“Want to go axe throwing?”
That was the question I posed to some friends a couple weeks ago. Some may have scratched their heads asking me if they misheard me. But they didn’t. I literally meant it – let’s go throw some axes!
Blade & Timber is now open in Seattle – and now we can all go throw axes at targets together! What is this place all about?
With more than 22 years of entrepreneurial experience, Blade & Timber co-founders, Matt Baysinger and Ryan Henrich, built the company with their passion for bringing people together through remarkable, interactive experiences. Starting in Kansas City in 2017, two years later, the duo has already opened 6 more locations across the country with three more slated to open later this year.
Wearing my best lumberjack flannel, I had the chance to check out Blade & Timber’s Seattle location for myself at a VIP media preview and I have not had that much fun in a long time! The Capitol Hill location was easily accessible and is not too far from a few parking lots (which as a person who drives in this city, was good for me!).
I very much felt like I was in a sawmill upon entering, smelling the sweet wood. The location is very spacious with large alleys for throwing axes as targets (think bowling alley but without the ball and pins). They do offer chips, water and soda for purchase and I was told they are applying for a liquor license eventually.
Our group was assigned a lane and our instructor went over all of the safety precautions – including holstering the axe every time you put it away – you are not to hand the axe over to the next person throwing it. Also, do NOT wear open-toed shoes. I do not want to imagine what could possibly happen if an axe fell on my exposed perfectly painted toenails. Amputation anyone?
Our instructor started us off with two hand axe throwing. He demonstrated how to hold the axe in our hands over our head, how to stand and what to look at when we are aiming for the target. I found myself to be pretty good at this, all my years of CrossFit also made my strength in axe throwing quite apparent to everyone. I even hit the bullseye a few times! If folks were having trouble with hitting the target, our instructor spent some one-on-one time with them to help them improve.
We eventually moved onto one handed axe-throwing, which I wasn’t so good at, but I did receive some additional training and could finally start hitting the target and having my axe actually stick! After one handed, we tried throwing two axes at the same time! On my very first try, they both stuck in the target and I was so excited! However, after that, one would stick or none of would stick. Regardless, it was so much fun!
You can even play axe throwing games. We played a round of AXE, much like the game HORSE in basketball! There are even axe throwing leagues you can join as well.
All in all, I cannot wait to go back to Blade & Timber and bring all my friends. It was seriously such a fun night doing something unique and different and I already have ideas swirling in my head for events I could plan there. I highly recommend going to Blade & Timber for a fun night out!
WHERE:
206 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
Ph. (206) 316-0154
Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received comped axe throwing for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.
