The Origin of Oktane Cornhole
The Unexpected Journey That Became Oktane Cornhole
Every brand has an origin story, but mine didn’t start with cornhole at all. It began with race cars.
My name is Matt Pleil, and back in 2012 I launched Oktane as a race car graphics company. My world revolved around long weekends at the track, late‑night installs, and the adrenaline of motorsports culture. It was fast, loud, and full of energy—exactly the kind of environment that fuels a creative mind.
But life has a way of nudging you toward new chapters.
From Cottage Boards to a Community Movement
In 2016, my parents bought a cottage. I figured I’d make them a set of cornhole boards—just a fun project. While researching the proper dimensions, I stumbled across a YouTube upload of the Championship of Bags broadcast on ESPN. That video changed everything.
Seeing cornhole played competitively sparked something in me. I started searching for leagues or tournaments in my area… and found nothing. Not a single organized competitive scene anywhere nearby.
So I took a leap.
I launched KW Cornhole, hosting our first event in November 2016. I made 40 sets of bags—despite never having sewn a day in my life—and bought or rented 16 sets of boards. That first tournament showed me something I didn’t expect: real potential. Real community. Real excitement.
Around the same time, my wife and I welcomed our first child. Being home more mattered. The racing lifestyle didn’t fit anymore. So I made a huge decision: I sold my graphics printers and went all‑in on cornhole.
The Spark That Led to Oktane Cornhole Bags
About a year into running leagues, a player from New York visited and brought a type of cornhole bag I had never seen before—different materials, different feel, different performance. I ordered a set for myself, then more for league members, but getting them was always a hassle.
That frustration turned into curiosity.
Curiosity turned into experimentation.
Experimentation turned into creation.
After months of testing fabrics, tweaking templates, and learning everything I could about bag performance, I developed four original series:
- Hole Shot
- Apex
- Clutch
- Nitro
These became the first official Oktane Cornhole bags—designed, tested, and built with the same precision and passion that once fueled my race car graphics work.
Built for Canada. Built for Community.
Oktane Cornhole isn’t just a brand. It’s a commitment—to craftsmanship, to innovation, and to the Canadian cornhole community that welcomed this crazy idea from day one.
What started as a cottage project has grown into something far bigger: a movement, a community, and a mission to elevate cornhole across Canada.
Thank you for being part of the journey. The best chapters are still ahead.
