At least 3 people told me I had to interview Flare Gun. They are a very new thrower in the sport, and jumped in with both feet in a big way (we had this interview during the Urban Open, and to date they have just 4 leagues on their player's card). Flare Gun and I talked about what drew them to the sport, why she's excited about it, and Critical Role (I didn't include that in the interview, but it was lovely to nerd out for a bit).
SO YOU JUST STARTED THROWING?
Yeah, I've been throwing for just nine weeks. So I've done one full season and a week of one season.
AND NOW YOU'RE AT URBAN OPEN.
Yes, yes I am.
YOU KINDA JUST WENT FOR IT, HUH? WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
Um. Honestly I just really enjoy it. And once I joined a league and met the people, I realized that it's all kinda great. I definitely have ADHD and a competitive personality - so it was hyper-fixation, and competition, and great people - all the things in one! So I decided to nosedive in because everything was fun, and everyone was amazing.
SO WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT AXE THROWING? THE COMMUNITY OR THE COMPETITION?
I think it's both. I really love the community, but the actual act of throwing...Rob A. told me this: he views axe throwing as a puzzle, and I look at it that way, too. You always have to adjust your throw and fit all the puzzle pieces together to make it as perfect and precise as you can. That, for me, is what makes me want to keep doing it.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT YOU HAVE FOR THE SPORT RIGHT NOW - HOW DO YOU THINK YOU COULD SHARE THAT EXCITEMENT WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN AXE THROWING?
That's a great question. I think it's just promoting league more, and being open and trying to talk about the community. People need to know that it's not just a fun thing to do once, that it's also a great group of people who do it all the time. At least for me - if my coach, Allan, didn't tell me that there was a league, I would have never known, and never joined.
I throw really often, and I see a lot of people who throw who wouldn't know we have a league, even if they are throwing really well and are having lots of fun. I think league should see casual throwers as part of the pipeline.
Word of mouth is important, but I think, too, that the axe throwing community is a little bit older - because of the association with alcohol and because it is an expensive hobby. So I think marketing is really important, but I think the marketing for axe throwing could be a lot better - we could be drawing a lot more people in - because it's a great community.
DO YOU HAVE GOALS FOR THIS TOURNAMENT (URBAN OPEN)?
I had a goal to not get swept - and I had a match where I didn't!
AND WHAT ABOUT GOALS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS?
I'm gonna be honest - I was talking to my coach, like, my second week? And I told them "I wanna go to IATC," so that's my goal. My personal goal is to compete with the best of the best.
IS THERE ANYTHING...PUPPY! PUPPY! PUPPY! I WANNA INTERVIEW YOU, TOO
Dear reader, there was a puppy.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH I DID ASK YOU, OR ANYONE YOU WANNA SAY HI TO?
Uh...I don't think so? I guess I wanna shout out everyone who throws in Tuesday Green in Baltimore and everyone who throws in Premier. You've all been wonderful and super helpful.
WAIT. SO YOU'RE THROWING IN BOTH STANDARD AND PREMIER?
My first season I threw standard and Premier. I am in school so I can't throw Premier right now, but I'll go back to it when I can.
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