A special chainsaw-throwing pitch, a pair of officials, a scoreboard … the people of Peskovci seem to take their chainsaw-throwing contests very seriously. Initially, however, the purpose of the contests was different. "We just wanted to hang out together and have a good time. So we decided to compete to see who can throw his chainsaw the farthest," said organizer Drago Abraham.

Naturally, the participants must play by the rules of the sport. The chainsaws must weigh at least 10 kg, while the track must be at least 2.5 metres wide. "The rules say that you must hold the chainsaw by the exhaust. The blade faces outward. You can hold the chainsaw with both hands, as this improves your balance," said Damjan Vitek. After the chainsaw is hurled, the officials measure the length of the throw.

The guys train to stay in shape, and a proper warm-up is mandatory before a contest begins. "You need to train properly – just like in skiing or any other sport," said Ernest Kerčmar.

The brave men of Peskovci said their goal was to train all winter long. Next year, they want to participate in a European or perhaps even a World Championship in chainsaw-throwing.

D. S., Boštjan Rous, TV Slovenia; translated by D. V.