Cable Area Chamber: Reveals 2015 lumberjack mascot

The talisman of the IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships is named as Tim Burr.


The organizers of the 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships, taking place in Cable, Wisconsin, USA, from January 23 – February 1, have unveiled the mascot of the competition – a lumberjack playfully named as Tim Burr.


Around 150 skiers from 20 countries will gather in Cable, located in the one million acre Chequamagon National Forest, for the biggest gathering of biathlon and cross country skiers since the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.


Tim Burr is a nod towards the area’s rich history in the lumber industry, which was built around its natural resources in the 1800s.


Loggers used to float trees down the many rivers in Bayfield County to mills where they were transformed into lumber, and put onto trains to Chicago. The city was originally built with the timber from the area until the great Chicago Fire raised it to the ground over two days in October 1871.


At the same time as revealing the mascot, organizers also gave a glimpse into the festivities for the Opening Ceremony for Cable 2015 which until now have been shrouded in secrecy.


Yuriy Gusev, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, said: “Tim Burr fits in nicely with what we have planned for part of the Ceremony – the re-enactment of a lumberjack competition.


“The Lumberjack World Championships are held here every summer. The lumber industry is still a major part of our economy and is the second greatest revenue source for Bayfield County, so we are really keen to incorporate it into the Championships.”


Cable 2015 is expected to see a host of Paralympic and world champions descend on the world-renowned Telemark Resort, which every year plays host to the start of the American Birkebeiner, the largest cross-country skiing race in North America. Athletes from team USA are currently in Soldier Hollow, Utah, for the US Nationals.


The Opening Ceremony will take place on January 23, before competition starts with biathlon events on January 24.


The schedule can be viewed at http://www.paralympic.org/cable-2015/schedule-results.


Media accreditation for Cable 2015 is also still open at http://www.paralympic.org/cable-2015/media.



For more information contact: James Bolen, Chief of Event Support 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships at 715.580.0206.