Rooster Mountain 2011 - Hilleröd, Denmark 29-30 July 2011

This years Rooster Mountain was one of the best matches I've shot in Scandinavia to date, not that I shot my best (almost) but the stages were pretty darn good. With a few alternation to next year I'm sure it will be even better. Per and Claus behind the match had put together some great stages. Organization wise it was also apparent that they have spent many hours making sure the shooters got the most out of coming to Denmark.

I was going to work the match at the Chrono / Capsicum Danmark promo stage so I shot the pre-match. The worrying factor was the weather as the past couple of weeks have been pretty rainy, we lucked out during the match and not a single shot had to be shot in rain. It did rain every night but that didn't matter.

We started on stage 6 - a crap stage to warm up on...8th - 65% - 37/45p - 7,85

Full size HD can be seen HERE

I had lured Olle down to help out with the Chrono (he did most of the job) so we teamed up with Daniel Tillström, Finn Pedersen and Michael Løye for the pre-match. There are certain advantages and disadvantages of shooting a pre-match. If the stages are completed - like in this case - it is pretty straight forward and almost like a real match. Walk through is often not limited by time and there are less shooters to bump shoulders with. The disadvantage is the time give to one owns preparations, you run the timer, keep score, patch as you are trying to prepare your own shooting. There is really no time to sit down and do the 50 mental rehearsals needed for complex stages. That account for some of the time lost in the shooting phase. All in all we had a great pre-match, guys - thanks for good company.

We went onto stage 7 - Not yet warmed up. 2nd - 91,43% - 42/45p - 9,20

My plan this summer is to find back to the core of my shooting which is the precision, I call it the foundation for speed. The magic number is 93% of the possible points in a match and I've accomplished that in my last three level III's. I'm really pleased that my mental power is back to keep me from rushing shoots. Now I can start to eliminate wasted time, and there is quite a bit to cut away. When going for all A's its easy to slow down everything else as well, which is not the optimal scenario. In theory all other movements should be done at warp speed, I presently struggle with that. The really good thing is that my dominant eye is back to normal again.

Stage 8 - this was the best stage of the match it offered many possibilities. 2nd - 99,05% 147/150 26,39

Full size HD can be seen HERE

The stages were in my mind well balanced with both precision and speed. Many offered multiple solutions which is key for making a good stage. I said after having shot the match it was the best I've shot in Scandinavia to date and I still think it was. In retrospect after seeing the verifications I might say that there could have been a more varied hitfactor. Most stages (for me) was around 5-6 and a two as low as 3-4 and only one around 10 (stage 18). There was only one stage i thought was really crap and that was 17 - under the table. To my enormous surprise I won the cooper tunnel stage, normally I stand no chance when there is a cooper tunnel but this time there were two very very small plates that had to be engaged at about 15m when coming out of the tunnel, they saved my stage win.

Stage 5 - Cooper tunnel - STAGE WIN - 78/80p - 16,83 - Full size HD - HERE

I was also surprised to see that I won stage 4, I bumped my magazine into the fault line pretty hard after 3 rounds in the prone position causing a round to miss feed - but shooting all A's probably saved me on that one. SSI present the results pretty cool and combined it was the worst stage of all for standard shooters, we got our behinds whooped by open and production on stage 4..

Stage 4 - Stage Win - 80/80p - 23,05

Full size HD can be seen HERE

This match was not without controversy. The poppers created some problems during the main match, we had no issues during the pre-match but my squad all shot full power ammo so I doubt any steel would have been a problem for us. I don't mind running poppers that only fall if minor hits the circle but then the popper construction must be good enough to allow for a fair chance, if not they must fall when hit. The rules should also be changed to the benefit of the shooter, today it is to the benefit of faulty equipment. What I mean is that if a shooter place a full diameter shot in the circle and the popper doesn't fall, the RO should stop the shooter and automatically call for a re-shot, or something better, just to make sure that the shooter is more important than faulty equipment or setup.

Stage 1 - 5th - 90,75% - 158/160p - 25,49 - Just slow....

Full Size HD - HERE

In some cases when raised (could be the case here, it was for certain at the Czech Extreme) a popper could "lock" into the upright position, when hit with any bullet in the circle the popper would not fall but return to neutral position. If the shooter called for a calibration it would fall even after being with an airsoft. Knowing that calling for calibration is not an option the shooter will then continue to shoot at faulty equipment, that is not a fair game.

Stage 9, it might appear like it but its not filmed in slow motion... 12th 75,06% 132/150p 25,64

Full size HD - HERE

I finished second after Tony Ruhonen from Finland who shot a good match. Off course it disappointing not to win but it was even tougher to see Wille who was heart struck when he didn't get the blue medal that he had seen on the table. He got one once we got home and that made the day.

Stage 16 - Stage win - 135/135p 23,28 - Full size HD - HERE

Wille at the Capsicum Danmark / Infinity stage.

During the main match I worked with Olle and Wille in the chrono / promo tent. Capsicum Denmark was one of the main sponsors of the match and we were allowed to setup a test shoot of Infinity pistols. Everybody that wanted could come by and test fire the best handgun on the market. It was greatly appreciated by many shooters and we had a successful weekend. Wille and I camped at the venue and laying in a good tent, in the rain while watching cartoons on the iPad was a hit for Wille.

Rain, a tent, an iPad and Bamse - Success

See you next year at Rooster Mountain.

My Performance in numbers

Stage 10 - 3rd - 95,59% 106/115p. Here you could run it freestyle or pick up the drum and shoot strong hand. Since I shot the pre-match I did both to find out what was best. Shooting strong hand was better, I was 1,8 seconds faster with 1 C more.

Some more picks and video

Stage 11 - 2nd - 99,94% 78/80p 13,97

Stage 12 - 5th - 94,81% - 75/80p -14,28 - Full size HD - HERE

Stage 17, 14th - 55,75% - 32/40p - Awe crap!

Stage 15, This should have been a stage win, I doubt anybody did it in 6,4 seconds, THANKS FOR VERIFYING YOUR SCORE!!!!!. I've never tried this shooting position before... (2nd - 67,03%) - 45/45p - 10,49 - Full size HD - HERE

My champ.