CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — David Bolstad really is alive. The lumberjack from Taumauruni, New Zealand, won the Stihl TimberSports Championship Saturday after he spent the season as an also-ran.

	David Bolstad ditched his funk and regained the Stihl TimberSports Championship.

"I've just not been myself," Bolstad said. "But I'm feeling better now."

Who wouldn't?

Bolstad came out of nowhere to unseat perennial champion and constant leader in the Stihl TimberSports Series, Jason Wynyard. As a matter of fact, Wynyard's domination of this season's events led some pundits to wonder if they shouldn't rename the Stihl TimberSports Series the "Jason Wynyard Show."

Bolstad cancelled all those thoughts by regaining the competitive fire that had won him the title in 2001, and forced constant head-to-head battles in the 2002 season.

Bolstad, though, basically sleepwalked through the Series this season.

"There were times when I just didn't want to be here," Bolstad said. "I'm in a stage in my life where I miss my wife. I miss my daughter. I just miss being at home.''

The homesickness drove Bolstad into a funk — a stark contrast to the fiery competitor that had defined the 2002 Series, when Bolstad and Wynyard fought tooth and nail every step of the way.

The difference he said is credited to Harry Burnsworth, one of the Series' lumberjacks who failed to make the Championship.

"I stayed with him for a couple of weeks and he had his granddaughter there," Bolstad said. "It was just a homey feeling place."

Homey enough that Bolstad regained his competitive edge.

"(Winning the title this year) is my greatest achievement," he said. "I kept playing and wouldn't give in."

Bolstad won the title by being consistent, although Wynyard showed flashes of brilliance. As a matter of fact, Wynyard beat Bolstad in four of the six events. But Bolstad fared much better in the Stock Saw and Hot Saw portions of the contest to finish with an overall 61 points. Wynyard finished with 55 points.

To give weight to Bolstad's consistent performance, he was still able to beat Wynyard, despite the fact that Wynyard won the Standing Block Chop, setting a world record in the process.

In the Stihl TimberSports Series, a total of 26 lumberjacks competed in four events. In those four events, competition was broken down into six separate disciplines — three sawing events and three chopping events. For two days leading up to the finals, each of the competitors qualified for the individual competitions. Depending on how well they were cutting or chopping in the qualifiers they may have competed in all six, or just a few to garner points in the finals.

At the Championship, though, there was not any qualifying days, and the 12 competitors competed in all of the events. Like a track meet, the lumberjack with the most points at the end of the day won.

Although Wynyard scored big in several events, he never led in the points during the course of the Championship.

He started the day by finishing second in the Single Buck to Dale Ryan. Bolstad finished third. And the overall difference in the contest was set in the Stock Saw when Bolstad won that event, and Wynyard finished seventh.

The rest of the day, Bolstad finished a place behind Wynyard in the Standing Block and Underhand chops.

Then in the Hot Saw, Bolstad finished second, while Wynyard finished ninth, providing the overall difference.