Leave it to the hipsters of Brooklyn to combine craft beer and sharp objects.
Kick Axe Throwing is the first bar in New York City to pick up on a nationwide trend of axe throwing, a growing sport that some enthusiasts hope will take off the way bowling did in the last century.
“People are like: ‘Sharp objects and beer? What a great idea that is,’ but truthfully, after you have a couple drinks, you start to actually throw a little bit better,” said Alexander Stine, an “axepert” at Kick Axe.
Photo: AP
He honed his own skills growing up in Colorado throwing knives at carnivals and now trains newcomers on proper technique.
“It’s about believing in your ability to do something you didn’t think you could do before,” he said.
Scoring is similar to darts. Players aim at a wooden board painted with a bull’s-eye and rings corresponding to different point values.
Playing to the sport’s origins at Canadian logging competitions, Kick Axe’s decor is reminiscent of a ski lodge, complete with flannel chairs and calfskin carpeting.
The perimeter of the venue is lined with cages for throwing. There is a bar serving wine and beer, but no hard liquor. Guests can take a break from throwing axes to play board games like Candy Land at tables in the center of the room.
While Kick Axe mainly caters to casual players, there are locations across the country where enthusiasts play the sport competitively.
There was no alcohol in sight during tournament play at Chicago’s Bad Axe Throwing, a Canada-based chain of 18 venues.
Bad Axe chief executive Mario Zelaya founded the World Axe Throwing League a year ago. He said it now has 2,500 members worldwide who compete at his own locations and other independent venues.
“It’s bowling 2.0,” Zelaya said. “What bowling maybe used to be in the 80s and 90s, and this is what axe throwing is right now. It’s fun. It’s new. It’s addictive. It’s active entertainment.”
The league held its first world championship tournament in December last year. Competitors played in their home courts and the games were broadcast remotely on Facebook Live. The winner took home a US$3,500 prize.
Zelaya said his goal is to make axe throwing an Olympic sport.
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