On 7 November the shore of the Vyacha Reservoir in Minsk District echoed with the sounds of axes, live music, and vibrant cheers from supporters. The fourth wood chopping challenge among media representatives was held there. The details of this event, which combined the thrill of sports competition with the emotions of a festive celebration, are captured in BelTA’s report.
The winner of the log-splitting competition was Vadim Kondratyuk, a correspondent from the 7 Days newspaper representing the BelTA team.
“Our team started preparing earlier this year than last year’s. When I picked up the axe during the first training session, I realized I had to put in maximum effort. I even watched tutorial videos online to pick up some tips and life hacks. Today, I was determined to win. I tried my absolute best but didn't expect to actually win. When I finished splitting the log, I walked a bit forward and saw that the other participants were still chopping. I'm glad I achieved the goal I set for myself,” Vadim Kondratyuk said.
He also added that the wood chopping challenge is an excellent tradition. “Many of our colleagues noted that we are not only good with words but also with axes,” the correspondent emphasized.
The challenge participants competed to determine the strongest in disciplines such as wood chopping (for men and women), log splitting with an axe, presidential-style wood chopping, and a relay race. Ten men with the best results in wood chopping took part in the additional “In One Go!” contest, while ten women participated in the “Durability Test”. In the latter, the female contestants had to split a log section using a wooden wedge and a cast-iron frying pan.
The winner of the log-splitting competition was Vadim Kondratyuk, a correspondent from the 7 Days newspaper representing the BelTA team.
“Our team started preparing earlier this year than last year’s. When I picked up the axe during the first training session, I realized I had to put in maximum effort. I even watched tutorial videos online to pick up some tips and life hacks. Today, I was determined to win. I tried my absolute best but didn't expect to actually win. When I finished splitting the log, I walked a bit forward and saw that the other participants were still chopping. I'm glad I achieved the goal I set for myself,” Vadim Kondratyuk said.
He also added that the wood chopping challenge is an excellent tradition. “Many of our colleagues noted that we are not only good with words but also with axes,” the correspondent emphasized.
BelTA Director General noted that the challenge is always fun and emotionally charged.
“The most important thing is that we have a team. It manifests in our spirit, our unity, and the support of our fans. BelTA has shown very good results. We have significantly improved our performance compared to previous tournaments. I never set the goal for the team to necessarily win. What's important is to learn, improve our results, and remain a united team. BelTA is a news agency that is always the first to deliver accurate news. We have excellent work performance metrics. And we must master various skills. The president sets the trend for a healthy lifestyle and everything else. We need to follow this example, and we strive to do exactly that,” Irina Akulovich saod.
The winner of the fourth wood chopping challenge was the team of the VoenTV company. “We approached the tournament preparation very seriously. In this regard, everything was clear and military-precise for us. Everyone felt responsible both for their individual performance and for the team's overall result. Last year, I placed first in the women's wood chopping event. This year, I set a goal for myself to finish among the top three. But I got a log with a couple of knots, and I wasted time. The most important thing is that our team won. We didn't know until the very end what place we would take. When they declared us as the winners, we were absolutely thrilled,” Anna Litash, a member of the VoenTV team said.
“The most important thing is that we have a team. It manifests in our spirit, our unity, and the support of our fans. BelTA has shown very good results. We have significantly improved our performance compared to previous tournaments. I never set the goal for the team to necessarily win. What's important is to learn, improve our results, and remain a united team. BelTA is a news agency that is always the first to deliver accurate news. We have excellent work performance metrics. And we must master various skills. The president sets the trend for a healthy lifestyle and everything else. We need to follow this example, and we strive to do exactly that,” Irina Akulovich saod.
The winner of the fourth wood chopping challenge was the team of the VoenTV company. “We approached the tournament preparation very seriously. In this regard, everything was clear and military-precise for us. Everyone felt responsible both for their individual performance and for the team's overall result. Last year, I placed first in the women's wood chopping event. This year, I set a goal for myself to finish among the top three. But I got a log with a couple of knots, and I wasted time. The most important thing is that our team won. We didn't know until the very end what place we would take. When they declared us as the winners, we were absolutely thrilled,” Anna Litash, a member of the VoenTV team said.
According to her, the great thing about this event is that journalists can set their equipment aside, come, and compete. “It’s like a bit of childish mischief. We get plenty of adrenaline on military training grounds too. But the sensations here are a little different,” a member of the winning team admits.
A total of 39 teams took part in the competition. Alongside representatives of Belarusian media, journalists from China, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as staff from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Emergencies Ministry, the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, and Belarusian Railways also showcased their axe-handling skills. “Our team participates in every challenge. We look forward to this day, eagerly discuss the competitions, and of course, select the strongest and most skilled journalists for the team. This is the fourth time we’ve come to this place not only to compete but also to have a good time. It’s gratifying that our support group gets bigger every year. Today we broke our own record - more than 200 fans were cheering for us. These included members of military-patriotic clubs, lyceum students, and cadets,” Mikhail Gorlukovich, Head of the Unified Editorial Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said.
A team of bloggers called BlogBy made their debut at the wood chopping challenge this year. “The tournament atmosphere is awesome. Even though I’m from a village, a lot of things were new to me: the technique of splitting wood, the activities centered around this theme, and much more. There are various interesting spots here where you can win something, try something, or eat something. We have an active support group. We’ve already managed to put together a joint video. The guys are great, and the girls are absolutely fantastic. A girl with an axe is a separate form of art,” Valeriya Yaskevich, a supporter of the bloggers' team, said.
Adding to the event's special festive atmosphere were musical acts like the folk ensemble Charnitsy, the Cossack ensemble Batka Ataman, and a special performance by star guest Aleksandr Solodukha. In addition to the competitive program, experienced lumberjacks and famous guests held workshops. Food and drink stalls were also in operation. Everyone who attended the fourth wood chopping challenge went away filled with positive energy and great memories.
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