Sideline Stories: Alissa Wetherbee, AxeWomen
Friends have always seemed fascinated as to how I became a professional logging sports athlete. To me, it always felt like a natural career path…I grew up here in Maine cutting firewood with my family. I’m pretty sure I was helping stack wood since I was first able to walk! As I grew a little older my dad taught me how to split wood, and then, in my teenage years, how to safely run a chainsaw.
Growing up I had seen competitive chopping, sawing, and logrolling on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and it just looked like the most interesting sport out there! At 20, I was formally introduced to professional logging sports through other competitors. At the time there were very few competitions just for women. Though more than welcome to enter we were competing against men. I used that time to learn more and more events and develop the best techniques from anyone who would take the time to teach me.
At that time (early 2000’s), one of the few women’s championships was the World’s Open Lumberjill Contest in Boonville, NY. I competed there several times throughout my 20’s and 30’s, winning championships in axe throwing and peavey logrolling.
In 2010, I decided there needed to be a way for women in logging sports to show off our skills and make a little money while enjoying the sport we had fallen in love with – so, I talked to several ladies I’d competed with over the years, took out a loan from a local bank, bought a truck, trailer and all new equipment, and pitched my idea to anyone who would listen. That first year, we were hired to perform and compete at music festivals, state fairs, rodeos, and outdoor expos, on the road from June until October! We had AxeWomen shows booked coast to coast in the US and Canada!
2020 marks our 10th year in business; this was definitely a different year than we all had planned, with competitions canceled and 90% of our shows canceled or postponed. We’ve had much more free time than expected but made lemonade from lemons, worked hard on training, updated some of our equipment, and were able to begin a new chapter for AxeWomen! Our team has always been made up of world champions, world record holders and collegiate champions. This extra time allowed us to start the “AxeWomen Pathfinder Program,” welcoming teammates who are leaders in their professions – educators, law enforcement officers, scientists- who had shown interest and ability though had yet had the opportunity to compete professionally. We love our sport, and we love teaching our sport to others. This has been a perfect fit!
I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to choose this career path. During my 20 years (so far!) of competing professionally and 10 years of owning a business which coincides with my sport, I have won local and world championships, become the first person to logroll across the Mississippi River, taught celebrities how to axe throw and hundreds of children how to logroll. Yet, I am most thankful this journey led me to meet my husband. We can run the business together, travel together and compete together! And, really, what more could you ever want? I am thankful each and every day.