Tiny axe thrower interview: Native

Dear reader: maybe a year ago, I interviewed Native. But, me being me, I actually recorded nothing at all. It's a shame, as the entire interview happened in a rain storm, and it was very romantic/dramatic. But I had the good fortune of catching him again at the Urban Open this year, and we managed to have another delightful conversation. Win win.

Anyway, here's the tiny axe thrower interview with Native. We talk about mindsets, goals, and advice for new throwers.

When did you start throwing, and where?

So I started working at Revolution Axe in 2020, and my GM best friend Trash Bird wanted me to compete. I didn't feel like I was at a level to do so. So I think early 2021, if I'm being honest.

The first time I interviewed you, I accidentally did it all wrong. I'm going to try to not repeat those same questions. Mostly because I don't remember what those questions were.

When I watch you throw, you look real serious about the throwing, then it seems like you're able to almost immediately switch that back off. Is that something that you learned or is that something that you've always done?

Frame of reference, I used to be a baseball player and that was my goal always. And I got to a certain level, went to college for it, and that didn't really come to fruition.

I chose studies over athletics and stumbled into axe throwing more of as a joke, honestly, just because I was unemployed for so long due to a little thing that they called COVID. I don't know if you're familiar?

I've heard of it, I think. I might need to look it up.

Longest 50 years of my life, but 2020, a little place called Revolution Axe Throwing needed an axe coach. I laughed all the way to the bank.

I was like, that's hilarious. What is that?

But when I started I had a radically different outlook than I have now. Back then, every missed throw -- I was so hard on myself. I was like, I could throw a strike from almost 70 feet with precision and I can't hit a seven inch circle, or at that time on Pine, a three inch dot?

So I was mad at myself, but never at my competition. And that still sometimes holds true. But after a while, under Chester's wing, I found tournaments in the community and I was like, okay, I want to be a better person in this community.

So I focused more on the community aspect. I did the tournaments for years and I was like, I got to shift focus here. Everyone has always said, you're a very serious thrower. And that hasn't changed, but it's taken a lot of time and effort to focus on the throwing and then have these kind of interpersonal communications and friendships. And honestly, family at this point.

I do take axe throwing very seriously, but at the end of the day, I miss, you hit. You did it. You did the thing. And I didn't rise to the occasion. You did, and I'm proud of you.

And if I don't know you, I'll buy you a beer or I'll shake your hand and learn more about you. And that's what it's all about. So no, I was very hard on myself in the beginning, and it's taken years to get to where I'm at, and I'm trying to tap back into that vein of being able to be more dialed on command. But I know so many people in this community, and I love every single one of them, and I love meeting new people. So I'm just looking forward to doing that more.

What's some advice that you could give to a new thrower who's just starting art that you wish you would've gotten when you started throwing?

Personally, I think I was spoiled.

What I mean by that is: I learned, in my opinion, from the best.

Wait a second -- a little frame of reference: Revolution Axe got bought out from under us. We knew it was coming, but we didn't know it was coming that soon. And without notice, I worked the day before and the next day it was gone. I was actually on my way to throw in a league at a Wicked Axe up in Havehill, which is north of Rev. And another colleague of mine called me to ask me if I knew anything about it and I didn't. And as the assistant general manager, that was kind of a blindside. And honestly, Chester didn't even know. So it was kind of one of those things that kind of come to Jesus moment, if you will. It was like, wow, everything just stopped.

But to your question: I mean this is one of the most wholesome, the best supportive communities that I've ever had the privilege of being a part of.

I met my girlfriend through this Gun Show Barbie is the light of my life, most phenomenal, supportive, number one fan of me as I am her. And I don't think I would actually have a career that I have without her support through all of that. And it's just the people that you meet, I could name drop all day, but we all know these people.

They're top tier people on and off the lanes. And in truth, I've never had the privilege or honor of being amongst so many people from all walks of life, from all jobs, from corporate to whatever it is. I mean, everyone's here unified under throwing axes at a wall, weapons at a wall, and seeing what sticks.

And the fact that we rally behind this so hard and we have these wonderful axe makers and brands like Love and Axes, it's just so wholesome as a new thrower to see what the axe community has to offer.

If you want to get better, there are so many people in your venue / in the community that would love to talk to you, provoked or unprovoked, and just give you a tip.

Stick with it. I try to teach that to all of the people up in New England: stay with it. You absolutely will fall in love with this community. And I truly, truly believe that anybody on any given Sunday can do what you see.

Some of the rippers, some of the old heads, some of the people I've been throwing since 2014, 2016, whenever it was: you could be that person tomorrow. You never know. I mean, we've seen so many people just come up that people are like, oh, who's that person? Oh, watch out for that guy tomorrow. You never know.

And it only takes one throw to win the round. Move on and get that confidence. So any new thrower: don't get discouraged. Stick with it. You're going to be fine! Big thanks to Native for this (second) interview, and for taking the time to chat with me!