Axe Thrower Interview: Miss Julia

I don’t know that I met Julia before the U.S. Championships, but what an introduction she made! During the Adeline Cup, she used a whole lotta skill and determination to reach 2nd place — the entire time being laser-focused on each and every throw. After the awards were awarded and the pictures were pictured, I asked Julia for this axe thrower interview. Also: It’s Julia’s Birthday today – it’s all coming together!

What brought you into the sport?

I just randomly started working at my venue as a side gig, and then I started throwing leagues there in 2021, and I’ve just been doing it since.

Doing this interview right at this moment makes my second question a bit silly. Having just got second in the Adeline cup, what does success look like to you?

For me, I guess … I love to compete. So when I can show what I’ve been practicing and working on for the past months in a big tournament like this, that feels really good. I didn’t really expect myself to get as far yesterday or today, but I do feel successful in that: I did the best that I could and I did all right.

What are you currently throwing?

I throw only a stock flying fox for both my bullseye and clutch. And I throw a stock. Agdor for my big axe.

Is there a reason that you just go for stock and you don’t have anything custom?

I have tried before to switch my axe for clutches. It didn’t work for me. I used to throw a half hatchet, then I switched to the fox probably two years in, and I just haven’t switched from it.

It works for me. And I’ve kind of tried to figure out my bullshit. A lot of people tell me that they’re surprised I hit my clutches sometimes because of the curvature of the blade.

Is there anything that your local venue or your league does that is you think unique to your venue or your league?

Well, first I will say that I love my venue. The community there is really supportive of each other and competitive. And that’s what I love about Wicked Axe is just the sport and the competition. It’s not really unique, but it’s definitely special. We have some special throwers over there, so I love competing with those guys.

What is going to keep you in this sport and what could drive you away?

Well, sometimes I worry about venues closing. I live super close to my venue, so I’m there literally all the time. But other than that, unless my life takes some turn in the next few years, I intend to stick with it and see where I can go with it.

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

Fuck big axe.

(Dear reader: it is important to understand the context of this answer: ’twas big axe that brought Miss Julie low during the Adeline finals).

What’s your biggest achievement in axe throwing?

I would say my biggest achievement is my Premier 81. When I got that, I felt accomplished – I worked so hard to get it. And at some points I was like, “Oh, it’s never going to come.” But yeah, I got that in September and I haven’t hit another one, but I’m trying.

What’s something that you would tell your just-starting-out self today?

(Julie thought about how to answer this for a while)

I don’t know.

I do think that it takes time to get to this spot. So it’s hard to say. I haven’t really started achieving at this level till I was three years into it. So it’s a culmination of my whole time throwing is that helps me today.

So it’s tough. I mean, my biggest tip to most throwers is just to get closer, especially for clutch. I like to get really close to the black and to the red.

Is there anybody you’d want to shout out or anything you want to add?

Yes. Shout out to my friends at Wicked, especially Brian Wren. He holds it down for us over there. Gello, they’re my support, so shout out to them and all my other league members and competitors with me. And thanks to my parents: My dad who throws with me and my mom’s support!