In more and more bars in Germany, axes are flying
Since ancient times, darts have been thrown in German bars. However, lately heavier weapons are being used: Axe-throwing bars are gaining popularity. Both stressed city dwellers and flirtatious individuals are affected by this.
A man named Aron Lack moves through the bar, picking up something in his hand that would have been an honor for a daring Viking warrior. About a meter long and over a kilogram in weight is the double-axe that the muscular leisure entrepreneur now raises high. Then Lack throws it - and a second later, a powerful "Flump!" is heard. This is the sound that should not be mistaken in these rooms as a sign of a violent confrontation - with or without Viking involvement. But as a big laugh.
New leisure trends pop up in German cities, such as Escape Rooms, Blacklight Minigolf, and Trampoline jumping. One of the younger trends is axe-throwing bars. Yes, that's right: Bars where instead of cozily sipping two Pils with tiny Dart arrows on small boards, people throw entire axes at radar-like tree trunk panels.
From the Vikings to Germany
There are several providers, one of them is the company WoodCutter, which is opening its next location in Cologne. Lack, the man with the double-axe, has come to introduce this primitive hobby. He is responsible for building the bars. His colleague, managing director Martin Dencker, designs the big picture right from the start. "Axe throwing came from the Vikings via Canada to Europe and also to Germany," he explains. In this specific case, all the way to the ground floor of a large hotel where the new bar is located.
The USA and Canada have been in the axe-throwing fever for a while. They are, after all, classic lumberjack nations, as you might say. But can this fun work in Germany, a society that values impulse control and certificates?
Standard axe weighs 600 grams
So, here's the axe. The entry is indeed low-threshold, even for people who only know hardware stores from the outside. There are several lanes and several axes in different sizes. The standard axe weighs 600 grams and is 27 centimeters long. In the best-case scenario, it spins around one and a quarter times before hitting the wood - then it remains perfectly embedded. The lanes are separated by closely spaced fences, so nothing flies sideways. Of course, there is a safety briefing.
Dencker, the business manager, explains that the target group is broad. Of course, bachelor parties and birthdays are there, but an axe evening is also a good place for a date, he says. There's nothing violent about it, Dencker counters any prejudices. Women can throw axes "extremely well," he reports. "Not with violence, but with finesse, with body movement," he knows to report. The axes are, after all, not weapons, but "completely ordinary" from the hardware store. The double-axe, Dencker admires, is the "king's class."
There will also be people at established city locations who leave their orderly office jobs during their break, go to the bar, throw a few axes into the wood, and then return to their desk. Analogous stress relief in the 21st century.
Alcohol and axe-throwing - is that a good idea?
The Viking hobby in total represents a "counterpoint to the leisurely weekend", believes Hamburg future researcher Ulrich Reinhardt. This is particularly characterized by media usage and "domestic activities". Therefore, ax throwing is something special. "Adrenaline and nerve-tingling sensations are a given, as is the community and reporting on social networks afterwards", he says. In the USA, "ax throwing" has established itself in many places. Nevertheless, it is also there a niche offering.
A question remains: How does a sharp ax get along with alcohol? Axe throwing expert Martin Dencker, who serves everyone in the room, says that drinking beer in the bar is a "side effect". The rule is: One can throw as long as one can still drive a car. "However: Once ax throwing is finished, then one can also drink beer."
Who masters the ax, does not necessarily have to stay. Dencker promises: "Everything that can be thrown, can be thrown with us." To the throwing arsenal belong also underhanders and playing cards. And shovels.
In the world of entertainment, Germany is seeing a surge of unique leisure trends, with axe-throwing bars being one of the newer attractions. This tradition, rooted in Viking pastimes, has made its way to Europe from Canada, finding a home even in the heart of cities like Cologne.
Despite its origins, axe-throwing bars in Germany are not just for rough-and-tumble crowds. Martin Dencker, the business manager, highlights that the activity is inclusive, attracting a diverse range of individuals, including groups celebrating milestones and even individuals seeking stress relief during their breaks.
