This past weekend, I participated in the Ontario Spring Classic held at Woodlands Park in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto just happened to have very hot and humid weather during the tournament.
Heat and humidity can affect your arrow flight. Humidity can cause your arrows not to spin as quickly leaving your shot grouping lower since they do not gain as much distance. Heat affects the archer too with hot and sweaty hands. Sweaty hands affect your grip on the bow possibly changing your point of power and the heat causing your hands to swell which in turn affects your feel for the string in your fingers. Check out my previous blog about other effects of various weather conditions.
Weather is a great metaphor for life – sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and there’s nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella. -Terri Guillemets
This year I packed baby powder, something that every competitive archer needs to bring with them to every outdoor competition.
A little baby powder on your…
…under your anchor point will help allow your hand ride along your chin smoothly
…inside of your string arm keeps your arm from becoming too sticky keeping your draw and release smooth.
…bow hand helps deal with sweaty hands that can affect your grip of the bow
… string fingers to allow your fingers to have a good grip on your finger tab making it easier to control your drawing and releasing of the string cleanly.
…cheek bones under your eyes, if you wear glasses or sunglasses, will help prevent them from fogging up.
The Ontario Spring Classic is a two-day tournament with high-performance archers including past, current and future Olympians hopefuls with the winner in each category receiving $500.00 prize money. This open tournament is a great way to measure your development against some of the best archers in Canada. If you are ready to take the next step in competition in Canada, I suggest you plan on attending next year and pack a little baby powder just in case.
Jordan Sequillion 