A Pleasanton axe thrower dishes on the art of hurling sharp blades
This hot trend just keeps getting hotter. The sport of ax throwing started in Canada, but quickly spread to the U.S.
Tired of throwing a small dart at a round target? Done with rolling balls at pins or hitting one ball into another with a stick? Then pick up an axe and come on over here.
The evolution of axe throwing as a sport – yes, really – comes courtesy of a group of Canadian friends who got bored during a weekend getaway a dozen years ago and decided to throw an axe at a tree stump. People have thrown axes for centuries, but this was arguably the first time anyone did it just for fun.
From there, the Backyard Axe-Throwing League was born and the sport has proliferated, spawning an international federation and spreading to six countries and countless formal — and backyard — venues.
Over the last decade, axe throwing has grown to include elements of different games – HORSE, Around the World, Human vs Zombies. Or you can just throw to earn points and compete against your friends.
Michael Hill, owner of Pleasanton’s soon-to-open Limitless Axes & Ales, learned the art of axe throwing as a Boy Scout, earning his Paul Bunyan award on the path to becoming an Eagle Scout. A couple of years ago, he went axe throwing in New York and fell in love with it all over again.
Hill, 37, and his wife Brook are about to open their own axe-throwing venue, an extension of Limitless Escape Games, a business Hill started after leaving tech to spend more time with Brook and their two red-headed daughters, 4 and 1. We asked Hill, who loves axe puns, to explain the appeal of hurling a sharp object at a wall.
Q: What exactly is axe throwing all about?
A: Think darts, but with axes. It’s actually much easier than most expect. “Axeperts” – lane coaches – go over safety, technique, allow some practice throws, and then the fun begins.
Q: You could have opened a pub with dart boards. Why axes?
A: Nowadays, people are looking for unique entertainment experiences, and we certainly check that box. I wanted to bring an “axe-citing,” family-friendly event venue to Pleasanton where people could come for team-building events and blow off some steam and where a group of Scouts could come and earn merit badges or, for example, where a bunch of moms on a night out can let loose, drink a glass of wine or have a cold beer and unlock their inner bad-axe.
Q: Can men and women compete on a level playing field?
A: Absolutely. In fact, when my wife and I went on a trip to Brooklyn, we actually went axe throwing while she was 20 weeks pregnant. We got paired up with others, since there were only two of us. We were throwing with a young couple on a date and a group of guys celebrating a birthday. My wife kicked all our axes!
Q: Can you give us some tips for throwing the perfect axe?
A: As Yoda would say, “Size matters not.” This holds very true in axe throwing. Anyone can throw an axe – you definitely don’t need to be a big, burly lumberjack.
- Find your throwing spot. You need to find the spot for you to throw the axe from. This will ensure (the axe does) a full rotation.
- Don’t flick it. It’s a fluid motion. Bring the axe straight back behind your head and throw it straight forward, keeping your wrist and your elbow locked.
- Have fun. Seriously, this is the most important factor. Relax, throw out some high fives, and just let loose. The more relaxed you are, the better you will throw. Oh, and having a beer or two also helps.
Where to play
Limitless Axe Throwing will be located at 1809 Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton; https://www.facebook.com/LimitlessAxes.
Axeventures Axe Throwing ($30 per person) is open daily at 2566 Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley; www.axeventures-axethrowing.com
Bad Axe Throwing ($27 per person) is open daily at 30 Hill St. in Daly City; https://badaxethrowing.com.