Archers Assemble: Toronto's Epic Return to Combat Archery Tournament This August
We’re backkk… Ready for an archery showdown? Toronto's hosting the next Combat Archery Tournament this August, and it's going to be nothing short of epic. Yeah, you heard it right - the arrows will fly again from 7 pm until 11:30 pm, right here in The Six.
This time, the combat gets tougher, the battlefield more intense - the stakes? Well, they've never been higher. We've got four fierce teams ready to compete: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and for the first time ever, Boston! Yep, this isn't your run-of-the-mill Tri-City Tournament anymore - we're making room for our neighbors down south.
And for those of you who've been following us, you know it's been a hot minute since we had a tournament in Toronto due to COVID. But now, we're back in the game, and we're not just playing to participate; we're playing to bring that shiny cup back home!
Toronto team captain Josh had some choice words about the upcoming tournament.
“Hosting our first tournament since 2019 means a lot to us. After going to Ottawa this past May and winning, the energy in our community has spiked and the drive to defend our title for the first time since 2017 is alive and well. I think the recent impression our players made on the other cities is that for the first time since the pandemic, Toronto is a real threat and we want to make sure we show up in full force to meet the expectations our opponents have of us and the ones we have of ourselves”
Referencing their latest 1st place win during the Golden Acres Tournament in Ottawa as The Untouchabows last May 2023. But the anticipation doesn't stop there - did we mention that Toronto's own Team Captain Josh is not only a strategic mastermind on the field, but also a seasoned coach at Archers Arena? He's honed his skills through countless hours of training, not just for his own performance but also to help others unlock their potential in this adrenaline-pumping sport. So if you've ever thought about taking a shot at combat archery, remember, you might just be learning from a champ.
The Untouchabows and Captain/Coach Josh in action! 😱🔥
There's fighting spirit for you! Be sure to check out this highlight reel from last year's tournament that showcases the high-stakes action we've come to expect.
So, to the Montreal Originals, who won the last tournament back in 2019 by beating our pride and joy, The Untouchabows, with a 21-16 victory, we've got one thing to say: we've been counting down the days until our rematch. And Olivier, Montreal's team captain, we're especially looking forward to seeing you on the battlefield again. It's time to renew old rivalries and let the arrows do the talking.
Oh, and Boston, we haven't forgotten about you. We're eager to see what your A-team brings to the table. We're already training to face your best shot!
Now let's talk about the game format. We're gearing up for 5v5, a dynamic and thrilling style that brings out the best in each archer and amplifies team strategy.
As for the prizes? Hold onto your bows, folks - we're still working out the specifics. But we'll let you in on a little secret: we're talking about including Arena Bows in the prize pool. So, if you've been eyeing those sleek, swift bows we've got around here, this could be your chance to claim one.
As always, the rules of engagement will be announced closer to the tournament date, but you can expect the same exciting, adrenaline-pumping action that Combat Archery is known for.
And if you're one of our loyal fans, we invite you, with all the formality we can muster, to join us this August. Come cheer us on as we reclaim our title, right here in Toronto. Got any questions? Don't hesitate to hit us up at info@archersarena.com or call us at (647)-992-7362. We'll be posting updates, tournament rules, and venue details soon, so keep an eye on our social media channels - Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
"We're coming for the cup. We're bringing our best team, and we're ready to win," says Sam Lai, founder – CEO of Archers Arena. "So Montreal, Ottawa, and Boston teams, better watch out for us."
Toronto, it's time to bring it on. August, we're ready for you!
What’s Community Night?
Are you looking to try archery, but can't do it during practice hours? Well now there's an opportunity for everyone who wants in on some action!
Join us this month at our Monthly Social event - Community Night. We'll provide all equipment, just show up with your friends ready-to go!
Every first Friday of the month, we gather together at the Arena to shoot arrows and meet new friends. It doesn’t matter if you’ve picked up a bow before, or even played here before - it’s great for beginners to try out!
This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to try out their skills with archery or just want an excuse hangout on Fridays since classes are always cancelled anyways (ya know those lockdown days?)
The game is an excellent way for people who are interested in fitness to get their fix. It’s fun, it’s easy to pick up, and exercising without realising it by running, dodging, and shooting like Robin Hood.
There are digital targets to shoot at in the range as well! You and up to 6 of your friends can play together - with everyone for themselves by seeing how accurate you are, playing speed rounds (or both!)
Personal scores and stats can be generated and if you compare yourself across the different session, you’ll be able to measure your progress and improvement! Plus if one person has been playing longer than another maybe he knows some secrets that might give him an edge?
It’s a great way to improve before going up against our regulars, but what’s the fun in that? Community Night lets you dive straight into the deep end and lets you feel like a true archer while still having some laughs!
Come join the regulars and play with our coaches at 7pm! Hopefully we can get up and running again with the next session starting in February the 4th, if the lockdown ends…
5 Reasons To Take Up Target Archery
Your mind and body will be in better shape
It’s a unique hobby
It’s accessible
It’s social
It’s fun
Your mind and body will be in better shape
Archery requires much physical strength and endurance. Shooting an arrow can take up from 15 to 45lbs of force on each pullback, which builds muscle quickly! And if you’re running during practice sessions, it also keeps your cardiovascular system healthy so that you have more energy throughout the day. Your body's stamina increases which means you can handle other activities without getting tired as fast!
Your mental fortitude also becomes stronger because as you play more, you become better. That means you’re becoming more skillful - always being sure that you’ll hit the target - and the play session is at least 1 hour long, so it’s a long period of concentration!
It’s a unique hobby
With so many hobbies and activities to choose from, archery certainly is a unique choice. Many people have not experienced archery since their days of past summer and scout camps. For this reason, the opportunity to try out this sport will get your creative juices flowing as you try to learn how to shoot like the best. With currently only a few people experienced with archery, you are sure to have an interesting conversation topic when people find out you have taken up the sport.
It’s accessible
It’s easy to join in terms of body or money! You don’t have to be strong or athletic in order to participate in this sport! In fact, it's often the opposite as most equipment used is lightweight and easy to handle. This means that anyone can do it!
And with our prices, it is easy to join at any time! If you want more bang for your buck, we offer Community Nights on the 1st Friday of each month that comes with the opportunity to join Toronto’s team for the tournament!
It’s social
Combat Archery has a thriving community with lots of interaction between different clubs who play together regularly throughout the year - there are even tournaments held - with Montreal being the winners of the first tournament held since coming out of COVID lockdowns.
If no one’s available to join you on some sessions, we also offer public sessions where up to 14 people come together to play for one hour!
It’s fun
It’s always fun to shoot at targets and during Combat Archery, at people! No other sport is like this when you’re shooting arrows at your opponent, and I guarantee you will have memorable moments from our lessons thanks to our awesome coaches, or during gameplay sessions thanks to yourselves having a great time.
Archer’s Arena
Archer's Arena blends all these together, making target archery affordable and accessible. This is the perfect gift for any kid or adult who wants to try target archery but doesn't want the hassle of setting up an elaborate setup in their backyard or garage. With what we offer, you’ll have a fantastic experience any time without having to spend thousands on traditional targets and equipment!
The Tournament Winners
Congratulations to Montreal, the winner of the first tournament! A recording of the tournament can be watched here, on Montreal’s Facebook page.
However, Toronto’s time will come!
We have one more tournament in Ottawa - 20th of November - and then will be Toronto’s turn to host in February (exact date to be decided). Don't let the old champs take away what's rightfully ours! This is our chance at revenge. We're not going down without a fight, are you with me? 4 years have passed since Toronto last won, and since then, it’s been Ottawa or Montreal winning… but this February - can YOU help us make history this time?
Our dream isn’t solely about winning again. Our dream is to keep building, keeping improving, and keep being able to have national tournaments all the time, and we hope you can join us in the monthly community nights.
Every 1st Friday of the month is when we host our Community Night where anyone can come try their hand at high-level combat archery or if they're feeling competitive, bring some friends along to play against newcomers! This open 2-hour session means there are always people looking for an opponent.
It’s discounted so you get 2-hours play for the price of 1, it’s always a blast, and it’s a great way to improve your fitness, power and accuracy.
Learning to use the bow and arrow is not only fun, it's also great for beginners! Archers Arena offers archery lessons that will get you started. You can take beginner sessions using foam-tipped arrows where we teach basic shooting techniques such as Eastern Thumb Draw, target practice or speed shooting.
About 150-200 arrows are shot during the session, so be aware of blisters! We advise you to let go of the arrow faster while shooting, but blisters can still happen! The classes are designed to help you learn and grow, and afterwards you can take the advanced classes so that your shooting skills don't get left behind!
People usually take 4-6 sessions to grasp the concepts and then you can also go for the Open Range session which costs $20 per person. The instructor isn’t there, and it’s a perfect way to practice on your own time when needed :)
We hope to see you on our ranges, or even better on our team in February!
The Beginning of Something Special
This Friday is a special day. November 5th is our first tournament since coming out of COVID lockdowns, and it’s being held in Montreal! We have 8 teams from Toronto, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Ottawa, and Boston Massachusetts coming to play, and from Toronto, we have 4 representatives who will partake.
This event will be live-streamed from 6pm on Montreal’s Facebook page, with super high-level Combat Archery plays being showcased all the time.
2017 was the last time Toronto won was the cup. Since then, it has been Ottawa or Montreal winning... However, there’s a tournament coming to Toronto this February (exact date to be decided), and this time we want to be the ones taking the cup!
Our dream is to keep building, keeping improving, and keep being able to have national tournaments all the time, and we hope YOU can join us.
Every 1st Friday of the month is when we host our Community Night and if you want to play some high-level Combat Archery, or have the chance to be part of the team, come meet our regulars and pros. Bring some friends to play with, or against newcomers or regulars in our open 2-hour session.
It’s discounted so you get 2-hours play for the price of 1, it’s always a blast, and it’s a great way to improve your fitness, power and accuracy.
There’s also an option which doesn’t require you to be shot at, and that’s our archery lessons. Here you can start off with beginner lessons using foam-tipped arrows, shooting around about 150-200 arrows during the hour long session. You will also be learning about traditional target shooting, eastern thumb draw. If you’re not sure, take a look at our reviews on Google!
Generally people take 4-6 sessions to grasp all the concepts, and afterwards there's advanced classes or open sessions you can book without instructor at $30 per person to self-practice.
We hope to see you on our ranges, or even better, on our team in February!