Swedish Silver in TIMBERSPORTS® European Trophy 2023
On Saturday evening, this year's edition of the European Trophy took place in Poznań, Poland. Ferry Svan secured a second-place finish with just over a one-second margin behind the gold medalist, Redmer Knol from the Netherlands. The reigning European champion, Swedish athlete Emil Hansson, finished on fifth place. These results mean that both Swedish Pro athletes qualify for the World Trophy 2024.
On July 26th, sixteen Pro athletes in TIMBERSPORTS® gathered in Poznań, Poland, to crown a European champion. The Trophy format tests both strength and endurance. Athletes compete head-to-head and complete four disciplines in a single heat: Stock Saw, Underhand Chop, Single Buck, and Standing Block Chop.
Both Swedes comfortably won their respective heats in the first round. In the quarterfinals, they faced each other, with Svan emerging victorious over Hansson. This left the reigning champion, Emil Hansson, in fifth place, earning a ticket to the 2024 World Trophy for a chance at redemption.
In the semifinals, Svan went up against the host nation's Michal Dubicki, who had previously secured a podium finish in the Trophy format earlier in the year. After an intense heat, it was clear that the Pole had to give up his spot in the final to his Swedish counterpart.
The final was incredibly close, and ultimately, Svan was defeated by a mere 1.35 seconds. Thus, Sweden and Svan secured second place in the European Trophy 2023.
– I am pleased with today's performance. The competition was strong and the journey to the final was tough, but I stuck to the plan of chopping steadily and not taking unnecessary risks. I was able to perform at a high level despite three substantial heats, says Ferry Svan, continuing:
– I take with me the realization that I have reached a high baseline level, which allows me to perform well regardless of my form on a given day. This is something I have strived for a long time, and it bodes well for the future.
More competitions await the Swedish Pro athletes
Following the European Trophy, the third qualifier of the Nordic Cup awaits in the Swedish national team's hometown, Orsa, and the final Nordic Cup qualifier will be held in Svenljunga at the end of September. Additionally, between August 11 and 13, the elite of the Nordic region will gather in Elverum, Norway, for the Nordic Championship 2023. The TIMBERSPORTS® World Championship is scheduled for November 3-4 in Stuttgart.
The complete TIMBERSPORTS® competition schedule is available here.
