My Big IATC Plans and Schemes

With IATC 2026 a mere month away, I’ve decided to really buckle down and prepare for my third trip to Hogtown. You may be thinking I’m in the same boat, Badger! I’ve been practicing my big axe and my Premier Clutches and and and.

No. No I don’t mean that at all.

I’m preparing in the most badgery ways possible. Namely, figuring out what shenanigans I plan to shennanigate, what things I’m going to be hiding at venues, and how much I’ll be able to talk to all of you lovely throwkin before I have an anxiety-induced disassociation that is both deeply concerning and loveable.

First: My Iatc 2026 will include perennial “what is this” item(s)

My first IATC, it was a booklet. My second, Axepirational cards. This year?

Oh, this year?

It’s hand made patches, bayyybeeeeeeee.

There are a few important notes about these patches you should keep in mind:

One, they are gonna be free and all around.

Two, they are really, very…uh…rough? Home made? I did all the carving and printing myself, so like…I’m a writer. Just know what to expect when you get your mitts on them.

Three: I printed them on whatever cheap fabric I could find. So some are on duck canvas, some are on simple cotton, and some are on material that, frankly, should never be used to make patches. But here we are.

So anyway, be on the lookout. I’ve made about 300 at this point, and I don’t wanna go home with any, you know what I mean?

Second: I’m coming with an actual photographer to IATC 2026!

Mollie, my partner and all around wonder, is coming up to The Six with me – and they are a real life, trained, exceptionally-talented photographer. So while people have enjoyed my attempts at picture-doing, I’m so excited to share that the quality is gonna jump up in a big way.

I’m stoked on this for a few reasons, but the main ones are: having better quality photos to share with all of you throwkin, and ALSO be freed up to do more interviewing/chatting/looking into the middle distance while writing deep, philosophical thoughts about axe throwing that most of you already thought about years ago.

Oh, and probably the biggest/best reason: I love the hell out of Mollie, and spending more time with them while doing axe shit is just, well, it’s just great.

Third: I’m hoping to win just 1 round

I have absolutely no illusions about what kind of thrower I am. I’m throwing better so far this year, but I’m not anywhere close to the level of talent held by everyone else at IATC. So rather than set some wild goal of getting to day 2, or even winning a match, I’m simply hoping to win a single round.

This might seem like low self-esteem talking (joke’s on you: everything you’ve ever read here is low self-esteem talking), but honestly I think it’s a realistic, achievable goal. If I manage it, I will have completed my only goal around the actual competition of IATC. It’d be a big jump from my performance two years ago so, you know, incremental improvement, yeah?

Fourth: I want you to feel absolutely free to say hi

I know I have a reputation (one I’ve enforced literally all the time) about being overwhelmed by interacting with people. But I also delight when people say hello. So despite my own, loud announcements to the contrary, please do give me a howdy when you see me (if you even know what I look like, of course). This community is amazing, and I don’t wanna become some axe throwing hermit who doesn’t talk to people directly.

Anyway, I’m getting more and more excited about seeing throwkin from near and far, and I hope to see you (yes, you) there this year. May your travels be safe, your axes fly well, and your travel to/around Toronto be as smooth as possible!