›› I want to be Jennifer Lawrence. The 22-year-old actress won over moviegoers’ hearts by shooting deadly arrows at unsuspecting teens in “The Hunger Games.” For the moment, she’s my celebrity idol.
Off-screen, Lawrence exudes naivety and speaks with a blunt awkwardness that’s endearing instead of juvenile. (If you don’t believe me, Google her interview with the media after her recent Oscar win.) She’s naturally quick-witted enough that stand-up comedians are probably jealous. Her response to Jack Nicholson when he said she looked like a former girlfriend was, “Do I look like a future girlfriend?”
And if I didn’t already love her enough, I gained a newfound respect for her archery skills in “The Hunger Games” when I recently gave it a shot myself.
I met Aurora resident and world champion archer Richard Lucangioli at No Limits Archery in Denver for my introduction to the slings and arrows of my next athletic endeavor.
Foregoing an outdoor lesson because of the weather, and because indoor ranges are easier for beginners, Lucangioli guided me toward a nine-yard range closed off from the other archers for their protection. Flying arrows scare people, apparently.
Lucangioli handed me a traditional bow made of blond-colored wood. It was sleek and elegant. Traditional bows are different from the more modern compound bows fitted with mechanical pulleys. Hunters like compound bows because they give them a more accurate shot with minimal resistance when aiming.
Those look daunting, and I realize they must have been the weapons of choice on the pronghorn antelope whose heads line the walls of the indoor range. Ick.
The weight of the bow, also called a recurve, was startling. Holding the 15-pound bow in my left hand, with my left arm outstretched, was like holding a 15-pound dumbbell, and I have no shame in admitting I’m not fond of weight lifting.
I was bombarded with directions from Lucangioli. There was a lot to remember: Stand up straight with the bow almost level to your face, perpendicular to the target — which in my case was a large white wall of compressed foam. Your feet should be shoulder width apart, straddling a piece of blue tape.
About 60 percent of your weight should be on the balls of your feet.
The bow arm should be completely outstretched, with the bottom of your left fist pointing to the ground. The arrow, which had a seemingly harmless rounded point, was lighter than a drumstick and about as unfamiliar to me as a knitting needle. Lucangioli said it should click into place in the middle of the bowstring.
Draw the taut bowstring back with your right hand, holding it steady with the forefinger of the bow arm. The hand that pulls the bowstring should be set against the flesh between your cheek and jaw.
Finally, after my stance is perfected, Lucangioli told me to take my finger off the arrow and let go of the bowstring.
Let go?
I did, and winced. The arrow shot out with surprising speed and hit the target. That wasn’t so bad. Actually, it was awesome.
I did it again and again, only missing the target a few times and sending the arrows straight to the backboard with a loud crash.
After half an hour, my arm was trembling with exhaustion and my arrows were grouped mostly in a cluster on the upper right side of the foam. Lucangioli said the cluster meant my stance was getting better.
I could see how this could get addicting. Archery requires so much concentration that it’s almost as stress relieving as something like yoga. Your mind is on your stance, the bow, the arrow and the target, and everything else goes blank. Considering how many levels of archery there are, from shooting at paper targets to shooting at holes in three-dimensional replicas of animals, it’s easy to challenge yourself. I think target archery might suit me more. Fake animals have feelings too.
In target archery, each paper target has several concentric circles colored differently, with the center of the target worth the most points.
I learned there are so many variables in archery. Archery stores sell not only different types and weights of bows but also varieties of arrows — aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, composite, fiberglass and wood. A beginner can spend $200 on a bow and a set of arrows, but the cost for a professional could skyrocket to $3,000, Lucangioli said.
No Limits Archery, which rents recurve bows for only $5 and charges a $7 fee to use the 40-yard indoor range, also sells several kinds of arrowheads. Carbon steel arrowheads are ideal for hunting wild game because the penetration will make the animal bleed to death, Lucangioli said.
That seems like a slow death.
“Depends on how good of a shot you are,” Lucangioli said.
I tell him I think I’ll stick to hunting for meat bargains at my local grocery store.
The demand for archery lessons has skyrocketed since “The Hunger Games” books and films launched, Lucangioli said.
Olympic archer Khatuna Lorig, who made a visit to No Limits Archery in February to teach workshops and group classes, trained Lawrence for her role in “The Hunger Games.” That’s why the actress makes the sport look graceful and not at all clumsy. The film’s editing doesn’t mask her mastery of the technique. I fumble with the arrow, trying to get it on the bowstring and hold it steady before the shot while Lawrence handles the arrows with a finesse that doesn’t seem forced. I left the range reluctantly, vowing that I’d return soon. I was happy to get a tiny bit closer to Jennifer Lawrence through archery — in a completely non-stalkerish way.
Archery Ranges:
Cherry Creek State Park’s Family Shooting Center at 4201 S. Parker Road in Aurora has an outdoor archery range. The range is open all day and there is no time limit. Range fees cost between $10 and $16.50. For more information call 303-680-5401.
The Aurora Reservoir at 5800 S. Powhaton Road also has an archery range. There is a $10 per-vehicle entry fee. Call 303-326-8650 for more information.
No Limits Archery is a full-service archery store and archery range at 4613 Monaco St. in Denver. Call 303-270-0185 for more information. For private lessons, call Aurora archery coach Richard Lucangioli at 720-878-2856.
The city of Aurora offers family archery lessons this spring on April 20 and May 11. Cost is $25 per person if you are an Aurora resident. To register, call 303-326-8650.
Best video for compound bow.