Kain Skarstrom has been wielding an axe half his life, and he’s about to take a swing on one of his sport’s biggest stages.
The 13-year-old junior woodchopper is preparing to compete for the first time at the Royal Easter Show, which begins on Thursday at Sydney Olympic Park.
They call it the “Wimbledon of woodchop”, with more than 150 competitors from around Australia and the globe, and seven world championship events and multiple disciplines across the schedule.
Kain, from South Windsor in Sydney, has a simple plan: “Try to stay calm and not freak out.
“Try to get through the front as quick as I can then pace myself in the back so I don’t puff out real fast,” he told the Herald.
Kain is among the youngest competitors in the junior development program. He’s been honing his skills at smaller agricultural shows for several years, with support from the local Metropolitan Axemen’s Association based in Hawkesbury.
“If you’re doing something wrong they’ll pull you up and help you, make you fix it,” he said.
“The metro club’s smaller than some of the other [regional] clubs because in our area there’s not a lot people [who] want to do it.”
Kain’s mum, Rachel, said his love of the sport started with a camping trip.
“He must have been about five or six and he picked up our tomahawk for cutting firewood and just kept cutting the log all weekend,” she said.
“I just kept going at it,” Kain added.
“And then Dad found [the Axemen’s Association] on Facebook. We went and tried it out and I ended up liking it.”
Like any parent, Rachel has the occasional nerves watching her children play sport, particularly one that involves such sharp edges.
“Every competitor wears chain mesh socks and shin guards, depending on what they’re cutting,” she said.
“When he first started I was like ‘Oh my god’. Now, if he hits it, I know that it’s going to hit that chain mesh and it’s not going to hurt him.
“It’s not the worst thing I watch – my daughter swims in the ocean.”
His older sister, Makayla, is also participating in the Royal Easter Show, exhibiting goats as part of her school’s contingent.
“We haven’t been to the Royal since [Makayla] was about six months old, and she’s now turning 17,” Rachel said.
“It’s going to be really good to actually enjoy [the show] and see it without having to chase a six-month-old.”
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.