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.

B次元官网网址淚 really like just the feeling of throwing and letting go B次元官网网址� you throw all your power into it and go and see where it lands,B次元官网网址� she says.

At 10, Maddy is the youngest in her Victoria axe-throwing league B次元官网网址� 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.

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B次元官网网址淲hen I threw it, it felt nice, if youB次元官网网址檙e angry you can throw all that into the axeB次元官网网址� Maddy says.

When dad and daughter returned a few weeks later, coach Ragnar Olafson offered her a suitably sized real axe instead. B次元官网网址淚 think she pretty much fell in love,B次元官网网址� he says.

Maddy and Brian joined the league and now itB次元官网网址檚 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, sheB次元官网网址檚 had 20 drops and her high score is 45.

Her first season, she sat at 19th position of 19 players and now sheB次元官网网址檚 14th of 25.

While sheB次元官网网址檚 the only kid among them, sheB次元官网网址檚 treated with the same respect as any athlete in the league B次元官网网址� Olafson wouldnB次元官网网址檛 tolerate anything else.

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With urban axe throwing starting to see some growth, Olafson wouldnB次元官网网址檛 mind seeing a youth league in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚f you want to get good and be a world champion by the time youB次元官网网址檙e 18, nowB次元官网网址檚 the time to start,B次元官网网址� he says.

Maddy highly recommends the sport. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e made good friends here,B次元官网网址� she says, everyone is kind.

Maddy and her dad credit Olafson as a mentor and leader for her growth in the sport.B次元官网网址淲ithout him I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it. HeB次元官网网址檚 funny too,B次元官网网址� 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 sheB次元官网网址檇 achieved certification while at Axe and Grind, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

She was 9, and Olafson is confident sheB次元官网网址檚 among the youngest officials in the World Axe Throwing League.

Having since turned 10, sheB次元官网网址檚 looking at her next hurdle B次元官网网址� knives.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 harder,B次元官网网址� Maddy admits. B次元官网网址淜nives are really light and you stand very close when you throw them.B次元官网网址�

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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