While once widely used for the practical purposes of hunting and warfare, the advent of firearms largely relegated archery to an art form or sport. Archers do continue the practice of bow hunting but archery has also developed into an array of specializations, including target archery, field archery and flight archery. Several archery clubs have sprung up in Colorado and there is even a statewide organization that seeks to organize the activities of the various clubs. Archery provides an excellent workout, requiring upper body strength, balance and coordination, as well as mental focus.
History
Evidence of archery dates as far back as the existence of bows--as early as 10,000 B.C. While arrows of an older date have been found, they were likely launched by other means. While the development of firearms led to a significant decline in the use of bows and arrows for hunting and warfare, the sport persisted. In the 1920s, engineers began to take an interest in the design of archery equipment, which led to the development of the high-tech equipment that is commonly in use today.
Equipment
There are many different types of bows, classified by either the type of material used to make the bow or by the shape of the bow when unstrung. Arrows consist of a shaft with an arrowhead affixed to the leading end of the shaft and fletches, or feathers, and a nock affixed on the back end. They can also be made of several different materials. Accessory equipment consists mainly of various guards for the chest, string hand and other body parts.
Archery in Colorado
With its miles and miles of wilderness, Colorado is perfectly suited for the sport of archery. Clubs exist throughout the state. At least 30 different clubs are members of the Colorado State Archery Association, which exists to standardize and promote the sport. You can check the calendar of events, which lists tournaments and activities on most weekends.
Types of Archery in Colorado
There are archery clubs in Colorado that specialize in all of the different types of archery. Target archery and field archery involve shooting at targets of varying styles at different distances. The Colorado Bowhunters Association specializes in hunting. Tanglewood Archery in Denver offers Junior Olympic Archer instruction. Flight archery is practiced in open fields, whereas ski archery involves a high level of fitness and skill.
Competitions
Archery was added as an individual event at the Summer Olympics in 1972, with team events added in 1998. The International Archery Association, an English translation of FITA (Fédération Internationale de Tir à l'Arc), regulates the rules, techniques and policy of archery events at the Olympic Games, the greatest of all archery competitions. Scoring in archery is determined by accuracy at different distances from the target, which is marked with concentric rings. Most clubs host competitions, which may be indoors or outdoors, and events for members. The website of the Colorado State Archery Association features a comprehensive list of tournaments.
Member Comments