STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® United States Lumberjack Champion Visits With Wounded Warriors

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Aug. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2013 STIHL^® TIMBERSPORTS^® United States Lumberjack Champion Matt Cogar recently spent the day visiting with wounded United States soldiers at the largest military hospital outside of the continental U.S., the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, on Aug. 6. Cogar signed autographs, gave out STIHL TIMBERSPORTS hats and shirts, shared stories, visited bedside and enjoyed dinner with the wounded warriors. 

Cogar, age 26 of Diana, W. Va., will return to Germany Oct. 25-26 to represent the United States in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS World Championship in Stuttgart, where he will take on the best lumberjack competitors from around the world.

He made history in June when he became the youngest U.S. Champion in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series' 28-year history, the nation's premier lumberjack competition. Cogar beat out hundreds of the country's top lumberjack athletes for bragging rights and the opportunity to represent the United States at the World Championship. For his U.S. Championship victory, Cogar was also awarded a Ram 1500 truck.

Established in 1985 by STIHL, the number-one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America*, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series presented by Ram Trucks and billed as the Original Extreme Sport, attracts the world's top lumberjack athletes in a competition based on historic logging techniques. The Series is seen by millions of viewers annually in more than 62 countries on networks such as Eurosport, Outdoor Channel and ESPNU. 

The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series pro competition consists of six professional lumberjack disciplines, the hot saw, single buck, springboard chop, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop. Held in conjunction with the Collegiate Series, the five qualifying rounds pit the top eight lumberjacks in the region against each other with the top four pro athletes from each advancing to the U.S. and Collegiate Championships. These four individuals not only compete against other competitors from around the country for the championship crown, but also join together to represent their regions in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Relay Competition. In addition to receiving the ultimate bragging rights in lumberjack sports and a Ram 1500 truck, the top U.S. competitor also advances to the World Championship. 

Get the latest information, stay up to date on news and competition and access behind-the-scenes photos and videos by joining the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series community online and on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast - not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer, call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHL's website at www.stihlusa.com. 

*"Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2012 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers. 

STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL^® TIMBERSPORTS^® Series. The series airs throughout the year on the Outdoor Channel and TUFF TV, and the STIHL^®TIMBERSPORTS^® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU. The STIHL^® TIMBERSPORTS^® SERIES is the pinnacle event in lumberjack sports. Since 1985 the Series has grown to become the premier showcase of the decades old sport of lumberjacking with competitions held around the world. 

The term TIMBERSPORTS^® is a registered trademark owned by ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG. and refers to the series of disciplines and competitions that are part of the STIHL^®TIMBERSPORTS^® Series. As such, it should not be used as a generic description of the overall sport of lumberjack sports. This trademark refers to all modifications of the term TIMBERSPORTS such as timber sports, or timbersport. The term TIMBERSPORTS should always appear in conjunction with "STIHL." 

About Ram
The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they'd like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their capabilities. Ram trucks now boast these segment exclusives:

• Coil-spring rear suspension on Ram 1500 for best-in-class ride and handling
• Available RamBox lockable and lighted bedside storage
• In-floor storage on all Ram Crew Cabs
• The largest cab in the market - Ram HD Mega Cab
• Standard six-speed manual transmission on all diesel models

Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

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STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series 
STIHL Inc. 

Image with caption: "STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® United States 2013 Lumberjack Champion Matt Cogar signs an autograph for a U.S. soldier patient during his visit to the largest military hospital outside of the continental U.S., the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany on Aug. 6, 2013. Cogar, age 26 of Diana, W. Va., will return to Germany Oct. 25-26 to represent the United States in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS World Championship in Stuttgart. (PHOTO CREDIT: U.S. Army Photo/Chuck Roberts)." Image available at http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130808/MM61474-a

Image with caption: "STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® United States 2013 lumberjack champion Matt Cogar signs an autograph on Medical-Surgical Ward 10 Delta during his visit with staff and patients at the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany on Aug. 6, 2013. (U.S. Army Photo/Chuck Roberts)." Image available at http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130808/MM61474-b

Image with caption: "STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® United States reigning lumberjack champion Matt Cogar meets with hospital staff at the Chaplains Closet during his visit to the USO Warrior Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany on Aug. 6, 2013. (U.S. Army Photo/Chuck Roberts)." Image available at http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130808/MM61474-c

SOURCE STIHL Inc.