The Legend Of The Tree
August 7th, 2021
Tristan Wirfs doing Tristan Wirfs’ stuff this spring.
Joe is guessing most readers saw the picture above of Tristan Wirfs earlier this year carrying around a dead pine (?) tree that appeared to be at least 30-feet long.
That’s not exactly a limb that fell off in a storm.
The photo sort of reminded Joe of Andre the Giant playing “Sasquatch” in an episode of the “Six Million Dollar Man,” where Andre the Giant swung a tree at Steve Austin like a baseball bat when the two got into a fight in the woods.
It is just a wild picture. Wirfs has a look on his face like he is about to say, “So, what do you want me to do with it now?”
Wirfs is one of the nicest guys around. And even though he may be the best in the world at what he does, he comes off with a vibe that he doesn’t realize he’s such a freak human being with the power of an ox.
Today after Bucs practice, Wirfs was asked about that photo. To hear him explain how he lifted a tree onto his shoulders, it sounded like something out of a 1960s campy sitcom like “The Munsters” or “Get Smart.”
“I was doing a commercial,” Wirfs explained. “They asked me to pick it up [shrugs shoulders] or if I could pick it up. I said, ‘I don’t know, I’ll try.’ And they meant just lift one side of it up.
“So I started getting up underneath it.”
Wirfs then demonstrated how he got the tree on his shoulders.
“Then they go, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘You asked me to pick it up.’ … So I did.”
When asked how heavy the tree was, Wirfs shrugged his shoulders again and quickly pondered, saying, “It was maybe, just, 300 pounds, maybe.”
Yeah, no big deal. Just 300.
Wirfs did confess the “hard part” of lifting the tree on his shoulders was balancing the tree.
Man, Joe just loves this Wirfs. He may be Joe’s favorite Bucs player. What’s not to like about the guy?
August 7th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Yeah…I know how it feels…I have the same problem balancing a 60 lb. tree limb when carrying it…LOL.😏
August 7th, 2021 at 2:33 pm
Looks like a dead hemlock to me. Come on Tristen…what was it? A hemlock or a pine. Inquiring minds want to know.
August 7th, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Cool story and Wirfs is becoming on of my favorite Bucs too.
August 7th, 2021 at 2:59 pm
Doesn’t matter what kind of tree. No one on this site could do it. Even when they were young.
August 7th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
He’s is just an awesome kid. Glad he’s on the Bucs.
August 7th, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Bojim. Let’s not get carried away. He isnt the only guy who can do it. Love that guy tho. The humility is refreshing. Also why he will continue to improve.
August 7th, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Wirfs picks up trees, Swaggy just molests them.
August 7th, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Between lifting the tree and jumping out of the pool, what’s not to like about this kid. I assume Vea may be stronger (I remember the boulder story), but Wirfs is probably close.
August 7th, 2021 at 4:10 pm
Lighten up Bojim…just having some fun with this fun article. About the size of the live yellow birch I dropped last year and Lisfranc fractured my foot. Can laugh about both now.
August 7th, 2021 at 4:13 pm
Irish… Swaggy prefers Palms. Must be the type of trunk and palm fronds that he prefers.
August 7th, 2021 at 4:32 pm
Someone needs to teach the kid how to limb a tree. He’s gonna poke a eye out like that.
August 7th, 2021 at 5:29 pm
Hey to be fair, as a Certified Arborist in British Columbia, dead pine can be very light!!! Not saying it’s not impressive but they rot from the outside in and you would be surprised how light some dead pine timber can be!!
August 7th, 2021 at 8:46 pm
That is nothing!! I lifted a fresh cut 6 foot Christmas tree up just 9 months ago. I have to admit I could not get it over my head. Come to think of it, maybe it was a 4 footer. Never mind.
August 7th, 2021 at 9:17 pm
The kid is just awesome
August 8th, 2021 at 1:56 am
Anonymous – I was sort of thinking the same thing, but I found the original photo which is dramatically more clear, and you can tell it’s a thick, dense, heavy tree he’s holding. It’s quite impressive.
August 8th, 2021 at 7:06 am
So what’s the commercial for? C’mon Joe, let’s put that journalism degree to good use now. Lol.
August 8th, 2021 at 8:42 am
There are some long limbs on the tree still, even when picking it up. Agree, it wouldn’t be nearly as heavy as it was five years before, or so. But still, doesn’t seem so dry that all those branches break off when he picks it up and puts its on his shoulders. Cut it up, split it, and next year…great outdoor firepit firewood. Nice crackle… a little pinewood smell.
August 8th, 2021 at 8:45 am
And considering the size, you probably wouldn’t need to split it at all if you have a good sized firepit. The small limbs and such would make great kindling…the large end great little logs as is.
August 8th, 2021 at 9:39 am
My crystal ball sees a Wirfs jersey…
August 8th, 2021 at 10:36 am
Yeah, JUST 300 lbs. People that live in the weightroom aren’t phased by 300 lbs. People that live in bars think it’s superhuman.
August 8th, 2021 at 2:39 pm
Joe coming in strong with the Six Million Dollar Man reference. Did they use the sound effects for the commercial?