When a redneck American world champion woodchopper is defeated by the ultimate bogan Australian newcomer, he travels to the land down under to face his nemesis and reclaim the title.

Why not combining Foxtrot and Tony Edward comments, the hero is an outlier from the world of wood chopping, maybe an arrogant well educated waspish who makes a living out of the competition. You would be surprise by the number of people who applies to non-standard sports when they realise that their path is blocked in the usual sport (Most bobsleigh sport person are failed sprinters).
His opponent is a young woman whom he is attracted to and in the same time very competitive with. She needs the money to save her farm down under. He wants to win, because he needs to keep his sponsors happy.
Rivalry and courtship at the same time.
Remember the movie "What women want" with Mel Hibson and Helen Hunt but in the competitive wood chopping world rather than the advertising world.

Sane=same

I also think this has a lot of promise. My only issue is that both protag and antag are the sane type of character (for non aussies, 'bogan' is australian slang for redneck..).. just an idea, but what if the hero is the opposite of a redneck, like a waspish type who happens to discover a talent for woodcutting?
Anways - good luck?