REAL PEOPLE. STIHL PEOPLE.

Few people can call themselves a STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® champion. Even fewer can call themselves a three-time consecutive champion. Matt Cogar not only accomplished these things, he did so before his 30th birthday.

"From an early age, I knew I wanted to do this. I grew up in the sport through my dad. He went to competitions and I just followed him around. One day I was like, 'yeah, this is what I want to do,'" said Matt. "I actually started competing at 12 years old."

Matt’s 2015 victory is especially impressive considering an injury almost kept him from competing entirely. Shortly before the 2014 World Championships, Matt cut a tendon in his hand during practice. He spent the next 12 weeks recovering, always wondering what the future would hold. As it turned out, it held another U.S. Championship win during the following year’s events.

Matt's STIHL TIMBERSPORTS career is another bright spot in the Cogar family legacy, which has seen many of its members become competitors (and champions).

"The heritage of lumberjack sports in the family actually starts prior to 1960, and then here I am today picking up where everyone else left off."

Where Matt goes from here is anyone’s guess. But if his past is any indication, he has a big future in the sport – and something to discuss at the next Cogar family reunion.

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