Oh My! That's a very Big Axe you have!

Sometimes I like to whip it out in public. People can see it sticking through the hole in my zipper. In a sport full of little ones, it's pretty impressive. When normies see you handling it they cannot help but stop and stare. Even the ladies like it. After a year of throwing nothing but hatchets I have finally entered the macho, testosterone driven, lumberjack world of Big Axe. Oh yes! Now I'm one of those players!

I was lucky enough to win a WATL Colossus Big Axe while competing in the Hatchet in Hand Winter League Championships. I always had a little interest but mostly I'm trying to be careful in maintaining my shoulder health ( I turned 52yrs on April 12th). I would love to have a long career as an axe thrower. My solution is to throw two-handed overhead. This takes the pressure off one individual shoulder and allows for the use of multiple muscles.

I cut an inch and a half off the handle and started practicing in my backyard. After getting a feel for the momentum I was able to average about 30 points per practice game. Props to Big Axe competitor Jeff Coulton who suggested that I choke up on it a little for better control, it worked. It helps to compete with players like Jeff who throw at a higher level. My first eight matches at LongHouse Axe League went really well. With a bit of luck I was able to take six wins.

What I learned is that Big Axe is a simpler throw that requires more feel than a hatchet. The momentum of the axe does most of the work. It's almost as if you are Luke Skywalker using the force to guide the blade into the target. It's a special feeling. 

Personally I would imagine an electric white light was emanating from my chest towards the center of the target and then use it to guide my arms. Visualizations help me stay focused. My ADHD brain requires these tricks from time to time. That and I always wanted to be a Jedi.

I noticed that Big Axe matches are much closer in points than those of hatchet. Many would hinge on a single throw, making for the type of high pressure competition that I love. Since this was my first season of Big Axe, I avoided throwing killshots. I suck at them. However, in case of a tie score you are forced to prove who sucks less. This happened twice for me. I split the matches - 1 win / 1 loss.

My first Big Axe league was a great experience. It was crazy that some weeks I would win them all and some weeks I would lose them all while generating the same scores. In the end I managed to take 2nd place behind the mighty Jeff Coulton. I even pulled off a winning record of 18-10 with a 32pt average and a high score of 38. A few of my early Big Axe matches are viewable on Youtube.

Next stop: Connecticut! There was a Big Axe Marathon held at the Litchfield County Axe House. This was my first time visiting and I was not disappointed. LCAH is a large facility of nearly 7,000 square feet of throwing lanes with a bar, video games, pool table and golf simulator. It's also walking distance to a CVS, Dunkin and a pizza place.

The owner Joe Kucia is a Pro Thrower himself and oversees the entire operation including mobile throwing units. LCAH proudly boasts a hatchet league of more than 30 people. They must be doing something right because they have sent a few to the World Championships. See jerseys below.

The Big Axe Marathon was a lot of fun and since there were only 5 of us it moved particularly fast. I was only hoping to better my score from league and see how fatigued I would be after throwing 28+ matches in one day. No fatigue at all, my fitness held up nicely. Also I learned a little about spacing my feet closer together and moving forward a couple inches for accuracy. Those probably seem counter-intuitive but they work for me.

As for the scores I landed in third place just barely besting my 902 score with a 905. I had the same average score and the same high score. Gotta love consistency. However I did hit some stellar killshots. I also fought my way to third place in the tournament behind Joe Kucia and the winner once again Jeff Coulton.

Left to right: Jon Gratzer, Alex Hutchinson, Jeff Coulton, Rob Gratzer and Joe Kucia

The story doesn't end there. We still had the Longhouse League Big Axe Finals to deal with. Who would emerge victorious? And would it be Jeff Coulton again? Can anyone beat this guy? Seriously?

The League Championships were not a surprise. My scores remained in the same range with the exception of a new high score of 39. I went all three rounds against my three opponents which included three sudden death finishes and ended with 1 win, 2 losses. Considering who I was facing, I did pretty well. And yes Jeff won yet again.

Afterwards, I carefully watched the other throwers climb up the brackets. I noticed how one person had a very gentle touch on their handle while another was lightly lobbing the axe in a rainbow arc. There are so many ways to throw a Big Axe. I have a lot to learn, many things to practice and it's going to be a fun journey because I am hooked.