APPLETON, Wis. — Hundreds of competitors from around the world are in Appleton for the World Axe & Knife Throwing Championships.
A Green Bay native is ranked number five in the world and looking for his first world title.
Lumberjack Johnny’s general manager Joe Devine picked up the sport of axe and knife throwing five years ago. Now, he competes professionally.
Last year, he won his first major tournament but is eyeing his first world title in Appleton.
“The biggest separator, in my opinion, is the mental aspect,” said Devine. “I practice meditation a lot; every day I do that.”
Devine qualified for all five categories in the competition: hatchet, big axe, knives, dual hatchet and dual knives. He said being ranked number five in the world is pretty crazy.
“My favorite thing to throw is knives,” said Devine. “Just because of the strategy involved, where you’re trying to stack your knives into the bull’s eye area. Hatchet is my is my best event.”
Appleton has been the host city twice before and will continue to host for 2027 and 2029 at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center. World Axe Throwing League commissioner Sarah Sed said the staff in Appleton have gone above and beyond to make the event great.
“Once you have everything just set up with them and everything’s running pretty smooth, then it just makes it so much easier and we look forward to coming back,” said Sed.
Devine said he has high hopes for this competition but win or lose, he said he wants to make sure he has fun. He said the community is one of the best parts of the sport.
“If you get a big win, your opponent’s not going to be mad,” said Devine. “They’re going to be happy for you and that’s just how it is on every level when you’re at the world championships… it’s a great community.”
The event is free and open to the public through the finals on Sunday.
