Archery Gets A New Following
There's a new generation of archers thanks to Katniss Everdeen and The Hunger Games, though she's not the only pop culture icon to wield a bow and arrow.
Wanting to be just like their heroes, kids everywhere, both boys & girls, are asking their parents for archery lessons and a bow of their own. My 10 year old made one for herself out of a tree branch and yarn, using sticks as arrows. A friend of hers begged her dad for a real archery set. He didn't realize where she gained interest until after hearing about the Hunger Games. He hadn't seen the movie or read the books, but she did.
Here's a look at archery in the media, as well as which sets to buy for kids and teens who are showing a new-found interest in the sport.
Archers in the Movies
Bear Archery 1st Shot Bow Set
Suggested Age Range: 4-7 years
This is not a toy and requires adult supervision.
The Bear Archery 1st Shot Bow Set includes a 36" recurve youth bow, 2 fiberglass arrows, arrow quiver, armguard, finger tab, and target. Draw Length: 14-16". Draw Weight: 8-12 lbs.
Katniss Everdeen
The Hunger Games : March 2012
Katniss learned how to use a bow and arrow from her father. Living in District 12 food was scarce. Mr. Everdeen took to the woods outside the district to hunt with homemade wooden bows. Katniss spent a lot of time out in the woods with him. He taught her about nature, hunting, and how to use a bow and arrow. At the age of 12 Katniss had to take over getting food for her family. First she hunted alone, then as a team with her friend Gale Hawthorne.
Her training came in handy as a tribute in the Hunger Games. Though the equipment was much different from what she used at home, with practice she became adept with it. She impressed the judges in training with her shooting abilities, and a bow & arrow was her weapon of choice in the arena.
Photo Source: The Hunger Games Wiki
Arrow Precision Impala Archery Set
The Arrow Precision Impala Archery Set includes a 46" recurve youth bow, adjustable pin sight, 3 target arrows, quiver, and arm guard. Draw Length: 26". Draw Weight: 18 lbs.
Hawkeye
The Avengers : May 2012
Hawkeye, codename of Clint Barton, is the world's greatest marksman. He was trained to be a master archer as a child in the Carson Carnival of Traveling Wonders.
Years later he works for S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) a counterterrorism and intelligence agency.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is responsible for forming the Avengers. Armed with his weapon of choice, the recurve bow, Hawkeye fires specialized custom arrows with perfect precision, fighting alongside Black Widow, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, and Iron Man.
Photo Source: Marvel Movies Wiki
Barnett Sportflight Kit
The Barnett Sportflight Kit includes a 56" recurve youth bow, adjustable pin sight, 2 full-feather target arrows, an arm guard, finger tab, and target. Draw Length: 24-26". Draw Weight: 25 lbs.
Princess Merida
Brave : June 2012
Merida, from the Disney/Pixar movie Brave, is a Scottish Princess, the daughter of Queen Elinor and King Fergus. She is a headstrong teenager struggling to take control of her own destiny.
Not your typical princess, she's active and athletic, uses weapons, rides her horse Angus bareback, and rock-climbs. She's most comfortable out in the deep forest as it's her escape from castle life. Merida is a skilled archer who can shoot arrows with impressive precision. She earned her skills by working hard and practicing with her father.
Merida ends up unleashing trouble on her kingdom, and then sets out to make things right.
Photo Source: The Disney Wiki
Bear Titan Bow Set
Suggested Age Range: 12 & Up
The Bear Titan Bow Set includes a 60" recurve youth bow, 2 fiberglass arrows, arrow quiver, armguard, finger tab, and target. Draw Length: 22-28". Draw Weight: 20-29 lbs.
Who's Your Favorite Fictional Archer?
Action Figures
Real Life Role Models
Archery at the 2012 Summer Olympics
The archery competitions at the London 2012 Olympic Games were held at Lord’s Cricket Ground. They began Friday, July 27th and continued through Friday August 3rd.
There were four medal events; men's individual, women's individual, men's team, and women's team.
64 men and 64 women were there competing.
Profiles of the athletes can be found on the Official London 2012 website.
My Katniss
