New game in town
BUTLER TWP — There's a new game in town.
Axe throwing.
Butler residents Reni Hilovsky and AmySue Miller are making it happen. They are having five axe throwing lanes put in at Hindman Hall, off State Route 68 in Butler.
They only stumbled upon the sport recently.
“We tried axe throwing at a facility in Pittsburgh, off McKnight Road, and loved it,” Hilovsky said. “We had a blast.
“It was so much fun and it's an easy thing to do. We were enthralled by it and wanted to bring the sport closer to home.”
So they've rented enough space at Hindman Hall to install the five lanes. An axe-throwing lane is 12 feet long with a wooden target at the end.
Hilovsky said they hope to have the lanes up and ready for business by mid-March.
“It will be a fun activity for friends and family,” Miller said. “It is an activity anyone can do. Physical size or strength is not a factor in this.”
There are different axe sizes used in the sport. Both sizes may be available at the Hindman facility, though that has yet to be determined.
“We are currently testing out some axes that will make the cut,” Hilovsky said.
Hilovsky and Miller are operating under the name of Holzfaeller Axe Throwing. They plan to be affiliated with the World Axe Throwing League.
Mt. Lebanon and Millvale have the biggest axe throwing facilities in the Pittsburgh area. The sport is extremely popular in Canada.
“It's comparable to bowling, in a sense,” Hilovsky said. “Anyone can throw a bowling ball. Anyone can throw an axe.
“There is a target at the end of the lane. There are different games you can play, but you score three points if the axe sticks in the center of the target, two points in the second ring, one point in the third ring.”
Axes are generally thrown from directly over one's head, though they can be thrown from the side as well.
“The speed of the throw is the key,” Miller said. “The axe is going to rotate in flight, so it has to be thrown hard enough for the axe to stick in the target. Throw it too hard and it may bounce off.”
Fee will be $20 to $25 per person per hour to participate. Each player will have 10 throws per match, “or they can just play however they choose,” Hilovsky said.
She described the facility as “mainly a fun place to hang out with friends and family.”
The facility will also be open for occasions such as business lunches, team building, Christmas parties, etc. Minimum age is 18 and alcohol consumption will be monitored.
Mario Zelaya is founder of the World Axe Throwing League, which was originally formed to organize the numerous axe throwing clubs in Canada.
The WATL emphasizes competition, sportsmanship and fair play.
“Down the road, we want to have leagues and axe throwing tournaments,” Hilovsky said. “That's why we're planning on being affiliated with them.
“Hindman Hall is an ideal location. There's plenty of parking and it's easily accessible. I really believe the sport is going to catch on here.”
