Latest news with #IronsideAxeClub
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousands attend Renaissance Faire Spring Fling weekend
DES MOINES, Iowa — Thousands of people are attending the first weekend of the Renaissance Faire Spring Fling. The event takes place at Sleepy Hollow in Des Moines, and takes visitors back in time to the medieval era through different performances, vendors, and food. This year, one main attraction is Ironside Axe Club, a local axe throwing business based in West Des Moines. People can learn how to throw axes, knives, spears, and more. The Pirate King and Queen are back this year and they will be leading a joust. The Renaissance Faire is located at 4051 Dean Avenue in Des Moines. Gates open at 10 a.m. and performances start at 10:30 a.m. The first performance on Sunday will be from The Cockatoo Encounter at the Main Castle Stage. They will be selling paintings made by the cockatoos to raise money for the species. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. For more information on tickets, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 Iowans from metro axe club qualify for World Axe and Knife Throwing Championship
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — The knives will come out this week in Wisconsin when hundreds of throwers compete at the World Axe and Knife Throwing Championships this week. Ten Iowans from Ironside Axe Club in West Des Moines qualified for the event. 'This is our first time actually competing in Worlds,' said Kody 'Bear' Boyle. 'I'm really excited. Nervous, but excited,' added Ashley Briggs. The couple competes in knife duals and are about to face off with the best of the best in the sport. 'A lot of people think it's just chucking it and it's more about finesse,' explained Boyle. 'The amount of practice you put in definitely shows. I practice every day, and I just figured out my knife game a little more consistency wise,' said Shane Funke. Hawkeyes land former Drake star Bennett Stirtz Funke has been honing his skills for the past six years. He is once again returning to the world stage to compete in team and individual events. 'Everybody who goes is super chill, it's really lax. Nobody is like you don't deserve to be here, you suck, go away,' said Funke. He says anyone can try their hand at axe throwing. It's something different and that's one of the reasons the sport is growing. 'Some people throw really hard. Some people throw delicately and soft. It's therapeutic for a lot of people,' explained Funke. Before heading off to compete, the throwers are making sure to keep their blades and skills sharp. 'Once I get to the line, I'm like oh, it's here and I let that noise drown everything out to where I can focus,' said Boyle. 'The nerves get to you, at least for me a little bit. It helps having him, he calms me, calms my nerves down,' said Briggs. With thousands of throws under their belt, they know it will take nerves of steel to axe the competition. The group from Ironside Axe Club leaves for Appleton, Wisconsin Wednesday. The competition runs from April 3rd to the 6th. More than $60,000 in prize money is on the line. Iowa News: Smoke still impacting Otley after Monday fire Iowa bill that lowers age to own a handgun advances in Senate Whirlpool to lay off hundreds at Amana facility WHO 13 Farm Report: Tuesday, April 1st 2025 Remarkable Women honoree has been revealed Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
