Tiny axe thrower interview: Huckabear

This was my very first interview at Urban Open this year - one that I tried to secure during IATC but, alas, I ran out of time. HuckABear is well known in the sport and, by all accounts, a slayer. She was kind enough to take some time to chat with me, the results of which are here below. Later in the day, HuckABear snagged 2nd place in the mid-tier Swiss tourney, so I'm glad I snuck this interview in before she was too cool to talk to me (she was likely always too cool, but I digress). So enjoy this tiny axe thrower interview!

AB: How long have you been throwing?

HuckABear: I've been throwing for about two years, and I started throwing out of Warriors, which is in Ontario, Canada.

You kinda made a splash for yourself at Worlds this year. You're an amazing thrower, especially for being 13. There's something to be said for developing the skills needed to be great at axe throwing at a younger age. What do you think has made you such a strong thrower?

Well, my mom is Huckabella, and both my parents are passionate about the sport. I'm also very determined to do better, so I just practice a lot, which helps me improve.

Is there anybody else your age that's throwing?

I know a few kids from youth league that I used to throw with, but they aren't very into it.

Unlike a lot of people in the sport, you kinda have the possibility of really setting a 20, 30 year plan for your axe throwing career. What's success look like to you?

Winning the world championships one day. Yeah.

It is rare for me to say this to anyone, but for right now, you're shorter than I am. How do you compensate for your height when throwing -- or do you even realize your compensating at all?

Not really. I try to reach as high as I can -- my clutch axe is a little long, but I don't think I'm adjusting all that much.

Do you have any advice for newer throwers, in age or in experience?

Dear reader, I need to reflect how long Huckabear thought about the answer to this one. It was at least 6 seconds of her looking into the middle distance and really thinking out what the advice would be.

Don't underestimate yourself.

Any shout outs?

I wanna shout out Red Beaver for making the best axes I've ever thrown.

Big thanks to HuckABear for this interview, and thanks for putting big fear into every axe thrower you face off against. But like, a nice sort of fear. A friendly fear.