Worldwide Archery Craze Is Catching Fire

Bows and arrows continue to grow in popularity. Ever since the publication of "The Hunger Games", archery has enjoyed a revival that is propelling the sport and hobby to unprecedented levels.

by Mitsumi Yamada, Freelance Writer

Call it "The Katniss Effect".

Ever since the publication of "The Hunger Games", archery has enjoyed a revival that is propelling the sport and hobby to unprecedented levels.

Along with Suzanne Collins' blockbuster, protagonists like Merida from Disney-Pixar's Brave and Hawkeye from The Avengers have inspired hordes of new enthusiasts to take up the timeless skill. Additionally, the CW's Arrow (based on DC Comics' Green Arrow), is the network's highest rated show in over 3 years.

"We have definitely seen an increase in the number of new archers at our facilities since The Hunger Games came out" says Clint Montgomery of Texans Archery Club.

"With all of this increased activity and excitement for archery, it's easier than ever for first-time archers to get into the sport" he continued. Montgomery, one of the directors of the archery club, credits indoor facilities and preliminary training as key factors. For example, the Texans Archery Club provides a figurative 'bunny slope' for people to learn the basics of archery.

Montgomery went on to say that "archery has become a relaxing family sport that anyone from the ages of 6 to 60 can participate in."

More than just archery ranges and suppliers of bows and arrows are benefitting from these Legolas-admirers. Ancillary vendors are profiting as well.

"Our application is flying off the shelves" says Jeffrey Starr, Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of software company ATSHEF. One of the firm's iPhone/iPad applications, Archery Journal - Archery Score Keeper, allows archers to keep track of their archery scores.

President and co-founder Andrew Sheffield agrees: "We knew the app would sell, but we had no idea it would do this well. I think it's a perfect storm right now."

The analytics seem to suggest that this is no mere fad.

And with the release of the second installment in The Hunger Games film series, Catching Fire, coming out on November 22, the future of archery looks very bright indeed.

Press Contact
Andrew Sheffield, President
ATSHEF
[email protected]

Mitsumi Yamada
[email protected]

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Tags: archery, arrow, bow, Brave, Compound, Green Arrow, Hawkeye, iPhone, Katniss Everdeen, Quiver, Recurve, The Avengers, The Hunger Games


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Andrew Sheffield
Press Contact, ATSHEF