The year 2012/2013 in retrospect

So looking back to see what has happend so far.

2012

• I pass the practical and written exam and finishes the IPSC Handgun course for my competition license!
• Since Winter comes, I pay my license the first week in January 2013,  since... no competitions when it is -18 degree C and snow outside.

2013

• As per normal the local shooting season starts in the end of april. More Nordic Field competitions, starts making top 3 in my class A1, where A stands for Pistol in .38 to .45acp, and 1 stands for sucky beginner.
• My first IPSC match! 8 hours of fun in a physical demanding course (large army training field in the  middle of nothing!) Longest stage was over 100m+ running. I miss my stamina.. Level II, and even though the number of competitiors was only 16, I met alot of really helpful guys that helped alot with geting into it.
• Second IPSC match, Level II held by my club. Around 10 people from around the region, fun day, even better then the first.
• Third Match, Level II by RJPS, 22 hour day, totally Worth it. 50 competitors, by far the most advanced stages, lots of plates, poppers, swingers and things that  messed up all and every plan I made :)
• Fourth Match, Club Championship ~9 people. I will to the end of times state that I got robbed on one stage, becuse I cannot have been that slow - the timmer must have registered my slide when I showed finished and pulled the trigger, ah well :) was still fun.

Placement in everyone was in the middle of the total field, and about  top third in my division, not bad, but I want to become even better :)

Best of all, no DQs!

So far I have been shooting about 8-9 Nordic Field competitions each year, and at each even you can participate in diffrent classes like 'C' for .22lr, 'A' for large caliber pistols, 'R' and 'B' for "pistols with ergonomic grips" - a divison that is dominated by .32 bullseye pistols like Walther or Hämmerli. Apart from that, 2-3 precision matches in the club. To be able to renew your licenses every 5 years, you must have documented proof of competition activity. That is just how it works in Sweden these days, so you need to attend some events that might not be your favourite type of shooting - but it is way better then doing the dishes.

And more  about 2014?!

• Pracise more - not just quantity, but quality. Have a plan - train the things I am bad at.
• Become a gymrat once again - which should be easy, considering my workplace is next to the best gym in town.
• Shoot less Nordic Field/precision - Shoot more IPSC!

The last one might be the hardest. When you live in a region that gets winter faster and spring slower then the rest of the country AND has fewer active clubs and competions nearby I have started making a budget for my hobby & sport. Luckily a  quite new club hit the jackpot, found a superb location for  a range and almost finished building everything for the 2014 season in a few months! It is roughly 1½-2hours away, but it looks totally worth it since it is going to become the northen sweetspot for IPSC Handgun, Rifle and Shotgun. Those of you from Sweden that might read this, check out the link on the right side of the blog, named Lycksele DS and watch their photos of the range build - it is worth it!