Happy Lunar New Year!

[meteordust]

Some people keep a list of things they want to do before they die - like go trekking in Nepal, or learn how to tango. I don't have a list like that exactly, but I do believe in trying new things.

On the weekend, I went to an archery session at the Sydney Olympic Archery Centre. It was an introductory class aimed at absolute beginners like me. There were about fifteen people there, including kids who hardly came up to my waist.

We each got a bow and six arrows and a leather armguard (to protect against the bowstring snapping back). The instructor ran through the safety procedures, then showed us how to nock an arrow to the string, how to draw it back (the string, not the arrow), and how to aim and release. We spent the next two hours shooting at ringed targets, which were set about ten metres away.

I only hit the target about two thirds of the time, but it was still pretty cool to actually learn how to use a bow. I'm not the most athletic person in the world though, and after two hours, the effort of drawing a bow again and again made itself felt. It was also a windy day - I'd tied my hair back, but my fringe kept getting blown into my eyes, which was pretty distracting. Will have to remember to pin it back next time.

All up, an interesting experience, and one I wouldn't mind repeating.

Comments

[evilhayama.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I've always wanted to try archery! I love playing archers or rangers in games :)
I'd be interested in trying out that beginner thing at some stage.

[meteordust.livejournal.com]

I've always been fond of archers and rangers too. The class I went to was a pretty good way of getting a taste of archery. You have to book ahead, but it's on every week.

[girliejones.livejournal.com]

That sounds exceedingly cool and classy.

[meteordust.livejournal.com]

Less classy if you could see how much I missed the target sometimes, but I had fun anyway. :)

[girliejones.livejournal.com]

Well, I was imagining you either all decked out Jane Austen style or as Aeryn from FS style but with the bow and arrow instead of the gun.

[meteordust.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that would be cool...

[pelrun.livejournal.com]

decked out Jane Austen style

I just got a vivid mental image of meteordust resplendent in the period dress with all the lace and the frills, carrying a parasol and taking a... OH MY GOD THE WRATHFULNESS AND THE VENGEANCE AND THE BLOOD RAIN AND THE HEY-HEY-HEY-IT-HURTS-ME... ahem... taking a stroll down to the gazebo for tea and scones with the delightful Mr. Darcy. :)

(Apologies to anyone who has actually read any Jane Austen literature. The only - obviously non-canon - experience I've had with it somehow also involved a Sherman tank...)

[girliejones.livejournal.com]

OKay, so now the Jane Austen -esque-ness is out of my head, I'll stick with the Aeryn then.

[pelrun.livejournal.com]

What, you mean you can't kill orcs whilst skiing down a flight of stairs on a shield yet? >:)

(In all fairness, you need a lot of upper body strength to draw back on a bow over and over for two hours without getting sore. Sounds like you need to spend more time levelling up...)

[meteordust.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it gives me new respect for archers who can just keep shooting without breaking a sweat. They make it look so easy...

I need more STR. And more DEX.