Why only 1 ORA intro day this year???

teller

teller

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Hey all,

So, I've been waiting to get in on an ORA intro day for the last 2 years. Every year so far it has filled up or work has managed to get in the way. This year I finally have a free summer to dedicate to going to one of these sessions, only to discover that ORA is only doing 1 session in July and that it's already full.

To put it bluntly, what the heck! Is there so little demand for these intro sessions that they scaled back? Seems kinda counter intuitive if they seem to fill up each year :confused: I've heard there may be issues with Mons in Borden but is Connaught not available for these sessions?

Is there any other way to get this kind of exposure other than signing up for a match? I'd really like a chance to try out some F class and Precision but want to make sure I'm into it before I lay out the $$ and I'm sick of waiting for that perfect window of opportunity only to be disappointed again.

Any advice is appreciated!
 
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Sometimes you just can't get the range space, when it's on a military base. They can plan all they like, but the Canadian Forces gets first dibs and can override any bookings.
 
While I can see that possibly being an issue, I'm also a member of the CF and can vouch whole heartedly how little emphasis is currently put into marksmanship, especially at the applicable ranges which rarely get used for more than QL3, reserve, yearly quals or cadet training (those being Borden, Winona and maybe Kingston, but usually they seem to be in Borden). Not trying to be a jerk here but there has to be a better answer for those interested in ORA.

Maybe I'm just being obtuse, but there must be spaces available somewhere for potential new members to try an intro shoot. I don't mean to be pushy but I've been trying to do this for quite some time and it seems like a pretty big barrier to entry for new people to the sport. :confused:
 
I couldn't get in to an intro day so I just went to the PR clinic.

You can also show up to a match as a spectator if the match director allows or attend a practice.
 
If you're in the CAF I'm not sure why you need an intro day. Just join the ORA and register for a PR match. There was a clinic at Borden this weekend that shared the range with the SR clinic I took.
 
You should be contacting the ORA to be put on a wait list for an intro day. The reason for only one intro day is the lack of range time this year with two ranges being shut down at bordon.
These intro days are ran by a dedicated group of shooters that want to expose as many new shooters as possible. We are limited by range time and our own free time. From what I can see it has not been the ORA fault for you not getting into a class but your own conflicts of scheduling. The one and only intro day would have been mostly filled by a wait list from last year.

The unfortunate thing about the intro days is you always have a couple no shows.
Sorry for any inconvenience and hope to see you on the line

Ryan
 
The loss of range days at Borden I'm sure is a big factor.
Also the people who run the Intro Days are volunteering their time to put on these events and with most of the availability being at Winona it just adds more travel expense for them.

If you look at the ORA calendar you will see there are several Recreational/Practice/Zeroing dates available at Winona this year.

I'm still a novice myself but I've taken the Intro Day, the Winter Training Class and just did a PR clinic.
I live close by to Winona so if one of those Practice dates looks good for you and I'm free I could bring my rifle and I'll do my best to give you and idea of what F Class and Precision is about.
 
You don't need the intro day , I never went to one either. Just get in contact with the director and explain you might be interested , I'm sure they will all you to attend. From there you could make a much more informative decision as to which discipline you want to shoot.
 
vrex said:
The loss of range days at Borden I'm sure is a big factor.
Also the people who run the Intro Days are volunteering their time to put on these events and with most of the availability being at Winona it just adds more travel expense for them.

If you look at the ORA calendar you will see there are several Recreational/Practice/Zeroing dates available at Winona this year.

I'm still a novice myself but I've taken the Intro Day, the Winter Training Class and just did a PR clinic.
I live close by to Winona so if one of those Practice dates looks good for you and I'm free I could bring my rifle and I'll do my best to give you and idea of what F Class and Precision is about.
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I concur. I can drop by with Chuck and we can try to give you our knowledge we have gleamed so far.
 
tiriaq said:
teller - have you considered contacting the ORA?
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Yes, and if you do, I suggest you consider that like all aspects of the shooting sports volunteers and their willingness to donate their time is always a major factor. The 50 bucks you pay in no way makes this a profit generating enterprise.
 
I've been to an intro day. Good experience for newbies to the sport. My main issue / regret is that it is too late in the season to allow one to immediately get into the sport. The season is basically over by then, and all that's left is a bunch of waiting for next season or the winter clinics. Looking into it immediately can only help if one is determined to enter the sport. Time is short. Don't waste it.
 
Just join the ORA altogether and participate in the disciplines you are interested in. The fee for joining is the same as paying for an ORA event 3 times.
 
The range that the ORA uses, Mons range, will be under construction this spring and summer as well as Amiens range. This will curtail a lot of our practices and matches. As a matter of fact, the ORA TR matches will be held on the Connaught ranges this year for that reason.
 
I've been in the same boat as the OP. Been trying for a couple years now. First time it filled up. Second year a week before the intro day, it got cancelled. This year the date falls when I'm travelling. Hoping they manage to squeeze in one or two more intro days.
 
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