Axe Factor Throwing Sends 5 People To World Championships

PLAINFIELD, IL — Five men are getting ready to fly down to Fort Worth, Texas, and represent Plainfield's Axe Factor Throwing in the World Axe Throwing Championships.

This is the first year Axe Factor is sending five people, co-owner Tracy Musick told Patch. But it's also the first year a father and his two sons are competing together at the world championships.

Batavia resident Jason Yelm and his sons, Donnie and Brian, of Aurora, will all three be competing in duals — a partnered competition where both people throw their axes at the same target at the same time.

The brothers became interested in ax throwing after Jason took them to their sister's birthday party held at an ax-throwing locale, Musick said.

"I'm super excited to be going myself, but there is an overwhelming feeling of pride and happiness for my boys," Jason relayed to Patch through Musick. "I'm thrilled that we can share this together."

Jason, who will also be competing in hatchet throwing, will participate in duals with Winfield resident Jonny Tran. Both men have made it to worlds before, Musick said. James Ruddy, a Plainfield resident and Axe Factor's manager, will be competing in knives.

To practice, they simply do a lot of throwing, Musick said.

"They're in every week throwing," she said. "They have targets at their houses that they train on too. ... They just throw a lot, that's what they do."

The group is boarding a flight to the Lone Star State Thursday — with Musick accompanying them — before their competitions lasting Friday through Sunday. Knife and ax-throwing competitions will be held Friday, while hatchet throwing and duals will take place Saturday. On Sunday, everyone who makes it to the final round will compete, and champions will take home winnings from a $50,000 prize pool.

"The ax-throwing community is such a great community," Musick said. "Everybody helps each other. ... When you lose, you're still hugging the other guy and shaking hands and congratulating them. It's just nothing like any sport I've ever seen, competition-wise."

Supporters and people interested in watching the world champions can tune in to ESPN3 on Sunday, where a broadcast will start at 1 p.m.

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