sport as a spectator – and instantly became fascinated with its power, precision, and explosive energy. Before long, he decided: I want to do that, too! He found that STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® was the perfect fit for an athletic fellow like him who has experience in strength and endurance training – and things picked up fast from there: After earning the runner-up title in the junior division in his first year, he is now already an athlete in the professional league. His greatest success to date: Pitted against young international athletes at the 2025 Rookie Academy in the Netherlands, Florian won 4th place and even came out on top during the qualification round. “I am captivated by the versatility of this sport. Every event is different, each requiring different strengths – and forcing you to constantly improve: technically, physically, and mentally. And that is what drives me.”
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® – “The Original Extreme Sport”
Lumberjack sport has a tradition of over 100 years and originated in Australia and New Zealand, where loggers used their spare time as early as the 19th century to determine who was the best at wielding the axe and the saw. Today, it is considered “The Original Extreme Sport” – and rightly so: Strength, technique, endurance, and absolute precision on the wood are essential when the athletes chop, saw or split tree trunks. Since 2001, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series has been held in Europe as well – with national and international competitions at the highest level. Official competitions comprise six events – three with an axe, and three with a saw.
Halder – more than a sponsor: Training partner with tradition
Besides being a STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® athlete through and through – Florian Hägele also whole-heartedly embraces his role as a brand ambassador. Because in his gruelling training routine, the young athlete puts his trust in high-quality tools from our selection, which serve him as reliable companions in preparing trunks and splitting wood and in the follow-up work on his training sessions.
When Florian ran into one of our sales partners at a professional sales training and started a conversation, his interest was piqued immediately. When the exchange turned to axes and technology – Florian began to wonder if STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® could serve as an opportune platform for us as well. “I was curious to see if a traditional manufacturer like Halder had any interest in becoming part of this young, dynamic sport. And, we found a match – and a great one at that.”
Today, we are not only Florian Hägele’s official competition shirt sponsor, but we also lend him our assistance with tools for his training routines. While the contenders use specialized high-tech axes in competition, our hand axe and the SIMPLEX splitting maul, for example, are staple equipment in his preparation and any other type of necessary wood work.
Structure, sweat, and sustainability
Florian completes 6–7 training sessions per week, 3–4 times in the forest, practising the original events, and pairs these workouts with regular strength training in the gym. The training schedule is carefully planned: Each of the six official events is practised in rotation to hone both the routine and the technique. This keeps up the challenge for the body and prevents any movements from becoming a mere habit. “We go through tons of material when we prepare for a competition.”
However, the wood processed during the intense preparation is not willy-nilly cast in the garbage – quite the opposite. Florian lives the idea of sustainability: Following the training, the practice trunks are processed into firewood with the help of our SIMPLEX splitting maul and used for the hearth at home. A functional cycle that pairs training with resource conservation and everyday life. Aside from the quality, Florian has come to appreciate the smart SIMPLEX principle: The modular design of the hammer makes it possible to replace all components. This extends the service life of the product and helps save resources – turning the tool into a faithful companion for many years.
SIMPLEX splitting maul – powerful, precise, and preserving
- Combination of splitting maul and soft-face mallet – two tools in one
- Splitting insert made of carbon steel with turned nose for excellent splitting action
- 4,100 g of total weight – ideal for the powerful splitting of 1-metre logs
- Superplastic protective insert (D60 mm) – wedge-preserving and safe
- Cast iron housing with integrated handle protection sleeve
- Ergonomic hickory handle, varnished, stable, and break-proof
- All components replaceable – sustainable, economical, and clever
Springboard – the event of all events
Florian Hägele’s absolute favourite event in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® competition is the springboard – which is justifiably held to be the queen discipline of the sport. This event challenges the contestants to scale a vertical wooden trunk at a lofty height: The athletes use an axe to drive so-called springboards – i.e. footboards – into the trunk, using them as aids to climb up. The goal is to chop through a 27 cm thick wooden block mounted on the tip using the axe – at a height of up to 2.80 meters. “The springboard requires the whole package: Technique, power, and perfect precision – and the ability to retain full control in a cramped space at towering heights. This fascinates me extremely – and spurs me on to constantly up my game.”
This event is particularly prone to elicit mistakes – and, sadly, cause accidents as well. This propensity makes it all the more important that every movement is executed flawlessly, that the tool works reliably, and that the training progresses in a well-rehearsed and thought-out manner. To master this challenge, Florian uses our hand axe specifically for preparing the trunk, removing the bark and manipulating the wooden surface with exact precision. By the way: Not only are the tools functional, but they attract attention in the scene as well. “I have been asked about the hand axe on numerous occasions – it simply looks stunning.”
Hand axe – compact, powerful, and sure to turn heads
- Forged from a single piece: robust all-metal design made of special heat-treated steel
- Finely ground & polished on all sides, perfectly balanced (1,000 g)
- Sharply hardened axe blade – precise and durable
- Anti-slip leather handle: contours to the shape of the hand
- Moisture-absorbent, boasting a stylish used look
- Including high leather belt bag as cutting protection
- Equally ideal for debarking and preparing the practice blocks and for outdoor campers, hunters, and lumberjacks
Technique, tool, and team spirit
The aspect of the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® that holds the greatest fascination for Florian is the complexity of the sport. Requiring more than raw power, it also calls for the perfect interplay of technique, body control, and the right tools. Each event comes with its own unique set of requirements. Sometimes it is precision that counts, while other times the key is explosive force. But one decisive factor always stays the same: the perfect tool for the job. “There are countless dials you can turn to achieve a better outcome – technique, axe angle, posture, material, etc. This is what makes this sport so fascinating. There is always potential for improvement.”
To Florian, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® community is at least as important as the sport itself. While battling hard for the win on stage – the contestants enjoy real team spirit off stage. “We support each other, share tips, and swap tools. That is the essence of the sport. This group of people forms a small and tight-knit community – a community that is in a class of its own.“
Looking ahead
Young and ambitious, Florian Hägele knows exactly what he wants: to go head to head with the best in the world. His goal is to squeeze the most out of himself and his tools in the years to come. “The times clocked by the top athletes from Australia or Canada are incredibly fast – but one day I want to measure up to them.” His motto for all those who are interested in STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® or logger sports: “Just try it and get started – and maybe work harder than others at times.” With the right tools, you can at least be sure to start on a solid foundation.
