Hoeschler is not ants-y on the log

Author: Simon Keyes

I inch my way delicately across the log, flailing my arms to stay balanced. Worse yet, the log is still being stabilized on both ends by two more established log rollers. The two finally let go of the log, and I start moving my feet up and down frantically. The log slowly begins to rotate backwards and now I'm essentially hobbling on a narrow treadmill. One of the other log rollers begins to yell some advice, but her help is immediately drowned out by a splash and the quiet of underwater.

For the novice log rollers, those who may stumble into the Natatorium once in a while to try out this obscure sport, my experience is one to which they can probably relate. The sport is easy to learn, but takes years to master. Luckily for Middlebury students, they have just the person to train them in the art of log rolling.

Abby Hoeschler, a 20-year-old first-year Feb hailing from La Crosse, Wisc., has, for 15 years, been log rolling competitively with a great deal of success. She has won the La Crosse Log Rolling Open two years in a row and placed third in the 2006 World Championships, beating out the 10-time world champion in the process.

While not imposing by stature, Hoeschler has a steady mental game which helps her compete and often win.

"I'm the smallest female competitor, and I have a disadvantage because of that," she said. "It's a disadvantage because a weight advantage helps you control the way the log spins. So if you have two equally talented log rollers, the heavier one will generally win in a perfect world. So I make up for it with my endurance. I move my feet faster, I'm watching their feet the whole time, trying to be astute on what they're trying to do, when they get out of control, and when I should try and do something. It's a huge mental sport, you just have to fight harder."

Here at Middlebury, Hoeschler has assumed the role of teacher. While she often gives log rolling lessons on Thursdays and Sundays, she herself did not bring this sport to Middlebury. Hoeschler has two older sisters, Katie '03.5 and Lizzie '05, who are responsible for that feat.

"Katie, the oldest, brought log rolling to Middlebury," said Hoeschler. "Then Lizzy kept it going. And now I'm doing the same."

The three sisters were trained at a young age by their mother Judy, "the matriarch of log rolling," as Abby describes her. Mrs. Hoeschler, a seven-time world log rolling champion, trained her children the way she was trained when she started at the age of 12 - by throwing them onto a log at an early age.

"From the age that we could swim, she took us to log rolling classes at the YMCA, which she taught," said Hoeschler. "So we just played on the log, and we would compete in the six-and-under class when we were five."

Even with all three sisters rolling with each other from a young age, there is no animosity between siblings whatsoever.

"There's no rivalry only because we never really had to compete against each other until we all became pro," said Hoeschler. "Our ages were spaced far enough apart that we always missed each other in the age divisions."

The age differences, which kept them from competing at an earlier age, now may actually drive the three sisters when they square off against each other, especially for Abby, the youngest.

Of competing with her sisters, Hoeschler said, "I would rather lose to my sisters than someone else not in the family. It might be different for them because they're older. They definitely have a harder time accepting losing to me."

Regardless of her opponent, however, Hoeschler has stayed busy training and competing on the log rolling circuit during the summers. Training is especially convenient and enjoyable as it entails practicing on the logs, spending time outside in the sun, in the water and with family at a neighborhood pond.

As for the logs, they are not just the average downed tree that one stumbles across in the forest.

"The logs are western red cedar, they come from the northwest coast and a lot of times they can come from recycled telephone polls," said Hoeschler. "Lumber companies will get the orders and lathe them to make them smooth and perfect the diameter."

Hoeschler left the family pond at the age of five and started competing once or twice a summer. As she grew older, and more tournaments began sprouting up across America, her summers were usually booked with six tournaments a season.

Log rolling as a sport has not changed much from its 19th century origins. The act of log rolling, called "river driving" then, was actually the method used by lumberjacks to bring wood from the forests down river to the saw mills. The lumberjacks would jump across the floating logs, guiding them down river. The competitive aspect developed after the river drives were finished, when lumberjacks would have informal contests to see who could remain on the log the longest.

Today, log rolling competitions are constructed as such. There is a large draw that works its way towards a final of the last two log rollers. Before the match begins, the two rollers assume positions on the log. If they are both facing the same direction on the log it is called a running match, and if they are facing opposite directions, it is called a bucking match.

The match begins with the two competing on a 14-inch diameter log. If neither falls - at the professional level, the match rarely ends at this diameter - then the two move to the 13-inch diameter log. Should neither fall again, the log is changed to a 12-inch diameter size.

"The smaller the log, the faster it rotates in the water, the harder it is to stay on the log, but almost all of my matches go to that log," said Hoeschler. "With my sisters, on the 12- inch log, we'll have matches that go for 2-3 minutes at a time."

Each match is in a best out of five format, with the only rules being that a roller may not cross the center line of the log, and that there may be no interference with each other. The only way in which to tumble an opponent is to manipulate the log so that they fall off.

Back in Middlebury, in order to facilitate the learning process for students, the Hoeschler family donated a 17-inch diameter log with which students can practice. While still relatively unknown to most students at Middlebury, there is a quietly growing fan base for the sport. Many friends of the three Hoeschler sisters can admit to having tried the sport at least once.

And while there is no official club yet, there are frequent lessons available, and next year one term of log rolling can fulfill a Physical Education requirement.

Besides fulfilling credit, what draws people to this sport?

"The beauty of it is that it's a very simple sport to understand, but an extremely hard to sport to actually do and even harder to perfect," said Hoeschler. "When you step on the log for the first time you have absolutely no idea what to do with your body, yet it's addicting."

Leah Skahen '09 first tried the sport last year with the log rolling class and has become a regular down at the Natatorium ever since.

"I took the logrolling class last year because for the first time I wasn't busy with other commitments and I finally had time to do something completely new and different," said Skahen. "It's great because anyone can do it. Everyone is scared to get on the log and make a fool of themselves, but after a few times it is not that hard. It's a fun sport because you're competing every second you're on the log."

As for her future in the sport, Hoeschler will be taking a summer hiatus from the sport due to an internship. It marks the first summer since she was five during which Hoeschler will not compete. Yet this does not worry her too much.

"I know that I have many more years of log rolling in me," said Hoeschler. "Beyond competing, log rolling w
ill always be a part of my life because I love to teach and promote the sport."

In the meantime, however, she will continue to teach and watch many aspiring log rollers, like myself, tumble into the water.