-Anna Rawe- When archers are traveling to NASP® Nationals or Worlds, they might not know the best way to do things. I traveled to Worlds, so I have some recommendations for travel, especially with a bow. I find the best thing to do when traveling with a bow is to make sure you have a hard case. Soft cases can cause issues during transportation. The last thing that anyone wants is to show up at a competition and something be wrong with your bow. Not all competitions have people available to help get your bow fixed if something goes wrong. Not only is it safer for your bow, but it is easier to travel with your other archery necessities. Whether that be arrows or a finger tab, it gives you more space, and you’re less prone to lose something.
With bow cases, there isn’t a large variety of designs for cases. I suggest customizing your case and making it true to you! If it’s stickers or painting, make your case so you can notice that it’s yours. For example, my bow case is hydro dipped in pink camo!
I suggest bringing a backpack or a smaller bag with you to the competition. That way you can carry any essentials that you may need while you are there. It may be snacks, medical devices, homework, extra clothing, or anything of the sort. With my archery team, all varsity archers are required to purchase a small team backpack with our names on them. That way you can carry everything you need around a competition and never get your bags confused. If you carry it to the competition it must go in our team backpack. If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t go.
Always make sure to pack comfortable clothes that you know you can shoot in. Whether your team has a specific uniform or t-shirt, make sure it is comfortable and gives you the range of motion that you will need. It would really suck to show up to a competition with clothes that are restricting or uncomfortable to perform in. You don’t want to shoot in a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt that has baggy sleeves, that makes it easier for your bow string to get caught in it. Make sure to be careful when wearing jackets too, if you wear them, zip it up. It can really tear up your bow if a zipper gets stuck in it.
Make sure to pack the appropriate shoes. You don’t want to show up on competition day with open toed shoes!
-Anna Rawe is a 2022 student contributor. Watch for her future submissions.-
