Equestrian Archer Diary
North America 2022 Chapter III.
I had a hard time getting myself off so I crossed the USA-Canada border at Sumas on Sunday 29th at 3 p.m. I came out of the “workflow” at about Abbotsford, looked at my watch, and rolled into the first Starbucks with a big sigh for xxl coffee, which is equivalent to the capacity of the domestic red enamel broth pot here. I filled the glove compartment with sugary snacks, selected the playlist, started navigations, washed my face, slapped my face awake, and set off for the 12-hour ride (Arlington WA. - Spur Valley, Edgewater BC. 950 km).
It was an exciting little trip, you have to know that on these mountain roads, for 200-250 km, there is nothing but the highway and the wilderness. You have to be very sensible about fuel, you should fill the tank wherever possible, because when there is a level difference of 3000-3500 m on a 200 km section and you get it at 6000 engine speeds for half an hour, the factory consumption figures will suddenly triple. To sum it up I rolled into the city of Golden with the engine stopped at 3 in the morning, the slope of the river valley saved me from walking hand in hand with the fuel can. I gained some gray hear, but at least now I know when Toyota screams that stop, done, over, it still has 10km in the worst case.
I arrived at the equestrian farm of Douglas Goodwin, International Judge, at 4:30 a.m., where I handed over the second official race course in British Columbia last year on behalf of the Master. Like 2021, we had a 5-day training camp before the competition, started on Monday when I arrived, on the 30th of May. Doug is a highly disciplined person with martial arts background, who at the time was one of the first to join the equestrian archery school in the USA as a result of the work and presence of Kassai Lajos. He is one of the few on the continent to have an official start permit and degree from the Kassai School (Student II). Doug knows the beginner exams, the formal exercises, the basics of shooting technique (3-phase shooting), knows what the line is, how to stand guard, march, perform tasks effectively, knows and understands our training system. The Original Kassai System does not use these methods because certain formal needs have to be served, on the contrary: this method guarantees that the abundant quantity and quality of content that the Master, Lajos Kassai has accumulated, reaches the appropriate form. to disciples. This training system is responsible for the safety and advancement of the student / athlete and I can work very effectively with those who may be familiar with some of the basic drills. With the community organized around Doug, I can therefore operate like a surgeon who has everything prepared under his hands.
This year's camp was attended by 15 beginners, which in their case meant that mostly good riders with no experience about the bow. Those who pretty much know what it’s like are now nodding, “well, that’s the best case”.
And they are right. There is nothing more difficult when someone has to be built from 0 regarding riding and a bow at the same time, maybe just a case where someone is not a rider but has a definite preconception about archery. Of course, this is a majority; there are also terribly talented entrepreneurs with whom it is easier to operate.
I had a plan, we started the training, we went forward like an icebreaker barge, we managed to put everyone together enough to be able to shoot 3 arrows safely in the 99-meter track under around 16-18 second. Saturday’s competition ended with 5 (who entered the competition) out of 15 people achieving decent results. The question arises as to how safe this rapid training is? Yes, it does. In camps like this, this is a regular topic. It’s such a bad habit that I sometimes answer a question with a question: “Are you willing and able to do what I say even in situations where your instincts might dictate otherwise? Because believe me, I most likely know all the steep situations in front of you and also how I can pull you out of it at the right moment, understanding what could have happened to you without your hair curving. ”
I call this the power plant phenomenon. I take them to the edge of the exercises and before the situation explodes, I cut off the wick. This method requires three things: good judgment, accurate timing, and unconditional trust with the disciple. And I use the energy accumulated at the moment of the “pull-out” to develop their skills. This not only introduces them to the technological requirements of equestrian archery, but also places an autonomous safety system in the cerebellum. This brings us to the surgical part, which I mentioned earlier, and I would stop here, because from that point on, the description would become more branching throughout. I hope I answered the original question.
We have developed extraordinary individual and group work, I am grateful to the advanced students who have worked as “extended versions of me” all week with extraordinary humility, often putting their own training time behind others. Furthermore, I am proud of the beginners who have been honored me with their trust through which we were able to travel at the speed of light in this 5-day. The horses were awesome special thanks to Doug and Luraina for preparing them! Thanks to Joe and Tanya, who not only play an important role in the community, but because of them I could be a little kid again in my spare time, as they are to me like my grandparents were.
I have known British Columbia as my second home since last year, especially this region, to which, of course, the love with which the locals turn to me contributes.
With a sore heart, tired yet happy, I sat down next to Joe at the mother seat on Saturday afternoon to travel to Calgary through Canada’s most illustrious national parks. I said goodbye to endless mountain ranges, bears, wild horses, wolves, lakes, rivers, waterfalls that sparkle a million colors, and lush plateaus. The new destination was the east coast of Canada, Nova Scotia, the legendary and mysterious Bay of Fundy. (Calgary- Halifax 4000 km.) To be continued…
Konkoly Merse
12/20/2022 Toronto
The racetrack and its surroundings
