The World Axe Throwing League is the global governing body of urban axe throwing. WATL was founded in 2017 by representatives from Canada, the United States of America, Brazil and Ireland. It has 19 axe throwing nations with membership. Members including over 175 member companies. It organizes international tournament events such as the U.S. Open, Canadian Open, European Open, the North American Arnold Open, South American Arnold Open, and most notably the World Axe Throwing Championship. It also appoints the Judges that officiate at all sanctioned leagues and tournaments. It promulgates the WATL Code of Conduct, which sets professional standards of discipline for Urban Axe Throwing.
International Axe Throwing Day
This day was created by the World Axe Throwing League to celebrate, and raise awareness and unify the sport of urban axe throwing. Though primarily celebrated with affiliates in the WATL, it is also celebrated by anyone with a passion for the sport around the world.
History
2017
The founding of WATL. The founding of International Axe Throwing Day. Representatives from 5 countries joined the WATL. From the United States, Canada, Ireland, Brazil and Denmark. The first annual World Axe Throwing Championship is held.
Representatives from 4 countries joined the WATL. From South Africa, Australia, Belgium and China. The first annual Canadian Open tournament is held.
2020
The Spring and Summer leagues for 2020 have been canceled as a result of the global pandemic of 2020 As well as the Canadian Open. Due to the pandemic and many locations around the world enforcing a quarantine, the WATL helped establish the Quarantine Axe Throwing League with co-founders Tristan Ledbury and Mike Morton. This made headway continuing the sport from the homes of players so they can continue axe throwing despite the mandatory restrictions on social contact. WATL implements a new style of playing online with WATL Live. Mario Zelaya is announced to be the new Commissioner of the World Axe Throwing League, and Evan Walters is moving to Head of Development for the World Knife Throwing League.
Scoring
Scoring is a match system where ten axes are thrown per match. The player with the highest points of their ten thrown axes wins the match. In case of a tie a "Sudden Death" throw is made for the highest score. Sudden death throws are done until one thrower scores higher than the other. Scoring is determined by where you strike your axe into the target. The WATL targets have a red bullseye ring, followed by four empty rings, and then a blue ring. The scoring is 6, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point respectively. Additionally, there are blue dots in the 1 point ring, known as "Kill-shot," and can only be used for the 5th throw and the final throw in the match for 8 points. Point designation is based on the highest point value the axe touches when it lands and sticks.
WATL Tournaments
In 2018, WATL started working on a tournament format to help include any throwers who couldn't regularly participate in the WATL axe throwing seasons. This started off by worked with Columbus Axe Throwing, to bring Urban Axe Throwing to Columbus, Ohio, for the Arnold Sports Festival Currently there are plans to move forward with more tournaments in more locations but currently have only announced three annual tournaments: The Arnold, the U.S. Open, and the Canadian Open.
The Axe Throwing World Championship takes place once a year in December. The format has slight changes from year to year, to be announced before the beginning of the yearly competition. 2018 marks the first time in the sport of axe throwing's history that a Championship has been presented on ESPN.
Year
World Champion
Location Represented
Country
2nd Place
3rd Place
2017
Chris Morning
Far Shot Recreation
Jon Miller
Michael Moore
2018
Benjamin Edgington
Bad Axe Throwing Denver
David Cycon
Paul Gammon
2019
Sam Carter
Tap That Axe Throwing
David Cycon
Straun Riley
Commissioners of the World Axe Throwing League
The Commissioner of WATL heads the direction of the World Axe Throwing League.
Jon Miller
Columbus, Ohio
Francisco Nobre
Ireland
Brazil
Denmark
United Kingdom
Turkey
Russia
Spain
Netherlands
Hungary
Poland
New Zealand
Slovenia
Indonesia
South Africa
Australia
Belgium
China