The South Saskatchewan Wildlife Association held an open house session at the Wakamow Valley office at, 276 Home Street East on Saturday.
The Association wanted to use the opportunity to show the community what programs and events are accessible through the organization.
“The idea came up when we were discussing how we could service our current members better and get more people interested,” organizer, Don Park told the Times-Herald. “We’ve been here since 1954 and some people still don’t know that.”
The open house had target air rifle and pistol practice open to the public in the Wakamow range, with members Talia and Kyanna Park onhand to answer questions.
14-year-old Talia and 16-year-old sister Kyanna are both biathletes who practice their cross-country skiing in Wakamow and their target practice at the range.
“One of the hardest parts of the sport is having to slow your heart-rate down before you start shooting,” Taila said towards the physical demand.
Sister Kyanna is busy training for the 2013 Biathlon Nationals taking place in Whistler next March. “We ski and shoot here and go to Regina practices too,” Kyanna said.
She agrees with her sister, practicing breathing techniques is one of the harder parts of the sport and really enjoys the shooting aspect.”
“It takes a lot of drills and mental training to prepare,” father Don Park said. “for every missed shot you have to ski an extra 150 meters as a penalization.”
The open house also had information ready for the hand gun club, fishing derby, hunter safety and pheasant release program; all available to youth.
For more on this story pick up the next issue of the Times-Herald.
