IPSC BC and lack of matches

Slavex

Morning Star, The Lightbringer
Moderator
Rating - 94.7%
18   1   0
Location
BC
just took a look at the match calendar, wow, talk about lack of matches. This should really help promote our sport eh?
 
Kinda have the same issue here in Manitoba. Our last indoor match before starting the outdoor season was cancelled because no one wanted to be the Match Director.

We had 6 matches scheduled for the indoor season, the first and last got cancelled. Myself and 2 other fellows put on the 4 matches we did have, and didn't even get a lot of help with setting up. It seems to be the same guys doing it year after year.

Anybody got ideas how to encourage people to step up? I'm here in Manitoba, and things are pretty laid back here. There aren't any big arguments, no politics involved that I ever see, and I don't think anything has ever gone to arbitration, ever! What's everybody so afraid of?

It's not perfect, we got gamers here who like tp push the COF rules sometimes, and DQ's for saftey reasons that people don't agree with, but nothing that should keep anybody from sleeping at night.

Sorry if I hi-jacked your thread. But when we only get about 12 matches a year around here, when one gets cancelled, it really sucks!
 
I wouldn't say that there are less matches in BC this year compared to last year. I think it's about the same. Last year, there were only 4 Qualifiers in the Lower Mainland. This year, there would have been 4 if Poco hadn't canceled both of theirs, plus we have the Nationals here in July.

I don't know exactly how many club matches were put on in the Lower Mainland last year, but there have already been 3 and a DVC Indoor Practice Night.

There are always other clubs you can travel to. Personally, I plan on driving up to Kelowna to shoot their matches on weekends that I'm available. Driving 3 hours to shoot a match is actually way easier than than spending 6 hours setting up the stages, 2 hours doing the pre-match morning organization and doing the 3 hours of cleanup after everybody else f*cks off. Never mind the weeks before hand where you need to get club permission, get the equipment and targets organized.

If you don't have the time to do that work yourself, or offer to help another club do theirs, you're always welcome to travel, too.
 
Or step on the playing field and put on a match......

DVC

I'd love to put on another match, Cam and I had a ton of fun last time. However I live about an hour and a half away from a range that can actually host a match, either Poco, or Thompson. So that means, hotel, or driving every day for setup etc. Add in the fact that I work 4 on 4 off, and trying to match my days off with dates that are acceptable to IPSC BC, and well it simply doesn't work.
I wouldn't say that there are less matches in BC this year compared to last year. I think it's about the same. Last year, there were only 4 Qualifiers in the Lower Mainland. This year, there would have been 4 if Poco hadn't canceled both of theirs, plus we have the Nationals here in July.

If you don't have the time to do that work yourself, or offer to help another club do theirs, you're always welcome to travel, too.

yeah, 4 matches in the lower mainland, originally, not including the Nats. Wow, again, not impressed. Sorry, but we are the biggest zone and we can only manage 4 scheduled matches, and then 2 of them are cancelled? Sad. I plan on making it to Kelowna if my days off match their schedule, but when I look to other parts of the country and see how many matches are held, sometimes more than 2 a weekend, I wonder what the hell is wrong with BC.

I guess you might as well jump in a plane and come up north for the Terrace qualifiers... :)

It would be great to see you guys.

John

It'd be nice to come up there John, but to be frank, I can travel to Level III's in Ontario or Quebec for less money than I can fly up to Terrace or Prince George, Cranbrook etc. Hell my flights to Europe are only marginally more than what it would cost me to fly up to Terrace.
I'm not expecting anyone to bend to my schedule, obviously, but it just seems like we've lost a lot of matches in the last few years. If it continues like this I don't see IPSC growing in our area, I see it dying off.
Looking at my calendar the only matches in BC I'll be making it to this year are the ones on the Island, if they happen, the Nationals, and maybe day one of the Provincials. barely enough to even maintain my membership.
 
It'd be nice to come up there John, but to be frank, I can travel to Level III's in Ontario or Quebec for less money than I can fly up to Terrace or Prince George, Cranbrook etc. Hell my flights to Europe are only marginally more than what it would cost me to fly up to Terrace.

Rob but your accomodation would be free and all the beer you can drink, along with a 12 oz fillet and an evening of telling lies. :D

Take Care

Bob
 
it was not looking good for us this year in NB. I belong to two clubs,..both IPSC clubs. I usually take the lead on one match or help out at our small club in Cape Pele which is about 40mins from my place. ON the other side of me about 1 hr drive is Hampton,...much more ranges to use. I have decide to help with Cape Pele this year only, and host a match at Hampton. I might be hosting 2 larger level 2´s at Hampton, ...our level 2´s in NB are usually 8-9 stages,..150rds+. My match at Hampton will be 3 fields, 2 speeds,.and 4 larger mediums,...so at least 170rds!. Dalhousie is putting up matchs as is Gagetown and fredericton and Miramichi.
 
lol....oh well...

My wife is a dedicated premium collector.

Lucky for me. :)

Hopefully more shoots will be scheduled down there soon. It would be nice to catch one or two myself when I am on vacation.

John
 
Slavex,

Not to try and poach IPSC BC members, but you could shoot in Alberta. Westjet has great connections between Abbotsford (or Vancouver) and Calgary with lots of sale prices. Travelling with firearms on Westjet is better than other airlines.

There are IPSC BC members that concurrently have IPSC AB membership. Our biggest problem right now is getting all the weekends off from work and family to shoot the matches between now and the AB Provincials.
May 1-2 Double Alberta Qualifier in Brooks (about 2 hr east of Calgary)
May 15-16 Double Alberta Qualifier in Spruce Grove (about 20 minutes west of Edmonton)
May 29-30 Double Alberta Qualifier in Ft. McMurray
June 5-6 MS Charity Match in Strathmore (1/2 hr east of Calgary)
June 12-13 Double Alberta Qualifier in Strathmore
July 3-4 Alberta Provincials in Strathmore.
And within range is the May 22-23 Double BC Qualifier in Cranbrook, BC.

Of course if you shoot in Alberta, you have to shoot in Production. I am already getting beat by enough other people in Standard.

Ralph
 
Who said that it's due to not finding anyone to step up and do the job? That's the big problem. It keeps coming down on the same folks and eventually they just get tired of doing all the work all the time. And I don't blame them.

It's not just in shooting either. I'm involved with motorcycle racing and it's the same thing there. It's like they are kids who want mommy and daddy to take their toys out for them, point them to go play and then drive them home afterwards and put their toys away for them. They are the first to complain that there are not enough matches/races/games/whatever yet they never think to step up and put on an event.

Slavex, folks like you don't count in this. I gather you've done your share in the past so you're off the hook. The ones I'm directing all this towards are those who have never had a hand in organizing or helping setup stages or any other pre match work.

And for those of us that don't think we can do the jobs I'll bet that if a new crew asked the old crew to mentor them through announcing, designing stages and running a match that the old crew would be more than happy to help them learn the ropes. But that new crew needs to form up and step up.

And yes, I will be volunteering in some manner to set up matches this season. But first I have to take my BB course and become a member of IPSC BC. The course is going to happen later this month so that part is almost done.
 
Always interesting to see how other people/provinces do things. for me i don't see a big deal in having to drive an hour to build a match. i am an hour out of Lethbridge and 45 minutes out of Brooks. yes for the nationals i spent over a week driving back and forth while we were building the match. one night Cathy was so tired that she drove right pass the turn for Vauxhall. While i have help build matches at Brooks i have never been the MD there. of course Brooks is a little easier since i work there.

I think one thing i am going to start doing is emphasizing more in my BB course that people have to b willing to take on matches after they get a couple of years of experience.
 
There are IPSC BC members that concurrently have IPSC AB membership.


I am curious why someone would need 2 IPSC memberships? I thought if you were an IPSC member, that allowed you to shoot any IPSC match, anywhere. I have only shot in one other province, other than at a Nationals, and never was asked to become a member of the second province.
 
Back
Top Bottom