WelCOME To the future
Welcome to what is arguably the most exciting archery publication to hit Australian archers desktops, tablets and iPad’s in the last decade. Our sport is progressing forward faster than Reo’s X10 at a World Cup final, club memberships are swelling to the point of waiting lists months long, retailers are flat out fitting “newbies” with the latest and greatest from our manufacturers ever expanding lines and every month archery appears in a new Hollywood feature film.
The last few years has seen archery buck traditional trends of boring camouflage paint jobs and black or silver sights, with most of the major manufacturers offering high polish and powder coat finishes to rival any woman’s makeup case. My personal favourite being Hoyts new “high polish anodized” Purple riser and Axcel Sights lime green target sights. It seems target archery is becoming a fashionable and colour conscious sport, and it is almost more important to colour match your quiver, bow, arrows and accessories than it is to fit yourself out for function. I must admit I’m a sucker for looking good while I’m shooting, or at least I think I look good.
It’s not only upgrades to the looks our bows and accessories received, the technological advances are pushing the limits (and rulebooks too.) The engines of compounds (who calls them cams anyway?) are becoming easier to draw while still maintaining solid back walls, USS Enterprise speeds and a more gentle let down. The latest piece of science adapted to our recurve’s are Hoyt’s new “Stealth Shot” string stops. Designed to sit off the string at brace height (to remain WA legal), the “Stealth Shot” works by stopping the string at brace height, it will also dampen limb vibration while improving accuracy and energy transfer to the arrow. Carbon Express are offering new arrows for specifically for recurve shooters, featuring three specific spine areas with the stiffest being in the middle of the shaft and the weakest spine toward the back-end to allow for vane clearance.
We are truly entering a new era of archery and we are proud to be the medium to bring this information right into your hands, where ever you are.
Vinnie Bleakley
2 Paper&Rubber Magazine / February 2014
Photo: Andy MacDonald, 2009
Cover: Alec Potts