Axe Thrower Interview: Huckabella

Huckabella is easily one of the most well loved people in the sport. She is kind, competitive, and part of an axe throwing dynasty that’s shown it’s possible to be friendly and fierce. This interview was a quick one, but that’s mostly because Huckabear started throwing in the middle of it, and Huckabella was a touch distracted. Even so, this axe thrower interview was insightful and very fun to be a part of.

So what brought you into axe throwing?

I met [Huckleberry], and he said he loved to sing, golf and go axe throwing. So he introduced me to it. I thought it was very boring at the start. I was not good at it.

(Dear reader: Both Huck and Huckabella have expressed that Rob doesn’t in fact, love to sing – at least he didn’t mention it in that list above. When I recorded this interview it was very, very loud around us. Anyway, ask Huckleberry to sing for you the next time you see him).

And then I found out that, oh, there is some technique I could improve. So I started improving, and then I really started liking it!

And now he regrets showing me.

What does success look like to you?

For me, it’s playing my game. When I know that I played my game, win or lose, I don’t care. If I bring my game to the lane, I enjoy myself.

What are you currently throwing for your axes?

So I’m throwing, for bulls, a very rare one: a Huskqvarna. Yeah. For my clutch, I’m throwing a diamond of what’s called- King of Diamonds.

For my big axe, I don’t know the head. It’s like a small tiny head that Red Beaver made me for the family, and the plumb for the clutch. And I’m throwing axes exclusively made by Red Beaver.

So he is my … I call him the God of my axes.

Does your local venue or league do anything that’s unique compared to what you’ve seen other venues do?

I think the best thing about my venue, what’s most special for me, is going up. We go up for clutch all the time.

Shame on you if you stay down. I really believe for new thrower, this is how we get good.

I don’t mean that people have to do that. It’s a strategy game for everyone. Everyone plays this game differently, but for me, this is how I got better.

People go up. I go up all the time. Yeah. So I built this relationship with my clutch and because I kept going up, I can hit them.

What do you think keeps you in the sport and what do you think could drive you out of it?

So what is keeping me in the sport now is my family, because we are all axe throwing. We have lanes in the garage. Our date night is going to the garage to throw axes. I have my six-year-old, she’s into throwing, now.

What will really take me out from this sport is the frustration — I get so frustrated, and I forget my throw or something like that. And that’s happening to me a lot.

She’s giving me heart attacks. I need to stop.

(Dear reader, the above statement was made after I asked if we should pause the interview so Huckabella could watch Huckabear throw. “I need to stop” was referring to her watching the match. After saying this, Huckabella physically turned her back to stop herself from watching).

Every time I almost have a heart attack.

If you could change one thing in ax throwing, what would it be?

Oh, that’s a great question.

I think, if something needs to be changed, it’s bringing this game to more people, make it more attractive. Do anything to bring other people to love this game as we do, because I feel like we are the best community ever, but we are not good at reaching others.

I feel like we need to create more opportunities for new people to throw with our community. Because once people join in, they love it.

What’s your biggest achievement in axe throwing?

So I’m the kind of person who will gets second or third and never win a tournament. I am hoping that will change soon. So I’m mostly in the podium, but I’m still working on my mental game to finish it.

What’s something that you would tell yourself when you were just starting out?

Stop right now, or you’ll be addicted forever.

Big thanks to Huckabella for the interview, and for everything she’s done for the sport ANNNDDD specifically for me. I feel it’s important to note that Huckabella (indeed, the entire Huck clan) has – for reasons I do not quite understand – welcomed me into their hearts and family.

Huckabella is truly a wonderful ambassadors of the sport, and we’re lucky to have ’em!