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Greetings,
I am writing to you as a 4x Women’s Logrolling World Champion, logrolling program coordinator, coach, and tournament director from Southwest Wisconsin. During my fifteen years in the sport, I’ve become familiar with the highly successful North Shore Rollers logrolling team out of Grand Marais. I have attended four professionally directed logrolling tournaments in Grand Marais, competed against talented members of the group, and have developed friendships with Grand Marais athletes and families.
The Grand Marais group upholds an admirable reputation in the logrolling world. The program was first directed by women’s pro roller, Jenny Atkinson, and has since been handed down to local Grand Marais families who have devoted their lives to the sport and its growth. The North Shore Rollers are known for developing nationally-ranked youth athletes as well as a number of pros. Most notably, Grand Marais standout Allie Duclos won her fifth amateur world championship title in 2022 and qualified to compete professionally in 2023.
At the local level, the North Shore Rollers has undeniably made a significant impact in the Grand Marais community and in the lives of its young members. When I have attended logrolling events in Grand Marais, I have met countless kids and teens from the area who are passionate about the sport; their smiles are contagious. I’ve also kept up with the program on Facebook and commend the North Shore Rollers’ coaches and directors for promoting the sport in the community, the group’s positive energy, and the encouragement for rollers of all experience levels. The group has hosted small tournaments just for beginners in the past, which is an excellent way to boost young children’s confidence and motivate them to continue.
I am shocked and disappointed to learn that the Grand Marais YMCA has removed logrolling from their programming. To my understanding, there are safety concerns that have been raised by the Duluth YMCA, which have shed a negative light on logrolling in Grand Marais. I have been competing in logrolling since I was in second grade, coaching since I was fifteen, and directing logrolling events for children in Wisconsin for six years. In all of my years around the sport and attendance at innumerable logrolling classes and events, I have witnessed no injuries more serious than a scrape on the shin. It is nearly impossible for a child or adult log roller to hit their head on the log, as gravity pulls the athlete away from the log as they are falling. The coaches and instructors with the North Shore Rollers are highly experienced and know how to teach beginner-level rollers how to safely get on the log and fall off. If I were to sign my own child up for programming at the Cook County YMCA, I would be much more comfortable for their safety in logrolling than I would in gymnastics where they could fall off of the beam or basketball where they could be hit in the head by a ball.
The sport is not only very safe but provides an excellent experience for kids. Logrolling presents countless benefits for children who participate. In early childhood, I was a special education student who struggled with focus, social awareness, and gross motor skills. I spent most of the school day in the special education classroom and was placed in adaptive PE. My parents signed me up for logrolling at the La Crosse Area Family YMCA when I was eight years old, and my life was changed forever. I loved to be in the water and challenge myself to stay on the log, which motivated me to continue with the activity that challenged my physical and mental toughness. Naturally, I began to connect with the other children and develop friendships (many of which have lasted into adulthood), which was an excellent social opportunity for me. The organization of the classes helped me learn to stick to routines, wait patiently for my turn, and develop a laser focus for staying on the log. I quickly developed strength, stability, and endurance that aided me in all areas of life. Watching the other end of the log fed into my vestibular system (inner need for balance, keeping me from being dizzy). After just a few years of logrolling, I had overcome nearly all of the challenges that my disability once presented and was permanently removed from special education. I went on to win five amateur world titles between the ages of 12 and 16 and four pro world titles between the ages of 17 and 21. My work ethic, organizational skills, ability to form relationships, and passion for life are all credited to logrolling.
I am just one log roller. There are hundreds of others with their own logrolling success story. From a coach’s perspective, I have watched over 200 of my own students in Wisconsin build community with one another, accomplish goals, and overcome their own odds. Logrolling is a sport in which participants can set and achieve a plethora of goals besides winning tournaments. Beginners may work towards hitting a number of steps before falling in or staying on the log for a set amount of time. Intermediate-level rollers may enter their first tournament and challenge his or herself to score just one point in a match. Advanced kids may attempt to practice on smaller and faster-spinning logs and master difficult drills. Logrolling is also an excellent outlet for physical activity, as it includes all of the compound areas of fitness, strength, speed, balance, and endurance. Participants in the sport will naturally develop each of these components as they continue.
Logrolling is an individual sport, which is a great option for kids who don’t enjoy traditional team sports like basketball or volleyball, or who are simply seeking a more unique athletic experience. It is also an excellent cross-training tool for athletes in other sports; ultra-runners, gymnasts, and soccer players alike have praised logrolling for the core strength and stability that they have quickly gained with practice.
In support of the North Shore Rollers, I ask the Cook County YMCA to reconsider their decision to remove logrolling from their programming. The sport offers very few risks with exceptional rewards, which to me, proves that the Cook County YMCA would be missing out on an excellent opportunity with the removal of logrolling.
I am open to further conversation or any questions you may have about the sport and its presence in Grand Marais. Please feel free to give me a call or email at any time.
Thank you,
Livi Papadopoulos,
livipappadopoulos@gmail.com
Editor’s note—Livi might be the best amateur and potentially the women’s top professional log roller of all-time. As an amateur, she would not only win all of her matches, but it was also rare for anyone to get a “fall” on her. Since becoming a professional Livi has pretty much dominated the professional ranks in much the same fashion as she did the amateur ranks. Only time will tell how much better she will get, but it was a joy to watch her enormous progress from her first year in the sport to today. B.L. Former US Log Rolling Association board member.
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