Educators sharpen their skills
Kivalliq teachers try their hand at axe throwing in the Peg
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
NAUJAAT
A group of Kivalliq teachers decided to try something just a little bit different this past month.
Kivalliq teachers Gethin Jenkins, Andrew Porteous, Matt Thompson, Julia MacPherson, Pat McClure, Kelsey Nickel, Ashley Buckle and Tony Collens, from left, learn the art of axe throwing at Bad Axe Throwing in Winnipeg on their way back from their holiday break this past month. - photo courtesy of Julia MacPherson |
Naujaat teachers Gethin Jenkins, Pat McClure, Matt Thompson, Julia MacPherson, Ashley Buckle and Tony Collens were on their way back to their community after their holiday break when they ran into Arviat teachers Kelsey Nickel and Andrew Porteous in Winnipeg.
The group decided to go out and enjoy one last bit of city life before heading back to the North and, after deliberating for awhile on what they wanted to do, decided upon the unlikely activity of axe throwing.
MacPherson said the teachers booked 2.5 hours at Bad Axe Throwing and headed down to give it a go.
She said an instructor brought them up to speed on the safety rules and introduced them to the different ways of throwing the axe.
"Maybe we weren't getting many bull's-eyes, but we were actually hitting the targets pretty quickly after being shown the proper throwing techniques," said MacPherson.
"We played a bunch of different games like around the world and, in one, I actually had the game-winning throw of four points.
"It was a lot of fun and I was pretty tired leaving there."
MacPherson said axe throwing is slowly catching on as the next "thing" in parts of Canada, especially on the East Coast.
She said if she lived in an area where axe throwing was readily accessible, she could see herself getting into the swing of things.
"The axes have to be pretty sharp to stick in the target, but I wasn't nervous at all about throwing them.
"There's nothing to be nervous about if everyone follows the safety rules.
"The instructor told us to think of something we really didn't like when taking aim and picture it as the target, and that actually seemed to work.
"So, yes, if I had access I could see me doing it on a regular basis because it's something different and it really is a lot of fun."
