Photo: The image of shooting for sport isn’t very positive. In the Netherlands we are a bit afraid of weapons, says student Bob.
‘You have to be a bit arrogant’
First year student Bob Linders is an active participant in airgun shooting. Recently he made the transition to the adult division of the sport. The question is: “Can he keep up in the adult division and participate alongside the best shooters of the world?”
The 20-year-old HBO-Ict student Bob does not have a lot of free time. He goes to the shooting range to practice five days a week. Three of those are training days. Trainings throughout the week are at his own club. Most Saturdays there is a competition and every Sunday he either trains with a special talent group (other young shooters who have a real chance to compete at the highest level) or goes to Germany to compete in the Bundesliga because the level of competition is a lot higher there.
National Champion
Last year Bob won the national junior championships and became the Dutch national champion. He also won several international junior competitions. In the years to come he wants to gain a lot of experience by participating in important international competitions such as the European championship and the World championship. In the end he wants to compete at the highest level: the Olympic Games of Paris in 2024. “The Olympic Games of 2020 are not feasible as I would have to place myself this year among the top thirty shooters in the world, unfortunately that is not realistic.” Bob also has to qualify for the coming World Championships which will not be easy. Bob has to shoot higher scores than he has ever done before. “That is right, but it is not unachievable because the scores aren’t that much higher than what I used to shoot.” It will for sure be an exciting year
Bob “shoots air” as he calls it. His pistol fires little flattened bullets (with something akin to a skirt) with the help of air pressure. These rounds are fired at a target which is suspended in the air 30 feet away.
Lots of people think that my sport is ‘dangerous’ and ‘scary’
Bad image
Bob tells us that it pains him that the image of his sport is not positive. “Lots of people think that my sport is ‘dangerous’ and ‘scary’. However, nothing ever goes wrong and especially with the guns which are way less powerful than firearms there is little room for danger or injury.” In the Netherlands we are a bit afraid of anything that has to do with firearms Bob says. “That is also apparent when you look at the rules with regards to arms which are increasing in strictness over time, with the main reason being crime. However, we do nothing wrong, criminals own weapons that have no association with my sport.” Everyone can own an airgun, you can even carry it on the streets. Bob: “As long as it is not visible it is not illegal to carry an air gun. There is almost no regulation with regards to air guns, but the air gun community follows a strict code of conduct. We treat the air guns the same as firearms. It should never occur that we walk out of the shooting range to get some groceries without putting away the gun. Furthermore, with real fire arms the rules are a lot stricter. For example: the gun and it’s ammunition have to be separated and put in the trunk of your car if you want to move them.”
You cannot afford to shoot one single bad shot
Concentration
In pistol shooting everything revolves about concentration. The hand of the shooter has to stay as still as possible while aiming. Isn’t that incredibly difficult? Bob: “It is all a matter of practice and participating in lots of competitions. Keeping a steady pace of fire and just try to hit the ten the best you can. I also like to think: “I can do it, I am capable of doing this otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” To put in bluntly: you have to be a little arrogant. You have to be confident: “I made the finals so I am good enough to be here.” “Abdominal breathing helps a lot as well, it makes you calmer. I breath in when I raise my arm and when I am ready to shoot I exhale most of the air, this causes a decrease in your heartrate. Then just before I am ready to inhale again, I shoot.” However, this is easier said than done. “In a final the pressure is immense, every two shots someone is dropped behind. You cannot afford to shoot one single bad shot, because if you do that you are out of the game.” It is very hard for Bob to keep his head cool all the time. “During my first final in the adult division I shot a new personal best in the preliminary. Yet, in the finals I didn’t do so well. I stood their amongst a past Olympian champion and other people who won multiple World championships. The pressure rose when I realised: “I am standing among professionals now.” The final wasn’t much of a success, but Bob sees these kinds of experiences as moments where he can learn and grow which enable him to shoot all his shots right in the middle, with a steady hand.
