S.B. Nationals/Ridgeway How It Works?

[dustinflint]

You know what would be AWESOME??? If it didn't take almost two weeks away from home to attend SB and HP nationals! Two 40 shot matches a day is ridiculous. At the Air Rifle Silhouette Nationals we shoot two 60-shot matches a day and wrap up three national championships in 3 days.

Also, the practice days are a waste of time. It takes me about 25 shots to completely check my sight settings and warm up for a match - no need for a full day to do that. The ranges should be available the day before the matches start but a dedicated practice day between SB and HP is no good. As it stands now, the quickest trip to nationals I could reasonably make is this: traveling to PA on July 31; practice day on August 1; SB matches on August 2, 3 & 4; practice day on August 5; HP matches on August 6, 7 & 8; travel home on August 9. That's TEN days gone!

With 60 shot matches and nixing that practice day in the middle, the trip looks like this: traveling to PA on August 3; practice day on August 4; SB matches on August 5 & 6; HP matches on August 7 & 8; travel home on August 9. That saves 3 full days with no adjustment in the course of fire.

Dustin

[sdwooster]

Jerry, Glad to here you like how we run our match. I think the biggest problem at Nationals is wasted time. We don't waste anytime. With fast target setters and smaller firing line we can keep a eye on things easier. With long firing line and limited line officers makes keeping people doing what they are suppose to do very hard. But we usually run 5 relays with 20 people on the line and have around 85 to 94 shooters and start match a 9:00 with a 1 hour for lunch and done by 4:00. But the only way to make things better you have to want too and be willing to try different ideas to make the match better. In which makes the shooters happier and things run better. Just my 2 cents.

Steve

[BrentD]

Dustin,
Just enjoy the relaxed pace of a longer trip. No need to hurry when life is good in Raton. Slow down and smell the roses. It is a shooting match after all, not a race

PS. sometime the staff and setters want a day off here or there in the course of the summer too. Might be part of the scheduling issue.

Oh well, I leave for Raton and "my nationals" in about 2 yrs, maybe less. It will be a great time.

[dustinflint]

Dustin,
Just enjoy the relaxed pace of a longer trip. No need to hurry when life is good in Raton. Slow down and smell the roses. It is a shooting match after all, not a race

PS. sometime the staff and setters want a day off here or there in the course of the summer too. Might be part of the scheduling issue.

That's not really how it works. I'll be slowing down and smelling the roses from home because I have too much to do here to be gone for 10 days with this family and career thing going on.

The staff and setters can rest when the matches are over.

Dustin

[BrentD]

Dustin, there are more matches than just the ones YOU attend.

And it is how it works. In about 2 hrs, for me. I hope you can have as much fun as I do.

[OldRanger]

Dustin, there are more matches than just the ones YOU attend.

Yeah, but he's not the only one with a job and family. I can't take off the time to go out there either. And I have family in PA so I could make it a two-fer.
There is no good reason that they couldn't have 3 matches each day and shoot the same number of shots they do now, but do it in 2 days instead of 3. Then even with a day off between SB and HP it would only be 5 days total. Not that I think it will ever happen, and I might even agree that it doesn't have to happen. But it could. Just sayin.

[Bob259]

And lets not forget the high cost of hotels anymore.. add that to the entry fees and travel costs and you have to ask yourself is it really worth the expense, even if you are lucky enough to get a made in China plastic trophy ;). Miss everyone for sure, as it's a great bunch of folks we shoot with but it's a big bill if you have along way to travel.

[dustinflint]

Dustin, there are more matches than just the ones YOU attend.

Really? I was under the impression that matches were cancelled if I didn't show up.

Other than the air rifle nationals, national championship silhouette matches are the slowest in the country with more sitting around and less shooting than anywhere else. I believe there would be more participation if it changed. Just my opinion, but of course my opinion is the correct one.

Dustin

[Innocent]

Dustin,
Have you attended a Nationals in Ridgway? They are different from Whittington. Each has good and bad points. Yes, I too am working individual with family commitments, though different from yours in nature they do exist. Choices, something we have to decide which and where we have the time and money to attend.

Mary

[dustinflint]

Choices, something we have to decide which and where we have the time and money to attend.

I think that is fairly obvious...

It is my opinion that seven days away from home is easier for most people than ten days away from home. From both a financial and time perspective. I believe that the changes I suggested would help to increase participation at the national championship matches. I believe that the benefits would outweigh the drawbacks (if there are any drawbacks). That is all.

Folks complain on this website that there are not enough young people in the sport and we need more youth and kids, but the nationals schedule makes it very difficult for anyone but retired folks to attend. Try being a shooter in your twenties or thirties with a family and a job and rolling out of town for two straight weeks. Better yet, try being able to afford to miss that much time AND bring your kids!

Dustin

[teetertotter]

I'm retired and on limited income. Traveling to visit family in AL and GA 1-2 times a year or 10 days each trip, is expensive enough. Then my wife and I will take some long weekends couple times a year to Minneapolis and St Louis or Louisville. Family and doing things with my wife are precious times and more important.

Volunteering at our VA homeless/rehab ctr., Boys & Girls Club, and the YWCA women's/children's abuse shelter, is something of high importance, 4-5 days a week. Local NRA SB Silhouette and being a board member at our rifle club, is just an extra hobby.
Jon

[DavidABQ]

How about cutting it down to two days of actual competition? The brings it from then down to 8 days?