COURTNEY McCLURE The Standard
KAWARTHA LAKES: Who says there is nothing to do in Lindsay? Get your axes ready and sharpen your knives, because local resident, Matthew Colavecchia is opening an axe-throwing club called Solidarity Axe.
The club will, hopefully, be open in early April, according to Mr. Colavecchia.
When the Lindsay Axe Club closed down, Mr. Colavecchia and a few of his friends were going to buy the building. However, their plan did not work out.
Eventually, Mr. Colavecchia found a property to create the club.
Once the club is up and running, people can expect to come in groups or by themselves. The club will also be offering knife-throwing. However, participants will have to bring their own knives.
Knife-throwing is more complicated than axe-throwing. For those with no experience the club will provide axe and knife-throwing lessons at the beginning of each session. The coach will stay with the group until their session ends.
Axe-throwing competitions will also be available at Solidarity Axe. Tournaments are a great way to meet new people within the community.
The club will be open for anyone over the age of about 10 years old. People with mobility aids and disabilities can participate. As long as you can pick up the axe and are strong enough to throw it about twelve-feet, you can participate in axe-throwing.
Matthew Colavecchia has been participating in axe throwing for about six years. His journey in axe-throwing started when his friend invited him to the Peterborough Axe Club. While he was there, he learned how to properly throw the axes they use. He immediately joined an axe-throwing league.
“And the rest is history,” said Mr. Colavecchia, explaining his history with axe-throwing. He has been throwing axes regularly every since.
He has also participated in multiple axe-throwing tournaments and has done very well.
There are many things Mr. Colavecchia enjoys about axe-throwing. Aside from actually participating in the sport, he enjoys meeting people at the various clubs and tournaments he has visited.
According to Mr. Colavecchia, axe-throwing, as a sport, seems to attract a crowd of “really great” people.
“[The community is] incredibly warm and inviting and supportive,” he stated. Adding, “That’s the best part about it.”
Throwing a double-bit axe is not allowed at Solidarity Axe. The axe-throwing at Solidarity Axe is not the same as lumberjack throwing. Lumberjacks throw on log rounds mounted on pedestals. Participants at Solidarity Axe will be throwing axes and knives at vertically mounted boards. The scoring used in lumberjack throwing competitions is also different.
If you have any questions about Solidarity Axe, please email them at solidarityaxe@gmail.com. Currently the Solidarity Axe webpage is not up and running yet.