For the Timbersports World Championships, the French and Australian teams trained in Ariège

Throughout the week, the Pamiers Vocational Training and Agricultural Promotion Center vibrated to the sound of axes and chainsaws. In front of the training room of the Appamean sports logging club, the Tustaires d'Oc, logs split in two are piled up. Thursday, November 7, on the eve of the very first Stihl Timbersports World Championships organized in France, in Toulouse, the French and Australian teams are fine-tuning their preparations for the big day.

It was in front of conquered high school students that the French carried out their last training in Pamiers. This tricolor “dream team” brings together the best elements of France with captain Pierre Puybaret and his 8 French championship titles, as well as 5 national records in the 7 disciplines that make up Timbersports. At his side, Alexandre Meurisse, 2024 French champion and three-time French vice-champion in 2017, 2019 and 2023, Adrien Courteaux, bronze medalist at the 2023 French Championship, and Loïc Voinson, world record holder in the Single Buck ( vertical ax) in 2022. Pierre-Louis Poisot, vice-champion of the Rookie Cup in 2016, and Antoine Estelon, vice-champion of the 2024 European Rookie Cup, will strengthen the squad.

“They embody great values ​​and have a real passion for this sport, which is very encouraging,” assures their coach, Nano Pourtier, after training. “We have a very good team, they have good density. If we do like in training, we can aim for 5th place. We also hope to break the French team record.”

A formidable Australian team

In France, where Timbersports has less than a hundred licensees, this discipline remains confidential. The arrival of the best teams in the world in Toulouse and the broadcasting of competitions live on television are an asset for its development. “There are not many of us who practice this sport in France so there is a very family aspect when we find ourselves in competition. If we look at the Australians for example, there are more of them and above all they start very early in this sport, this which gives them an advantage,” explains the French captain.

While his teammates fine-tune a few adjustments before heading to Toulouse, Australian captain Brad De Losa watches closely. Already crowned 8 times world champion, the team displays a confident serenity. “We were very well received in Ariège. The club and the school have very good equipment, which allowed us to prepare well for these world championships, we thank them for that. The French helped us a lot, they were great,” confides the captain. “It's the first time we've come to France. Ariège is a beautiful place and the food is very good. It's different from Australia, France is a country with an ancient history. We were able to discovering the Château de Foix, it was a very good stay. Now we hope to win, that's what we came for.”

For Frédéric Vavasseur, director of the CFPPA of Pamiers and president of the Tustaires d'Oc, the arrival of the athletes is a very good thing. “We are the only club in the south of France. It is a real pride for us to welcome them here. We were able to interact with them and observe them. The Australians even took the opportunity to introduce the children.”

If the Australians are obviously among the favorites, the French did not come to make up the numbers. At home, the Blues hope to honor their supporters, and why not reach the podium.