Benn MacDonald

What venue are you associated with?  Far Shot Recreation, USA and Far Shot Recreation, CAN

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Axe Throwing Venue Owner

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2016

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  Opened a venue in 2016/ founding member of WATL

Any community achievements? Head Judge of the World Axe Throwing League, Far Shot won the 2017 WATL Championships

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. I have 6 kids and I enjoy archery and currently shoot compound.

Sarah Sed

What venue are you associated with?  Houston Axe Throwing, Texas Axe Throwing, Axe-Men Throw House

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? I am a venue owner. Which, funny enough, doesn’t involve a lot of actual axe throwing.

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since WATL was just a glimmer in Mario’s eye. We officially opened Houston Axe Throwing on the first International Axe Throwing Day, June 13th, 2017. I threw my first axe just 3 months earlier and I was hooked. I had to be the first to bring it to Texas.

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  One of my business partners threw axes at an escape room conference in Canada and was immediately hooked. After hearing about his experience I researched everything I could about the sport. My partner booked a session for a bunch of his friends to throw together at the only open (at the time) location in the United States. I was all set to travel there from Houston, but the whole city got hit with a blizzard and my flight was cancelled. I was determined to make it there so I flew into Saint Louis, and drove in with a friend behind the storm. Once there, I jokingly had a side bet with my friend that if one of us won our little mini tournament that they would open an axe throwing facility. I won the tournament, and we both opened facilities anyway.

In the process of researching everything about zoning, codes, getting turned down by landlords, learning to coach, and Matt (my husband) figuring out how to build the actual targets, we were feeling completely overwhelmed. The same business partner told us about WATL and how they had this vision to get Axe Throwing established as a real sport on TV. Also about the community they were trying to build of supportive members who genuinely want to help each other grow as throwers and as an industry. So, of course we were one of the first facilities to sign up. Plus, membership was free (at the time) so it was in our budget.

The community didn’t let me down. I was able to find great resources about being a coach, how others were approaching their businesses/market, and so much more. While it didn’t give me all of the answers I needed, it helped a lot and we were able to open on time and grow into where we are today. I’ve since made an effort to return that knowledge to the still growing community and volunteer my time on the council.

Any community achievements? Houston Axe Throwing was the 3rd axe throwing facility open in the United States, the first in Texas, and one of the first WATL Affiliates. I also have managed not to be banned…yet.

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. I curled in college for The Ohio State University, and still play volleyball and softball for recreation when I have time.

Tristan Ledbury

What venue are you associated with?  Bad Axe Throwing Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, the observable Universe.

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Creative Problem Solver // Graphic Designer // Dad

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? June 2017 threw my first axe, June 2018 started throwing in a league and I have survived target shrinkage ever since

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  Friend invited me to throw while I ate unlimited shrimp and I said yes

Any community achievements? One of the founders of the QATL, Star of the Bad Axe Axecuses viral video, Known as the Jack Black of Axe Throwing.

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. Things I have designed you have probably seen on a shelf in a retail store, in the hands of an NHL player “go Bruins” or the hands of a playboy bunny or in the background of a TV show like NBC’s Park’s & Rec.

Kristyn Muller Mirasol

What venue are you associated with?  The Lazy Axe

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? I’m a Product Manager for Anthology, an education technology company.

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2018

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  My first time throwing axes was on a road trip in the mid-west during the summer of 2018, and I was immediately hooked. When I returned home from my trip, I discovered that the nearest axe throwing venue was about 2.5 hours away from my house, which wasn’t convenient. My husband (fiancé, at the time) and I couldn’t stop thinking about axe throwing, so I built a target in our backyard so we could give it another try. It turned out that we still loved it, so we decided to go all in and start a business. During the planning process, we decided to join WATL, and we opened The Lazy Axe in Albany, NY in July 2019.

Any community achievements? Encouraging the first election for a WATL Council Member

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. I’m a certified hula hoop fitness instructor, so naturally, the signature trick shot at The Lazy Axe is the hula hooping throw! I was also a contestant on The Price is Right!

Lucas Johnson

What venue are you associated with?  Murfreesboro Axe

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Axe Throwing Venue Owner – Escape Game Tech/Install

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2020

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  I went axe throwing back in 2017 but didn’t go again for 2 years and opened our venue in 2019. 2020 I got into competitive throwing during QATL and the online challenges/tournaments.

Any community achievements? 2020 Duals World Champion
2021 Duals World Champion
Highest Season Score ever recorded 1709

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. I’ve played over 500+ Escape Games throughout the United States and some in Canada.
Cuddled with Taylor Swift.

Tyler Flynn

What venue are you associated with? Timberbeast Axe Throwing

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Operations/Customer support for McMaster-Carr.

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2018

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  Randomly went with some friends and later joined league and ended up working for a venue part time running their league. My first WATL experience was at the Arnold (2019) followed closely by the Canadian Open.

Any community achievements? Co-Founder of the Global Team Throwdown and various other skills events during lockdown.
Helped start and run ThrOHIO.
Created the 2022 prediction challenge.
Am currently on a mission to bring some fun back in the sport (like with dice!).

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. I was a teacher for 5 years and taught just about everything (Precalculus, Trig, World History, Theology, Algebra I and II, Gym) EXCEPT my actual major subject, English. Also, I love jamming out to some Tay Tay.

Anthony “BeardGang” Szymkowiak

What venue are you associated with? Camel City Axe (Owner) and Axe Slingers (Thrower)

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Software/Systems Engineer for a DoD Contractor by day, Spreadsheets by night

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2018

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  Seeing the 2018 WATC on ESPN and participating in the beloved QATL

Any community achievements? 2x WATC Competitor, 4x Pro League, also part of the Council of Ryans!

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. When I am alone in my car I jam out to my girl, Taylor Swift.

Kyle Rickenbaugh

What venue are you associated with? Plaid & Timber Axe Throwing Company

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Owning and operating the venue.

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2019

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  A mixture of a few things. First was competing in QATL and the Global Team Throwdown. I was the captain of Team Indiana. Second was by going to a major tournament. I went to Ironside in 2020 as my first major WATL tournament.

Any community achievements? Judging the first televised WKTL finals on ESPN during the 2021 US Open.

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. I am a certified professional bike fitter. I have spent 1000s of hours ensuring that competitive road cyclists, triathletes, mountain bikers, and weekend warrior riders are biomechanically in the best possible position to get the most out of their bodies while riding. I love rolling up to tournaments blaring some T. Swift.

Ragnar Olafson

What venue are you associated with? Axe & Grind in Victoria Canada

What is your day job (if it’s not axe throwing)? Continuing Airworthiness at Viking Air

How long have you been a part of the axe throwing community? Since 2017

How did you get introduced into the axe throwing community/WATL?  A WATL venue opened in town.

Any community achievements? Host of the Drunken Viking Thing Fling

Random fun fact about yourself that has nothing to do with axe throwing. Generally solve Rubik’s Cube in under 2 minutes.