LaVoie Doubles Down with Title and Two World Records
Erin LaVoie, of Spokane, Wash., delivered a commanding performance during Saturday's U.S. Women's Pro Championship, becoming the first woman to win back-to-back U.S. Championships titles – and her fourth national title overall. After a challenging start in the early rounds, LaVoie surged to the top with two record-breaking runs: a 14.27-second Single Buck, followed by a 22.72-second Underhand Chop — breaking her own previous world record of 23.61 seconds set in 2024.
"I know what it takes to compete at this level — and I still love the challenge," said LaVoie. "To put down two world-record runs and defend the title feels like everything came together when it truly mattered."
Kate Witkowski, of Hayward, Wis., made a major leap to the podium, climbing from tenth place last year to second overall. Witkowski edged out longtime competitor Martha King, of Chadds Ford, Pa., by just one point.
Meanwhile, Lauren Bergman, in just her second year on the national stage, broke the Standing Block Chop world record with a time of 26.36 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Samantha Graves, of Victor, NY, by almost six seconds.
Clutch Finish and Hot Saw Record for Hodges
The U.S. Men's Pro Championship began with a two-day Semi-Finals round, where 24 athletes competed in three pools across Friday and Saturday. In his Friday heat, reigning champion Nate Hodges of North Fork, Calif. broke the Hot Saw world record with a time of 4.28 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 4.62 seconds set by Adam Lethco of Maryville, Tenn. Completing the Hot Saw in under five seconds is an achievement few athletes have reached — making Hodges' run not just record-setting, but a rare display of speed and control.
Hodges returned on Sunday with more to prove in the U.S. Men's Championship. As the competition progressed, the leaderboard remained tight, with top athletes separated by mere seconds across multiple disciplines. Ultimately, it came down to the Hot Saw. In the final discipline of an adrenaline-pumping race, Hodges sealed the title with a 4.69-second Hot Saw cut, edging out Matthew Slingerland, of Sevierville, Tenn., by just two-tenths of a second and claiming his second consecutive national title.
"It takes everything — physically and mentally — to stay on top at this level," said Hodges. "Everyone brought their best this year, so walking away with the title and a world record feels incredible."
Slingerland took silver, while Jason Lentz, of Diana, W. Va., secured third after an extensively reviewed Hot Saw cut was ruled good. Seven-time U.S. champion, Matthew Cogar, of Grafton, W. Va., started strong in the Underhand Chop, Stock Saw, and Standing Block Chop, finishing just off the podium in fourth.
With four world records, two title defenses, and razor-thin finishes across both divisions, the 2025 U.S. Championships delivered one of the most competitive and memorable weekends in STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® history — led by returning champions Nate Hodges and Erin LaVoie.
"Nate and Erin didn't just defend their titles — they redefined what peak performance looks like in this sport," said Adam Wolff, USA Team Manager. "Both broke world records and rose to the occasion under immense pressure. It's rare to see that kind of dominance from one athlete, let alone two in the same weekend. They continue to raise the bar for STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® on every level."
From U.S. Podium to Global Stage: Team USA Targets Milan
With his second consecutive national title in hand, Nate Hodges is set to represent the United States at the 2025 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship, taking place October 24–25 at the Allianz Cloud Arena in Milan, Italy.
Hodges will first compete as part of Team USA in the Team World Championship on October 24, then in the Individual World Championship on October 25, where he'll have the chance to defend his world title on the sport's biggest stage. It's a high-stakes weekend that will bring together the best athletes from around the globe for two days of elite, high-intensity competition.
Hodges will lead Team USA, joined by Matthew Cogar, Mark Bouquin, of Springville, NY, and Jason Lentz — a powerhouse roster heading into one of the most anticipated events of the season.
U.S. MEN'S PRO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RANKINGS (TOP THREE)
- Nate Hodges
- Matthew Slingerland
- Jason Lentz
U.S. WOMEN'S PRO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RANKINGS (TOP THREE)
- Erin LaVoie
- Kate Witkowski
- Martha King
Full results from this weekend's competitions can be found at https://data.stihl-timbersports.com/. Fans can relive the action of the 2025 U.S. Championships on the STIHL website at www.stihlusa.com or the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® YouTube and Facebook pages.
Additional photos from the 2025 U.S. Championships can be downloaded HERE.
About STIHL TIMBERSPORTS®
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® is an international lumberjack sports competition series. Its roots lie in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Today the world's best athletes compete in national and international events featuring three axe disciplines and three sawing disciplines. Springboard Chop, Underhand Chop and Standing Block Chop are classic axe disciplines; Single Buck (single-man cross-cut saw), Stock Saw (STIHL MS 661 chainsaw) and Hot Saw (tuned, customized chainsaw with up to 80 horsepower) are sawing disciplines. Athletes compete against both each other and the clock. For more information on the sport, the tools and the wood management please visit: www.stihl-timbersports.com.
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