Preview: Indoor circuit to finish at record-breaking Vegas Shoot

Archery’s international mass participation series concludes this weekend at its traditional final stop in the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA.

The first two days of the three-day Vegas Shoot – which is set to break participation records with nearly 4000 entrants in its 57th year – act as the fourth and last stage of the 18-metre circuit. The archers placed high in the series’ elite ranking will then qualify for the Indoor Archery World Series Finals on Saturday night.

Under this year’s rules, archers only need to have competed in one event to qualify – so anyone shooting in the championship categories in Vegas is eligible.

Archers shoot 30 arrows a day for three days at the Vegas Shoot. The main event is the compound championship open category – open to both men and women – which boasts a prize fund of 57,000 USD in 2023.

Anyone who shoots a perfect score of 900 points (Vegas uses the big, recurve 10-ring for compounders) qualifies to the big shootdown, a sudden death eliminator that leaves just one shooter standing.

Reigning champions

The Indoor Archery World Series Champions from 2022.

• Recurve men: Felix Wieser, Germany
• Recurve women: Penny Healey, Great Britain (not returning)
• Compound men: Nico Girard, France
• Compound women: Toja Ellison, Slovenia

Youngsters

The compound championship titles at last year’s Vegas Shoot were won by 14-year-old Liko Arreola (who also took the women’s title) and 15-year-old Bodie Turner.

“It was a really fun shoot. It’s my third year here and my first year shooting pro, it’s just been really fun,” said a stone-faced Turner after taking down one of the biggest prizes in compound archery. 

Turner turns 16 on Sunday in Vegas – when he may very well be defending his crown.

How to watch

The title matches at the Indoor Archery World Series Finals and the Vegas Shootdowns will be streamed live on World Archery’s YouTube channel and Facebook page – follow the links below:

• Indoor Archery World Series Finals – Saturday 4 February at 20h00 local time.
• Vegas Shootdowns – Sunday 5 February at 17h30 local time.

Follow coverage across the Vegas Shoot, Indoor Archery World Series and World Archery digital platforms.