David Visser - practicing for axe throwing championship -- LNN

By Dori Modney and Photojournalist Brandyn Montgomery

Axe throwing – Not just for lumberjacks anymore

Jan 27, 2020 | 12:45 PM

LETHBRIDGE — When you hear the words ‘axe throwing’ the first thing that comes to mind may be visions of a lumberjack throwing an axe at a shredded bullseye, while other competitors roll logs with spiked boots or saw their way through a dense piece of timber. Axe throwing competitions are to lumberjacks, what rodeo is to cowboys.

However, as with rodeo, axe throwing has evolved and is no longer the domain of lumberjacks. Recreational axe throwing locations have sprung up around many cities. Matt Derricott is one of the owners of the True North locations in Lethbridge and Red Deer, which have become very popular for recreational enthusiasts looking for a different activity. Some have honed their skills to the point (no pun intended) where they are now entering competitions.

Over 200 competitors from around the world will meet in Toronto, on the weekend of February 15 and 16, to compete for the largest prize in this sports history, A whopping $50,000 grand-prize.

True North will be sending five throwers from Lethbridge and three from Red Deer to compete in the International Axe Throwing Championships. Each of these throwers earned their berth by competing in axe throwing leagues throughout last year and will be throwing against the top 256 axe throwers in the world.

David Visser, who’s player name is D-word, is an ax throwing coach at True North Lethbridge and is a competitor:

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Visser explains there are certain requirements needed to get into national tournaments.

“You have to play in leagues throughout the year to make it in for the Nationals. Right now, I’m sitting at 118 internationally – with about 12,000 players in the International Axe Throwing Federation (IATF). There is a bunch of True Northers in the top 100 right now and of our top players we competed to see who would get to fill our ten spots in the Nationals this year.”

Canada is one of seven countries that are part of the IATF, but there are other organizations that also govern axe throwing. Visser says Canada is definitely a big hitter.

” We play against the States a lot of the time and have players come from all over the world.”

“I played in the Nationals last year and a handful of competitions across North America and did fairly well at the Nationals. We had a bunch of our guys go really far last year – Spencer Robinson got ninth place, so he was our shining guy that year.”

Visser practicing for upcoming tournament – LNN

Visser says it was just by chance that he got involved in axe throwing.

“I showed up for a birthday party about two years ago (where axe throwing was the activity) and I beat all my friends. I’m a student at the U-of-L, so I have a lot of evenings and weekends off, which is when this place is the busiest. I applied and got a job here, I met Tanner Kenny, who is one of our top throwers and he’s actually one of the owners of True North Red Deer, as well. He got me hired on as a coach, they trained me and sent me off.”

“The national tournament in February will also include a skills event. Skills this year will be around the world, so throwing all over the target – kind of different than your standard matches. It will also have ambidextrous playing with either a big axe or one-and-a-half rotations. (One-and-a-half rotations being throwing the axe backwards, so that it lands in on its tip).

Visser notes that we do have a Canadian National Team and right now, Nationals consist of Canada versus the States a lot of the time.

“Because we share that border we have a lot of players willing to travel the distance.

However, it isn’t a competitive sport for most people.

“For most players, its just a fun day activity, or coming out for a birthday party, work events, date nights and things like that. We have different programs set-up for different people and or those who really do stick to it, we turn it into the competitive sport for them.”

Visser went on to explain that the sport is organized and not very expensive. And, it’s safe.

“We’ve never had any injuries beyond scratches. Each lane is supervised by a coach so things are very well monitored.”

True north axe throwing is located at 318 17 Street south in Lethbridge or 4412 50 Avenue in Red Deer,

Group of axe throwers take part in league play — LNN