Former world champion Jason Wynyard will return to international timbersports competition this week. Photo: Alan Lee
Champion axeman Jason Wynyard is on the cusp of an international comeback five years in the making.
The nine-times timbersports world champion is returning from chronic injury with individual and teams' titles in his sights in Sweden this week.
Since last winning the world title in 2017, Wynyard had overcome debilitating arthritis, stem-cell treatment and a hip replacement.
The 48-year-old from Auckland took a nearly three-year break from fulltime competition and he would be attempting to make it a record-breaking 10th title in Gothenburg, which could be his last crack.
Wynyard would team up with rookie Morgan Bolstad - who is 30 years his junior - in the teams competition.
Bolstad was on his first world championships teams tour and represented the third generation of Wynyard-Bolstad involvement in New Zealand timbersports.
Morgan's grandfather Sonny Bolstad competed against Jason's father, Pae Wynyard, in the 1970s and 80s, while Morgan's father David Bolstad had a great rivalry with Jason for many years before his death at a wood-chopping competition in 2011.
Bolstad wanted to honour his father's memory by doing his part towards a New Zealand team victory.
"I know dad would be incredibly proud of me for making this team and it's fantastic having someone like Jason with all his experience - as well as his connection with dad - alongside me."
Wynyard said it was special occurrence having the 18-year-old as part of the team.
"Morgan is a very promising up and coming axeman and I know he'll serve both his father's and grandfather's legacy in the sport well. I'll certainly help him out in any way I can so that this is a memorable world championship for all the team."
The last time New Zealand competed at the world championships was in 2019 and finished second behind Australia.
The teams competition is on 29 October and the individual competition for Wynyard is on 30 October.
The New Zealand timbersports world championship team: Jason Wynyard, Jack Jordan, Shane Jordan, Nathan McDonald, Adam Lowe and Morgan Bolstad.