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2006 US Open Nationals
I did a recap, and this was my 11th US Open Nationals I've shot since 1994. Definitely one of the harder Open Nationals, right up there with the 1995 match in Reno. Many of the stages were of World Shoot quality. This is a good thing and USPSA are doing us a favor by slowly changing their style, preparing us for the IPSC shooting style.
IPSC does the 3 speedshoots, 2 medium and 1 field course format which I'm glad we don't have here yet. I really enjoy the USPSA all-on running around a good quality field course and lots of medium size courses that challenges smooth movements, setups and exits. That said, I do enjoy great speed shoots, when they are good. Great speed shoots are innovative and interesting < 9 round courses of fire. The easiest way to accomplish this is to have movers, bobbers or swingers you have to catch the timing of. Last World Shoot in Ecuador had that and there is still something to be learned in this area. I don't mind 35 yard speed shoots, but they are pretty far off the norm. On the other hand, field courses is what USPSA knows best and they are the best in the world.
Match Results
Jojo Vidanes on the move.
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Max Michel going for the gun on stage 8
"Don't Be A Rookie"
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The 2006 US Open Champion, Chris Tilley.
He shot an absolutely amazing match, winning
8 out of 18 stages. When I commented him on
how well he did on stage 14, his reply was,
"You know, I didn't do anything special,
all I did was watching my dot. You know."
The truth to a great performance is simple,
but to acquire the mental focus to
execute successfully,
is what we all admire.
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Our entire squad got intrigued by the idea of
shooting everything through the window
on stage 14 - "You're In Trouble."
After Mike caught his pistol on the window
and got DQ'd, we all abandoned the idea in fear.
Our entire squad was very sorry to see what
happened, Mike was in second place
and had won two stages before this happened!
Everyone I talked to agreed that it's probably
the best Open match we've seen Mike shoot!
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Don't trust this man with your camera...
Manny Bragg helped me videotape our squad,
and here is a nice self-portrait of him and
Matthew Mink.
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Mike Voigt, with Lorena and Jorge Ballesteros
in the background. Lorena doesn't speak much
English so she joined our squad with her
brother. She shot some impressive stages.
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Action shot? Hmm..
Wonder what I was thinking ...?
...going for my gun with people down range?
Maybe...
"I can take 'em all out, right here, right now :-D."
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They do like small, low windows in this sport..
My thinkin' is... sometimes they are good for shorter
people and sometimes they are good for taller people.
But, mostly they are good for shorter people...;-)
My EAA Witness shoots incredibly flat and with
a 4 moa C-More it won both the long range
speed shoots (stage 10 & 16).
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I think everyone was impressed with the new
USSA range. Some day I'm sure we'll see
the IPSC World Shoot here.
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Mike (and the rest of us) rehearsing the
timing of the swingers on stage 12 "Be Quick"
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Videos - of course
I have A LOT of video from the match and
a total of 12 stage wins caught on camera.
In my selection process I decided to upload
the top 3-5 performances that
was caught on tape.
Stage 1 Great Way To Start The Day
#8 Henning Wallgren 87.00%
Maybe not that great, but it's the only one on tape..
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Saul and Max rehearsing stage 14
"You're In Trouble"
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Roger Maier taking a picture of
JJ Racazza on stage 10 - "She Loves Me"
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Jojo, always happy and fun to shoot with.
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