By Catherine Ellerton
Moapa Valley Progress
The World Atlatl Association (WAA) held its 20th annual Atlatl Throwing Contest event on Friday and Saturday at Valley of Fire State Park. Contestants came from around the world to compete in the contest.
The atlatl has been used for well over 25,000 years. It is a two piece weapon. The hand held chucker holds a long dart, both of which are raised over the shoulder and held horizontally. The shooter takes a step forward, brings the arm forward and releases the dart straight at the target. The flex in the dart helps to drive it forward to the prey.
Tom Mills, from California, once again was the organizer of the 2011 WAA event. He coordinates closely with the Nevada Division of State Parks who sponsors the contest.
On the first day of the event, a general get-together was held and an opportunity for visitors to learn about this ancient weapon. Park visitors came from such places as British Columbia, Canada, Oregon and Las Vegas to find out what this sport was all about.
Some of the contestants were on hand to offer information, to give a helping hand and to challenge each other to a game of spelling “Atlatl.” The dart is shot at a target, each shot becoming more difficult as different shooting positions were chosen – sitting, standing on one leg, laying down and hanging off the red cliff.
On Saturday, the contest started in earnest as the participants shot at seven different three dimensional targets placed around the Valley of Fire Atlatl Rock. Points were counted and winners were announced.
Winners in the Mens division were Douglas Basset, Justin Garrett and Gary Fogelman; Winning women were Joann Fogelman, Lori Majorsky, Mary Riemerson; In the youth division were Wolf, Bella and Diantha Sweikeret.
Further information on the atlatl can be obtained at: www.paleoplanet.net.
