Getting Ready For Outdoor Nationals

I have less then 3 weeks until Outdoor Nationals and I'm making changes once again.
Its the ever changing form...
How I slip into bad form, I just don't know...

Fantastic Weekend at the OTC

I had a slow start this weekend, but by the end things really started to come together.
I shot a personal best all day at 70m (Olympic Distance). The sun was hot, the breeze was strong and I shot good strong shots 99% of the day. Coach Park (Mrs. Lee) noted my use of Back tension during my shot cycle. Wahoo... about time I used the proper form, BEST method.
I will continue to work on my form and my follow through. I have a tendency to watch the arrow fly instead of maintaining my focus on the target. Oops, need to work on that more. :)
I have a couple pictures, I will share them later today.

Update: I'm shooting the California State Games on July 18th - FITA no OR's. This particular tournament is suppose to be an "amateur Olympic Experience" There is going to be an athlete parade at Qualcomm Stadium (Where SD Chargers Play) the Friday before. Should be interesting, I dont have any figures yet on how many athletes are participating, but it sounds like a hoopla of a production...we shall see... Here is a link to the Schedule http://www.calstategames.org/s-summereventsched.html


Focus Today...Succeed Tomorrow
Today I will focus on Loading.

HOYT GMX

Wahoo! I got my new bow today. I'm so excited, its so beautiful. Candy Apple Red.
This is Hoyt's newest bow, the same one the Resident Athletes are shooting with right now.
I started tuning this afternoon at the Olympic training Center (Thanks Schardt) It looks like my current A/C/E's might be a little weak, but more bow time will tell me if that is truly the case.
With a new bow comes a new grip, which takes some getting used to.
I'll do my best to provide some updates on Sunday.
I need to master the GMX, ASAP so I will be ready for Nationals in August.

What happens in Long Beach...

Stays in Long Beach... :)
Good thing this wasn't an OR Tournament...eek...
Form was like a robot and didn't click. Enough said about that event. Oh, except the Food was super fantastic. I brought Veggie Dogs and carrots and ended up eating Korean Salad one day and Hand Rolled Sushi the next, YUM. Thanks to the parents from LA of the Road Runner Archery Club!!
I need to find a better more natural way to get to the end result of back tension.
I tried a more fluid motion yesterday at 15m and it felt pretty good.
Look forward to trying it out at the OTC on Thursday.

Focus today...Succeed Tomorrow

Prepping for Cal State Championships this weekend

Time to really shoot well, using my "new" form.
Maintain back tension is key!!

Loose Ends

Things are finally starting to come together.
After returning from Gold Cup 2 weeks ago I had a form over haul it seemed. I lost back tension during anchor, in turn shooting a week shot with fingers instead of back.
It was tough, I have to admit, to change my process after doing so well in NJ. But I will always listen to the coach, no matter what. I bared it all, sometimes barley. I shot blank bail for a week straight even at the Olympic Training Center. I tried a couple times last Sunday to shoot distance, but it was awful, haha... I went back to blank bail after 2 ends.
This past Thursday was still tough, but I did what I had to do and came prepared to get it right on Saturday. And, you know what, I think I did. I got a compliment from Coach Guy that really went a long ways. He's tough in practice, so I took his words well. Thanks.
With some renewed spirit on Saturday, by the time Sunday Shooting rolled around I was ready to kill it at 70m. I would say I did a pretty good job, averaging 45-50. Not to shabby my first time shooting 70m with new form. It will all come together soon enough, I can already tell.
I must, I must maintain back tension.

Focus Today...Succeed Tomorrow

Back at the OTC after Gold Cup

Yesterday was my first day back at the Olympic Training Center since shooting the Gold Cup in New Jersey. I have to admit I felt a little rusty. Sure, I did some SPT's while not shooting last week, but I'm not sure how much it helped, except for helping me to maintain my strength.
I wouldn't say I felt off yesterday, in fact I shot my average, but I don't want to shoot my average. I want to be hot, on fire, shooting better then average.
Coach Lee, the coaching staff and the RA's will be back at the Road Runner Club on Thursday, I look forward to then. There guidence goes a lot farther then my own.
Until then I will continue to shoot blank bail in the garage.

Schedule Today

Shoot Blank Bail 2 hours
Carido

Focus Today...Succeed Tomorrow

Olympic Rounds at Gold Cup

OR's went well. I was crossing my fingers for a 90, but shot an 83, a personal best in a tournament.
After reviewing footage of my OR match I now see why I didn't shoot the 90. No worries, I'm still learning and will only grow from these experiences. I shot against the #8 ranked female recurve archer K. Granville. I'm working on compressing the video footage so I can share it online.

Records fall at New Jersey Gold Cup

Okay...so maybe field records weren't broken, but I broke my own record. I shot an 1125! Wahoo! The day didn't start so well, I shot 35 pts down/off my best score at 70m's. I had a lot of ground to make up and boy did I. I shot a personal best at 60m, 50m and 30m. Yeah so excited.
The field conditions were good. Sun, light wind and mid 70's. This year was the largest turn out (so I was told) there were 202 Archers Compound and Recurve Men/Women.
Tomorrow is suppose to be simialar weather for OR rounds. Everyone cross your fingers for me.

Focus Today...Succeed Tomorrow

Practice for New Jersey Gold Cup

Practice!