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.

sa国际传媒淚 really like just the feeling of throwing and letting go sa国际传媒� you throw all your power into it and go and see where it lands,sa国际传媒� she says.

At 10, Maddy is the youngest in her Victoria axe-throwing league sa国际传媒� 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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sa国际传媒淲hen I threw it, it felt nice, if yousa国际传媒檙e angry you can throw all that into the axesa国际传媒� Maddy says.

When dad and daughter returned a few weeks later, coach Ragnar Olafson offered her a suitably sized real axe instead. sa国际传媒淚 think she pretty much fell in love,sa国际传媒� he says.

Maddy and Brian joined the league and now itsa国际传媒檚 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, shesa国际传媒檚 had 20 drops and her high score is 45.

Her first season, she sat at 19th position of 19 players and now shesa国际传媒檚 14th of 25.

While shesa国际传媒檚 the only kid among them, shesa国际传媒檚 treated with the same respect as any athlete in the league sa国际传媒� Olafson wouldnsa国际传媒檛 tolerate anything else.

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With urban axe throwing starting to see some growth, Olafson wouldnsa国际传媒檛 mind seeing a youth league in Victoria.

sa国际传媒淚f you want to get good and be a world champion by the time yousa国际传媒檙e 18, nowsa国际传媒檚 the time to start,sa国际传媒� he says.

Maddy highly recommends the sport. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e made good friends here,sa国际传媒� she says, everyone is kind.

Maddy and her dad credit Olafson as a mentor and leader for her growth in the sport.sa国际传媒淲ithout him I wouldnsa国际传媒檛 have done it. Hesa国际传媒檚 funny too,sa国际传媒� 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 shesa国际传媒檇 achieved certification while at Axe and Grind, on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

She was 9, and Olafson is confident shesa国际传媒檚 among the youngest officials in the World Axe Throwing League.

Having since turned 10, shesa国际传媒檚 looking at her next hurdle sa国际传媒� knives.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 harder,sa国际传媒� Maddy admits. sa国际传媒淜nives are really light and you stand very close when you throw them.sa国际传媒�

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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