In the Coquimbo Region, specifically in La Serena, an innovative space emerges for archery lovers: the Kaus Club, affiliated with the Chilean Archery Federation (FECHTA), which seeks to teach this discipline from a professional and competitive approach, without losing the possibility for beginners to approach it recreationally.
For Constanza Brilladero, club director, archery has been much more than a sport; It is a path of self-knowledge and personal development. Although her first contact with archery was observing competitions and following Olympic archers like Ricardo Soto, Constanza did not practice this discipline until years later.
“I never practiced as a child, but it always caught my attention. During the pandemic, looking for an activity that would help me clear my mind, I decided to try it. Shooting my first arrow in 2022 was wonderful; although it was all crooked, I felt an indescribable emotion. What I take away most from this sport is the mental stability and concentration it requires, skills that have served me well both in sports and in my personal and professional life,” she says.
A SPORT THAT TRANSFORMS MIND AND BODY
His competitive experience began in 2025, participating in official leagues of the federation. There, Constanza was able to measure her level against archers with years of training in Santiago and other cities. “It was an enormous challenge, but very enriching. Competing with experienced people and achieving a runner-up finish taught me that sport is not only about measuring arrows, but about learning to manage pressure, stress and concentration in each shot. We want other young people to have the opportunity to live these same experiences,” he explains.
The club’s president, Diego Trejo, provides another perspective, based on years of practice and passion for the sport. He began practicing at the age of 16 as a game in the house where he lived and, after resuming his training in 2022, he discovered the competitive dimension of archery.
“What attracted me most to archery is its complexity. Each bow works differently, each archer has his technique, and each competition requires precision and control. It is not just aiming and shooting; it is learning to master the weapon, understanding the learning curve and managing the pressure of the environment. This experience allowed me to grow not only as an athlete, but also as a person,” he says.
TRAINING TALENTS AND BUILDING DISCIPLINE
The Kaus Club not only focuses on its managers, but seeks to develop archers from youth to adults. An example of this is Felipe, 17 years old, who started in 2018 and found in archery a space for discipline and improvement. “I tried several sports, but none of them motivated me. Until one day my dad, who worked in a construction company, offered him an archery course and I liked it. In my experience I have had a lot of progression, discipline as well, because coming every Saturday early for a teenager, well, now I’m a little older, but still a teenager is complicated. Getting up early has meant more discipline.”
Felipe competed in other cities for another non-federated club and did not achieve the adrenaline or momentum. “So it was probably a reason to join this club. The competition of having someone next to me who tells me ‘I’m doing it wrong, I’m better than you. The other guy is shooting better than you’, being yelled at in the back of the gallery is a pressure that I like,” he says.
The club has also seen young people grow like Emilia, 15 years old, who has competed internationally and obtained outstanding results at an indoor world championship in Argentina. For Constanza and Diego, these examples show that archery fosters skills beyond sports: concentration, stress management, patience and perseverance, tools that accompany athletes in school and in daily life.
Beyond the competition, the club seeks to transmit the values of archery: patience, concentration, discipline and personal improvement. As a summary, Constanza points out that “archery is an individual sport that teaches how to face pressure and overcome challenges. Each arrow is a learning experience, and our goal is that both children and adults can grow and enjoy the process, whether they are looking to compete or simply learn.”
With this comprehensive approach, the Kaus Club is positioned as an innovative proposal in La Serena, a place where archery stops being just recreational and becomes a sport that combines technique, discipline and passion, training archers who are committed and prepared to compete at a national and international level.
Training at Club Kaus takes place on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. in the interior sector of the Portal Padel, located at 1550 Raúl Bitrán Street. The school is open to people from 13 years old, offering all the necessary equipment and adapting to both those looking to compete and those who just want to learn and enjoy the sport. Those interested can find out and follow the club’s activity on Instagram: @clubkaus.
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