I’m going to ETAR
It’s a common misconception that people like myself (that is to say, people that make a fool of themselves on the Internet on a semi regular basis) are in fact rolling knee deep in those big internet bucks. Although I wish this was true, it’s not. If I wanted fame and fortune I wouldn’t be making videos about traditional archery (let’s face it, it’s kind of niche within niche).
But I’ve never done any of this for riches or recognition, I do it because I love Traditional Archery, and I love sharing my passion of it with you guys.
I only mention this because one of the most incredible things that has ever happened to me, happened at the start of this year! You see for years now it’s been my dream to attend ETAR (the Eastern Traditional Archery Rendezvous) in the US, it’s actually the stuff of legend in the trad archery community. It kind of looks a bit like The Gathering I’ve attended in the past, only on a much larger scale, while still retaining the magic!
But financially with three young children I’ve never really been in a position to make it a reality... Until now anyways!
After what I thought was a throw away conversation with Gregory Richards from 3D Archery sometime last year, where he said that he was going to Crowd Fund, to get me over there, I actually thought nothing of it, and wrote it off as a well-meaning but fruitless chat with a traditional archery buddy.
Until he went and actually bloody did it! I was totally blown away. I’m not going to lie the whole thing did kind of make me feel uneasy. I mean, I was neither worthy or deserving of such a gesture. Also I’ve never been one for this kind of thing. I could have crowd funded my trip to the world 3D’s but that just didn’t sit right, I’m just to bull headed to ask for help, instead opting to decimate my once proud bow collection.
So I find myself racked with anxiety, looking at Gregory’s crowdfunding campaign website... Thinking no one in their right mind is ever going to donate to get me to America. But you know what!? They did! The Goal was reached in just a couple of weeks!
I was genuinely lost for words! If I wasn’t such a rugged manly outdoorsman I may have even shed a tear... This was so incredibly humbling!
I’m currently working on a video explaining a little more about ETAR and publicly thanking everyone who helped make my dream a reality.
But I just wanted to say a special thank you to a few people here now! Especially Gregory Richards!
Thank you all so much, I cant wait, I’m going to learn soo much!
I just hope that someday I will be in a position where I can pay this kindness forward...
Big love
-Grizzly Jim ❤️
also huge thank you to;
Jeff Krug
Selway Archery
The Push Archery family
And NUSensei
And many many more (keep an eye out for the video)