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Armstrong artist carves way to top prize at Sunshine Coast event

Kamron Garbe won the chainsaw carving competition at the Powell River Logger Sports festival July 12 and 13; Vernon's Tyler Welfing wins Carvers' Choice

Something about the salty Sunshine Coast air agrees with Armstrong artist Kamron Garbe.

Much to the chagrin of his competitors.

Garbe, of KG Woodcraft, won the Chainsaw Carving Competition at the annual Powell River Logger Sports weekend at the city's Willingdon Beach.

It's Garbe's third consecutive win in Powell River.

"As I get better at carving I'm also getting pretty good at taking a lot of flak from the other carvers," joked Garbe on his Facebook page.

Garbe's winning creation for 2025 is titled Mama Bear, depicting a woman holding the head of a large bear. 

It was worth $5,000 for first place.

It wasn't the only prize money heading back to the North Okanagan.

Vernon's Tyler Welfing of CarveWel Creations won the Carvers' Choice award for his art of a pair of sea otters. The vote from the other 11 competitors in the event was worth $1,200.

Joining Garbe and Welfing in the event were Jay Perrin, Powell River; Clint Blaney, Powell River; Shea Larking, Seymour Arm; Dave Mckamey, Penticton; Brigette Lochhead, Vancouver; Tao Feng, Surrey/China; Benji Waretini-Hemara, North Vancouver/New Zealand; Michael Penny, Fernie; Stephanie Penner, Ste. Anne, Man.; and Colin Brown, Brucefield, Ont.

Larking took home second place prize money ($3,000), and the third-place, $2,000 cheque was won by Waretini-Hemara.

The chainsaw artists arrived in Powell River and began their event Wednesday, July 9, transforming trees into art in only four days. People could watch the carvers in action at the Loggers Memorial Bowl.

Event co-organizer Laura Passek (shown in the video, above) said the carving competition is now the second largest event of its kind in Canada.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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