Vegas Shoot adapting into virtual flights and delayed championships in 2021

The Vegas Shoot will no longer take place on its traditional second weekend of February in 2021 but move to a split format, which will run virtually for the amateur flight and junior events and delayed for the professional championship divisions.

“We had hoped that by December the COVID-19 numbers would begin to decrease and regulations would begin to lift but that is the opposite of what is happening,” said Vegas Shoot president Bruce Cull.

The replacement virtual event is expected to last multiple weeks, require an entry fee and feature prize money. The National Field Archery Association, which organises the event in Las Vegas, is currently refining the rules for the online competition.

More details on both the flights and the schedule for the delayed championship tournament are expected at the start of next year.

The fourth stage of this year’s online version of the Indoor Archery World Series will continue as scheduled on 12-14 February 2021. Archers can participate from clubs, ranges or at home (distance and safety permitting) from around the world.

A small invitational live event will replace the Vegas Shoot in the series calendar.

The online version of the Vegas Shoot will run as an independent event from the circuit due to the difference in official target faces, the anticipated entry fee and prize purse.

“We are working to create an event… that will allow [archers] to shoot anywhere in the world while still competing for cash prizes and scholarships,” said Cull. “We want everyone to have the ability to participate, but safely.”

Regulations on sporting activities and gatherings have forced many events to find flexible alternatives to their traditional formats.

The Vegas Shoot is one of the highlights on the annual archery calendar. The open championship shootdown, which translates to World Archery’s compound division, is seen as one of the most prestigious titles to win in the sport.

Last year’s champion, Kyle Douglas, collected a 54,000 USD top prize for beating out 22 other archers in the final.

The tournament will not take place in its conventional form and on its traditional dates in 2021 but organisers remain committed to running a competition that retains the same atmosphere that makes the event so popular during these challenging times.