WFTF Training Event in Ashland, OR December 8-10

[michaelthomas]

Hello Everyone,

If you have not heard...the United States will be hosting the 2021 WFTF FT World Championships. 

For those not familiar...WFTF rules and operation are fairly different from what we typically do in the US.

Keith Knoblauch and I (Mike Niksch), in an effort to create familiarity with this format and develop the necessary skills needed to be competitive , are attempting to schedule regular WFTF training events.  The main goal is to immerse ourselves in the ways of WFTF and help others make the transition to this class of shooting so we can have a strong presence when we host the event...and increase our performance at WFTF events abroad. (Poland 2018)


We are having our first training event in Ashland, OR.


When: December 8, 9, & 10, 2017


Where: Corp Ranch, 250 Neil Creek Rd., Ashland, Oregon 97520


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Corp-Ranch-Ashland-OR-1670184999884682/


Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Corp+Ranch/@42.150264,-122.6311838,598m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x54cf0c189672c123:0x8c3d8ec50d1bb335!8m2!3d42.150264!4d-122.629257


Match Fee: $50. Pay to Mike Niksch any way you can. You can PayPal to michaelniksch@gmail.com if you would like

Who Can Play: Anyone willing to shoot according to WFTF rules.  See here if you are unfamiliar:  http://www.world-field-target-federation.com/Rules


Concept: This is an “All Hands” WFTF training event. Ideally everyone will chip in with training briefs & course setting help.

We should have some first time WFTF players. We’ll need to orient some of our efforts to helping them get started. Anyone willing to lead training on bumbag shooting, scope usage, springer ballistics & methods or any other area that you wish you could have been told about when you started, please put that on your sign-in sheet.

The courses will be set to mimic Worlds level courses and they will be shot at the same pace as an international competition. Weather cancellation is up to the discretion of the shooter as matches will not be cancelled unless we’re all gonna die.

Lodging: YOYO. ( You’re on your own.) Check hotels in Ashland, OR & Airbnb. Keith & I have a room available for $334 in a house that we’ve got reserved on AirBNB. If

you’re coming before Friday, it could make sense. It’s first come first serve.



More Info

Keith and I are coming in Tuesday. We estimate it takes 40 hours to modify/set up a 25-lane course. That means we can set up one good WFTF course over the next two days. If we can get two more guys for two days, or four guys for one day, we should be able to set a second course. One of those guys in a 2/4 group should have Worlds experience, but if not, we’ll work with what we get.

We hope to be able to work efficiently and also set up a course in an open field for wind shooting. If the weather not worthy, & we fail to get that done, we’ll likely use one of the existing courses.

Because it’s a working ranch, we may need to adjust our expectations. (For example, Friday’s sight in day may not happen.)

We’re not trying to put on a GP. It’s too much paperwork. Since we want to shoot in the event, we see a large headcount as a net negative for us. We’re both coming a long way & putting out a lot of work, possibly in poor weather, so we want to get the most out of it too. That is best supported by working with WFTF motivated people.

We’re hoping to figure out what it takes and improve on each event. We’re also hoping that other WFTF guys will copy the concept regionally.

I have started the process of setting up a website, www.WFTFUSA.com. It’s just a domain address at this point, but we’d like to post training briefs that are done for these events on the website.

There appear to be 8-10 shooters who are seriously committed, so we’re now opening up this event to the FT community.

Please respond a.s.a.p. It will help with our planning.


Keith:  240 538 2902  kriegflieger@yahoo.com

Mike:   970 275 9247 michaelniksch@gmail.com

[John E.]

This is a great thing you're doing here. When will you be coordinating for an event in the North East? We do have the terrain and conditions many other courses and clubs lack when it comes to wftf style setups. Look at the CAG website as all our matches are shot at 30+ yards, the average coming in close to 40yds per target each match with full KZ's, very much like worlds courses and it's not been cleaned. Not to mention a wide open field for wind training. Look at how well Nate Thomas did this year at Nationals as much of it was due to the shooting/training at CAG and EFTCC., Again I applaud the desire and drive to push our shooters to the next level. Thank you.

[John E.]

Thank you if you read this and were going to respond. I just spoke with my match director and we will attempt to shoot all our outdoor matches moving forward at CAG per the WFTF format. Thanks for the push to do so.

[michaelthomas]

Thanks John.

We are going to see how it goes before scheduling future events.  It's a lot of travel for us , but it's something that we are excited to do.  It's likely we will also do this in Heflin during February. 

Glad to hear your club will be tackling some events too. 

We will be reporting on the event via a web page we are starting at wftfusa.com

Mike

[John E.]

Right on. Heflin in Feb is very tempting as it will likely be colder here than it has been this weekend. I'll keep an eye on the website and when we start holding outdoor matches next spring will be happy to post the results there.

[Motorhead]

WFTF ... the air gun equivalent of precision Badminton   

Mike, in all seriousness a great series of venues you are organizing in the coming months & wishing you and those who take on the challenge all the best in practice & results against the Europeans come match time.

Scott S

[michaelthomas]

Thanks, we will need it.

You might consider coming up to Ashland next month.  it's going to be a lot of fun.  There are sometimes benefits to cross training.  Much like BR...the 12 fpe rifle demands some extra concentration that, once you get used to it, makes the the higher power seem easier.  When I was shooting BR...I only practiced LV, and that kept me on my toes.  We will be shooting 3 days... and you don't need to be present all 3, of course.


Mike

[Scotchmo]

2021 is not that far in the future. I'm glad to see some in the USA are preparing early. If it's in the USA, we should all start making plans to compete and/or help in the planning. It will be a big endeavor.

Rumor has it, that it will be held in South Dakota. I've been thinking about it more since I heard.

I had already converted all of our club's targets to 15mm, 25mm, and 40mm hit zones earlier this year. And we have always used WFTF complaint faceplate and paddle colors. We provided WFTF compliant targets and signage for LD's 2017 Temecula match which was setup as a WFTF compliant course. All 12fpe shooters (with seat/support exceptions for non-WFTF shooters). Though I tossed  those signs after that. I might make some more and laminate them this time for long term use.

I likely won't be able to make this first conference in Oregon. I want to, but too short notice, already have other plans.

Maybe we can do a future event like that in Morro Bay.

[michaelthomas]

That would be great, Scott.

[Motorhead]

Michael,
Yea ... on the same page of a conflict.  Anniversary weekend ( 33 years ) with a family Christmas party in there too.

As plans to get together and talk/walk WFTF this coming year, I do have interest in the cross training potential.  Sadly this old dog has no aspirations of shooting WFTF now or in the future.
Tho if I can help those that do ... my support is there for you folks 

Scott S

[John E.]

Glad to hear it Scott. Scott Hull is right that it will take a concerted effort by all or most clubs in AAFTA to pull of a Worlds level event so all the help we can get is great.

[Motorhead]

Glad to hear it Scott. Scott Hull is right that it will take a concerted effort by all or most clubs in AAFTA to pull of a Worlds level event so all the help we can get is great.

Luckily we have Riz M, Son L, Gabriel L, Kevin Y among a few others who shoot WFTF discipline in the local club rosters to help us help those who will take on the worlds challenge.   

[John E.]

Very good, I've met Riz at last years Nat's and Kevin in 2014. Though my response was more about the logistics of the event and not so much getting shooters ready. On that note though you must know that worlds courses typically have over 75% of the free position targets over 40m with full kill zones. While the forced position targets are typically set at their maximum distances as well. These distances are more important than signage and such here in the US as most courses here are set up with small KZ's at lesser distances to eliminate a need to read the wind as much but keep the troyer level closer to 30. This past season at CAG we used full kill zones on all the free position lanes, and by our last match had an average of 39yd for target placement with no free position target at less than 30yd. All things to think about going forward.

[michaelthomas]

Here is a chart created by Ray Appeles that shows the courses shot in Wales just recently.

What it does not show is that the courses were set up in horseshoe shapes with angular displacements of up to 120 degrees for targets on the same lane.  This is purposefully done so that you have to completely reassess the wind for every shot, and is something that is at the top of the course setters minds when putting things together.

This is completely at odds with the typical bowling alley format used in the US.  Couple this with the fact that you only get one shot per target, and you should see how much different the rest of the worlds game is compared to ours. 

The US format is heavily influenced by precision shooting (short small kz)...whereas the world format is mostly about reading the wind properly.  The tough world format is then further exacerbated by the use of exclusively sub 12fpe.

Its a big difference.  My opinion is that we must mimic this style to potentially be competitive with the rest of the world.  Nothing we do over here is remotely comparable to shooting in the UK and other countries.  Unfortunately...we are handicapped by our US training when we shoot on a worlds course...while the guys from abroad would likely not have any trouble shooting our typical course.

Since we cannot expect AAFTA, or its clubs to shoulder the burden of adopting this format...we are attempting to do it ourselves so we don't rock the boat. 

Time will tell if it works out like we are intending.  I hope so.

Mike

[michaelthomas]

Here is the current list of attendees for the Ashland event.

Alan Otsuka
Riz Marquez
Bill Corder
Mike Niksch
Keith Knoblauch
Wayne Burns
Randy Ebersole
Kevin Yee
Gabe Lucero
Pete Brooks
Lonnie Smith
Terry Markham
Jason Howard
Cameron Kerndt
Pat Callihan

Quite a few more still on the fence.  Looks like it's going to be great!

[gokidd]

Here is the current list of attendees for the Ashland event.

Alan Otsuka
Bob Kidd
Riz Marquez
Bill Corder
Mike Niksch
Keith Knoblauch
Wayne Burns
Randy Ebersole
Kevin Yee
Gabe Lucero
Pete Brooks

Quite a few more still on the fence.  Looks like it's going to be great!

Wahoo!!
Bob

[gonzav]

Here is a chart created by Ray Appeles that shows the courses shot in Wales just recently.

What it does not show is that the courses were set up in horseshoe shapes with angular displacements of up to 120 degrees for targets on the same lane.  This is purposefully done so that you have to completely reassess the wind for every shot, and is something that is at the top of the course setters minds when putting things together.

This is completely at odds with the typical bowling alley format used in the US.  Couple this with the fact that you only get one shot per target, and you should see how much different the rest of the worlds game is compared to ours. 

The US format is heavily influenced by precision shooting (short small kz)...whereas the world format is mostly about reading the wind properly.  The tough world format is then further exacerbated by the use of exclusively sub 12fpe.

Its a big difference.  My opinion is that we must mimic this style to potentially be competitive with the rest of the world.  Nothing we do over here is remotely comparable to shooting in the UK and other countries.  Unfortunately...we are handicapped by our US training when we shoot on a worlds course...while the guys from abroad would likely not have any trouble shooting our typical course.

Since we cannot expect AAFTA, or its clubs to shoulder the burden of adopting this format...we are attempting to do it ourselves so we don't rock the boat. 

Time will tell if it works out like we are intending.  I hope so.

Mike

Ray Appeles convinced most of the North East Field Target clubs to have a minimum of 6 targets 50 yards or more as the minimal approach to help train WFTF shooters on an AAFTA course. Wind will always be a factor on any course location.

I hope your event goes well. I hope you convince the Western Field Target Clubs to place more targets 50 or more yards away.

Since AAFTA only requires one match report from any club, John Eroh convinced me to do WFTF format only matches next year.

[michaelthomas]

List updated

Thanks Leo,

The long targets are definitely the targets that decide the matches.  We will hope more clubs adopt the format.

Mike

[michaelthomas]

Updated the attendance list again

The weather looks like it will be great.  Sunny skies with highs in the 50s should make for comfortable shooting conditions.

Looking forward to it!

Mike

[Kerndtc]

Driving up tomorrow hopefully at noon.

Looking forward to this weekend. Hope everyone gets there safe!