26 of the nation’s top professional athletes will compete, including all seven of the current top-ranked professional women. Seven-time World Champion and seven-time US Log Rolling Open Champion Livi Pappadopoulos enters the event undefeated in 2026, while reigning World Champion Marcus Heineck looks to capture his first US Log Rolling Open title.

Representing Gladstone, local professional log roller Cole Bennetts returns to compete before his hometown crowd. Bennetts continues Gladstone’s proud tradition of producing world-class log rollers and gives local fans another athlete to cheer for on Independence Day.

Professional Boom Running returns immediately following the log rolling finals. Fans will see two-time World Champion Cameron Pilgreen and six-time World Champion Meredith Ingbretson race across floating logs in one of lumberjack sports’ fastest events.

This year’s competition celebrates several historic milestones. As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the US Log Rolling Open celebrates its 10th anniversary while honoring the 100th anniversary of Gladstone native Billy Girard’s 1926 World Championship.

Photo by Susie Polentini

Gladstone has a rich history in professional log rolling, hosting major competitions throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including the 1999 Log Rolling World Championships. The community has produced legendary competitors including Billy Girard, Dan McDonough, Fred Sayklly, Don Jacobs, and Fred and Missy Sayklly, known as The River Kids.

“The US Log Rolling Open has become one of the premier stops on the professional tour because of the incredible support from the City of Gladstone and its fans,” said Event Director Katie Burke. “Celebrating our 10th anniversary while honoring Gladstone’s log rolling heritage makes this year especially meaningful.”