Blond hair tied back in a high ponytail - hatchet in hand - Maddy Mathe confidently faces a wood block target.

Earlier, she watered down the wood, explaining how it helps with axe throwing.

Adorned in the black and white stripes of an official, she fires off throw after throw, sinking the axe into the wood, stepping up to purposefully pull it from the splintered target, and heading back to that line to throw again.

Some land closer to the bullseye than others.

All make her smile.

害羞草研究所淚 really like just the feeling of throwing and letting go 害羞草研究所� you throw all your power into it and go and see where it lands,害羞草研究所� she says.

At 10, Maddy is the youngest in her Victoria axe-throwing league 害羞草研究所� the oldest in the diverse group is 72.

She discovered axe throwing while kicking around downtown with dad Brian Mathe on their customary date night just over a year ago. They spotted a sign for Axe and Grind and popped in. That night, the Victoria youth was issued a plastic axe for her first session.

READ ALSO:

害羞草研究所淲hen I threw it, it felt nice, if you害羞草研究所檙e angry you can throw all that into the axe害羞草研究所� Maddy says.

When dad and daughter returned a few weeks later, coach Ragnar Olafson offered her a suitably sized real axe instead. 害羞草研究所淚 think she pretty much fell in love,害羞草研究所� he says.

Maddy and Brian joined the league and now it害羞草研究所檚 part of their routine.

Olafson credits her dedication and focus to some impressive improvements. In her first season, Maddy had 100 drops, well over 30 per cent, and her high score was a 20. So far this season, her second, she害羞草研究所檚 had 20 drops and her high score is 45.

Her first season, she sat at 19th position of 19 players and now she害羞草研究所檚 14th of 25.

While she害羞草研究所檚 the only kid among them, she害羞草研究所檚 treated with the same respect as any athlete in the league 害羞草研究所� Olafson wouldn害羞草研究所檛 tolerate anything else.

READ ALSO:

With urban axe throwing starting to see some growth, Olafson wouldn害羞草研究所檛 mind seeing a youth league in Victoria.

害羞草研究所淚f you want to get good and be a world champion by the time you害羞草研究所檙e 18, now害羞草研究所檚 the time to start,害羞草研究所� he says.

Maddy highly recommends the sport. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e made good friends here,害羞草研究所� she says, everyone is kind.

Maddy and her dad credit Olafson as a mentor and leader for her growth in the sport.害羞草研究所淲ithout him I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have done it. He害羞草研究所檚 funny too,害羞草研究所� Maddy says.

He also encouraged her interest in judging. She studied and studied and failed the first test.

Maddy buckled down and tested again.

She learned she害羞草研究所檇 achieved certification while at Axe and Grind, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

She was 9, and Olafson is confident she害羞草研究所檚 among the youngest officials in the World Axe Throwing League.

Having since turned 10, she害羞草研究所檚 looking at her next hurdle 害羞草研究所� knives.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 harder,害羞草研究所� Maddy admits. 害羞草研究所淜nives are really light and you stand very close when you throw them.害羞草研究所�

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on .