About Our Founders
about Our Founders
Meet Austin Luecke and David Lewis, two seasoned WATL/WKTL professionals with unmatched passion for the sport. Together they possess an impressive collection of accolades, having honed their skills, and mastered the art of axe and knife throwing through years of dedicated practice and competitions. Their expertise and commitment to safely teaching the craft has also earned them special recognition, making them trusted authorities in the world of throwing sports in the World Axe Throwing League, World Knife Throwing League, and the International Axe Throwing Federation
about Our Founders
Meet David Lewis and Austin Luecke, two consistent seasonal top ten WATL/WKTL ranked professionals with unmatched passion for the sport. Together they possess an impressive collection of global accolades, having honed their skills, and mastered the art of axe and knife throwing through years of dedicated practice and competitions. Their expertise and commitment to safely teaching the craft has also earned them special recognition, making them trusted authorities in the world of throwing sports in the World Axe Throwing League, Worl Knife Throwing League, and the International Axe Throwing Federation.
Austin Luecke | Co-Owner, The Dragon's Lair Axe & Tap
Austin’s axe-throwing journey began at his family’s cabin, where he and his dad decided to throw an axe at a tree for fun. That experience sparked a lifelong passion, and he soon became known among friends as “that guy who throws axes.” When he learned that an axe-throwing venue was opening in Minnesota, he signed up for the first league at Bad Axe in Minneapolis in 2018 and has been competing ever since.
Austin has qualified for every World Axe Throwing Championship since 2018 and is heading to his eighth consecutive appearance, an accomplishment shared by very few throwers worldwide. He will compete in all three axe disciplines: Hatchet, Big Axe, and Duals.
His competitive achievements extend across leagues and major tournaments. He was selected for the IATC All-Stars in 2019 during his IATF season. When WATL introduced Big Axe in 2020, Austin finished ninth in the world in its inaugural season. He has earned multiple top-10 global finishes, along with a fourth-place Big Axe finish at the WATL US Open, where he was featured on ESPN.
As co-owner of The Dragon’s Lair Axe & Tap alongside David Lewis, Austin brings years of world-level competition to the throwing lanes. He enjoys helping first-time guests find their confidence and experienced throwers improve their technique, sharing the skills and dedication that have sustained his remarkable World Championship streak.
David "Lightning" Lewis | Co-Owner, The Dragon's Lair Axe & Tap
David “Lightning” Lewis discovered axe throwing in 2019, just months before the pandemic. Seeking a break from work while living in Lakeville, he transformed his garage into a personal throwing arena. When venues reopened, he joined leagues and found both a competitive rival and a close friend in Austin Luecke. With guidance from Austin and other accomplished throwers, David developed the skills that would take him to the world stage and eventually lead the two friends to open The Dragon’s Lair Axe & Tap.
David is heading to his sixth consecutive World Championship. For the third year in a row, he is one of a handful of competitors worldwide competing in all five events: Hatchet, Big Axe, Duals, Knife, and Knife Duals. His achievements include repeated top-10 global league rankings in Big Axe and Duals, demonstrating his ability to compete across multiple disciplines.
Competing in axe Duals with Austin as team Finnish Hymn, David’s World Championship record includes 13th- and fifth-place finishes in consecutive years. In 2025, he and Amy Coppersmith finished fourth in the world in Knife Duals. His current 2026 world rankings include sixth in Big Axe and first in Knife Duals alongside Amy on team Ermergurd.
David has also represented Tuff Wraps as an official ambassador since November 2021, using their Villain wrist wraps for comfort and stability while throwing.
At the Lair, David shares his competitive experience through coaching, encouragement, and a personal investment in the people who walk through the door. Together with Austin, he has built a place where a first visit can become a favorite night out, a new friendship, or the beginning of a competitive throwing journey.
David’s axe throwing started months prior to the quarantine in 2020. David needed an escape from work while living alone in Lakeville, so he set up an axe arena in his garage and a new passion was found. Shortly after, he met Austin in leagues once venues opened up again and a competitive friendship was forged. With coaching from Austin and other world class throwers, David has been fortunate to earn consistent top 10 global league rankings in Big Axe and knives.
David has also had invitations to the last three World Championships and will be in the 2023 Championship as well for hatchet, big axe, duals (with Austin as the Finnish Hymn team) as well as the WKTL knife throwing World Championship. David and his previous duals throwing partner finished 13th and 5th in consecutive years in the world in previous WATL World Championships.