Arms outstretched and arrows loaded, two archers are the picture of concentration.
Logan Willford and Matthew Lange stand like statues, their breathing muted while they stare down colourful bows at punctured targets at the Victoria Bowmen outdoor archery range in View Royal. From the sidelines, even watching appears stressful and challenging, but Lange says stepping up to the line is always enjoyable.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely nerve-wracking sometimes, but once you start shooting you block everyone else out. You just focus on yourself and have a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 have a ton of fun.B次元官网网址�
An archer since he was nine, the life-long Saanich resident trains at the West Shore facility with his Olympic recurve bow, one of several bows paid for by delivering the Saanich B次元官网网址, the GazetteB次元官网网址檚 sister paper, in his local neighbourhood. Now 15, he targets hundreds of arrows per training session in preparation for the Penticton 2016 B.C. Winter Games.
B次元官网网址淭his is my first time. I am kind of nervous, but excited for it; IB次元官网网址檝e never done something this big before,B次元官网网址� he said of competing in the multi-sport event, set for Feb. 25 to 28.
B次元官网网址淚t feels really good that IB次元官网网址檓 representing the Island. I donB次元官网网址檛 even know how to explain it B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 very patriotic, IB次元官网网址檓 very proud.B次元官网网址�
Lange will join six other archers from the Island at the Games, including West Shore residents Claire Halliwell and Logan Willford; Daniel Gustafsson from Victoria, DuncanB次元官网网址檚 Cole Lane and Connor Howe; and Aiden Hare from Parksville.
Willford, a Langford resident going to Victoria High School, said she didnB次元官网网址檛 even think she would qualify for the Games against the many other strong archers vying for one of seven positions on the Island squad. She vividly remembers the moment she found out she made it.
B次元官网网址淢y coach got a phone call and looked very serious, which was very weird for him B次元官网网址� He came over looking serious and gave me a hug,B次元官网网址� Willford said. B次元官网网址淎nd he and I both started jumping up and down, we were just so excited. I honestly could not believe it, I did not expect to get in.B次元官网网址�
Starting her archery after watching the movie The Hunger Games, she hit a bullseye in only her second shot. Now in the junior Olympic program along with Lange, the 15 year old said sheB次元官网网址檚 training hard, mimicking competition conditions in tight quarters, shooting only six inches away from archers on either side of her as she prepares to step up to the line in her first B.C. Winter Games.
B次元官网网址淕enerally in sports IB次元官网网址檓 not good. IB次元官网网址檓 not good at running, throwing and catching,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ut I just find this really fun B次元官网网址� Everyone wants to shoot because they enjoy shooting, but ultimately I want to get to the Canada Games.B次元官网网址�
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
