Highlights from Loggers Playday

There was a lot to see — and hear — at the Hoquiam Loggers Playday competition Saturday night at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam: The hot saws roared, AJ Mackenzie clowned around, and a Volkswagen Beetle met the business end of a topped tree at the hands of Ed “Mooch” Smith.

As the sawdust settled and the fireworks began, it was Colin Towne who took home the All-Around Logger honors, and the top Local Logger was David Moses.

AJ Mackenzie appeared as the Playday clown for the second year running. He is the son of longtime Playday clown Paul Mackenzie, who passed away shortly after appearing at the 2017 event. AJ kept his dad’s spirit alive with gags including how not to start a chainsaw, carving a tiny tiny chair out of a log with a chainsaw, and blasting a tree in two with a shotgun.

Competitor Chester Isaacson provided some unexpected entertainment, too. He showed up in loose gym shorts instead of jeans, and his chainsaw chewed up a piece of them as he prepared for his turn at the Obstacle Pole. He escaped with just a scrape.

Eleven-year-old Randy J. Houk — formerly of Aberdeen, now of Tacoma — was chosen to go fishing in the choker pond. Wonder of wonders, he hooked a 12-pound steelhead with some help from Hoki Moir, the subject of this year’s Playday dedication. The fish was a fighter, leaping out of the Styrofoam cooler twice and even punching a hole in its side; but in the end, Randy took it home along with a nice new fishing pole.

The competition itself featured local loggers and some longtime favorites, including Rob Waibel of West Linn, Oregon. Waibel has won more than his share of All-Around Logger honors — seven, in fact, since 1995, including as recently as 2017. He announced to the crowd that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, but still he competed (and placed) in several events.

Back this year after a few years off was Brian Bartow and his gravity-defying spar tree gag, where he climbs to the top of one of the speed-climb logs and performs a series of stunts, including a handstand that drew a roar from the crowd, before being “shot” out of the tree by a partner — this year it was another local longtime favorite, Gordy Mauhl — and zip-lining to the ground.

Toward the end of the competition, “Mooch” took to the spar tree in front of the stands and expertly dropped the top onto a small watermelon. He wasn’t done: A Volkswagen Beetle painted bright yellow, provided by Norm Callaghan of Gordon’s Service, was wheeled to the bottom of the pole, and Mooch nailed it mid-roof to the delight of the crowd.

Photos by Kat Bryant | Grays Harbor News Group After a few years off, Brian Bartow performed his gravity-defying spar tree gag.

Emcee Don Bell chats with competitor Chester Isaacson after his chainsaw ripped off part of his loose gym shorts.

David Moses, pictured on the Log Chop, was named 2019’s top Local Logger.

Randy J. Houk, 11, hooked a 12-pound steelhead with some help from Hoki Moir, the subject of this year’s Playday dedication.

Longtime Playday favorite Rob Waibel, center, announced to the crowd that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, but still he competed (and placed) in several events.