Competitors throw axes at the Saranac Lake Baptist Church’s first ax-throwing competition in October 2024. The competition returns this Sunday at the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club at 12:30 p.m. (Enterprise photo — Andy Flynn)

SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake Baptist Church is throwing its second annual ax-throwing competition. This year, the event is moving locations and growing.

Last year’s event drew 120 attendees and 55 throwers, Rev. Ryan Schneider said. This year, they’re adding more targets — seven total — a bracket for the judges to compete in and more play places for youngsters. The event will be held at the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club after church on Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Schneider said Good Guy Productions is donating an inflatable, Velcro ax-throwing set for kids to try out, and that there will be a bounce house and barbecue from Hoof and Horn in Potsdam.

The entire event is free to attend.

“We just want to share the good news of the gospel,” Schneider said. “We don’t have a God of condemnation. We have a God of love and peace.”

Sin means missing the bulls-eye, he said, relating it to ax-throwing. Schneider said it’s natural for him to talk about Jesus wherever he is.

“(He’s) somebody so great you just want to share about him,” Schneider said. “He saw us separate from him and he came and walked on this earth.”

Schneider said with the horrible events going on in the world, including the recent assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, now is the perfect time to bring a message of peace.

Schneider said some members of the Paul Smith’s College Woodsmen’s Team may attend. The church has many college students from PSC and North Country Community College attending services this semester, he said.

There will be brackets for men’s and women’s divisions in four age ranges. The 15 to 18 age bracket has a $150 cash prize. The 18 to 23, 23 to 45 and 45-plus brackets have $250 cash prizes. There will also be a “Grand Champion” trophy for the individual with the highest total accumulated points. The competition will be using official World Axe Throwing League rules.

To register, go to tinyurl.com/4ensa9nk.