Another Milestone
A Note From Christa, SLG2, Inc VP
SLG2 Update –
Who knew the Black Bass World Championship would be so amazing? We had 229 people sign in to the Shoot Like A Girl experience: a mix of locals, fishing enthusiasts, and members of the competing teams.
None of us had ever been to a fishing tournament, let alone one this important. US Angling hosted 23 teams from around the world on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in an event that’s an important step toward getting bass fishing into the Olympics.
On our first morning, we woke up to find Team Puerto Rico fishing right below our balcony. The lake is so quiet that we weren’t sure whether to cheer or just watch. We called out to them, of course, and got a selfie.
The team, Karen, and I came away with great impact stories. A few observations and reflections and HERE is the Photo and Video Link:
- Being a fisherman doesn’t make you a shooter. I do both, so this surprised me, but most of the people we met were new to shooting and excited to try something new.
- Bass aren’t native to most of the visiting countries, which made the event even more meaningful for the international teams.
- Our driver, Nancy, is phenomenal. At the trophy presentations, she pulled each team into the arena in their boat, stopped at the stage so a ramp could reach the boat, let the team walk off, then drove backstage for the next team. We hope you get to meet her someday.
- Karen on Stage. Karen was asked to come on stage and represent women in the outdoors.
- A full-circle story. About six years ago, we were at Bass Pro Shops in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two women met in line to shoot and went through the demo activations together. They became close friends, and both now shoot.Hearing how they became outdoorswomen, and how they’ve cared for each other through serious medical challenges, reminded me of the WHY behind what we do.
- One had never fired a gun before that day. She has since taken up handgun, rifle, and shotgun, and now coaches at Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW).
- The other was an archer who added firearms after our event and now also leads at BOW.
- This week, one of them was serving as a coach and judge on a World Championship team’s boat. The other has stayed in touch with us while battling breast cancer over the past two years.
We’re two shows down in a five-show month! Next up: Bass Pro Shops in Concord, North Carolina, followed by AAFES Fort Bliss and AAFES Fort Hood.
