Local archers found their marks at the BC Winter Games, landing five barebow medals in Terrace last weekend (Mar. 5 to 7).
Chelsey Wolf, 16, led the way with gold and silver medals while Trevor Boots, 15, took home a pair of silver medals. Will Moore, 15, earned a bronze medal in match play action after placing fourth in the aggregate competition.
Lauren Aikens placed fifth in the recurve division, having started shooting just three month ago, and David McKenzie placed eighth in a very competitive compound division.
In the last three BC Winter Games, which are held every two years, 12 of the 13 archers representing Zone 5 from Vancouver to 麻豆社国产trained as members of 麻豆社国产Archers at the 麻豆社国产Valley Rod and Gun Club. The young archers have earned a total of 15 medals with seven gold, six silver and two bronze medals over three provincial competitions, said coach Paul Greening.
This year, all five athletes representing Zone 5 were from Squamish.
"They put a lot of hours in, a lot of weekends, a lot of training," said Greening. "They're an absolutely phenomenal bunch. They represented 麻豆社国产very well."
Archery requires unbreakable concentration. Although releasing an arrow is a physical act, successful shooting is 95 per cent mental, said Greening.
"So there's a great deal of mental training that goes on with it: visualization techniques, relaxation techniques, breathing techniques they're good things in life to know as well, how to calm yourself in a situation," he said.
Moore, a Grade 10 student at Don Ross Secondary, has been eyeing targets for the last six years. He nearly earned two bronze medals but lost a third place tiebreaker in the aggregate round, where each archer shoots 120 arrows over two days. He tied an opponent in points but had fewer arrows in the centre.
However, he responded by beating his opponent in the match play event, where each archer shoots only 12 arrows.
Archery is all about relaxation, said Moore.
"It's very calming. Some people do yoga or meditate, I do archery," he said.
Wolf has been releasing arrows for eight years. She said she enjoys the sport's uniqueness, and it's also a great way to get together with friends.
Wolf said she exceeded her own expectations at the BC Winter Games.
"My goal was to just practise and have fun, pretty much. I was aiming for silver but I got gold, so that worked out pretty well," she said.
Boots said he worked hard to improve his form before the competition, which helped him earn his two silver medals. Although he felt pressure to perform well, it helped having four supportive teammates, he said.
According to Greening, who is on the board of directors for the BC Archery Association, the local program is considered a benchmark for developing young archers in all three disciplines. It has a number of certified coaches, quality volunteers and dedicated parents.
"It was very much a group effort," he said. "People don't get to this level on their own."
To learn more about 麻豆社国产Archers visit www.svrgc.org.
