Ricardo Sevilla's Blog

So this Sunday I decided to take my camera and GoPro to take some footage for the semi-monthly Acorn shootout at the archery range. The Acorn Shoot is a 3-D target competition amongst members who pitch in $5. The winner of the shoot-out takes the jackpot home. The minute I heard it's been reinstated, I got excited. Competition is good and fun.

For the most part of the games, I was doing very well, keeping toe to toe with my coach, Dana. Then, on one target, my wood arrow shattered on impact. I can only assume that it either hit an arrow tip embedded inside the target, or it hit another arrow that caused deflection making the arrow hit at an angle upon impact. The force of impact made the arrow bend enough to make it snap. Still, it was considered a miss and that caused me to lose serious points. Then, on another target, as the rain fell down on me, I missed a shot. UGH [2:40 on Vid].

Unfortunately, due to rain and thunder, we had to end it short and not shoot the last 3 targets. Still, I had an amazing time shooting in the rain, thunder crackling in the background, and arrows flying.

https://vimeo.com/230488127

My weekend in northern Florida for the TBOF Championships. Grateful to Lukas, Dana, and Melissa for making it an amazing experience. I am looking forward to Florence, Italy! If you have an interest in the sport, reach out to Dana or me. We welcome all new archers. The quiver I show on the video used to belong to Bob Ripple. A known archer at TBOF. He passed away this year and I picked up his quiver. I hope to honor him by carrying his passion with me. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANDzTDW88qo

During a rough time in my life, I searched and searched for something to fill a particular void I felt. An identity lost, I sought and sought something to reclaim who I am. I looked in religion, relationships, Aikido, music, yoga, and even spirituality. Nothing would soothe that void, until one day I came across archery. An exciting feeling. There is nothing more soothing that releasing an arrow, see it fly, and "thump," hit the mark. 

Even today, during rough times, I go to the archery range and let the arrows slice through the air, whistling to me the things I need to hear. 

https://vimeo.com/170332526

After work one day a while back, I decided to visit the range for a bit. It was empty. I recorded two rounds. One in which an arrow flies right between a tennis ball and the foam piece holding it, and another in which I have a miss. This is how I would set myself to practice long ago. After going to Bass Pro for a while, I acquired the nickname of "Tennis Ball Guy" amongst the regulars. Today, the idea of shooting a tennis ball using my wooden arrows scares the heck out of me. It takes me about an hour to make a wooden arrow, and if I hit the tennis ball at a certain angle, it will break. 

https://vimeo.com/176266562

So one day I recorded myself practicing so I can observe my mistakes and try to tune my form a bit. When I got the footage, I was thinking about archery in general and a friend's son who showed interest. I started to think about the benefits and made a quick video. As always, I welcome anyone who wants to give it a try with free lessons from my end (even though I am learning myself). The Everglades Archery Range Club has several members, with experience and tournaments under their belts, who offer formal classes.

https://vimeo.com/185634433