Lumberjack Show and Axe Throw Challenge in Southeast Alaska

Watch champions compete, then throw axes yourself

Learn to throw a double bit axe and compete against other participants in southeast Alaska's Lumberjack Show and Axe Throw Challenge, which pairs live entertainment with hands-on instruction. The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show features world champion athletes from Alaska and British Columbia competing in chopping, sawing, axe throwing, log rolling and a 50-foot tree climb, followed by your own axe throwing practice and competition. A licensed English-speaking guide leads the instruction; children are welcome from age 10.

The Experience

The day opens with the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where Alaska's frontier lumberjacks battle British Columbia's premier woodsmen for the title of "Bull of the Woods." You watch these world champion athletes compete in chopping, sawing, axe throwing, log rolling and a thrilling 50-foot tree climb while your host shares lumberjack lore. The competition is the real thing—no choreography, no softening—and the athletes are the ones who set the standard for the sport.

After the show ends, the focus shifts to you. A licensed guide teaches you the art of throwing a 5lb double bit axe, starting with technique and safety before you step up to throw. You get practice rounds to find your form, then you compete head to head against other participants in the same session. The axe is provided; the guide handles the instruction and safety. This is not a spectator finish—you are the one throwing.

What’s included

• Use of a 5lb double bit axe.
• instruction and coaching from a licensed English-speaking guide.
• practice rounds before the head-to-head competition.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

Is this one for you?At two and a half hours, this fits into a half-day itinerary without consuming your whole afternoon, leaving room for other activities in southeast Alaska. The show and the throwing are both live and hands-on—you are not watching a video or a demonstration, and you are not sitting through a long lecture before you throw.

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Top questions

What do the lumberjacks actually compete in during the show?

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show features world champion athletes competing in chopping, sawing, axe throwing, log rolling and a 50-foot tree climb. Alaska's frontier lumberjacks battle British Columbia's premier woodsmen for the title of "Bull of the Woods," and the competition is live and unscripted.

Do I need experience to throw the axe, or will the guide teach me?

The licensed guide teaches you from the start. You learn the art of throwing a 5lb double bit axe, get practice rounds to build confidence, and then compete against other participants in the same session—no prior experience required.

What age can children participate?

Children are welcome from age 10 and can participate in both the show and the axe throwing competition, provided they have full use of their arms and can handle the physical demands of throwing.

How long does the whole experience take?

The Lumberjack Show and Axe Throw Challenge runs for about two and a half hours, covering both the live competition and your hands-on throwing instruction and competition.