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“And that’s what I said for the last five…let’s just break the next one.”
An iTrapshooter.com interview
Copyright 2011.
All Rights Reserved.
Mike Blaisdell
8 Time All-
30 New Hampshire State Titles
Other State Titles -
9 Times Captain
Past
President, New Hampshire
Trapshooting Association
5 – Eastern Zone Titles
(Including
2011 Eastern Zone
Doubles Championship and All Around)
2005 Eastern Zone Singles Champion
ATA
Record Shoot-
12 Grand American Trophies
15 Satellite Grand Trophies
All-
Page Three
Copyright 2011
Copyright 2011
Mike: It came down to myself, Brian Whalen and Kay Ohye. And we went, I forget how many that first night, 200-and-something in the shoot-off. They brought us back the next morning, Sunday morning before the doubles event and we shot another 150 or so. Then shot the event and then Kay, he forfeited, he was going to the PITA Grand and had to get out there. So, he forfeited which left Brian Whalen and myself to fend for the Singles title, after everything was done with all the other shoot-offs that were going on. I was in another one of the shoot-offs. It was quite a day.
Brian and I duked it out there for another 275 targets. Brian missed his, I think his 568th. I didn’t even know he missed. That’s how intense it was. It was hot, we were tired…we were both just battling.
All I can remember is after every 25 I was drinking almost a bottle of water just to stay hydrated. Quite frankly, I was numb. It was just pounding. I shot a lot of targets that weekend. You have to figure, the Eastern Zone Championships we had started shooting on Wednesday. Then I had shoot-off targets. It was a battle. So I moved to my last post which was in the middle and I said, “All you gotta do is break five. Don’t miss.” And I broke the five and won.
iTrapshooter.com: When you’re in that situation, how do you keep your focus, your emotions, in check. How do you handle the pressure?
Mike: I think it was a combination. I was so tired. Like I said, I guess the best terminology was numb. I was just on auto pilot. I was in my routine. I was making sure my set-up was right. Gun feel is a big thing for me. If I mount the gun and don’t feel right, I have to take it down. I concentrate a lot on making sure that I have a correct gun mount. After that is, it’s all these little things we all talk to ourselves about in the heat of battle. You know, you have to remember to breathe.
When the human body gets tense, pressured, it does a lot of funny things and you have to remember to breathe. My thing is, I make sure I’m breathing correctly. I’m constantly taking big breaths and making sure I’m still getting that oxygen I need in
to my system.
And my eyes – your eyes lead everything – making sure my eyes remain in the zone where I’m looking for the target. Not moving, not getting jumpy. And you’re talking to yourself. Like I said, I moved to that last station and said to myself, “Don’t miss now. C’mon, let’s step it up here. You’ve got five targets to go. Let’s do it. Let’s take one at a time and let’s just break this next one.” And that’s what I said for the last five. “All right Mike, let’s just break the next one.” And then it was over.
Brian and I duked it out there for another 275 targets. Brian missed his, I think his 568th. I didn’t even know he missed. That’s how intense it was. It was hot, we were tired…we were both just battling.
All I can remember is after every 25 I was drinking almost a bottle of water just to stay hydrated. Quite frankly, I was numb. It was just pounding. I shot a lot of targets that weekend. You have to figure, the Eastern Zone Championships we had started shooting on Wednesday. Then I had shoot-
iTrapshooter.com: When you’re in that situation, how do you keep your focus, your emotions, in check. How do you handle the pressure?
Mike: I think it was a combination. I was so tired. Like I said, I guess the best terminology was numb. I was just on auto pilot. I was in my routine. I was making sure my set-
When the human body gets tense, pressured, it does a lot of funny things and you have to remember to breathe. My thing is, I make sure I’m breathing correctly. I’m constantly taking big breaths and making sure I’m still getting that oxygen I need in
to my system.
And my eyes – your eyes lead everything – making sure my eyes remain in the zone where I’m looking for the target. Not moving, not getting jumpy. And you’re talking to yourself. Like I said, I moved to that last station and said to myself, “Don’t miss now. C’mon, let’s step it up here. You’ve got five targets to go. Let’s do it. Let’s take one at a time and let’s just break this next one.” And that’s what I said for the last five. “All right Mike, let’s just break the next one.” And then it was over.
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