World Axe Throwing League

The World Axe Throwing League (WATL) is the global governing body of urban axe throwing.[1][2]

World Axe Throwing League (WATL)
Current season, competition or edition:
2020 WATL season
SportAxe Throwing
FoundedJanuary 2017 (2017-01)
Inaugural seasonSpring 2017
CommissionerMario Zelaya
Countries19
Most recent
champion(s)		Ryan Smit
Official websiteworldaxethrowingleague.com

WATL was founded in 2017 by representatives from Canada, the United States of America, Brazil and Ireland. It has 19 axe throwing nations with membership. Members including over 175 member companies (affiliates). It organizes international tournament events such as the U.S. Open, Canadian Open, European Open, the North American Arnold Open, South American Arnold Open, and most notably the World Axe Throwing Championship.[3][4]

It also appoints the Judges that officiate at all sanctioned leagues and tournaments. It promulgates the WATL Code of Conduct, which sets professional standards of discipline for Urban Axe Throwing.

International Axe Throwing Day

This day (13th of June) was created by the World Axe Throwing League to celebrate, and raise awareness and unify the sport of urban axe throwing. Though primarily celebrated with affiliates in the WATL, it is also celebrated by anyone with a passion for the sport around the world.[5]

History

2017

The founding of WATL.

The founding of International Axe Throwing Day (June 13th).

Representatives from 5 countries joined the WATL. From the United States, Canada, Ireland, Brazil and Denmark.

The first annual World Axe Throwing Championship is held.

2018

Evan Walters is announced as the Commissioner of WATL.

Representatives from 10 countries joined the WATL. From the United Kingdom, Turkey, Russia, Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, New Zealand, Slovenia, and Indonesia.

The first annual U.S. Open tournament is held.

The second annual World Axe Throwing Championship is held and is the first Urban Axe Throwing production to be featured on ESPN

2019

Representatives from 4 countries joined the WATL. From South Africa, Australia, Belgium and China.

The first annual Canadian Open tournament is held.

2020

The Spring and Summer leagues for 2020 have been canceled as a result of the global pandemic of 2020 (COVID-19) As well as the Canadian Open. Due to the pandemic and many locations around the world enforcing a quarantine, the WATL helped establish the Quarantine Axe Throwing League with co-founders Tristan Ledbury and Mike Morton. This made headway continuing the sport from the homes of players so they can continue axe throwing despite the mandatory restrictions on social contact.[6]

WATL implements a new style of playing online with WATL Live.

Mario Zelaya is announced to be the new Commissioner of the World Axe Throwing League, and Evan Walters is moving to Head of Development for the World Knife Throwing League.

Scoring
An example of WATL targets with the points shown in their respective zones

Scoring is a match system where ten axes are thrown per match. The player with the highest points of their ten thrown axes wins the match. In case of a tie a "Sudden Death" throw is made for the highest score. Sudden death throws are done until one thrower scores higher than the other. Scoring is determined by where you strike your axe into the target. The WATL targets have a red bullseye ring, followed by four empty rings, and then a blue ring. The scoring is 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point respectively. Additionally, there are blue dots in the 1 point ring, known as "Kill-shot," and can only be used for the 5th throw and the final throw in the match for 8 points. Point designation is based on the highest point value the axe touches when it lands and sticks.

WATL Tournaments

In 2018, WATL started working on a tournament format to help include any throwers who couldn't regularly participate in the WATL axe throwing seasons. This started off by working with Columbus Axe Throwing, to bring Urban Axe Throwing to Columbus, Ohio, for the Arnold Sports Festival (also known as the Arnold Classic or just "the Arnold" and named after Arnold Schwarzenegger)[7] Currently there are plans to move forward with more tournaments in more locations but currently have only announced three annual tournaments: The Arnold, the U.S. Open, and the Canadian Open.

WATL Arnold Tournament
Year Champion Location 2nd Place
2018 Jon Miller Columbus, Ohio Julio Romero
2019 John Bradley Columbus, Ohio Ryan Gustin
2019 Francisco Nobre São Paulo, Brazil Cara Fritz
US Open Results
Year Champion Location 2nd Place
2018 John Bradley Chicago, Illinois Eric Enriquez
2019 Mike Kump Chicago, Illinois Sam Carter
Canadian Open Results
Year Champion Location 2nd Place 3rd Place
2019 David Cycon Halifax, Nova Scotia Michael Kump Steve Malvey

World Axe Throwing Championship
World Axe throwing Championship trophy

The World Axe Throwing Championship takes place once a year in December. The format has slight changes from year to year, to be announced before the beginning of the yearly competition. 2018 marks the first time in the sport of axe throwing's history that a Championship has been presented on ESPN.[8]

Axe Throwing World Champions
Year World Champion Location Represented Country 2nd Place 3rd Place
2017 Chris Morning Far Shot Recreation  Canada Jon Miller Michael Moore
2018 Benjamin Edgington Bad Axe Throwing Denver  United States David Cycon Paul Gammon
2019 Sam Carter Tap That Axe Throwing  United States David Cycon Straun Riley

Commissioners of the World Axe Throwing League

The Commissioner of WATL heads the direction of the World Axe Throwing League.

Axe Throwing World Champions
Years Active Name Country
2018 - 2020 Evan Walters  United States
2020 - Present Mario Zelaya  Canada

WATL Members Around the World
Current WATL Members by Number of Affiliates Companies:
  10+ Members Members
  5 - 10 Members Members
  2 - 5 Members
  1 member
  No Membership
CountryRegionAdmittedNo. of Locations
United States of America North America 2017 157
Canada North America 2017 20
Finland Europe 2020 1
Ireland Europe 2017 2
Brazil South America 2017 2
Denmark Europe 2017 1
United Kingdom Europe 2018 3
Turkey Europe 2018 1
Russia Asia 2018 1
Spain Europe 2018 2
Netherlands Europe 2018 2
Hungary Europe 2018 1
Poland Europe 2018 1
New Zealand Oceania 2018 1
Slovenia Europe 2018 1
Indonesia Asia 2018 1
South Africa Africa 2019 1
Australia Oceania 2019 1
Belgium Europe 2019 4
China Asia 2019 1

References
  1. Kirsch, Jesse (September 25, 2017). "Global Axe Throwing Showdown". ABC.
  2. "World Axe Throwing League, founded by Burlington's Bad Axe Throwing, searching for champion". Burlington Post. Sep 30, 2017.
  3. Miller, Ben (Jun 7, 2017). "Like throwing axes? Canadian axe-throwing chain to open in Denver". Denver Business Journal.
  4. "The First World Axe Throwing League Championship is Set to Kick Off This Year". Global News. Oct 13, 2017.
  5. "Celebrating International Axe Throwing Day". WDTV. Jun 13, 2019.
  6. https://www.news10.com/news/quarantine-axe-throwing-league-connections-throwers-worldwide/
  7. Manns, Sarah. "Compete for the Axe Throwing Championship Belt". Arnold Sports Festival.
  8. Lacy, Eric (October 31, 2018). "World Axe Throwing League Championship secures ESPN deal, invites Lansing axe throwing business". USA Today Network.
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