Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Shooting - Pistol, Rifle, Air Pistol, Air Rifle

In addition to Trap and Skeet, there are four other shooting Olympic events for women: Sport Pistol, Rifle Three Positions, Air Pistol, and Air Rifle.  We met at Winchester Gallery to work our way through these.

Sport pistol, officially known as 25 meter pistol, is an event done one a 25 meter course with a .22 caliber pistol.  All firing must be done with one hand, unsupported.  We didn't have a .22 pistol, so we used a 9 mm, and needed to use both hands to support the recoil.  We also didn't have our target 25 meters away, as this was the first time that some of us had ever fired a pistol.  We all did really well though, hitting our targets most of the time.



In rifle three positions, shots are taken from prone, standing, and kneeling positions.  A .22 caliber rifle is used, over a 50 meter course.  We did have a .22 rifle, but we set our target at 25 meters.  It was a little awkward to get into some of the positions in the range, but we did it.




After using the 9 mm and the .22 rifle, the air pistol and air rifle felt very light.  Both of these events are done on a 10 meter course.  I actually found it harder to aim the air pistol, maybe because I was used to the heavier, more substantial feel of the 9 mm.  Unfortunately, our air rifle wouldn't work, but we got the idea of it.




Saturday, July 5, 2014

BMX

There are two types of BMX - racing and freestyle.  BMX racing is a sprint race on a single lap track; BMX freestyle involves jumps and tricks.  In 2008 BMX racing was added to the Olympics for men and women.  We met at Cowtown BMX to give this new sport a try.  No one did any front flips or tail whips or 360s, but we weren't supposed to.  We did ride as fast as we could around the track.

BMX courses typically have a steeply sloped starting gate, and a serpentine dirt track with hills, rollers, and banked turns.  BMX bikes are typically low, with no gears, and you don't sit on the seat while racing.  Cowtown BMX allowed us to use our mountain bikes, but some of the other racers there let us try out their real BMX bikes.  It took us between one and two minutes to complete the lap, and was a great workout.

The ramp was intimidating at first, but we soon became comfortable with it.
M and R going up a hill.

L going into a turn.

L's turn on the rollers.

M got some air with her front wheel.

L has a large lead on J

Big smiles from J


BMX is tons of fun.  Some of us admitted to having missed out all these years, and some of us are definitely planning on going back for more.