The image of a kid wielding an axe would likely give most parents a mild heart attack. Up until a few weeks ago, I probably would have been one of those parents. As axe throwing has grown in popularity as a social activity for adults, The Crazy Axe in Raleigh saw the opportunity for axe throwing to be something the whole family can enjoy- or families with kids over 8 years old at least.
We are an “experience” based family. I love exposing my kids to new things and encouraging them to try different things. When I asked them if they’d be interested in axe throwing, they were SO excited. I’ve been axe-throwing a handful of times now, and admittedly I was a little nervous about my kids’ ability to throw, but I was also really excited to watch them give it a try.
We went on a quiet Thursday evening where we had the place primarily to ourselves. The Crazy Axe takes reservations in 1-hour time slots to ensure limited capacity during these times. They also require masks to be worn, with the exception of eating/drinking or the occasional photo opp.
With or without kids, anyone who throws at Crazy Axe is provided a personal coach who first teaches safety and the proper way to throw, then continues to guide throwers on improving their skill. Coach Rachel was extremely friendly and patient with my new novice throwers. She created a really fun learning environment for them. It took both kids a few tries to get their first axe to stick in the wood (believe me, it’s harder than it looks!). Regardless of where it lands on the target, that first stick is really exciting.
My 10 year old caught on very quickly and before long was throwing very consistently at the target. When he got his first bullseye, he literally did a victory dance- and this kid doesn’t dance.
My 8 year old daughter needed a little more time and coaching, but by the end of the night her axe was sticking to the board nearly every throw. The more times her axe stuck, the more her confidence grew. When she finally hit her first bullseye, the pride in her eyes lit up the entire room!
I really appreciate that The Crazy Axe has opened up their space to include older kids, and that they've done so with safety as the main priority. My kids are already asking when we’ll go back for a kids vs. adults competition. We’ll definitely be back!
To book your own axe-throwing session, check out The Crazy Axe online at https://www.thecrazyaxe.com/
