Interview With
Pacifica Archery
Q & A WITH NATHAN TAMAYO
So Almost 25 Years In Pacifica . How Did It All Start ?
My grandparents , Joe and Beth Snell , opened the store on Palmetto Avenue . My great-grandparents came from the Philippines . They didn ’ t have much . They didn ’ t have a proper education . Everything they knew , they had to learn themselves . I think that started the drive for the rest of the family .
In 2004 , we moved to a much larger location . My Uncle Nathan is now running the school , and I started working here in high school .
Your Logo Has Meaning .
The logo was designed by my great-grandfather . He had no real education , but he had artistic ability . I didn ’ t know that our logo was designed by him until a few years ago when my grandmother told me . I thought it was insane .
It Seems Like It Takes A Long Time To Become Proficient .
One-hundred percent . It ’ s a matter of practice . When my grandfather bought his first bow , he was excited and brought it to his mentor who told him to get ready to spend the rest of his life learning how to shoot it .
Diversity Is Part Of The Sport . Sarah Lopez From Columbia Is Ranked Number One In The World .
Everyone I ’ ve seen come through here are people from different walks of life . Women have always been part of the sport . I tell my students it ’ s not about being stronger , it ’ s about being the archer who has the most finesse . Archery is more of a technical sport as opposed to a powerhouse sport .
Can People With Disabilities Enjoy The Sport ?
There have been some archers who can ’ t draw back on the bow with their hands or their arms because of prior injuries . They do have a piece called a mouth tab where , essentially , it ’ s attached to the string and you bite on it with your mouth to draw back . Eye dominance is big , and they have eye patches to assist those with visibility challenges .
Are There Certifications Or Special Licenses ?
You have to be eight years old to learn . Archery equipment is just a piece of sporting equipment . You don ’ t need to have any licensing or background checks .
You Have Recurve , Longbow , And Compound Bows .
Yes , longbows were the bows before recurve . They were just a little easier to use , and you can make it with a long piece of wood or a stick .
Recurve bows were designed to provide a more efficient way of transferring your energy by having the limb go away from the archer as they pull back on it .
The compound bows are higher tech and are used a lot in competition .
Three of the most important things to consider when choosing a bow are what do you want out of the bow , your degree of seriousness about the sport , and your budget . There are a lot of choices , and it is an investment . Compound bows can cost a few thousand dollars .
I Was Impressed By The Power And Speed Of The Arrow . How Fast Do They Travel ?
Three hundred feet per second , depending on the age of the bow and the arrows .
Has Anybody Come Through Your Ranks To Make The Olympics ?
Pre-COVID , we had a Junior Olympics dream team . Some of them have moved on to get scholarships for college . It takes a long time to get to the level to compete in the Olympics .
There Is Competition And Hunting . Which Is More Popular ?
Hunting is prevalent . I think that it ’ s a little bit easier than the competitive side of archery . Competitors practice all the time to stack up with the best in the field . Hunters practice to be proficient in different skills . I ’ ve worked with a bunch of people who didn ’ t even have any plans of hunting , then come back a year later , giving us sausage from their pig hunt .
How About Kids ?
I worked the youth program that we have here on Saturday mornings . When it comes to kids , it ’ s just making sure they ’ re having a good time making sure they ’ re comfortable with the equipment . I explain archery is a mental game . The kids experience struggles when starting off . They say , “ I missed , but let ’ s get up again , let ’ s load this next arrow , and see what we can fix .” These challenges build their self confidence
You Have Group Events .
I ’ ll teach group events , and it ’ s a good time once everyone gets the hang of using the equipment . It ’ s a great way to experience archery .
Do You Sell And Repair At Your Store ?
We can get someone fully set up in the retail area of the store , and we can service just about anything .
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