APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In the Fox Valley, the best of the best in the world of knife and axe throwing are coming together to crown their champions.
Inside the Fox Cities Exhibition Center, John Doepke is getting in a little practice.
“Hatchet is about 12 feet away from the target. So, if you can throw about a two pound object about 12 feet, anybody can do it. Big axe is a little bit further back. A little heavier, so it may take a little more effort, but just a little training, and you can do either one of them.”
Doepke is part of the 2022 World Axe and Knife Throwing Championships.
“This is our biggest competition to date. We’ve got 256 hatchet competitors, 128 big axe competitors and 128 duals teams all competing for $50,000 in prize money,” said Mike Morton, World Axe Throwing League Commissioner.
Morton tells FOX 11 the four-day event brings a boost to the local economy.
“The benefit to Appleton specifically is, we’re looking at over a half million dollars of spend from our competitors, our supporters, our families, all in this community.”
Evan Walters manages the knife competition. He says the 140 blade throwers likely share the same passion.
“Why do we do knife throwing? Because it’s fun. It’s challenging. I think it kind of speaks to a basic instinct almost. It’s just something that’s fun to do; it’s easy to do but still challenging,” said Walters, World Knife Throwing League Commissioner.
Doepke agrees.
“Part of the reason I stick with it is the community, the camaraderie. I’ve made so many friends in this sport,” he said. “The other reason I stick with it is just constant striving to self-improve. It’s a lot like golf. Every time you go out there and you think you have a perfect match, you know you can do a little bit better, one point higher. Or if you do throw a perfect game, you want to get another one right after it.”
The competition begins today with knife throwing.
Events Friday and Saturday are free and open to the public.
You have to get a ticket for the finals on Sunday, which is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN sometime before Christmas.
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