Hi everyone, it’s me, The Guy Who Writes The Blog Posts. With the International Axe Throwing Championship (IATC) only about two weeks away, I felt it’s important to impart some advice. Not about how to compete, or what will make you a good thrower, but about how to utilize the IATC.
The IATC is the culmination of a year of throwing. The best throwers from each represented venue flock to Toronto to compete for the title of International Axe Throwing Champion. The unfortunate part about that, however, is that most people won’t become the champion. Which is a bummer, to say the least. So, if not to become the champion, how can the attendees who don’t win, and the people who didn’t attend at all, get value out of the IATC?
The IATC Stream
If you’re interested in being competitive in the sport of axe throwing, or you’re in an axe throwing league, the IATC is, first and foremost, a learning experience. Whether you were in the building while the championship played out, or you were at home watching, I cannot recommend re-watching the stream enough. Out of the best in the world, the people on stream made it to the end. They clearly know what they’re doing. And luckily for you, there will be hours of footage of them doing what they do best.
Take the time to watch the stream, and study what they do. What makes them the best? How are they holding the axe? What are their feet doing? How are they handling the pressure? Really take some time to critically analyze the best, and see how it can influence your own personal game. If you’d like to get a head start, here’s the stream from the 2019 NATC.
The Social Stuff
Trust me, I know it’s no small request to say “Go to the IATC, even if you aren’t competing.” But, you should go to the IATC even if you aren’t competing. IATC weekend isn’t just about axe throwing. In fact, I would say it’s less about axe throwing, and more about community. There’s so much to do, and so many ways to bond with the people of the sport. There’s happy hours, prom, the axe market, and skills, all times to let loose and build the community. Getting to interact with all the throwers from all over the world is just as, if not more, rewarding than competing in the tournament itself.
The Energy
The IATC energizes the community in a way that no other axe throwing event does. The people who go to the IATC, to throw or to watch, always return home with a revitalized axe throwing spirit. Being able to feel the energy in the room during the finals, taking an infinite amount of pictures at prom, hanging out at the Doc Ellis truly gets the community back into the swing of things. Sure, axe throwing is fun. But I don’t think it’s a secret that axe throwing isn’t the thing that keeps us coming back. It’s the people. It’s the community. It’s the love.
If you can make it to the International Axe Throwing Championship this year, I highly recommend it. It’ll set the tone for your next year in axe throwing, and could completely change the way you see the sport.