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Dear Log Rolling Friends and Family,
Normally I would open the spring newsletter with something like, "Wahoo! The snow is melted! We get to start rolling outside soon!" but today, I need to be a bit more serious. I was recently asked, "What is the USLRA for anyway, and why do you guys have to do so much work?" The USLRA/ILRA motto is "To Promote and Perpetuate the Sport of Log Rolling". We do that through newsletters, tournament assistance, our charitable fund to start new programs, and overall governance and ranking for our sport. But let's be real for a moment; there are not many of us. In fact, in an article last summer The New York Times pointed out to our entire nation lumberjack sports are fading away.
Whether or not this is the case for log rolling, I for one will not watch this sitting down. Everybody reading this newsletter can agree log rolling and boom running are sports that need to be preserved; not only for the historical aspect, but for the positive impact these sports have had on so many lives.
Our board cannot do this alone - we need your help. Maybe you are not in a position to start a new log rolling program or host a tournament, but there are many other ways you can help out. The board has many committees (ranking, membership, legal affairs, rules and regulations, and property management) that can always use a helping hand. Maybe you can invite a friend to join you at log rolling class one day! How about calling the local media to tell them how much you love your sport... they may even want to come try it out! And if you do need help starting a new program, US Log Rolling is here to help.
So please, join me in doing your part to help the sport we love grow in 2010.
And oh yeah... the snow is melting and we will all be rolling on our lakes soon! Wahoo!
Sincerely,
Shana Martin
USLRA President
Your 2009 USLRA Board:
Shana Martin (president) shana@shanamartin.com
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2010 Ranking Changes
Based on the feedback from 2009, many important changes were made to the US Log Rolling Ranking System.
Below are highlights of this year's changes:
- The largest change made this year was the decision to no longer count invitational only tournaments for points. With the few number of level 1 tournaments offered, counting invites for points makes it very hard for new rollers and boom runners to break into the revered top eight. These invitationals should be considered a reward in themselves for competitors who made the rank.
- Rather than requiring a medical excuse to freeze points a new system was created: "When an athlete does not compete in a season they will receive 60% of their points upon returning the next season. If a shift in points has occurred (change in major tournaments or points allocations compared to the competitors year off), their points will be pro-rated before the 60% allocation is applied. If they choose not to compete for more than one season, their ranking points will return to zero."
There are also some minor changes in the wording that we encourage all of you to take a moment to read and understand.
Once again, thank you all so much for your feedback that helped create these changes!
Respectfully,
The USLRA Ranking Committee
Jon Berard, Jenny Atkinson, Pat Burns, Katie Rick, Doug Goodmundson |
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2010 Membership Form
- Competitors are required to hold a Competitor ID Card which will remain valid for life as long as a membership at any appropriate level is maintained
- Competitors must maintain a Competitive Membership
- Supporters and inactive competitors may maintain an Associate Membership
- First year competitors starting in 2010 will be offered a special package consisting of a Competitive Membership and a Provisional Competitor ID Card (valid for first year)
Purpose
- Provide incentive for new competitors (via First Year Competitor package)
- Competitor ID Card accurately reflects the fact that adding a new member requires more resources than maintaining an existing one
- Creates an incentive for inactive competitors to stay on the membership rolls and therefore more easily contacted by the USLRA
Details of Membership
Competitor ID Card--one time processing fee of $25
Competitors will receive a physical card
Primary requirement is to accept the Code of Conduct
Required for all USLRA competitions
Remains in effect as long as membership at any level is maintained
If membership lapses, ID Card will expire and competitor will need to re-apply and pay new processing fee.
Repeated violations of the code of conduct may result in suspension or revocation of Competitor ID Card by a judicial procedure yet to be determined
Membership
Competitive Membership--Annual dues: $20
Eligible to compete in tournaments
Newsletter
Earn ranking points or Super Series points, as appropriate
Eligible to participate in governance-voting rights (if of age as defined in bylaws) and may serve on the Board of Directors
Elite Competitive Membership--Annual dues: $35
This membership is a sub-class of Competitive Membership
All of the benefits of a Competitive Membership
Eligible to compete for prize money
Associate Member--Annual dues: $10
Newsletter
Can be used to keep Competitor ID Card valid when athlete is not competing
Does not require Competitor ID Card (for those who have no desire to compete)
Upgrade to Competitive Membership at any time by paying the difference
Not pro-rated
Special membership categories
Lifetime Member--Dues: $275
Active membership until death or cancellation by written request
Competitor ID Card expires only if membership is cancelled
First-year Competitor--Dues: $20 **New is 2010**
Package includes both Provisional Competitor ID Card (no charge, valid first year only) and active membership |
2010 MUSH for a Cure Honors Jenny Atkinson
What is the Mush For a Cure? Mush For a Cure is a non-competitive sled dog FUNdraiser with proceeds donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Mush For a Cure is not a race, it is a fun event to celebrate the sport of dog mushing and to cap off a winter of hard work, training and racing while raising funds to find a cure for breast cancer.
The organizers announced that the 2010 Mush For a Cure is honoring Jenny Atkinson, 8-time log rolling and boom running World Champion!36-year-old Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer in December. Since then, Jenny has been facing off with this disease head-on. In her own words from her Caring Bridge website, Jenny says about being diagnosed with breast cancer:"I figured they would tell me it was from nursing and the lump will go away when I was finished. After all, I am very healthy, 36 years old, and have no family history of breast cancer. I don't do anything on the "avoid" list and I do everything on the "good for you list" so I wasn't worried at all. The doctor told me she was certain it was benign, not to think about it, have a great trip, and get a mammogram when I got back. I wanted the journey to end, but little did I know it was truly just beginning".
This past weekend, log roller Jessica Berg Collman ran her third Mush for a Cure in honor of her coach Jenny. She raised over $8,000!!! Way to go Jessica!
Everybody at US Log Rolling wishes Jenny and Jessica the best. |
The Swimstitute Starts a
Log Rolling Program
AND a Fundraiser!
Jamie and Shana with "Jack" at Lumberjacks Restaurant in Sacramento
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This past February, Scott Morris and Todd Slizer of the Swimstitute in Sacramento went all out to launch their new log rolling program. What began as a simple "introduce our pool to log rolling weekend" turned into a major Huntington's Disease fundraiser and media event. Professional Rollers Jamie Fischer and Shana Martin flew out to Sacramento and showed locals and news media how the sport is done. A celebrity studded "beginner's tournament" was held starring World Champion Triathlete Victor Plata and Olympic Gold Medalist Jeff Float. The weekend was filled with lessons, demonstrations, dining at " Lumberjacks" and even a charity comedy show! Scott and Todd are excited to launch their log rolling program in Northern California, and have already started planning their level 1 log rolling tournament for May of 2011! Various media from the event are below: KCRA Interviews World Champion Log Rollers, Shana Martin & Jamie Fischer |
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Upcoming 2010 Tournaments
Below is a list of known 2010 Log Rolling Contests. Contests are clickable if registration forms are available. Please look for more updates on http://www.uslogrolling.com
- March 28th: Five-0 Fast Feet - Oconomowoc, WI
- April 10th: Harold Fischer Memorial - Hudson, WI
- May 2nd: Rusty Ankle - La Crosse, WI
- May 23rd: Capitol Splash - Madison, WI
- June 19th: Midwest Log Rolling Championships - Madison, WI
- July 4th: Go Fourth Timbersports (Professional Only) - Longview, WA
- July 10th: La Crosse Open - La Crosse, WI
- July 18th: Namekagon River Roll Off- Hayward, WI
- July 23rd- 25th: Lumberjack World Championships- Hayward, WI
- July 30th: Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival (Professional Only)- Squamish, Vancouver
- August 18th: Logger's Jubilee (Professional Only) - Morton, WA
- August TBA: Three Rivers Roleo - La Crosse, WI
- August 27th - 29th: STIHL Timbersports Series Prelims and Finals (Invitational)- Salem, Oregon
- October TBA: Round Robin River Rat Roll - La Crosse, WI
- November 13th: November Nationals- Hudson, WI
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Log Roller Bio:
Dominik and Andrew Serpico
Andrew Rolls at LWC in 2008
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Dominik Rolls at LWC in 2009
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Age:
Dominik: 12
Andrew: 8
Hometown:
Both: Hudson, WI
How did you get involved in Log Rolling?
Dominik: I saw it at the St. Croix Valley YMCA in Hudson and told my dad I wanted to try that someday. Once I tried it, I loved it.
Andrew: My brother started log rolling first and I like watching him. Then I wanted to try it.
What is your favorite log rolling memory?
Dominik: The Stillwater 2007 World Championships when I won first place in log rolling and boom run. It was also really fun there.
Andrew: The first time I won a match.
Who are your log rolling mentors?
Dominik: Jamie Fischer, Bob Jones
Andrew: My brother (Dominik), Jamie Fischer
What is your favorite competition?
Dominik: The Washington County Fair because I get to boom run too. We also get to enjoy the fun of a fair with family and friends at the same time.
Andrew: Oconomowoc tournament because I like their pizza and to climb on the rock climbing wall.
What other activities are you involved in?
Dominik: I like to play football and dodgeball at the YMCA. I also like to kneeboard and tube behind the boat.
Andrew:I like to fish, ride my bike, running, go 4 wheeling, tubing behind the boat, knee boarding, playing kickball, and dodgeball.
How long have you been rolling?
Dominik: I have been log rolling for 4 1/2 years. I can not wait to be able to boom run in Hayward.
Andrew:I have been log rolling for 4 years. I love to boom run. |
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Log Roller Congrats!
A HUGE congrats go out to the following log rollers:
Jill, Jamie, and Little Luke Fischer
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Clear the roads!!!
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Shana, Nate and crew make it to the top of Kilimanjaro
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- Jamie and Jill Fischer on the birth of their son Luke!
- Leah Burns on getting her driver's license!
- Nate Greenberg and Shana Martin on summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania!
Do you know a log roller who deserves recognition? Please send the info to Shana at shana@shanamartin.com
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