Female record holder to compete in ‘Wimbledon version’ of sport

After 14 years of excelling in a male-dominated sport, a Toowoomba athlete has opened up about why she loves the sport, the injuries she has sustained and what’s next for the record holder.

During the day Jodie Beutel works as the director of an early childhood centre, but from the time she clocks off, she transforms into her alter ego – a record holding, axe-wielding athlete.

The Crows Nest resident is one of six women selected to compete in the Stihl Timbersports Australia Trophy championship this year for wood chopping.

Crows Nest competitive woodchopper Jodie Beutel will compete in the Stihl Timbersports Australian Womens Championship in South Australia next month. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Considered one of Australia’s most physically demanding competitions in the sport, athletes will go head-to-head in four heats including stock saw, underhand chop, single buck and standing block chop.

“They say it’s like the Wimbledon version of wood chopping and pre-Covid we had athletes from New Zealand and the U.S. compete,” Ms Beutel said.

“You don’t really know where you stand until you compete against other women who have won world titles in their states.”

Picking up her first axe 14 years ago, it hasn’t come without its challenges for the 43-year-old woman.

Crows Nest competitive woodchopper Jodie Beutel trains in stocksaw in preparation for the Stihl Timbersports Australian Womens Championship in South Australia next month. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Australian record holder in stocksaw and singlebuck categories, once required six stitches when she cut her toe during an underhand chop.

Ms Beutel also entered the male-dominated field when she said there were maybe five or six female competitors of the sport in Queensland.

“That’s compared to about 20 women now,” she said.

“I used to come and watch my husband compete and thought ‘this is not good enough – I need to get involved’ so I did and the gentlemen have always been very encouraging.”

Crows Nest competitive woodchopper Jodie Beutel trains in the underhand chop in preparation for the Stihl Timbersports Australian Womens Championship in South Australia next month. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Now the strong female athlete hopes to inspire more women to get involved in the sport, including her 16-year-old daughter who has also started competing.

Ms Beutel will compete in the Stihl Timbersports Australia Trophy competition in South Australia on March 4.