Chainsaw carver Angela Markwick, left, her older sister Stephanie and twin, Gina, right, piece together one of her quick-carve sculptures on Friday at the Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpture Championships in Reedsport.-World Photo by Susan Chambers

REEDSPORT — It was a sort of homecoming for two teenagers from San Diego.

Actually, semi-pro chainsaw carvers Gina and Angela Markwick are from Reedsport — in a way.

They lived here in 2003, with their five siblings and parents, before moving south. The Markwick family still owns some property in the woods of this town that made riches off timber. They still have friends here and relish the opportunity to come back.

Now it’s their turn to make their mark.

They’re doing it with chainsaws at the Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpture Championships this weekend.

“This is our fourth time here, but our first competition,” Angela said, taking a break after finishing a quick-carve sculpture.

The twins, their long dark hair flecked with wood chips, their T-shirts full of dust, their thick jeans covered in both, ate some hamburgers in the sunshine. Their older sister, Stephanie, joined them. She helps move wood pieces around for them, hands them tools and cleans up their carving areas.

All are quick with smiles and laughter, but Stephanie emphasized the twins’ determination.

“Those two are some of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen,” she said of the 17-year-olds.

To make the trip from San Diego, Gina and Angela raised $2,000, so the whole family could return to Reedsport. It would have taken only $400 for the pair to go.

Angela and Gina said now they’re both in a race — a friendly race, they agreed — to see who can reach “pro” status first.

“All our lives, we’ve been competing,” Gina said.

The twins first picked up a chainsaw to try carving in 2006, at the championship competition in Reedsport.

Gina said they stopped by carver Steven Higgins’ booth and watched him carve. Soon, he came over and said, “Do you really want to carve?”

“I said, ‘Yeah, I do!’” said an enthusiastic Gina.

Higgins handed her a chainsaw and she carved her name in a scrap piece of wood. That was all it took.

Other artists’ main sculptures were taking shape Friday. Most of the bark off the spruce logs were gone and faint shapes of fish, sea mammals, or sea captains were visible, per the competition theme of “Fish Tales.”

The twins’ logs, though, were still rough. A few deep cuts could be seen but a lot of the final work had yet to be completed.

“I have a lot of catching up to do,” Gina said, quickly taking a bite of her lunch, “and I have to sharpen my chainsaw.”

The world of chainsaw carving is relatively small and carvers tend to know each other and see each other on the road, at various competitions. Gina and Angela already are accepted members of the group.

They’re quick to give credit to their peers, too.

Veteran carver Mark Colp loaned the pair one of his best saws, Gina said. Higgins continued to give them tips. Dave Tremko, of Sequim, Wash., helped sharpen some of their saws.

“There are so many nice carvers,” Gina said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”