Valley men advance to axe-throwing championship
By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
Two of western Pennsylvania’s most “savage warriors” will represent the Mid-Mon Valley next month at the 2019 National Axe Throwing Championship in Toronto.
James “Floki” Saul, 30, of West Newton and Blake “Balakay” Gibasiewicz, 27, of White Oak punched their tickets to Canada after qualifying in round one of championship competition earlier this month at their home ax arena, Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing in Jeannette.
The two will face off against 190 other top competitors from around the globe during the National Axe Throwing Federation’s All-Star Weekend Feb. 15-18.
Founded in 2016, the NATF was established with the vision of creating a standard rule system to enable broad and accessible competition among players, with a mandate to promote safety, sportsmanship and competitive protocol.
The sport requires competitors to throw a hatchet-style ax at a target from at least 14 feet away to accumulate points in round-robin style play. Occasionally, firefighter-style axes known as “big axes” are used in competition tie-breakers.
The NATF currently boasts nearly 5,000 league members in almost 60 cities across seven countries, all vying for a spot in the championship and a chance to win the Wilson Cup and more than $16,500 in prizes.
While Saul qualified for his first championship berth in 2018, Gibasiewicz will compete on the world stage for the first time.
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