Michel Perrin sharpens axe ahead of Stihl Timbersports world championship in Milan, Italy

Michel Perrin, from Valle d’Aosta, Italian champion of Stihl Timbersports, will represent our nation in the upcoming World Championship in Milan scheduled for October 24 and 25 at Allianz Cloud. Sportal.it interviewed him exclusively on the day of the media presentation of an event that promises to be highly spectacular (photos) and in which Perrin will also compete in the team competition with the Italian national team, which is growing like the whole movement.

How do you approach such a special sport?
Let’s say you have to have some passion for wood. Some people come from a family of loggers, and some people like me grew up around it: my dad and grandfather cut wood, and I was always there, between chainsaws, axes and tractors. It all started a little bit like that, naturally. Then I was working for a Stihl dealer, and they sent me to Milan for a chainsaw refresher, and while I was there, the Stihl marketing department asked me if I wanted to try it. I went to my first training camp… and from there I haven&#8230t stopped.

How much does it matter to be born in the Aosta Valley?
It matters, all right. The sport is mainly played in northern Italy, at least for now. The goal is to involve the Center and the South as well, where there is more and more interest anyway. But the Aosta Valley has endless woods, timber galore-it’s almost “our” sport. A bit of a Valle d’Aosta sport, that is.

And you’re also a source of pride for your region, right?
I am the only Italian Stihl Timbersports champion from Valle d’Aosta at the moment, and also the only athlete from Valle d’Aosta. I would like to see more of my fellow countrymen approach this sport.

What characteristics do you need to practice it? I, for example, was afraid as a child to even hold an axe…
Yes, it is a spectacular sport but it requires a lot of concentration. If you’ve been partying the night before, best to let it go. When you’re there, no phone, no Instagram, no distractions: you need undivided attention. You’re holding sharp, heavy tools: one mistake and you really hurt yourself. You must always be aware of what you are doing.

Now you have a huge event ahead of you: competing among the best in the world. How do you prepare for such a challenge?
It was hard to get there, and it will be even harder to bring home an excellent result. We are talking about the top 12 athletes in the world. Already being part of them is a source of great pride. I have been preparing since January, first for the Italian championship, which was the barrier to qualify for the world championship, and now I am pushing even harder to get to the top.

Shall we make a promise? A goal to declare?
My goal is to improve on the best Italian finish ever: eighth place. Getting into the top 5 for me would be an achievement. Anything more that comes is all earned.