Nick Kolomyja reckons axe throwing may have saved his life.

After 30 years as a welder working long hours in heavy construction, he opened an axe and knife-throwing venue in Calgary with his wife last year.

sa国际传媒淵ou work 21 days straight. I never got to see my kids. I was burnt out, worked hard, found this, found a new passion in life and just went for it,sa国际传媒� said Kolomyja, 45.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 crazy because I always look back on it a little bit and think axe throwing probably just saved my life.sa国际传媒�

Kendra Kolomyja, 42, took archeology at the University of Calgary then did her graduate work in the Netherlands before moving back to teach at Mount Royal University and work in cultural resource management.

So far, she hasnsa国际传媒檛 found any ancient axe heads.

sa国际传媒淚 have found a lot of bison bones, arrowheads around here. It would be super cool if I found, like, a fur trade axe. That would be amazing.sa国际传媒�

The couple first started throwing axes and knives at a friendsa国际传媒檚 birthday party and liked it so much they signed up for a league.

They have both qualified, for the sixth time, to compete at the world championships. Next year itsa国际传媒檚 in Appleton, Wis.

Live Edge Axe Throwing, which the couple opened in November, offers instruction to beginners as well as a spot for more advanced throwers whocompete in weekly leagues with the goal of making it to the worlds.

There are two large targets painted on plywood in each of the five lanes, separated by chain-link fence.

The Kolomyjas each get their own kind of satisfaction from throwing.

sa国际传媒淵ou get that release out of it. If yousa国际传媒檝e been having a bad day, and you think, sa国际传媒楪od, I just want to throw something at a wall,sa国际传媒� there it is,sa国际传媒� said Nick Kolomyja.

However, putting a picture of a politician or an ex on the target is a no-no to keep things positive.

For Kendra Kolomyja, itsa国际传媒檚 getting the axe to stick, or sinking the blade into the target.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 actually not as tough as people might think,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淪ticking it is just so satisfying and cathartic sa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 a Zen thing, where you kind of get into that repetition, over and over. Itsa国际传媒檚 amazing.sa国际传媒�

The sport flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic with online and Zoom tournaments. People built targets in their backyards and basements. The Kolomyjas set one up in their garage.

With their new business, the couple said the bills are being paid and the lights are still on.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 an interesting industry where itsa国际传媒檚 exploding in the last few years,sa国际传媒� said Kendra Kolomyja.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 sort of the new bowling at the moment, where people are just discovering that everybody wants to throw an axe sa国际传媒� you maybe just didnsa国际传媒檛 know that you did.sa国际传媒�