RIDGWAY – One lucky person had the opportunity to go from the
frigid weather of Pennsylvania to the sweltering heat of Costa
Rica, thanks to an ESPN2 show called “Wanna’ Go Fishing?”
The show was in town as part of the eighth annual Ridgway
Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous.
“Wanna’ Go Fishing?” presented by West Marine, is an innovative
new ESPN television show that brings reality-based programming into
the outdoor genre. Matt Eastman travels across the country
searching for the ideal guest to join him for the most incredible
saltwater fishing action in the world.
Eastman explained the person chosen would have two phone calls
and five minutes to decide if he was going on the trip. He would
then be taken home to pack a few things and then would immediately
fly to Pittsburgh. On Sunday morning, the lucky winner boarded a
flight to Costa Rica to spend two entire days in the sun, fishing
with Eastman.
“We’re looking for someone cool,” Eastman told The Era. “The
hard part is finding that someone with a passport.”
The winner of the ESPN fishing trip was a 25-year-old man from
State College named Ben. His last name was not available.
“He was whisked away,” according to Liz Boni.
The rendezvous started as a backyard gathering of six chainsaw
carvers. In 2000, the small group of carvers took it public. Since
then, it has grown to become the world’s largest non-competitive
event of its kind and evolved into a partnership of community and
artistic spirit. The rendezvous continues through Saturday.
From 9 a.m. to noon today through Thursday, there will be
seminars and workshops related to chainsaw carving held at the
Appalachian Arts Studio. Also at 9 a.m. today, Jamie Doren and
Niels Ejnar Petersen will give a seminar on buddy seminar tools and
techniques, U.S. and Europe; at 11 a.m., Simon O’Rourke will
present a program on carving the human face; and from 1 to 5 p.m.,
carving will take place on the grounds in Ridgway.
The rendezvous lasts through Saturday.
There will be a bus transport throughout the town during the
rendezvous, and donations benefit the St. Leo Building Fund.
Parking is available with a shuttle from St. Leo’s parking lot
during the event.
