USPSA in Canada

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edgy said:
Agree 100%. I enjoy shooting with my wife,, when we decided to try competitive shooting we went with IDPA not IPSC absolutely because of the " Black Badge" requirement. Two days of our lives, $500 for both of us plus what, 1000 rounds of ammo? Then you have to shoot a minimum number of events and requalify how often? I could be wrong, but I see it as nothing but a cash grab and it definitely turned me away from IPSC . I know for a fact the BB course hurt the growth of IPSC in my case
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Shoot 1 match a year and pay your annual dues (~$75)...that’s it.

I used to think the same way, then I finally broke down a year ago and did the BB course. Turned out I actually had a blast doing the course...and I now have a ridiculous amount of matches available to me across multiple disciplines. It was well worth it IMO.
 
F&*k me, a cash grab? Really? That is about the dumbest thing I've read today. First off, the cost of the course gets you your first year in the sport, covers the instructors time, all the supplies for the course, and rent for the space, if any. Then there is the information it imparts onto the student, from the actual skills needed to run your gun safely at a match, to actual skills to shoot well. On top of that the information gained on how to understand operate under the rules of the sport. Unless you've got an established level of training from other instructors, you're going to learn a lot on the course. Of course if you've already taken other training you've paid far more than the BB costs.
And yes, USPSA doesn't require the same, maybe you've noticed the culture around guns in the USA is a tad different than up here in Canada. The likelihood that someone in the USA is going to be more exposed to proper gun handling and shooting compared to someone in Canada is a lot more. All that said, the number of MDs I know in the USA who wish that USPSA would put a BB type course in place far outnumbers those who think everything is fine the way it is now.
But hey, why pay to actually get better at something, just muddle along on your own and a mediocre shooter. Good for you.
For those who have taken the BB previously, most provinces will allow you to retake the course for free, or reduced, depending on time away. Then you just pay for your membership and you're good.
 
One thing that I really appreciate about IPSC matches in Canada is that usually, if you show up on time, there isn't much standing around.

In Canada, at an IPSC match, everybody just shows up, pays their money, is squadded, joins their squad in the respective bay, and then participates in a walk-through. It's not that way in America. In my experience, matches that do not have a Black Badge as a prerequisite do not start so promptly, or efficiently, because they must start with a 'safety brief'. In practical terms, this means that - even if you show up on time - you'll be forced to join thirty, fifty, or one hundred (or more) people, all just standing around, and kept standing around, for minutes, or an hour, waiting for a (~15 minute) 'safety brief' wherein participants are reminded of the sorts of safety considerations that - in Canada - are covered in an Black Badge course.

Personally, I'd rather just take the Black Badge (once).
 
Wendell said:
One thing that I really appreciate about IPSC matches in Canada is that usually, if you show up on time, there isn't much standing around.

In Canada, at an IPSC match, everybody just shows up, pays their money, is squadded, joins their squad in the respective bay, and then participates in a walk-through. It's not that way in America. In my experience, matches that do not have a Black Badge as a prerequisite do not start so promptly, or efficiently, because they must start with a 'safety brief'. In practical terms, this means that - even if you show up on time - you'll be forced to join thirty, fifty, or one hundred (or more) people, all just standing around, and kept standing around, for minutes, or an hour, waiting for a (~15 minute) 'safety brief' wherein participants are reminded of the sorts of safety considerations that - in Canada - are covered in an Black Badge course.

Personally, I'd rather just take the Black Badge (once).
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mmmm, I would hope that there is a safety briefing regardless of previous qualification; first aid, washrooms, smoking, host club emergency procedures, etc? Waiting an hour speaks to a failure on the part of MDs. You squad at the match? Squadding through Practiscore is the best thing since....ah! The Shadow was released:).
 
Slavex said:
F&*k me, a cash grab? Really? That is about the dumbest thing I've read today. First off, the cost of the course gets you your first year in the sport, covers the instructors time, all the supplies for the course, and rent for the space, if any. Then there is the information it imparts onto the student, from the actual skills needed to run your gun safely at a match, to actual skills to shoot well. On top of that the information gained on how to understand operate under the rules of the sport. Unless you've got an established level of training from other instructors, you're going to learn a lot on the course. Of course if you've already taken other training you've paid far more than the BB costs.
And yes, USPSA doesn't require the same, maybe you've noticed the culture around guns in the USA is a tad different than up here in Canada. The likelihood that someone in the USA is going to be more exposed to proper gun handling and shooting compared to someone in Canada is a lot more. All that said, the number of MDs I know in the USA who wish that USPSA would put a BB type course in place far outnumbers those who think everything is fine the way it is now.
But hey, why pay to actually get better at something, just muddle along on your own and a mediocre shooter. Good for you.
For those who have taken the BB previously, most provinces will allow you to retake the course for free, or reduced, depending on time away. Then you just pay for your membership and you're good.
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Like I say, I saw it as a cash grab,,and I'm willing to admit I could be 100% wrong, it may very well be worth every cent and every second of time spent. I was just commenting on the fact that the cost of the BB course was DEFINITELY the main contributing factor to us shooting IDPA not IPSC.
Also, you have pointed out some facts I was never told, like the course includes your first year dues etc.
I'm just glad I could contribute to the " dumbest thing you have read today" file, hope I can contribute again in the near future
 
Nah, I've since read something else that is even dumber, sadly not here, but on FB

If no one explained the fee structure to you, they deserve a smack in the groin. Right up front they should tell you that it covers the first year of membership.
 
I was really impressed taking the BB course in the GVRD. Three instructors to 8 students. Murray Gardner was the main guy, a co-founder of IPSC Canada. You could say he knows a thing or two about shooting. :) Then he had two helpers, one a Grand Master, and the other an A-class shooter. The information we received was fantastic. You have supremely qualified eyeballs helping you out constantly for two days. This was easily worth the money. No question.
 
Wendell said:
One thing that I really appreciate about IPSC matches in Canada is that usually, if you show up on time, there isn't much standing around.

In Canada, at an IPSC match, everybody just shows up, pays their money, is squadded, joins their squad in the respective bay, and then participates in a walk-through. It's not that way in America. In my experience, matches that do not have a Black Badge as a prerequisite do not start so promptly, or efficiently, because they must start with a 'safety brief'. In practical terms, this means that - even if you show up on time - you'll be forced to join thirty, fifty, or one hundred (or more) people, all just standing around, and kept standing around, for minutes, or an hour, waiting for a (~15 minute) 'safety brief' wherein participants are reminded of the sorts of safety considerations that - in Canada - are covered in an Black Badge course.

Personally, I'd rather just take the Black Badge (once).
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Sounds like you have not shot any thing higher then a L1 in Canada. Try going to a larger matches and see what the sports really like. There is no match on the planet L2 or higher that you show up to , pay and squad at the day of the match. All matches in USPSA start with a safety briefing. How would you find out the rules of the club , procedures in case of an emergencies and the rest of the info you might need through out the day.
 
edgy said:
Agree 100%. I enjoy shooting with my wife,, when we decided to try competitive shooting we went with IDPA not IPSC absolutely because of the " Black Badge" requirement. Two days of our lives, $500 for both of us plus what, 1000 rounds of ammo? Then you have to shoot a minimum number of events and requalify how often? I could be wrong, but I see it as nothing but a cash grab and it definitely turned me away from IPSC . I know for a fact the BB course hurt the growth of IPSC in my case
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As I’ve stated I see the Black Badge course as something necessary but it shouldn’t mandatory that you do it before your first match. Stories like this make me wonder if you’d been able to shoot a match beforehand, would your opinion be any different.
 
If you don't do the BB before your first match how would we know you to be safe enough to shoot it? The course is designed to test you and let us know you're good to go safely, as well as familiarize you with the rules so that you understand what is going on around you.
Not sure what Mobile 1 is talking about, but any major match I've shot, you show up on the first day of shooting and do just that. Maybe show up early if you need to register and go through equipment check, or do that the day before, depending on match size. Only very recently have I seen medical stuff covered before matches start, something that I think should be mandatory for all matches regardless of level.
 
edgy said:
I know for a fact the BB course hurt the growth of IPSC in my case
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IPSC Canada is at over 4000 members; the largest handgun shooting discipline in the country who's biggest problem is sold out competitions and has posted a continual 10 year growth spurt and the BB certification course has hurt it,huh?
Ok, whatever you said, dude!!!:cheers:
 
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Freedom Ventures said:
Really? IPSC Canada is at over 4000 members; the largest handgun shooting discipline in the country who's biggest problem is sold out competitions and has posted a continual 10 year growth spurt and the BB certification course has hurt it,huh?
Ok, whatever you said, dude!!!:cheers:
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yup
 
Freedom Ventures said:
Really? IPSC Canada is at over 4000 members; the largest handgun shooting discipline in the country who's biggest problem is sold out competitions and has posted a continual 10 year growth spurt and the BB certification course has hurt it,huh?
Ok, whatever you said, dude!!!:cheers:
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Our first local IPSC Qualifier of the year took 24 hours to sell out. 120 competitors. I guess if we had more IPSC peeps around we could sell out in 12 hrs.... lol!
 
Freedom Ventures said:
Really? IPSC Canada is at over 4000 members; the largest handgun shooting discipline in the country who's biggest problem is sold out competitions and has posted a continual 10 year growth spurt and the BB certification course has hurt it,huh?
Ok, whatever you said, dude!!!:cheers:
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Really Sean? You are in Vegas and you are replying to this crap! Go have some drinks and a little fun. A little no to much.
 
I've seen the cash grab argument and I don't agree with it, especially in our region where the instructors are volunteers and we barely cover expenses to get you through the course. I've shot a lot of USPSA over the last few years and I will say invariably when we get a new shooter to a Level 1 club match in the USA they get a small safety briefing. I would estimate in close to 80% of the cases that new shooter DQ's on one of the first few stages for a simple violation that he never picked up on during the safety briefing that is covered extensively in the BB course.
 
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