Par
Nicolas Boutellier
Published on
Installed since the beginning of the year at a place called La Rangée in Longny-les-Villages (Orne), Natura l’Arc is a leisure park on the theme of archery. Here, everyone can come and learn this Olympic sport before attacking the proposed routes.
Okay, I’m not going to lie to you, I never did the archery of my life so I will start by learning the basics. It is 2 p.m., I arrive at the Natura the arc and I am welcomed by a very friendly woman, Hélène Dufour, one of the gerantes of the park.
No time to hang out because I am not alone in coming. Indeed, Carine also came for a great first archery. Hélène takes us to a hangar where she stores the material and presents it to us. Let’s go!
The good eye
Before I start, Hélène presents the safety instructions to me. Obviously, you have to listen well because the arc remains a weapon. Then you have to know what eye we use to aim.
To find out, the Archère advises me to make a small triangle with my fingers and to choose a stone from the wall. She asks me to close the left eye, then the right. “Do you still see the stone?” »» Yes but that when I close a left eye. I am therefore right -handed because it is using my right eye that I will aim.
Now head to the pitch. The serious things will soon start but you must first know how to use the equipment. Being right -handed, I hold my bow with my left hand and my quiver is hung on my belt on my right. My right hand will be used to pull the rope to propel the arrow towards the target. Hélène tells me to hold my bow and position myself well. “You have to be straight”what I have a lot of trouble doing.
She also explains to me that the arrow has a meaning. Yes it makes sense that the point goes to the target but that’s not what we are talking about. Once positioned on the bow, the arrow must be clipped on the rope between two metal rings. Behind, she has three small wings, one must be outside. Otherwise, it rubs on the arc. It therefore has only one meaning.
Stay straight
To reach the target, you have to be straight and sufficiently pull the rope. I am 5 m from the target, I hold my arm, I shoot and … the arrow agrees on the ground. It’s completely missed. Hélène pointed out to me that I did not shoot enough on the rope. I have to shoot it enough for it to reach my face almost.
I start again but I still have trouble standing straight. “Relax”said Hélène. 22 years old, but already well rusty. I shoot my arrows which all end up on the target. Youpi! Well still not in the middle but that’s already it.
At the end of the first volley, Hélène explains to me how to group her arrows. If they are centered, it is because I am well positioned.
However, my arrows are both at the top and bottom of the target but in the middle. If they are too high it is that my hand was too close to the two rings of positioning the arrow and vice versa. It is therefore necessary to adjust the target.
In the thousand
My second flight is more like the first so I prefer to tell you about the suite.
I start the third flight, my shots are similar but at least I don’t miss it, it’s a good thing. I focus above all on my position because I know it is my biggest weak point. But I realize that you still need a photo so that you can see how I struggle. So I put my bow and get my phone.
Obviously, I can’t take the photo when I’m shooting. So I ask Hélène to take some catches. Very respectful of the safety instructions, she puts herself behind me, or behind the barrier. And there, miracle!
Right at the moment when she takes the photos I put two arrows in the yellow part of the target. I’m not going to lie to you, I didn’t think I can do it. Galvanized by this feat, I chain the right shots.
New target
For my penultimate stolen, Hélène offer me to shoot a bag located at the bottom right, from the target. I focus, I take my arrow, I shoot and … touched. I hope my shots at the speed of light and I realize that I get much better there. Everything is a story of rehearsal of the gesture.
Thanks to Hélène who continues to guide me and monitor my placement, I keep improving. I will not become Olympic champion in five flights but I am still happy to have progressed. It is true that the margin of progression was enormous since I had almost never made archery so it could not be worse than my first arrow. I finish my volley without any failure.
My initiation session ends and I am not disappointed to have drawn my first arrows here, Hélène gave me lots of good advice and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Maybe one day I will get to archery but don’t expect to see me at the Olympic Games. “The most important thing is that you had fun and you have had fun”Hélène said to me before I leave the park. For that, I already have the gold medal.
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