Axes: Why We Do What We Do... Part I

Written by
Alissa
World Champion LumberJill
​Founder & Owner of the Axe Women Loggers of Maine

​Throughout all my years of competing, training, teaching, and performing in the world of logging sports.... 21 years so far... I always find that our audiences and fans tend to be just as interested in hearing a little about the history of each event (and why we do them) as they are in watching us compete in each event. 
During each of our AxeWomen shows Mike always gives a little history about axes, saws, and lumberjacks. And we always hear back from at least a few audience members about how interesting they found it! 
Over a few upcoming blog posts I want to share with you the history of each event we compete in.
 
Today I want to start with axe throwing and underhand chopping...

​Axe throwing: Our modern-day axe throwing competitions follow some pretty simple rules, and, for the most part wherever you travel around the world to compete in axe throwing the rules are going to be the same. 
We throw double-bitted axes (which means a blade on both sides of the head of the axe.)  The handles are about 24 inches long and each blade (or face) of the axe is 6 inches. We throw at a target from 20 feet away and the center of the bullseye is 5 feet off the ground. There can be several variations... sometimes the bullseye is a shaken-up can of beer or soda that "explodes" if you hit it... sometimes the bullseye is a balloon that pops... sometimes you get to throw 3 times... sometimes 5 times... But you are always throwing from 20 feet away and the center of the bullseye is always 5 feet high. 
Sometimes when we have tons of extra room at a show (like on a football field or inside a baseball stadium)  we like to add our own variation... "dizzy bat axe throwing!!" Always a crowd favorite! Not to brag... but I have been known to hit 3 bullseyes in a row during "dizzy bat axe throw!!"
Axes have been around since humans began making tools. You can find histories of axes throughout nearly every culture... Axes, tomahawks, hatchets... tons of history!!
But we're talking about throwing axes right now! 
We've heard and read several different stories about how axe throwing competitions actually began. The most common theory is that they started in logging camps as a way to relieve boredom of the lumberjacks on their days off. It sounds like what could have started as a simple way to pass the time soon grew into competitions within the logging camps to see who was the "champion of the forest!" Who could chop the fastest, who could log roll the longest, who could throw their axe with the most accuracy???
Obviously, the sport of axe throwing has lasted through the years and grown in popularity! It's almost always an event at any Woodsman's Day contest now! You can find axe throwing clubs, leagues, and competitions around the world! 
There are several hatchet and tomahawk throwing venues opening up around the world as well. This is similar to axe throwing... but definitely not the same thing! They are usually throwing a much smaller, single bladed hatchet and throwing from a shorter distance. Still a fun event to try... but not to be confused with axe throwing! 
 
Underhand chopping: It makes sense that the history of chopping competitions probably began much the same way as axe throwing competitions... a few lumberjacks sitting around on their day off... one says to the other "Hey, how fast can you chop that log in half? I bet I can do it in 60 seconds..." The other lumberjack, feeling competitive, says "I can chop it in half in 30 seconds!" 
Underhand chopping was actually a technique that lumberjacks and loggers used in the woods to cut the trees into manageable lengths after they had gotten the tree to the ground. They would stand on top of the fallen tree and use their axe to chop it in half... usually chopping halfway through on one side, turning around, and finishing the cut on the other side. 
Once the fallen trees were cut to manageable lengths they could then be loaded onto sleds, skids, rail cars... or pushed into the waterways... however they could get them to a town or mill to be processed into lumber. 
 
Just like axe throwing, underhand chopping is an extremely popular event in Woodsman's Day contests. Unlike the old-time lumberjacks who were balancing on a bark covered, round log... we now peel our chopping logs ahead of time (to get rid of any dirt or rocks that may be lodged in the bark.) We then mount our logs in specially made chopping stands, or cradles, to prevent them from rolling around. We get to prepare our logs before competitions by chopping flat spots for our feet and by measuring and marking our logs. By measuring the diameter of your log and using that measurement to cut through it, you are ensuring the fastest way through your log. 
After all that, it's just a simple contest of speed. Who can swing their axe the fastest and chop their log in half first? 
 
There is definitely some really interesting history when you look at how the timber and logging industries have evolved over the years... and how lumberjacks cutting trees with crosscut saws and axes have evolved into logging sports! 
A few of our upcoming blogs will look at the histories of log rolling, speed climbing, crosscut sawing and standing block chop!