Michael Scott
The world championship of, the Forwarder World Cup will be held at Elmia with Australian Michael Scott representing the country. Source: Timberbiz
Entrants from 11 countries are currently registered for the world championship, the Forwarder World Cup, including Aussie Michael Scott.
For anyone who wants to experience steel nerves, quick decisions and powerful machines, one hot tip is the stand of the Swedish Association of Forestry Contractors at Elmia Wood.
“During the fair, we’re holding the Swedish School Forwarder Championships, the Swedish Forwarder Championships and the Forwarder World Cup. There’s going to be a lot of action!” Karl-Magnus Hembjer of the association said.
“It’s a high-speed competition with the entrants competing against each other simultaneously on two parallel courses.
“First they have to load logs – some fairly easy and others placed under various types of obstacles. If they miss any, they have to load extra penalty logs.”
The competitors then have to build a freestanding tower out of blocks of wood.
“The blocks have to be stacked as quickly and sturdily as possible,” Mr Hembjer said.
“This element usually involves great action when the operator who is lagging behind must try to catch up by taking extra risks.”
Before reaching the finish line, operators face yet another challenge, when the first person to pick up a specially marked log wins.
“The competitions demonstrate speed, precision and safety thinking and are a good way to create interest in the job of a forwarder operator,” Mr Hembjer said.
Michael Scott grew up in the Otways.
” In 2003 I began working for Aus-Am Harvesting and worked there for five years breaking out, falling and operating machines on a steep slope cable operation within the Otways,” Mr Scott said.
“Following this I began working for Dean and Bree Venturoni at Retreev operating machines in thinning, clear fall and salvage operations within the Otways and North East.”
He has spent the majority of his time on a harvester but competed in a forwarder competition at AUSTimber 2016, gaining first place.
“During 2016, I started ‘Scott Forestry’ doing site prep and earthmoving for Midway and AKD Plantations and continued subcontracting as an operator to Retreev, an employer and good friends,” he said.
“I enjoy hands on work, getting a job done well, the environment of the bush and the strong knowledge I have gained over the years.
“The ever-advancing technology and innovation has enabled logging and forestry do things better and safer and I look forward to future opportunities in the forestry industry.
Mr Scott is married and lives in Forrest (a small rural township in the Otway Ranges in Victoria).
“We have five children who I hope one day might like to come work alongside me, and I hope to continue to build my working relationship with plantation companies in the future,” he said.
As winner of the AUSTimber Forwarder Competition, which was sponsored by Komatsu Forest, Mr Scott pocketed $2500 and when it came time for him to “take on the rest of the world” Komatsu Forest again helped with sponsorship of $1500. Mr Scott has publicly thanked Nigel Howard, KF National Sales Supervisor and Komatsu Forest for helping him get the chance to test himself against the best Forwarder operators in the world.
Forwarder World Cup 2017
Thursday 8 June: Qualifying heats 10.30-16.00
Friday 9 June:Quarter-finals 10.15; Semi-finals 12.45 and 13.15 Final (followed by award ceremony) 14.30
