National Sport Blowgun Association
Take a look at the NSBA (National Sport Blowgun Association) website -
http://www.enter.net/~craftsman/nsba/nsba.htm
It's geared more toward competition target shooting - but even hunters, blowgun fishermen and snipers need a little practice! LOL
The sport began in Japan ("Fukiyado") about a decade ago, and just started catching on in the USA in 2003. The barrels are 4 ft. long and .40 or .50 cal. using the standard wire target darts. The toe-line firing line is 33 ft. the target is a 3 ring style centered at 5 ft. 3 in. above ground, with a 6 cm diameter (7 point valued) bulls-eye, an inner ring of 12 cm (5 points) and an outer ring of 18 cm (3 points). 6 rounds of 5 darts are shot (30 darts total) with a perfect score of 210 points. Wayne Wilson (wounded, handicapped 'Nam Marine vet from VA) currently holds the world record at 198 points - stole it from Japan last year, breaking the former 194 point record. Bruce Bell of NJ holds the long distance record - at 36 meters (one or more of 3 shot darts needs to stick into a 24 cm bulls-eye only target, same height ... start shooting from 20 meters - if you hit, you move to the next round, and back 2 meters, continue shooting and moving back until no one hits). For comparison - try to hit the goalpost with a football thrown from the 40 yard line.
Joe "Brokenfeather" Darrah, and Ken "Che Che Whitecloud" Pierce (International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame members) also competed with us last year, and absolutely love the sport.
June 24th this year, there will be the 3rd International competition, with reps coming to participate from Japan, South Africa, and across the USA. See the website for more details, the history of the blowgun, and the sport - rules, regulations, free downloadable targets, where you can order yours (a starter .40 cal. set runs as cheap as $9.50 + S&H), and a whole lot more.
Next July (2007), the first World Cup games are being held in France.
We're trying to get the sport sanctioned as an event, at least in exhibition, for the 2016 Olympic Games. We have three formats - the 10-meter stationary target shoot, the Long Distance target shoot (both mentioned above), and a "Field" competition, based on the Cherokee style held at their annual gathering in Oklahoma - where your score and time are used. You are given the "GO!" at the start line, then like the Olympic Biathlon - you run to the firing line, set up and shoot, retrieve the darts, run to the next target, etc. Between 9 to 16 targets, with the courses running between 1/2 to 1 mile.
We're always looking for new members (must be age 18 and older) - men, women, handicapped or not - all compete equally (perhaps the ONLY sport where this is true!) from the same firing line - the only concession is that if you're in a wheelchair, we lower the target to 2 ft. 8 in. There are NO fees to join. If there aren't enough folks in your area to form a club, you can join as a "Colleague" (standalone) member.
May your darts always fly true!
