Only the long-time Squamish Days Loggers Sports fans will remember the truck rodeo, an event that hasn't been held at the festival for 13 years.
But this year all who come out for the 50th anniversary of the chopping, throwing and climbing competitions will get to see a little burnt rubber too.
"It's an obstacle course with logging trucks," said Squamish Days president Bryan Couture. A member of the Squamish Days committee for 32 years, Couture can remember the days when the trucks tore up pavement and ripped off tires as they wove their way through the course.
"They have to do pretty fancy turning," he said. This year the trucks - at least 10 are expected - will be less-heavily loaded to reduce the damage, but the spectacle will be just as big."
The truck rodeo is just one way that Squamish Days is celebrating 50 years of competition this August.
Back at the sports grounds, a new masters category has been added to the underhand chop where competitors stand on a log and swing at the wood between their feet.
They cut through half the log and then turn around to finish cutting the other half.
Couture, who will be in the Masters event this year, said he's only hit his toes once.
Very few tournaments have Masters categories, said Couture, and participants must be 60 years to enter.
"These are guys that have been around for quite a few years, and it's going to be a big thing," he said.The festival parade, a Squamish Days favourite, will return with more than 10 trucks added to the stream of vehicles that will pass down Cleveland Avenue.
The pajamas sale is also back, where shoppers who wear their PJs to stores will receive a discount.
And, after a few years' hiatus, Squamish Days Sports Grounds namesake Al McIntosh will once again MC the event, a role he played for 48 years.
"It's a world-class event," said Couture. He said many of the events in logger sports began at Squamish Days, and the festival enjoys a reputation as the best tournament in the world.
This year there will be a total of $50,000 in prize money to be won.
Squamish Days participants come from Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. Some travel up from Washington State, others from even further away.
"The best axemen in the world are coming from Australia and New Zealand," said Couture.
He also expects to see competitors from Norway, Denmark, Czechoslovakia and Switzerland.
More than a few competitors will receive personal invitations with a special postage pre-paid Squamish Days Logger Sports 50th anniversary postcard, now available at the Adventure Centre and The Chief newspaper office on Second Ave. Drop by either location and fill out an invitation before they run out.
