The Virginia Sportsman Summer 2019

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THE SUMMER 2019 ISSUE

FEATURES 22

MEETING MAIDEN Editor-In-Chief Joe Shields covers a harrowing new documentary about British sailor Tracy Edwards and her crew of courageous women who conquered the high seas—and prejudices—in an around-theworld sailing adventure.

30 2019 FESTIVAL GUIDE Virginia and the surrounding region is full of festivals for all interests. The Virginia Sportsman offers a calendar of 25 fun events in our backyard this summer.

36 THAT KID CAN FLY Meet 13-year-old fly-fishing prodigy Braden Miller.

46 ZAC BROWN’S BIKE Take a look at the new Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, designed by country-rock megastar Zac Brown.

59 EXPERT INSTRUCTION The complexity and challenge of sporting clays can leave even the most experienced shooters scratching their heads. Sharpshooter Anthony I. Matarese Jr. has the tips you need to get better.

SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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DEPARTMENTS THE SUMMER ISSUE 2019

12 THE SOUND With a mesmerizing style of flatpicking guitar, Billy Strings is shaping the future of bluegrass.

14 FROM THE FIELD How “begadwe,” a sacred Native American sport that translates to “Little Brother of War,” became modern-day lacrosse.

12 14

20 OUTFITTED For beach days or river trips, check out our editor-approved gear picks for wet adventure.

49 WELL READ A review of “In the Distance,” the stunning debut novel from author Hernán Diaz that’s redefining the Western.

55 HANDMADE Former Olympic equestrian athlete Tad Coffin designs custom saddles that benefit both horses and humans.

63 OPEN SPACES An excerpt from “Yellow Stonefly,” the latest novel from southwest Virginia author Tim Poland.

66 GREAT ESCAPE Travel writer Emily M. Grey explores Cappadocia, Turkey.

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The Summer 2019 Issue

EDITOR’S NOTE

I

n Maori, the native language of New Zealand, the name “Manawa Nui” means “great fortitude” and has been interpreted as courage, steadfastness and perseverance.

Fittingly, it is the name of a 55-foot, woodenhull motor sailboat that served as Admiral William “Bull” Halsey’s yacht in the South Pacific during World War II. Thanks to my father-in-law, I helped race Manawa Nui in the 1999 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. That year, it won the Concours d’Elegance, which is awarded according to the condition of each yacht and how close she is to her original form. We didn’t win any legs of the race but the yacht had character and I enjoyed sailing the Caribbean in eight-foot seas.

Great fortitude is an appropriate theme for our cover story on Maiden, a harrowing new documentary (and name of a sailboat) about British sailor Tracy Edwards.

At age 26, she skippered the first all-female crew on Maiden in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race.

Maiden begins with a warning from Edwards: “The ocean’s always trying to kill you. It doesn’t take a break.”

The sailing establishment didn’t give Edwards a break either; it opposed her dream of racing against men in the Whitbread. Male competitors believed an all-female crew would never finish. Potential sponsors feared the women would die at sea and cause a public-relations nightmare. The chauvinistic yachting press wagered they would fail.

Edwards’ story has all the elements of an epic adventure: 50-foot waves, life-and-death drama, nearmutiny, agony and thrilling victory. Prevailing prejudice adds to the mix of this against-all-odds account of perseverance that transcends sport for the greater good of educating girls.

Also in this issue, we debut our annual Festival Guide by Managing Editor Jedd Ferris. Everyone loves a good outdoor party. Fortunately, Virginia and its surrounding states are full of fun festivals during summer that will delight anglers, art enthusiasts, wine lovers and music fans.

Contributor Tee Clarkson features 13-year-old fly-fishing prodigy Braden Miller, who recently spent time fly fishing with renowned guide and fly tier Blane Chocklett. Miller has traveled across the country as a junior ambassador for Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO) and makes fly-tying appearances at shows up and down the East Coast.

The Summer issue takes a look at the new Indian Chieftain Dark Horse motorcycle, designed by countryrock megastar Zac Brown. The issue also features expert sporting-clays shooting instruction by Anthony I. Matarese Jr., who in 2016, became the first American to win the World English Sporting Championship.

“The Sound,” by Managing Editor Ferris, showcases the mesmerizing style of flat-picking guitarist Billy Strings, who is shaping the future of bluegrass. “From the Field,” by Editor-at-Large Eric Kallen, details 10

THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

how begadwe—a sacred Native American sport that translates into “Little Brother of War”—became modernday lacrosse.

Our “Outfitted” department shares editor-approved gear picks for beach days, river trips and other wet adventures. “Well Read” reviews “In the Distance,” a stunning debut novel from author Hernán Diaz, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, that redefines the Western genre.

In “Handmade,” our founder Hay Hardy profiles Tad Coffin, a former Olympic equestrian athlete who designs custom saddles that improve the performance and health of horses. “Open Spaces” shares an excerpt from “Yellow Stonefly,” the latest novel from southwest

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Virginia author Tim Poland. And in “Great Escape,” travel writer Travel Emily M. Grey explores Cappadocia, Turkey.

Lastly, I hope you enjoy photos from our The Virginia Sportsman re-launch party. We’re proud of where we’ve been and excited about where we’re going.

Thank you for reading and have a great summer.

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The Summer 2019 Issue | THE SOUND

THE

FUTURE

OF

BLUEGRASS

2 6 -Y E A R - O L D G U I TA R P H E N O M B I L LY S T R I N G S

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

BILLY STRINGS TAKES TRADITION ON A WILD RIDE

BY JEDD FERRIS

A

s a niche genre, bluegrass doesn’t produce a lot of viral stars, but Billy Strings is taking traditional sounds to the outer limits. A lightning-fast, flat-picking guitarist and rising young string slinger in the progressive bluegrass world, Strings has become a wildly popular fixture in acoustic music, selling out theaters and moving to the tops of festival bills at a rapid clip. With a sturdy voice and mesmerizing fret skills, the 26-year-old artist blends respect for bluegrass’ roots, collaborating on stage with legendary predecessors including Del McCoury and David Grisman, with electrifying, rock-driven spontaneity.

Growing up with a bluegrassplaying dad, Strings (real name William Apostol) learned Strings and his band are the fundamentals of performing at festivals throughout Bill Monroe’s highlonesome sound at the Southeast this summer, including an early age, but by the ROMP Festival in Owensboro, his teenage years Ky., on June 27, the Back Home he scratched a Appalachian Arts and Music Festival in rebellious itch by New Martinsville, W. Va., on June 28 joining a metal and the 4848 Festival in Snowshoe, band. Now based W.Va., on July 12. The group will also in Nashville, Strings play a special show at the venerable actually spends Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, most of his time on Tenn., with the Steep Canyon the road, crisscrossing Rangers on June 20. the country with an acoustic sound that’s blazing new frontiers in the acoustic landscape.

Strings’ debut album, Turmoil & Tinfoil, released in late 2017, is a showcase for the nimblefingered fret acrobatics by him and his talented band.

The record mixes honest front-porch tunes, like the reflective “All of Tomorrow,” with psychedelic string workouts, including the rumbling, “Meet Me at the DELLA MAE Creek,” an epic shredder that nearly hits 10 minutes with a series of breakneck solos. It’s a dynamic effort, band has spent nearly two decades honing its own but really just a snapshot of a Strings live show, take on bluegrass, featuring polished, high-lonesome where songs are often stretched even longer with singing and earnest lyrics with a hard-driving edge. The improvisational elasticity. group’s latest, album, Out in the Open, was produced

by Americana great Joe Henry.

5 MORE BANDS PUSHING BLUEGRASS FORWARD The Infamous Stringdusters This expansive quintet uses slick picking chops as a springboard for improvisational exploration. The band picked up a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album for its 2017 effort Laws of Gravity, but the group’s live shows are sculpted more in the vision of the Grateful Dead than Bill Monroe. The Stringdusters released a new studio album, Rise Sun, back in April.

Greensky Bluegrass Armed like a traditional string band, this popular five-piece outfit often veers into full-fledged rock tangents. The Michigan-bred band’s new album, All for Money, blends nimble picking with extended jams and dashes of distorted feedback. Founders Paul Hoffman and Dave Bruzza are also impressively introspective songwriters.

Steep Canyon Rangers A favorite from the mountains of western North Carolina, Steep Canyon has become well known as the backing band for comedian Steve Martin, but the

Della Mae First emerging in 2009 as a rare all-female bluegrass outfit, the Nashville-via-Boston, Grammy-nominated quartet has continued to gain momentum with a

STEEP CANYON RANGERS

dynamic sound that mixes string chops with soulful singing. The group’s recently released Butcher Shoppe EP contains a razor-sharp acoustic rendition of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post,” which features lead singer Celia Woodsmith delivering throaty intensity to match the original’s vocals while Kimber Ludiker’s sweet fiddle lines give the staple a pastoral reimagining.

Chatham County Line One of North Carolina’s most prolific yet underrated string bands, Chatham County Line members wear old-timey suits and play around a single mic, but their sound incorporates a wide range of styles from folk and country to various eras of rock. In the spring the quartet released its eighth studio album, Sharing the Covers, which, as the name suggests, pays tribute to the band’s broad influences with a full set of songs by other artists, including Beck and Wilco.

SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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The Summer 2019 Issue | FROM THE FIELD

LITTLE BROTHER OF WAR LACROSSE: NORTH AMERICA’S ORIGINAL TEAM SPORT

BY ERIC KALLEN

“ B A L L P L AY O F T H E C H O C TAW ” BY G E O R G E C AT L I N ( 1 7 9 6 - 1 8 7 2 )

YOU COULD HEAR THE INJURED SCREAM.

Mobs of warriors fought to advance a ball—a leather object stuffed with hair—on fields with loosely defined, unmarked boundaries. The men wielded crooked sticks resembling war clubs in a constant state of chaos. They attacked one another; wood clashed and bashed opponents. Sounds of play resembled those of bloody conflict. It is no wonder Native Americans called their game “begadwe,” or “Little Brother of War.” Early 17th-century Native Americans believed their rugged ballgame was sacred and bestowed upon them by the Creator. The game was often played to settle tribal disputes and serve as a surrogate for warfare. Men were selected to play as much for their bravery and experience in war as for their athletic prowess.

Braves painted themselves red—the color of battle—and wore breechclouts

and ornamental feathers. The sticks were carved with pockets made from animal hides and hardened sinew to accommodate a ball. Each tribe may have played differently, but the fundamentals of the collective game evolved into modern-day lacrosse.

The exact origins of lacrosse are unknown, but it was initially embraced by the eastern woodland people across that region of North America.

The first Europeans who saw them play were French Jesuit missionaries working in the Saint Lawrence River Valley in the 1630s. They were horrified by what they witnessed: a violence that overshadowed the true purpose of the game. Lacrosse was not a form of recreation for the Native Americans.

It was tied to the spiritual world and deeply rooted in mythology and the oral histories of the tribes that played it. They played “The Creator’s Game” for the enjoyment and entertainment of

Lacrosse was not a form of recreation for the Native Americans.

It was tied to the spiritual world and deeply rooted in mythology and the oral histories of the tribes that played it.

14

THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

the Creator.

In the early 20th century, the modern game of lacrosse gained a foothold in college preparatory schools and in colleges along the Eastern Seaboard.

Today it is one of the fastest-growing sports on the continent. Hard wooden sticks have been replaced with plastic heads (for mesh pockets) and graphite shafts.

Players protect themselves from the inherent violence and physical contact with helmets, gloves and arm pads.

The sport’s popularity has grown. People recognize the game’s beauty and speed, which is why it is often referred to as “the fastest game on two feet.”

While the sport’s rise in popularity and modification

by Anglo-American players is generally viewed as a welcome development, lacrosse is now far removed from its roots. To many, the ritual and ceremony that was once at the core of the Native-American game has been diminished and the roles tribal warriors played in developing the game is often overlooked.

Little Brother of War’s transformation into modernday lacrosse began with a dentist’s passion for the

traditional tribal game in mid-19th-century Montreal. Dr. William George Beers grew up watching Mohawk Indians play the game with his father. The competitions they watched were chaotic and violent.

“Only a savage people could, would or should play the old [Indian] game,” Beers once proclaimed. “Only such constitutions, such wind and endurance could stand its violence.”

Beers is commonly referred to as the Father of Modern Lacrosse with good reason: He introduced rules and order to the game. Consistent with prevailing views at the time, Beers believed Native Americans and their traditions were headed towards extinction. Lacrosse, he contested, served as a vehicle for remembrance, an important institution that celebrated the native peoples of North America.

“Long, long after the romantic sons of the forest have passed away, long, long after their sun sinks in the west to rise no more, lacrosse will remind the pale faces of Canada of the noble Indians that once lorded over this

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continent,” he declared.

For the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy (the Onondaga, Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora), lacrosse remains a way of life today. Children are given lacrosse sticks at birth and they are rarely seen without them on the reservations where they are raised. The words Beers spoke more than 150 years ago celebrating the game remain true today; the Native American game of lacrosse and the culture of the people remain vibrant.

“This is the Creator’s Game,” said Alfie Jacques, a member of the Onondaga Nation who handcrafts world-famous traditional lacrosse sticks. “People think of the Native American as a savage, godless creature that’s out to kill people. They say we’re poor, uneducated, on a reservation, totally controlled by the white people. That’s how they like their Indian.

We’re fighting against that kind of prejudice. So, we embrace one another and the game of lacrosse.”

Among the members of the Iroquois Nation, the only Native American team authorized to play a sport internationally, lacrosse provides an opportunity for members of their community to celebrate their culture and showcase their skilled play. Collegiate and professional ranks now swell with descendants of the game’s founders.

In 2014, brothers Lyle and Miles Thompson, 16

THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

members of the Onondaga Nation and attackmen for the University of Albany, were selected as the recipients of the Tewaaraton Trophy, which is awarded annually to the nation’s most outstanding college lacrosse player.

The following year, Lyle Thompson was again selected to receive this honor. The Thompson brothers are currently the only Native Americans to receive the game’s highest honor.

On the world stage, the Iroquois Nationals team, drawing from a population of 50,000, competes against nations with population numbers in the tens,

or hundreds of millions of people. At the 2018 World Championships in Israel, the Iroquois Nationals placed third, losing only to powerhouse teams from Canada and the United States.

For Lars Tiffany, head men’s lacrosse coach at the University of Virginia (UVA), coaching the Iroquois Nationals team in the World Games was an opportunity to honor the Native American people. Tiffany was raised in LaFayette, New York, near the Onondaga Reservation, and recognized at an early age that lacrosse is more than just a game played on a field.

“The Native American players compete for a bigger purpose,” Tiffany said. “They play to honor their culture and their ancestors who created this game.”

Like Tiffany, Michael Herring is from upstate New York and dedicated his entire adult life to lacrosse.

In the 1980s, he was an attackman at Dartmouth. After TO P : U VA S E N I O R M I K E Y H E R R I N G , A M E M B E R O F T H E O N O N DAG A N AT I O N , C E L E B R AT E S H I S GAME WINNING OVERTIME GOAL AGAINST S Y R AC U S E W I T H T E A M M AT E D OX A I K E N .

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college, he built a successful career as an independent school educator, coach, teacher and mentor. Herring is currently the head boy’s lacrosse coach at the Blue Ridge School in central Virginia. As a lacrosse coach, he led teams to multiple championships, coached All-American players and oversaw the development of student athletes who went on to play at the game’s highest levels.

Herring grew up near the lacrosse hotbed of Syracuse. His first love was basketball, however, and he had a difficult time focusing on that sport because he is a member of the Onondaga Nation and lacrosse is in his blood. Herring’s mother was raised on the reservation and his grandmother held a prominent leadership position among the Onondaga.

“I didn’t grow up on the reservation,” Herring explained. “My mom left the reservation when she was young to go to college and pursue a career in teaching.”

Living outside the reservation, Herring was not surrounded by lacrosse like those who lived within its borders. In high school, he slowly turned to lacrosse as another athletic outlet and a way to connect with his Native American heritage.

Even though Herring and his mom did not live on the reservation, it was never far from their lives. “For my mom, there were two things that were important: Syracuse University and lacrosse,” he said.

When Herring’s son Mikey, a highly recruited high school lacrosse player, chose to attend UVA, he asked his son to call his grandmother, Marlene Dimler, and break the news that playing for Syracuse was not in his future. Dutifully, he made the call and his grandmother responded with the very same wisdom and stoicism she has demonstrated her whole life.

“Virginia is a great school,” Dimler assured her grandson. “You will get a great education, and at least I will still see you wearing an orange-and-blue uniform.”

On March 2, 2019, at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome, the UVA men’s lacrosse team stormed back from a four-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game against the Orangemen. With one minute and 30 seconds left in overtime, UVA senior Mikey Herring took a pass from attackman Michael Kraus and rifled a powerful lefthanded shot past the Syracuse goalie for the victory. As the Virginia players took the field to celebrate, a large Herring federation of family and friends stood and cheered. Among them was Dimler, seated just 10 miles from the Onondaga Reservation where she was born and raised, cheering for her grandson in his orange-and-blue uniform. Like the victory, the game itself is worth celebrating, as is its tradition and the culture of the people who continue to play it for the Creator.

Article collaborator Theo Dol is a native of Ontario, Canada, and is currently a senior Foreign Affairs and Media Studies major at the University of Virginia.

A high school lacrosse All-American while at Avon Old Farms School (Conn), Dol now plays long-stick midfield for the Cavaliers.

A FATHER’S GIFT

Eric Kallen has been around the game of lacrosse for most of his life. Growing up in Baltimore, he played for perennial powerhouse Calvert Hall High School and then at Washington and Lee University. Today he spends his time on the sidelines coaching his sons and cheering on his adopted team, the University of Virginia Cavaliers.

ALFIE JACQUES HAS BEEN MAKING TRADITIONAL LACROSSE STICKS FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS.

He works seven days a week from his shop on the Onondaga Nation Reservation in New York and crafts each stick by hand on a bench he built with his father in 1969.

The time and effort Jacques puts into each stick is a reflection of the love he has for lacrosse and for his people, who created the game as a tribute to their Creator. The years and toil have taken their toll; Jacques now requires six-to-10-hour days to produce 200 sticks a year, down from 11,000 sticks in 1972.

Jacques controls each step of the process, from selecting the best shagbark hickory trees to carving, bending, drying and stringing each stick. The process can take upwards of 10 months to complete and the demand for his sticks far outpaces what he can supply. Each stick is a work of art for those fortunate enough to own one. The sticks symbolize a time when Native Americans played the game, often to heal and lift the spirits of their communities.

In January 2019, Brad Tiffany, father of the University of Virginia’s (UVA) head men’s lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany, passed away at age 85. Tiffany was a former Marine who raised his family on a ranch outside Syracuse, New York. He introduced young Lars to the Onondaga Native Americans and their culture. As Tiffany climbed the ranks of Division I lacrosse as a player and then a coach, he never strayed from what he learned about the Native Americans in his youth.

After his father’s funeral in Syracuse, Tiffany was about to drive his wife and young daughter back to UVA in Charlottesville, Virginia, when he was approached by an old friend and member of the Onondaga Nation, Joe Solomon. The men embraced in the parking lot and Tiffany thanked Solomon for attending the service to honor his father.

“Before you leave, I have a gift for you from your father,” said Solomon. He reached into his truck and presented Tiffany with a traditional wooden lacrosse stick made by Jacques. “Your father asked Alfie to make this stick for you last year. Alfie just finished it and wanted me to make sure you got it. The only requirement is that you don’t hang it on a wall, you use it.”

Tiffany accepted the stick with tears in his eyes, a gift from a father to a son, honoring a game that the Native American people have given to the world. And the coach uses it every time the UVA men’s lacrosse team takes the field. If you watch games closely, you can see the stick, slightly worn from use but proudly displayed among the modern sticks and equipment on the sideline. The stick is an inspiration and reminds UVA players that they are competing for a bigger purpose: honoring a people and culture who gave the world a wonderful game.

L E G E N DA R Y N AT I V E A M E R I C A N S T I C K- M A K E R A L F I E J AC Q U E S V I S I T S W I T H U VA HEAD LACROSSE COACH LARS TIFFANY BEFORE HIS TEAM’S GAME AGAINST THE S Y R AC U S E O R A N G E M E N . P H OTO BY: V I N C E N T B R I E D I S , U VA M E D I A R E L AT I O N S SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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Farm living never looked so good.

LET CORE FIND YOUR NEXT CENTRAL VIRGINIA PROPERTY As a Charlottesville focused Real Estate and Development company, CORE’s experience and relationships are the ideal combination for all your Central Virginia Real Estate needs from luxury downtown condos, to large farms and estates, and everything in between. www.corecville.com | 600 E. Water St. Suite H Charlottesville, VA 22902 | 434-466-8256

The Summer 2019 Issue | OUTFITTED

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OTTERBOX YAMPA 70 DRY DUFFLE [1] On river trips certain things just need to stay dry. That’s when gear belongs in the OtterBox Yampa 70—a waterproof duffle bag that also features a durable harness when you need to throw it on your back and go. The interior pockets and tie-down points are nice bonuses for organization and convenience, but the real draw here is the tough nylon exterior that ensures your essentials won’t get soaked. $299.99; otterbox.com

COSTA SPEARO [2]

Whether you’re planning a river trip or beach getaway, check out our editor-approved gear picks for summer’s wet adventures.

BY JEDD FERRIS

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

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By land or by sea, clear vision is key. Costa delivers high-quality adventure-ready shades with the Spearo, named in tribute to the stealth skills of spearfishers.

Like their inspiration source, these sunglasses are made for fast motion, with lightweight yet sturdy frames and a precise temple design that prevents slipping.

Most important are the enlightening polarized glass lenses, which help provide perfect sightlines for your next cast. $269; costadelmar.com

VIBE SEA YELLOWFIN 120 [3] Vibe kayaks are designed by Georgiabased anglers, so they’re made for Southern waterways. The new Yellowfin has a sleek shape that’s built to offer a mix of speed and stability, but it’s also outfitted with some savvy features for gear transport to your favorite fishing spot. Most impressive are the two flush-mount rod-holders, 10 integrated top-loading gear tracks and a generous front storage area with a flexible top cover. $799.99; vibekayaks.com

3

TOPO DESIGNS RIVER SHORT [4] Topo’s River Shorts are versatile enough for all kinds of waterplay—low-key casting, whitewater rafting and beach bumming. They’re made with breathable nylon that stretches comfortably when you’re splashing around, and they also dry quickly when you’re ready to trade the local waterway for the local watering hole. We also like the zippered back pocket that keeps keys and cash secure. $79; topodesigns.co

4

PATAGONIA MEN’S LW A/C SHIRT [6]

YETI RAMBLER 30 OZ. TUMBLER [7]

During long days in the sand under the summer sun, you need a shirt that offers airflow. Part of Patagonia’s new Hot Weather Naturals line, the LW A/C Shirt is made with a blend of lightweight organic cotton and extremely breathable, soil-regenerative hemp. It’s sustainable comfort for times when the temps rise.

Keep your beverage of choice ice cold when you’re on the water or just enjoying mellow moments lakeside. The Yeti Rambler is made with kitchen-grade stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation so liquids stay chilly and refreshing on stuffy Southern days. You’ll also dig the magnetic lid that slides easily for fast sipping access. $34.99; yeti.com

$79; patagonia.com

7

6 CHACO Z/1 CLASSIC CHROMATIC [5] Now an explorer’s mainstay, Chaco’s Z/1 Classic blends the cool comfort of an open sandal with the rugged sole of a hiking shoe. The upper straps of these water-ready stalwarts are easily adjustable to find a snug and secure fit, while the sole beneath offers plenty of gritty grip for long days of traversing trails or hopping through creeks. $105; chacos.com

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MAIDE VOYAG L E F T TO R I G H T: T R ACY E DWA R D S , MIKAELA VON KOSKULL, MICHELE PA R E T ( B A C K T U R N E D ) , J O G O O D I N G , C L A I R E WA R R E N , A N G E L A H E AT H , SA R A H DAV I E S , A M A N DA S WA N N E A L , D A W N R I L E Y , S A L LY H U N T E R , J E N I M U N D Y, TA N J A V I S S E R / P H O T O COURTESY OF TRACY EDWARDS AND SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

EN GE

WOMEN TACKLE THE HIGH SEAS AND PREJUDICE IN NEW ROUND-THE-WORLD SAILING DOCUMENTARY

BY JOE SHIELDS

M

aiden opens with footage of menacing waves and a warning: “The ocean’s always trying to kill you. It doesn’t take a break.” The voice belongs to British sailor Tracy Edwards, heroine of a film released in North America

by Sony Pictures Classics on June 28. Written and directed

by Alex Holmes, the 93-minute documentary features Edwards, who at age 26, skippered the first all-female crew in the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race...

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... “Maiden is one of those inspirational stories that once heard, you are unlikely to forget,” said Holmes, who first heard Edwards speak at his 11-year-old daughter’s elementary-school graduation. “It’s the story of a young girl who dared to dream and of a team that came together to challenge chauvinism and set an example to the world. From the moment she started telling her story, I knew she was a remarkable character. As the tale enfolded, I was also struck by the realization that, even after all these years, the world tries to limit our daughters.”

The tale has all the elements of an epic adventure: 50-foot waves, life-and-death drama, near-mutiny, agony and thrilling victory. Prevailing prejudice adds to the mix of this against-all-odds account of perseverance.

The sailing establishment opposed Edward’s dream of racing against men in the Whitbread. Male competitors believed an all-female crew would never finish. Potential THE TALE HAS ALL sponsors feared the women would die at sea THE ELEMENTS OF and cause a public-relations nightmare. The AN EPIC ADVENTURE: chauvinistic yachting press wagered they 50-FOOT WAVES, would fail.

“One journalist at the time [Bob Fisher LIFE-AND-DEATH of The Guardian] called us ‘a tin full of tarts,’” DRAMA, NEARsaid Edwards. “Then when we won one of the MUTINY, AGONY AND legs coming into New Zealand, he called us ‘a tin full of smart, fast tarts,’ and you know THRILLING VICTORY. what? At the time we thought that was great.

PREVAILING But it was of the time and you can’t change PREJUDICE ADDS that.”

TO THE MIX OF The film gradually reveals the resilient bond that forms among the women during THIS AGAINST-ALLa perilous journey. It does so with the ODDS ACCOUNT OF camerawork of Jo Gooding, the Welsh PERSEVERANCE cook on board Maiden, who captured the undertaking on a clunky SVHS camera. The crew’s commentary also adds personal perspective and social context. Male sailing crews were questioned about tactics; the women were asked, “How are you all getting along together?” and “What do you do for chapped lips?”

Introduced in 1973, the round-the-world (and clock) yachting competition was originally sponsored by Britain’s Whitbread brewing company. Known as The Ocean Race today, the triennial tradition is a proving ground and true marathon on the high seas. It is one of sailing’s Big Three events; the others are the Olympic Games and America’s Cup. The race is an obsession for the greatest sailors, one that was not lost on Edwards.

She began traveling the world after being expelled from school when she was 15 years old. Beginning in Greece at age 17, Edwards worked on charter yachts and spent her first transatlantic voyage learning how to sail.

“I found myself day-working in Newport, Rhode Island,” she said. “This meant staying wherever I could and finding work on a daily basis: sanding, varnishing, painting, cleaning bilges. You name it, I did it. Anything to survive.”

She first learned of the Whitbread while working as a stewardess on a charter boat in Newport.

“I was sitting on a friend’s boat one day and I was looking through his books,” Edwards explains in the documentary. “And I pulled one book out and opened it up. I went, ‘What’s this?’ ‘That’s the Whitbread Round the World Race.’ I said, ‘This is absolutely incredible.’ I wanted to be part of it. So, I knew it was just something I had to do.”

The next day, Edwards applied for a job as a cook on a Whitbread boat. “I remember going to the skipper…I said, ‘Are you looking for a cook?’ And he went, ‘We are not having a girl. We are not going to be the only professional racing team in the world with a girl on the boat.”

Devasted, Edwards returned to her boat, where by chance, she was told they had an important charter. The client turned out to be King Hussein I of Jordan. Edwards was washing dishes in the galley when Hussein walked in. The two began a friendly conversation; Hussein was fascinated by her life and passion for the Whitbread. He told her she must do it.

Inspired, Edwards convinced the skipper to hire her and became the cook—and the only woman—on the South African boat Atlantic Privateer. It was on the Atlantic Privateer T O P, L E F T T O R I G H T : M I K A E L A V O N K O S K U L L , J E N I M U N D Y. P H O T O COURTESY OF TRACY EDWARDS AND SONY PICTURES CLASSICS BOTTOM: MAIDEN SKIPPER TRACY EDWARDS / PHOTO COURTESY OF TIFF

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

Come fish the best waters in WV One stop and two lakes

S TO N E WALLCO U NTRY.CO M LEWIS COUNTY CVB | 499 US HWY 33 EAST | WESTON, WV 26452 | 304-269-7328

Beating Cancer is in our Blood

21st Annual Southern Chesapeake Leukemia Cup Regatta

July 12-14 in Deltaville, VA Onshore events at the Deltaville Maritime Museum Register your boat, raise funds to save lives, and join us for the Party for the Cure!

www.leukemiacup.org/va

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L E F T TO R I G H T: T R ACY E D W A R D S , D A W N R I L E Y, S A L LY H U N T E R , A N G E L A H E AT H , M I K A E L A V O N KOSKULL, AMANDA SWAN N E A L , TA N JA V I S S E R , JO GOODING / PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY EDWARDS AND SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

1989-90

THE WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE EDITION: FIFTH COMPETITORS: 23 YACHTS: MULTI-CLASS DISTANCE: 32,018 NAUTICAL MILES THE COURSE:

Sept. 2, 1989 Leg: 1 Route: Southampton, United Kingdom — Punta del Este, Urguay Nautical Miles: 5,938 Oct. 28, 1989 Leg: 2 Route: Punta del Este, Urguay — Fremantle, Australia Nautical Miles: 7,260 Dec. 23, 1989 Leg: 3 Route: Fremantle, Australia — Auckland, New Zealand Nautical Miles: 3,272 that Edwards first encountered the yacht that would become Maiden; both boats rounded Cape Horn in the icy waters of the 1985-86 Whitbread.

Originally named Disque D’Or 3, Maiden was named Stabilo Boss when Edwards first laid eyes on the yacht during the 1985-86 race in the Southern Ocean, near Antarctica. Stabilo Boss was skippered by the single-handed sailor Bertie Reed; Edwards communicated with him via radio while rounding the horn. After the race, Stabilo Boss was renamed Prestige and languished in Cape Town, South Africa.

Edwards finished the 1985-86 race and knew she wanted to sail in the 1989-90 race, but with an all-female crew.

The “Maiden Great Britain” project was not well received by potential sponsors. Determined, Edwards mortgaged her house to purchase a “wreck with a pedigree” for £110,000. The wreck was Prestige, which was shipped to Southampton, England, for an overhaul.

In 1988, Edwards and her crew spent six months redesigning and refitting the yacht. In September of that year, the Duchess of York graciously christened Maiden and went sailing with the women. Sponsorship soon followed: the team bore the Royal Jordanian Airlines logo, courtesy of Hussein. Maiden was painted in the livery of the planes; the famous gray hull and its red and gold lines became an icon of the 1989-90 race.

On Sept. 2, 1989, 23 yachts met on the starting line in Southampton for the fifth Whitbread. The race had six legs totaling 32,018 nautical miles: (1) Southampton to Punta del Este, Uruguay; (2) Punta del Este to Fremantle, Australia; (3) Fremantle to Auckland, New Zealand; (4) Auckland to Punta del Este; (5) Punta del Este to Fort Lauderdale, U.S.A; and (6) Fort Lauderdale back to Southampton. The race applied time allowances, but four divisions separated the entries and the Whitbread Trophies were awarded to the first boat to finish in each class.

Edwards and her crew shocked the sailing world and completed the race in 167 days and three hours. Although

Feb. 4, 1990 Leg: 4 Route: Auckland, New Zealand — Punta del Este, Urguay Nautical Miles: 6,255 March 17, 1990 Leg: 5 Route: Punta del Este, Urguay — Fort Lauderdale, United States Nautical Miles: 5,475 May 5, 1990 Leg: 6 Fort Lauderdale, United States —Southampton, United Kingdom Nautical Miles: 3,818

TRACY EDWARDS BEHIND THE WHEEL IN THE 1989-90 WHITBREAD ROUND THE WORLD RACE PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY EDWARDS AND SONY PICTURES CLASSICS SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

Maiden was smaller than competing yachts, the women won two of the three SouthernOcean legs in Division D. Two boats did not finish the race and one man perished after being swept overboard. Maiden came in second overall in her class, the best result for a British boat in 17 years. It still remains the best result ever for a female crew.

There are difficult and poignant moments in the film. Edwards’ navigational error in the fifth leg results in Maiden achieving a disappointing fourth place in Division D. While crossing the Southern Ocean, dressing extremes match those of the elements; it takes the women 30 minutes to put on and another 30 minutes to take of clothing layers. And their efforts only afford them protection for just a few minutes on the frigid deck.

Then there are lighthearted moments. In Auckland, Maiden is welcomed by more than 14,000 fans even though the yacht arrives in the middle of the night. The ladies also pull a great media stunt during a warmer leg of the race by arriving at the dock wearing bathing suits. They later regret the ploy. Edwards even tells reporters on camera: “I hate the word feminist.”

But the “maiden” voyage did transform Edwards into a feminist. She remains optimistic.

“The great message we always had was simply equality,” she explained. “What’s the difference between 30 years ago and now? My usual answer is: not enough. But there is a difference. Thirty years ago, men were either aggressive towards us, or there was antipathy. Whereas 30 years later, women are not just having the conversation with L E F T TO R I G H T: T R ACY E DWA R D S , M I K A E L A VO N KO S K U L L COURTESY OF TRACY EDWARDS AND SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

ourselves. We are having it with men.”

In 1990, Edwards was awarded MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II. She also became the first woman in its 34-year history to receive the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.

Soon afterwards, Edwards sold Maiden and the 12 crew members scattered across the globe. She went on to work for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center and returned to university to complete a psychology degree.

In 2014, Edwards discovered Maiden had been abandoned in the pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean. She raised funds once again to rescue the yacht and bring her home to the United Kingdom for restoration—and a chance to reunite with her original crew members. Edwards also had an idea: Maiden could help raise money to educate girls.

Today, a new generation of all-female crew members are sailing Maiden on a world tour with more than 23 destinations in 13 countries. The crew sails for girls’ education, working with local charities and supporting community-led educational projects.

Edwards is a motivational speaker and has written two books about her experiences. Visit www.tracyedwards.com and www.themaidenfactor.org for more information.

Joe Shields is the editor-in-chief of The Virginia Sportsman. He is a writer and marketing executive based in Charlottesville, Virginia. His writing and photography have appeared in The Virginia Sportsman and other publications. Whether fly fishing or surfing, he loves the outdoors and celebrates sporting life and culture in his narratives.

SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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Festiva Guide

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

al e

The Crooked Road’s Mountains of Music Homecoming Southwest Virginia

June 7-15 The roots of Appalachia are celebrated with nine days of programming focused on bluegrass and traditional mountain music. This popular annual event features more than 25 concerts and 70 cultural experiences around southwest Virginia. mtnsofmusic.com

Everyone loves a good outdoor party. Fortunately Virginia and surrounding states are full of fun festivals during the summer months.

In our first Festival Guide, The Virginia Sportsman rounds up the region’s best galas, offering a calendar of events that will please anglers, art enthusiasts, wine lovers and music fans.

BY JEDD FERRIS

W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival Henderson, Ky.

June 12-15 Blues legends representing sounds from the Delta to the hill country to the city will take the stage at the scenic Audubon Mill Park on the Ohio River for this lauded festival that’s been running for more than a quarter century. Grab a plate, then groove to some of the best blues artists in the country. handyblues.org

Annual Rosemont Wine & Art Festival La Crosse, Va.

June 15 Taste some of Rosemont’s finest wines while you enjoy the works of 35 fine artists and exhibitors. Artisans from around the Southeast will show their best works from a range of mediums, including paintings, pottery, jewelry, woodworking and photography. rosemontofvirginia.com

Williamsburg Live Williamsburg, Va.

June 21-22 Visit the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg for this new music gala that will feature sets from Norah Jones and Emmylou Harris, with additional support from Mandolin Orange and Parker Millsap. vafest.org/williamsburg-live

Virginia Summer Solstice Wine Festival Amherst, Va.

June 22 Raise a glass to the Summer Solstice at Lazy Days Winery, which hosts this annual festival featuring offerings from a variety of local vineyards as well as two stages of live music, delicious food and family-friendly activities. summersolsticefestival.com

Bayou Boogaloo Music & Cajun Food Festival Norfolk, Va.

STEEP CANYON RANGERS W I L L P E R F O R M AT B R I S TO L RHYTHM AND ROOTS R E U N I O N , TA K I N G P L AC E SEPTEMBER 20-22. / PHOTO

BY RUBY SKY PHOTOGRAPHY R U B Y S K Y P H O T O G R A P H Y. C O M

June 28-30 Authentic sounds and cuisine from New Orleans come to the Norfolk waterfront. Enjoy your fill of crawdads, jambalaya, po’ boys and beignets, as well as some of the best bands coming out of the Big Easy, including the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Dumpstaphunk. festevents.org

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Avery County Wine & Beer Festival

Master Musicians Festival

June 29 Escape to the High Country of North Carolina for some of the best regional wines and craft brews at Sorrento’s Dining Complex in Banner Elk. averycounty.com

July 19-20 Catch sets by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, the War and Treaty, Cedric Burnside and many more at this Kentucky roots music summit, which has become a regional mainstay in its 25-year run. mastermusiciansfestival.org

Banner Elk, N.C.

Massanutten Summer Jam

Somerset, Ky.

McGaheysville, Va.

Shenandoah Valley Music Festival

Red Wing Roots Music Festival

July 19 – Sept. 1 The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival is a longstanding concert series that takes place on the scenic grounds of Shrine Mont in the Shenandoah Valley. Acts confirmed include the Beach Boys on July 26, the Oak Ridge Boys on Aug. 9 and Home Free on Aug. 10. musicfest.org

July 3 Massanutten Resort hosts this fun summertime party at the base of the slopes, featuring live music, local food trucks, activities for the kids and one of the best fireworks shows in the region. massresort.com

Mt. Solon, Va.

July 12-14 Some of the best acts in Americana and bluegrass fill the bill at this annual festival at the scenic Natural Chimneys Park in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. This year catch sets by Mandolin Orange, First Aid Kit, the Wood Brothers and Peter Rowan. redwingroots.com

Purcellville Wine & Food Festival Purcellville, Va.

Orkney Springs, Va.

Virginia Highlands Festival Abingdon, Va.

July 26 – Aug. 4 Creativity in many forms gets a big celebration in Abingdon with 10 straight days of events focusing on music, photography, visual and performing arts, antiques and much more. vahighlandsfestival.org

Smith River Fest

July 13 Taking place at historic Dillon’s Woods, this popular festival brings together many of the local vineyards located in the scenic wine country of northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. Taste some of the region’s excellent varietals under the shade of large white oak trees. The festival also features an impressive spread of food and works by area artisans. purcellvillewineandfood.com

Axton, Va.

Virginia Lake Festival

Nellysford, Va.

July 18-20

Clarksville, Va. Held for more than four decades, this festival in Clarksville features a lively arts and crafts scene, a wide array of food vendors, live music, fireworks and the popular “Gathering of the Boats” on Buggs Island Lake/ John H. Kerr Reservoir in the evening. clarksvilleva.com 32

THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

Aug. 10 The Smith River is one of Virginia’s most scenic gems. Enjoy it with a full day of paddling, fishing, running and biking, along with vendor booths, live music and fun for the whole family at this event that takes place at the Smith River Sports Complex near Martinsville. visitmartinsville.com

Blackberry Harvest and Music Festival Aug. 3 Head to Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery to pick fresh blackberries and dance to the sweet sounds of live bluegrass at this annual fest in central Virginia. The event also includes tastings of the farm’s homemade meads and wines. hilltopberrywine.com

V I N E S & B I N E S F E S T I VA L AT B A L D TO P B R E W E R Y W I T H D U C A R D V I N E YA R D S / P H OTO C O U R T E S Y D U C A R D V I N E YA R D S

Wine and Oyster Festival Harrisonburg, Va.

Aug. 4 On Sunny Slope Farm is the place to be for this growing summer event that features a variety of regional wineries pouring their best varietals, along with a selection of fresh oysters from the Virginia coast.

The festival on the scenic outskirts of Harrisonburg also features live music, artisan booths and additional culinary offerings from local chefs. onsunnyslopefarm.com

Black Dog Beach Music Festival Floyd, Va.

Aug. 10 Venture to the idyllic grounds of the Nancy Morrisette Festival Field for this annual event hosted by lauded Virginia winery Chateau Morrisette. It’s a full day filled with wine tastings, delicious food, craft vendors and live tunes. thedogs.com

Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival Norfolk, Va.

Aug. 23-24 Soulful sounds of brass will be blowing through the waterfront breeze at Norfolk’s Town Point Park, during the longest running outdoor jazz festival in Hampton Roads. festevents.org

RTE 23 Music Festival Wise, Va.

Aug. 24 Deep in the mountains of southwest Virginia, this one-day fest at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise features the Fritz, C2 & the Brothers Reed and 49 Winchester. rte23musicfestival.com

Smoky Mountain Elk Fest Maggie Valley, N.C.

Sept. 13-15 Created to celebrate the reintroduction of elk to the Great Smoky Mountains, this new festival at

the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds will feature educational hikes and elk tours, as well local crafts, food and live music. smokymtnelkfest.com

Watermelon Park Fest Berryville, Va.

Sept. 19-22 This small Americana gathering in Berryville features an impressive line-up of acts along the scenic Shenandoah River. Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien and Larry Keel top the bill. watermelonparkfest.com

Carolina Fall

Wilkesboro, N.C.

Sept. 20-21 The Kruger Brothers host this emerging Americana festival in downtown Wilkesboro. In addition to headlining sets by the fest founders, catch Balsam Range, Chatham County Line, Baucom & Jones and many more. carolinainthefall.org

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Bristol, Tenn./Va.

Sept. 20-22 Every fall the border city of Bristol, located on the Tennessee/Virginia line, celebrates its history as the “Birthplace of Country Music” with a lively street fest that incorporates roots-based artists from many generations.

This annual bash features a range of acts from national headliners to regional upstarts to down-home

Appalachian pickers playing along the bustling main drag of State Street on more than 20 stages. This year the festival will feature sets from Steep Canyon Rangers, Wynonna Judd, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Patty Griffin, Caamp, Sam Bush, Ruston Kelly and Marty Stuart. birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/festival

Wide Open Bluegrass Raleigh, N.C.

Sept. 27-28 Some of the best in bluegrass always lead the bill at this two-day festival, which closes the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass Week in downtown Raleigh. Line-up still to be announced. wideopenbluegrass.com

Smoky Mountain Fly Fishing Festival Bryson City, N.C.

Oct. 12 Anglers come together to celebrate the abundance of

WAT E R M E L O N PA R K F E S T I N B E R RY V I L L E , VA .

fly fishing in the waters of western North Carolina at this event that takes place at the Warehouse at Nantahala Brewing. The full day features casting demos, vendor booths and a chance to meet area fishing guides and fly tiers. You can also wet a line on the delayed harvest waters of the Tuckasegee River. greatsmokies.com/flyfishfest

Vines and Bines Fest Etlan, Va.

Oct. 13 DuCard Vineyards and Bald Top Brewery, both located in Madison County, jointly celebrate their delicious creations with beer and wine tastings at both of their sites. The event also features live music, food and local crafts. ducardvineyards.com

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FALSE ALBACORE C A U G H T O N F LY B Y YOUNG PHENOM

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

Braden Miller

A 13-YEAR-OLD FLY-FISHING AND FLY-TYING PRODIGY

BY TEE CLARKSON

SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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F

or over 15 years,

the Albemarle Angler has served Central Virginia as a guide service and fly fishing shop. Their first-hand knowledge of their products and the surrounding fisheries sets them apart. Fishing and instructions takes place all year long. They teach and guide fly fishing for trout during the spring, fall, and winter on the state’s most picturesque cold mountain streams. Trout are not the only species that anglers can pursue with a fly rod.

During the summer months, you will find them floating the historic James and Shenandoah rivers, fly fishing for smallmouth bass and other warm water species such as largemouth, gar, catfish, and more. For those who have never tried the sport, beginners are welcome. Fly fishing is not as hard as you think.

After anglers have explored Virginia’s fish species, they often start wondering where else in the world they can travel with their fly rods. With The Albemarle Angler, fisherman can book trips to catch species such as tarpon, bonefish, permit, giant salmon, cutthroat trout, and much more. Fisherman can travel to locations such as Idaho, Belize, Cuba, Mexico, and Bahamas. The price of the trip through this shop is always the same as the price would be if you book directly through a lodge. When booked through the shop, they will even give 20 percent off any gear a customer needs for their adventure.

All employees are educated fly fishermen who are available to answer angler’s most challenging questions.

For those of you who are beginning, take advantage of the intimacy of their small business where learning opportunities take place daily.

PRICE MATCH ALWAYS GUARANTEED

albemarleangler.com

shooting hoops with Steph Curry, tossing the pigskin around with Tom Brady, shagging flies with Bryce Harper. That’s how most 13-year-old boys would spend time with their sports heroes given the opportunity.

THIS KID C ATC H E S BIG FISH.

B

raden Miller, a 13-year-old seventh-grader at Hungary Creek Middle School in Henrico County, Virginia, had a different day in mind, however, when he was given the opportunity to spend some time with his mentor and idol, Blane Chocklett, renowned fly-fishing guide and fly tier.

“We like to mess with him and call him Blane Jr.,” his mom, Casey, joked as she and Miller relayed the story of an epic day on the water with Chocklett.

Fishing for musky in December with the temperatures stuck in the 30s isn’t for everyone. Neither is tossing a 400-grain sink tip on a 12-weight fly rod all day. For Miller, it was a dream come true.

Perhaps more amazing than the story of the day’s fishing is how Miller came to find himself on the bow of Chocklett’s boat in the first place.

Several years ago, Miller’s grandmother dropped off a fly-tying vise and some tying materials along with an old rod and reel for him to try as she was downsizing some of her equipment.

Miller taught himself how to tie flies from a how-to book. His first fly, a wooly bugger, fell apart when he first fished it. However, it wasn’t long before, with a little help from YouTube and Instagram, he was cranking out more varied and

MILLER WOWS SHOW AT T E N D E E S W I T H T H I S F LY P A T T E R N S .

durable patterns.

Soon, Miller was casting his fly rod and his own flies for the bluegill and small bass that inhabit the lake in Crump Park near his house.

Miller discovered Chocklett’s patterns online and was drawn to streamers, particularly Chocklett’s internationally recognized Game Changer pattern.

“When I am tying dry flies, I get bored really quick,” Miller said. “I like tying streamers because they take time and patience, and there is nothing like watching a big fish smash a fly you tied.”

When Miller was 12, his parents followed him from booth to booth at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival as he showed off his streamer patterns, asking for pointers and feedback.

“The first year we spent a few minutes at each booth,” his mother said. “By the second year it was more like 45 minutes,” she joked. “Vendors and tiers were impressed with his flies. Miller was lucky to meet so many great people, including Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser.”

They say musky are the fish of 10,000 casts. Maybe that’s why Miller wasn’t quite ready when the line jumped from his hands on just his first cast. The strong tug of a musky take, the raising of the rod (a mistake), an unexpected opportunity lost so quickly. Some anglers don’t recover from such events. Miller went back to casting.

It wasn’t long before his line tightened again. This time he kept the rod low, set the fish with a hard strip. He was on. Miller played the musky toward the boat, never giving slack, turning his head toward the cradle. Then the unthinkable happened. The “fish of 10,000 casts,” the second one of the day, was gone as quickly as it had arrived. The fly pulled. The line went slack.

Miller’s connection to the fly-fishing world changed in January of 2018 when he, his mother and his grandfather were at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival. They made the usual rounds, stopping at nearly every booth, Miller pulling his fly boxes from his backpack, SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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BTT is a membership-based organization that works to conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats through research, stewardship, education and advocacy. We are scientists, anglers, guides, manufacturers, lodge and shop owners, and outfitters who are taking action today to conserve and restore our flats fisheries for tomorrow.

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discussing patterns with the various vendors.

At the Norvise booth, he spoke with Tim and Tyler O’Neill, the owners. He tied a few flies for them. They asked him to do an Instagram live piece.

The rest of the afternoon was a bit of a blur as Miller completed an interview with Alex Colonna at Temple Fork Outfitters and also appeared on Rob Snowhite’s, The Fly Fishing Consultant podcast. That evening when Miller returned home from the show, he and his mother decided to make his Instagram (@flyfisher0906) public so Miller could share his fly-fishing adventures. It wasn’t long before Miller and his mom heard from Tyler O’Neill, who encouraged Miller to attend some of the other upcoming shows.

Soon Miller and his parents were on the road to the New Jersey Fly Fishing Show, where Miller met famous tiers Bob Popovics and Pat Cohen.

Two weeks later, they attended Lefty Kreh’s Tie Fest in Maryland. Within a year, Miller was a Junior Ambassador for Norvise and Temple Fork Outfitters and at least a half-dozen other fly-fishing companies.

“Everyone in the fly-fishing community has been just amazing to Braden,” his mother said.

Finally, Miller met his idol, Blane Chocklett, at the Lancaster, PA, Fly Fishing Show in the spring of 2018, where he was asked to be TFO’s first Junior Ambassador. The two made a plan to go fishing.

There is a certain feeling that comes with fishing for difficult species like musky. You go out for the day just hoping to have one opportunity, one time when a fish eats the fly. It could come on the first cast or the last. If you are lucky enough (or skilled enough) to get that opportunity and you don’t capitalize, it’s difficult to think you will get another chance, much less a few more chances.

BRADEN MILLER (LEFT) MAKES THE ROUNDS AND SHARES HIS F LY P A T T E R N S A N D T A L E N T S A T F LY - F I S H I N G S H O W S A N D F E ST I VA L S .

“It was a special moment we shared with that beautiful fish,” Chocklett said. “Braden is a delight to be around and a true bright spot in our sport’s future. If he keeps working hard and stays the course, the sky is the limit for him in the world of fly fishing and tying.”

That’s how things stood when the fly pulled on Branden’s second chance of the day. An angler has a choice to make at a time like this; he or she can sulk, lament the one that got away, curse his or her bad fortune and head for the ramp, or, stand up and do the only thing that makes sense in fly fishing and in life: keep casting. And keep casting is what Miller did.

Neither he nor Chocklett saw the fish before the take, a violent grab that nearly yanked the rod from young Miller’s hands and essentially set the hook.

After all, this was fortune’s fish, and Miller played him successfully all the way to the cradle: a 46-inch, 25-pound Musky.

“I am not sure who was more excited,” Miller’s mother said, “Miller or Blane.”

The trip with Chocklett marked the realization of one dream and the beginning of another for Miller, who will be on the road come next winter, teaching fly fishing and tying with his two families: his mother, his father and his brothers—and his newfound fly-fishing family.

Tee Clarkson was the outdoors columnist for the Richmond TimesDispatch and has written articles on conservation and outdoor pursuits in Virginia for nearly 20 years. He owns and operates Virginia Outside (www.virginiaoutside.com), which runs youth fishing, mountain biking, and outdoor adventure programs. Clarkson also owns Atoka Conservation Exchange (www.atokaconservation.com), which helps landowners with conservation-easement projects throughout the state. He can be contacted at tsclarkson@virginiaoutside.com.

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN RE-LAUNCH PARTY CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF SPORTING LIFE A N D C U LT U R E A S A M A G A Z I N E W I T H A “NEW LOOK” TO THE FUTURE

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

E D I TO R -AT- L A R G E E R I C K A L L E N A N D W I F E B E T H A N N , B L A K E D E M A S O, P U B L I S H E R , A N D W I F E BROOKE, JOE SHIELDS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN, AND WIFE ANNA

LAUREN WORTH, C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R , AND HUSBAND GRAHAM

JEDD FERRIS, MANAGING EDITOR, A N D K AT I E H A R T W E L L , ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Common House, Charlottesville, VA Common House Small Town Rodeo Ellen Kanzinger & Shannon McGowan SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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T

he Virginia Sportsman has been celebrating sporting life and culture for more than 16 years. On March 28, our new publishing team held a different kind of celebration, one that marked the debut of our newly designed Spring 2019 issue.

Our “Re-Launch� party was a festive occasion enjoyed by family, friends and magazine partners at Common House, a unique gathering space in Charlottesville. The event gave us the opportunity to recognize the talented people who have been behind the magazine for years, as well as the new editors, graphic artists, web designers and business people who joined forces with us this year.

Spring 2019 was a transformation issue, one that included a complete redesign of The Virginia Sportsman, as well as expanded editorial coverage and new departments in travel, spirits, the environment, gear reviews, music and books. We unveiled these refinements and our new look at the party, with a mindful look to the future. Through this transformation, we assured our attendees, as we assure you now, that we’ll stay true to our roots, the same core values and interests that have been cherished by readers all these years.

As the evening progressed, the twangy sounds of local bluegrass and country band Small Town Rodeo delighted our guests.

Provided by Common House, food and beverages paired well with banter in a setting that reflects the goodwill and creativity of our hometown. We raised our glasses to recognize all who support and appreciate this magazine, a brand that has truly become an institution.

TheVirginiaSportsman.com

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

H AY H A R DY ( C E N T E R ) , T H E F O U N D E R O F THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN, WITH ACCOUNT E X E C U T I V E A N I TA V E R E - N I C O L L ( L E F T ) A N D JANE PORTER FOGLEMAN (RIGHT)

SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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ZAC BROWN’S BIKE When Grammy Award-winning country-rock star Zac Brown isn’t on stage, he often stays busy with a range of additional creative and philanthropic endeavors.

He combined his passions to help design the new Zac Brown Collective Indian Chieftain Dark Horse, a custom model of an iconic American motorcycle that features an upgraded engine and a sleek, specialized paint job that includes 24kt gold leaf.

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

the bike was crafted through the musician’s Zac Brown Collective—a company that creates custom projects by bringing together the talents of artists, musicians, filmmakers, chefs, fashion designers, woodworkers and engineers. The one-of-a-kind Chieftain Dark Horse will be raffled to raise funds for Brown’s Camp Southern Ground, a non-profit inclusive summer camp that aims to bring together kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including those with developmental disabilities.

SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

The Summer 2019 Issue | WELL READ

‘IN THE DISTANCE’ Pulitzer Finalist: Hernán Diaz’s Debut Novel Redefines Western Genre

BY JOE SHIELDS

A Y O U N G S W E D I S H B O Y, S E PA R AT E D F R O M H I S B R O T H E R , BECOMES A MAN; THE MAN, D E S P I T E H I M S E L F, B E C O M E S A L E G E N D A N D O U T L AW.

I

n the opening scene of Hernán Diaz’s debut novel, there is a star-shaped hole in an immense stretch of ice. The frozen sea surrounding the fissure is white, vast and devoid of life. Barren expanse and sky merge into one. All is silent. The only distraction is the chasm, until a pair of hands come out of the water. Fingers claw into the snow around the edge of the hole and pull; a swimmer emerges from the abyss.

Håkan Söderström stands on the frigid plain and is colossal, muscular and naked.

The bowlegged, contorted swimmer has long white hair and a beard. Diaz describes his protagonist: “He looked like an old, strong Christ.”

The titan retrieves his rifle and the ax he used to fashion the hole for his bath. Still nude, the swimmer follows his footsteps in the direction from which he came: back to the ship that is trapped in the ice. A few onlookers sneer, but most watch in awe as the giant boards the schooner, grabs his blanket and disappears below deck.

A week prior, a young, inept Captain Whistler ignored the advice of his crew and piloted the Impeccable into a strait filled with large, floating pieces of ice. Weather complicated matters; a snowstorm and cold front ensnared the vessel, delaying its mission to retrieve salmon and furs from Alaska and ice for the San Francisco Cooling Company.

With provisions rationed, disgruntled crewmembers swap—and question—tales about “The Hawk,” as Håkan is known throughout the book. He is a murderer, says one shipmate, a slayer of brethren settlers. And he is a bear killer. Another shipmate claims he killed a lion with his bare hands. One man declares the Hawk walks like a duck because his feet were branded. Others say he was a chief; he and his people were cliff dwellers; the Union offered the Hawk his own territory. Munro, an outspoken prospector, claims the stories are all lies.

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The men grow quiet when Håkan returns to the deck wearing:

“…a coat made from the skins of lynxes and coyotes, beavers and bears, caribou and snakes, foxes and prairie dogs, coatis and pumas, and other unknown beasts. Here and there dangled a snout, a paw, a tail. The hollow head of a large mountain lion hung like a hood on his back.

The variety of animals that had gone into this coat, as well as the different stages of decrepitude of the hides, gave an idea both of how long the garment had been in the making and of how widely its wearer had traveled.”

Håkan agrees most of the tales are untrue. He invites his shipmates to gather by the fire so he can share the truth about his life and journey.

The novel’s epic beginning sets the tone for the rest of the Hawk’s legend. His story begins in boyhood, when he and his older brother, Linus, depart Sweden for America and the city of “Nujårk.” Neither speak English, and the two quickly become separated on a wharf in Portsmouth, England. Håkan mistakenly boards a ship that sails to San Francisco. Months pass, and by the time Håkan arrives in California, he is determined to walk across the continent—against the tide of migrants heading west to find fortunes and better lives—to reunite with Linus in New York.

Diaz turned the Western novel upside down and the result is a masterpiece. The fiction, like its hero, Håkan, emerged from a void. Perhaps so did Diaz, who well deserves being named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.

Published by the small Minneapolis nonprofit, Coffee House Press (www.coffeehousepress.org), “In the Distance” (Oct. 3, 2017, paperback, 272 pages), the novel is a tale of a young Swede’s transformation against the hopeless and dangerous backdrop of the American West. Håkan’s suspenseful encounters are artfully described through the eyes of a boy in a man’s body challenged with a language barrier.

The man-child helps a family prospect for gold and becomes the sexual prisoner of a grotesque, powerful woman who owns a saloon. Håkan escapes, meets a naturalist in the desert and learns how to tan hides like a Native American. He is given a horse named Pingo, a proud, fleeting and ultimately heartbreaking experience as the beast meets his painful end. Håkan kills bandits to defend himself and protect homesteaders; in the process he loses a girl he loves. His myth and body grow to epic proportions as he travels further in western territory. Håkan is viewed as an outlaw; he avoids towns and finds solace—albeit loneliness—in the wilderness. He befriends a man named Asa and is finally shown true kindness and friendship.

Diaz’s novel ends where it begins, with Håkan’s carefully chosen words on the Impeccable.

The vessel’s name describes the flawless execution of the book. Perhaps the story of Håkan centers on what we all search for in this life: a brother and a home.

Hernan Diaz is the author of Borges, between History and Eternity (Bloomsbury 2012), managing editor of RHM, and associate director of the Hispanic Institute at Columbia University. He lives in New York.

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15

Can’t-Miss Vineyards in the Blue Ridge!

Banner Elk Winery & Villa BANNER ELK, NC

Banner Elk Winery & Villa is a jewel of the North Carolina High Country, in an idyllic setting with luxurious accommodations for discerning travelers. Go for a tasting or tour, or stay for a week at The Villa.

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Biltmore Estate Winery ASHEVILLE, NC

Positioned in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville on The Estate’s 8,000 acre property lies America’s Most Visited winery. Biltmore’s exclusive Vine to Wine Vineyard Tour & Tasting combines an excursion over the river to the breathtaking vineyards on

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Chateau Morrisette FLOYD, VA

Chateau Morrisette is Southwest Virginia’s premier destination for award-winning wine and refined rustic dining.

The winery produces sweet, semisweet, fruit, and premium Virginia varietal wines, while the restaurant offers fresh and delicious New American cuisine with nationally noted 50 mile views of the Blue Ridge.

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Ducard Vineyards ETLAN, VA

A boutique winery in a majestic mountainside setting bordering

Shenandoah National Park (Madison County). Voted #1 on Trip Advisor for Central Virginia and cited as Virginia’s Greenest Winery, DuCard offers fun and informative tastings. A truly authentic experience. Dog friendly, with music on the patio or other special events every weekend.

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Equus Run Vineyards MIDWAY, KY

Equus Run Vineyards is nestled on 35 acres in the heart of central Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region and was voted by CNN Travel as a Must See Hidden Treasure of the United States.

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Lazy Days Winery AMHERST, VA

Kick off the start of summer at the 11th Annual Virginia Summer Solstice Wine Festival on June 22 from 11-6pm at Lazy Day Winery.

Celebrate great wines from local Virginia wineries, live music on two stages, festival foods, craft vendors, belly dancers, petting zoo and more!

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Linganore Winecellars MT. AIRY, MD

Producing over 30 wines, this family operated vineyard and winery nestled on 230 acres of picturesque rolling countrysides. In addition to producing awardwinning wine, they

are leading the way in sustainable practices. Visit their tasting room and find Maryland Wine for every taste and occasion.

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Muse Vineyards WOODSTOCK, VA

Muse Vineyards is a boutique vineyard in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley where art, science, passion, and reverence for the tradition of classic winemaking converge to produce award-winning wine. Visit their tasting room then explore their new 1.8 Mile self-guided wine trail.

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Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery MADISON, VA

One of Virginia’s oldest and most premier wineries. Known for premium dry Prince Michel wines and Rapidan River sweet wines.

Located 10 minutes south of Culpeper, this is your stop for fine wines, the best gift shop within 50

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Shelton Vineyards DOBSON, NC

Shelton Vineyards’ belief is that fine wine begins in the vineyard. The location, in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, provides the ideal climate and soil conditions. Shelton Vineyards’ commitment to sustainable farming practices and hands-on attention enables the vineyard to produce the highest possible quality of grapes.

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Stanburn Winery STUART, VA

Since 1999, the Stanley family has owned and

operated a 20-acre vineyard in rural Patrick County, Virginia. They nurture Chardonnay, Traminette, Cabernet Franc, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Barbera, and now Petit Verdot.

They offer 12 wines with eight being dry, two semisweet, and two sweet, winning three silver and two bronze medals in the 2019 Virginia Governor’s Cup. STANBURN.COM

Toasted Goat FROSTBURG, MD

Toasted Goat’s tasting room and restaurant located is in the Historic Hotel Gunter in downtown Frostburg, Maryland. They are one of Maryland’s newest wineries and they make a variety of wines from fun and fruity to big bold reds

and hearty whites for everyone to enjoy.

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consistently producing a range of complex and elegant wines.

Veritas Vineyards and Winery

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A family-run vineyard and winery in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Their passion for wine-making and hospitality is evident in their outstanding wines, as well as their special events and elegant weddings.

Veritas Vineyards and Winery began in 1999 when Andrew and Patricia Hodson planted five acres of grapes as a passion project.

Over the past two decades, Veritas has grown to include over 50 acres of vineyards and has succeeded in

Located on the historic 300-acre Wessex Hundred farm, the Williamsburg Winery offers the opportunity to taste, dine, stay, and relax. Three different tasting options are available. Tours of the barrel cellar are offered daily. An extensive tour with reserve and library wine tasting is also available by advance reservation.

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The Summer 2019 Issue | HANDMADE

TAD COFFIN’S SADDLES Virginia craftsman revolutionizes saddle design for equestrians.

BY HAY HARDY

L

eaning against the sink in the kitchen of an old Virginia farm house is the slightly built Tad Coffin, a horseman well known in the equestrian world.

On the wall behind him is a framed quotation from his grandfather: “To be truly great, a man must have beautiful dreams of how to make the world a better place and then work hard every day to make his beautiful dreams come true.” On the kitchen island are two of his innovations that he hopes will make a difference in this world.

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Coffin started riding at the age of 10 under the direction of Raul de Leon. De Leon was a 21-year-old Cuban foreign student who found himself in exile when Castro overthrew the Cuban government.

He took a job as a horse trainer and riding instructor and coached Coffin from the age of 12 until he graduated from high school at 18. In those six years, Coffin competed successfully in many equestrian events, including the Pony Club Invitational Championships in South Africa.

Fresh out of high school, Coffin qualified for the U.S. Olympic Three Day Event Team in 1973. The coach of the team was the renowned French horseman, Jack Le Goff. Two years later, under Le Goff’s guidance, the team won gold in the Pan American Games, and Coffin also won an individual gold medal. In 1976, the team again won gold in the Olympics at Montreal and Coffin again won an individual gold medal. In 1984, de Leon and Coffin were invited to run the International Equestrian Institute at Morvan Park in Leesburg, Virginia, where for five years they trained riders to be riding instructors and coaches. Coffin moved to Charlottesville in 1992.

Since his days with the Olympic team, Coffin had been interested in improving the saddle. He believed the saddle is an integral part of the sport, the element that unites the horse and rider to become a single moving entity. Coffin credited his good understanding of the importance of the saddle to the classical training he received from his coaches who were masters of the sport. His first coach, de Leon, learned the sport in the riding club in Cuba among former officers of the German cavalry. In teaching Coffin, de Leon emphasized the classical principles of riding and training. The same emphasis was continued by his Olympic-team coach, Le Goff, who was the youngest rider to head the elite Cadre Noir at the French National Riding School. The coach of the U.S. Show Jumping Team at that time was Bertalan de Némethy, who was a Hungarian cavalry officer. de Némethy was influential in developing riding and training methods used by show jumpers today.

Coffin’s formidable riding education and his competitive experience at the highest level of equestrian sport equipped him to pursue a career as a teacher

TA D C O F F I N WA S T H E F I R S T AMERICAN TO WIN THE I N D I V I D U A L O LY M P I C T H R E E DAY E V E N T T I T L E .

and trainer. It also gave him insight into the crucial role the saddle plays in a rider’s success. Coffin began his involvement with saddle design after the 1976 Olympics. Saddles of his design were manufactured in England and sold in the United States by the Millers Harness Company. When Coffin moved to Charlottesville, he began what would become the most exhaustive study of saddle design ever undertaken.

The first part of the saddle he attempted to correct was the tree—the skeletal structure of the saddle. Saddles have been left out of the sportsequipment evolution loop and the saddle tree has changed very little over the past 80 years. Coffin’s goal was to produce a saddle with better biomechanical properties that allows horses an unparalleled degree of freedom of movement.

Using CADD software and CNC machining, his team experimented and conducted more than 4,000 trials over the last 25 years. By listening to the horse on every trial, Coffin kept improving the tree. With the guidance of Stan Yavoski, an extraordinary engineer, Coffin was able to effect subtle changes in geometry, materials, reinforcements and specific axis of flex. These changes resulted in a level of sophistication and complexity never experienced before by any horse or horseman.

About five years ago, Coffin began noticing something unusual: Horses seemed to be more relaxed when Coffin put one of his saddles on their backs.

Nervous horses would stand quietly with a soft, patient expression; horses with back pain experienced pain relief from his saddles, with or without being ridden.

It seems the saddle is not only influencing their biomechanics, but their entire SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

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The word is getting out. equestrians looking for noninvasive solutions to horse problems of back pain, tension and diminished performance are quickly discovering the benefits if this technology.

Some are even using it for their own health benefits, finding relief from pain, more restful sleep and more energy.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , V I S I T TA D C O F F I N S A D D L E S . C O M A N D T H E R A-T R E E . C O M .

physiology. In trying to gain a better understanding of what was taking place, Coffin came across the work of Gerald Pollock, a professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington who is known for his research on water molecules and has written and lectured extensively about what he believes is a fourth phase of water. Inspired by Pollock’s research, Coffin believes that the combination of materials he selected, the geometry of the tree and processes used to make the saddle tree, has created an electromagnetic field that is influencing the physiology of the horse.

The word is getting out. Equestrians looking for non-invasive solutions to horse problems of back pain, tension and diminished performance are quickly discovering the benefits if this technology. Some are even using it for their own health benefits, finding relief from pain, more restful sleep and more energy. In recent months, Coffin has developed a modified version of his saddle tree for therapeutic purposes. He calls it the “Thera-tree.” It is a non-riding, saddle-like device used to relieve pain, create relaxation and improve athletic performance. Riders and trainers are using his saddles and the Thera-tree to make dramatic improvements to their horses’ performance. Several Olympic riders including American dressage rider Ali Brock, Three Day Eventer J. Michael Plumb, and Canadian Three Day Eventer Rob Stevenson have forgone their saddle sponsorship arrangements in order to take advantage of this technology.

In a recent test case, the Coffin saddle was able to create a profound change in a horse suffering from a debilitating back condition known as Kissing Spine. The horse, Bella, owned by Patsy Richards of Marshall, Virginia, was destined for surgery, injections and possibly euthanasia. After having a Tad Coffin saddle was placed on her for 18 days, X-rays of her spine showed that it had recovered 85 percent. The horse is now being comfortably ridden on a daily basis, an unthinkable possibility less than two months ago.

Jenn Fessler, a trainer certified by the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, has been using Tad Coffin’s saddles for 15 of the 20 years of her career as a trainer. She finds the saddle simplified the training process because the horse is less tense, is able to move more freely and hence happier. Farriers and veterinarians also find it easier working with horses wearing a Tad Coffin saddle on for the same reasons.

As the quotation of Coffin’s grandfather on the kitchen wall suggests, Coffin’s dream is to perfect this device to make the world a better place, and he is working hard every day to make this dream come true.

Hay Hardy founded The Virginia Sportsman in 2003.

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

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Sporting Clays Methodology

UNDERSTANDING AND DEVELOPING THE PROPER APPROACH

BY ANTHONY I. MATARESE JR.

T

he complexity and challenge of sporting clays can leave even the most experienced shooters scratching their heads. Sporting clays is far from easy. Just when you think you found the method that works best for you, you may find that your approach seems to leave you with less than desirable results.

Over the last 20 years, in an effort to the fix the flaws in my shooting, I have developed what I call a “dynamic approach.” A dynamic approach is a combination of a few shooting methods. You must first understand a few core principles before you can select and pair methods with different situations.

Before moving on, I feel it is important to give credit 58

THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

where credit is due. I honestly could not have developed this approach without the instruction I received from Dan Carlisle at a young age. My approach is based on principles that have become a fundamental part of my shooting.

Core Principles to Follow

So, what are these core principles? I believe the most critical principle in determining how to approach a target is related to the visual clarity of the target. Simply put, the break point/zone is where you see the target the clearest, or at the point of the target’s flight where the target looks the biggest.

Another principle you must follow is to never use excess gun speed. If the target is traveling 20 mph, your gun must not travel much faster than 21 mph. Similarly, if you have already met the target, your gun speed must not be slower than the target. If the target is traveling 20 mph and your gun speed is 19 mph, you have either started your gun too far in front of the target or you are going to shoot behind the target.

Determining the angle of a target is a critical consideration when deciding which approach to use. Is the target crossing, shallow-quartering, deep-quartering, incoming or quartering-in? As you will learn, the angle of the target informs your decision making.

You also need to identify scenarios that call for shooting using a pre-mounted (high-gun) or unmounted (low-gun) approach. There are other important questions you need to answer. Which method should I use to establish lead? Where should I insert the gun relative to the target? Should I use a form of the maintained-lead method, such as “move, mount and shoot?” Should my gun ever start behind the target? If so, what type of target?

When do I shoot from a pre-mounted gun? If so, when do I use this approach?

It is important to be able to shoot from both premounted—in the cheek and shoulder—and low, unmounted gun positions. Keep in mind using a low-gun or unmounted position means having an actual mount, not just lifting your head. Moreover, how low the gun starts in your shoulder can vary depending on the amount of time you have for the shot.

Let’s begin determining when you should use a premounted gun? You must always pre-mount on anything that you would consider a going-away shot or a “trapstyle” target. Specifically, you can pre-mount anytime the trap is located between 5 and 7 o’clock on a if you are standing at 6 o’clock.

As the angle of the target becomes greater, there becomes a point where you may want to shoot low-gun or un-mounted. If the traps are at 4 or 8 o’clock while you are standing at 6 o’clock, the decision to pre-mount or shoot low-gun depends on speed and distance. If the target passes the point where you see it the clearest before you can mount the gun, then I recommend shooting pre-mounted.

Ultimately, your decision is based on break point, time and angle. When shooting pre-mounted, the most important variable will be your hold point.

When do I shoot from an unmounted gun? If so, when do I use this approach?

When does it make sense to use an unmounted gun or shoot from a low gun? Starting from an unmounted gun position will give you plenty of time when shooting crossers and targets. There is a distinct advantage of a low-gun approach when shooting crossers—the movement of the gun to your face gives you timing and enables your hands and eyes to work better together.

This approach frees your vision and likely improves your hand-eye coordination.

The purpose of a gun mount is to merge the gun and bird together seamlessly. If you feel very

uncomfortable shooting from an un-mounted gun, then you may want to practice your gun mount at home or simply shoot all shots from a pre-mounted gun position until you feel comfortable with your gun mount. The diagrams at the end of this document illustrate different angles and the appropriate approach.

How do I establish lead?

I suggest using a form of pull away as your main method to establish lead and using other approaches as needed.

You must first determine where you see the target the clearest. If you have plenty of time to shoot the target where you see it the clearest, then I suggest using a form of the pull away shooting method.

When using pull away, do not always insert the gun on the front edge of the target. Specifically, you must insert the gun far enough in front so that if the target is moving at 20 mph you can move the gun 21 mph and reach the required lead. A long crosser may require starting the gun a good bit in front and then “stretching away” to finish the lead. As distance and speed increase, you must insert the gun farther in front of the target. This is a hybrid of maintain-lead and pull away approaches.

On shallow quartering, targets are best approached by mounting on the back edge and stretching to the SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

59

eXAMPLE OF USING MOVE-MOUNT-SHOOT WITH A MAINTAIN LEAD

The most important concepts are learning to see the clay well and getting connected.

front by moving slightly faster than the target. As angle, distance, and speed are increased, you must insert the gun farther in front of the clay. You will develop a relative inventory in your mind of where to insert the gun relative to the clay. Do not worry about lead in exact measurements but only in rough relative terms. You need to learn to trust your eyes and let them finish the last part of lead.

In the long-run lead is much more of a “feeling” than a picture. Use the diagrams in this article as a means to reference insertion points of the muzzle relative to the clay.

Use a form of maintain lead when you have limited time to establish lead. Choose this method when the target looks the clearest for a short period of time and then turns on edge, or when you are trying to shoot the first bird of a pair rather quickly to get to the second target. Use this method if the presentation does not give you enough time to meet the target and “stretch” or pull away to finish the lead.

When time is limited, you will be forced to use maintain lead as your method to establish lead. Maintain lead is defined by the muzzle starting ahead of the clay with enough forward allowance to break the target.

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THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

Remember, to shoot a trap-style target quickly, you must pre-mount and use a maintain lead. However, if the target is more of a crosser and you need to shoot quickly, use a lower-gun and shoot a form of move, mount and shoot. In this instance, use the timing of your gun mount to establish the lead so that once the gun meets your face, you fire. Refrain from using this method if time allows you to use more or a traditional method of moving with the target and pulling away.

Let’s Shoot

You should now have a better understanding of how to determine the correct approach or method in sporting clays. Remember to start off by picking a breakpoint or break zone where you see the clay the best. Determine the angle, speed and distance to help you decide what approach is best. Pick a method that does not let the speed of the gun deviate greatly from the speed of the target. Once you have developed a solid technique, you must learn to trust your eyes. In shooting we must learn to look hard at the clay to let the eyes “finish” the lead.

This is the “feel” part of the game that we experience in any sport.

Anthony I. Matarese Jr. began shooting when

he was six years old. At age 10, he started shooting competitive sporting clays and studying the art of shooting under the guidance of Olympic Medalist Dan Carlisle. Matarese is recognized as one of the top competitors in the world; in 2014, he became the youngest member to be inducted into the National Sporting Clays Hall of Fame. In 2016, became the first American to win the World English Sporting Championship. He is the founder and chief instructor at A.I.M. Shooting School (www.clayshootinginstruction. com). His family owns M&M Hunting Preserve (www. mmhunting.com) in Pennsville, New Jersey.

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The Summer 2019 Issue | OPEN SPACES

ON A YELLOW STONEFLY

BY TIM POLAND

EXCERPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM TIM POLAND’S L A T E S T N O V E L , “ Y E L L O W S T O N E F LY ”

T

hough the sun was well behind the ridge, there remained more than enough light filtering through the newly leafing trees, and the cooling air still held much of the day’s warmth. The stone-fly hatch was largely spent. Here and there, a few stragglers remained on exposed rocks or flitted through the air around Sandy, their tiny yellow bodies floating within the blur of their four translucent wings. She’d made it just in time to cast her simulated yellow stonefly into the dissipating flurry of real stoneflies. The trout would still be stirred up.

Sandy moved from her observation blind behind one of the larger boulders along the stream and stepped in a half crouch into the shallower water at the edge of the pool. She waded in with a seamless grace her gait could never match on land, barely stirring the water from its natural course. Stripping only a few feet of line from her rod, all that was required, she targeted the back of the pool. A single slight flick of her wrist set the line in motion and dropped her fly on the tongue of current feeding into the tail of the pool. The tiny yellow fly rode the surface of the water for barely a second before the fish hit it. As brook trout will do, the fish took the fly hard and fought fiercely. Time and familiarity had not diminished Sandy’s awe and respect for these small creatures. This degree of ferocity in a larger species of trout could have snapped her line handily, and Sandy never forgot that. Her rod bowed in a deep arc, and Sandy held it high, leading the scrappy fish quickly but smoothly into the shallower water around her legs. Cupping the fish in her hand, she slid her hook from the trout’s bony upper lip. Its speckled back glistened a deep blue-green across her wet palm; the bright orange of its abdomen and ivory-tipped belly fins would be brighter still during the fall spawning season.

Sandy released the fish back into the stream, where it disappeared instantly into the safety of deeper water.

The pool was alive and responsive. This she had learned, yet she limited her disturbance to the tail of the pool. Now she could move to the head of the pool, to the churning chute of water pouring in from the pool above, to the swirling back eddies under the

overhanging rock ledges where the bigger fish waited.

Slowly, cautiously, keeping to the left of the current, she waded to- ward the head of the pool and set her sights on the back eddy to the right of the chute. The rushing water cut through the opening and fanned out through the pool.

The back eddy formed behind the more agitated water. Beneath a huge hump of stone that bent to the water, the back eddy swirled around a circle of calmer water where a brook trout could hold outside the main current, saving its energy, protected by the ledge of rock above, while the river brought food to it. That small circle of water was Sandy’s target. Here the bigger fish would be. She’d taken fish in this pool many times, but getting them out of the back eddy was always tricky. She’d have only one chance.

Gauging the distance across the seam of current, she fed a little more line from her reel. Success would count on two things. She would need to bounce the yellow stonefly off the rock hanging over the eddy, to make it act like an insect that had bumbled from its perch into the water. That she could do easily. The harder task would be to keep her line from collapsing into the current between her and the eddy, which would then jerk her fly suddenly downstream, startling her prey and sending it so deeply into hiding under the rock ledge that she’d never entice it back out today.

Her gaze turned for a moment up the slope, following the cascading course of the stream from pool to pool, through forest and stone. In her enlivened flesh she felt the implacable heft of centuries that lifted these mountains and forged them into this watershed, spilling

the rush of time and water down into this pool where she stalked her prey. She had learned the language of trout. She could speak with the waters of this pool, and the fish it held, in a tongue intelligible in the wild world of water and stone. Here, on this evening, she spoke fluently. Rod and arm, like a single thing, held high over the slicing current, she shot her fly out to the rock overhanging the eddy. It bounced from the stone and dropped into the eddy, barely disturbing the surface.

The fly sat the surface of the eddy, hardly moving. For a moment it shone forth, a shimmering dot of blazing yellow on the dark, still water, before the fish struck.

Under the throbbing bow of her rod, the brook trout spun and dove into the depths of the pool under the churning current. The tension in her arm hummed with the song in her tight line as she knelt in the shallows and drew the fish to her. Freeing the hook from its lip, she cupped the big brook trout in her hand for only a moment, relishing the weight of this native fish that draped well over both sides of her palm. Among the descendants of the brown and rainbow trout stocked in the controlled waters of the lower Ripshin, a fish of this size would be typical, worthy of no special note.

Here in the wild reaches of the Ripshin’s headwaters, SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

63

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an indigenous brook trout such as this one was a prize beyond account. The fish slid smoothly from Sandy’s hand, held for a moment to collect its senses, then vanished into the depths of the pool, in search of its haven under the hump of stone.

Sandy shook the water from her hand and reeled in her line. She’d arrived in time for the yellow stonefly hatch and made the most of it. The well-made fly had told the story it was intended to tell, and she had delivered the tale well. It was enough for the day. The late afternoon light in the ravine was growing dim. She waded around the tail of the pool, stepped out to the footpath, and followed the path a few yards to a break in the rhododendron. Ducking through the opening, she climbed up the embankment to where the fire road cut out of the forest and curved along the riverbed at this point. It was time to find Keefe. Sandy turned downstream.

A few hundred yards down the fire road it didn’t surprise Sandy to find Keefe at the old Rasnake homestead. Old-timers in the valley called it that, and so did Keefe on occasion. Up a slight rise from the fire road, the dense trees opened out into a clearing. In the clearing were the tottering remains of three fieldstone chimneys, all that remained of three humble cabins that housed the extended Rasnake family when they first moved into the valley after the government ran the Cherokee out. The clearing was a regular retreat for Keefe, and Sandy found him there often, especially late in the afternoon when the sun had dropped behind the ridge. Keefe’s rod leaned against one of the old chimneys, and he sat on the worn hearth- stone, now caked with moss. He stared straight ahead at the other two chimneys across the clearing, his

elbows on his knees, his hands hanging limp between his legs. He appeared startled when she walked up into the clearing, but immediately his face relaxed and he sat up from his slump and greeted her with the angler’s standard salutation. “Do any good?”

“Little bit,” Sandy replied, the angler’s standard response.

Keefe looked up at her from under the brim of his battered brown fedora, a grin dimpling into his face.

“That answer may be adequate for some other fool you meet on the stream. I think I merit a bit more detail, my dear.”

Sandy smiled, leaned her rod against the chimney next to Keefe’s, and sat down beside him on the mossy hearthstone. She rubbed her hand a few quick strokes across his back, as if trying to warm him if she had done it more vigorously. She left her hand on his shoulder and leaned lightly into his side.

“Well?” he said.

“Upstream, the pool down from where the fire road cuts above it. The big hemlock down on the far bank.”

Keefe nodded knowingly. “A few of the big ones in the back eddies there.”

Sandy nodded as well.“ Bounced my fly off the boulder to the right, couple feet above the cutaway. Got one of those big ones.”

“Wonderful. On a yellow stonefly?”

“Yeah. I took a few from your bench. I was out.” Sandy made no reference to the flawed flies, but she looked tentatively at the side of Keefe’s face, searching for a readable sign.

“Good. That’s what they’re for,” he said.

Sandy stood and stretched, arching her back. “I’m hungry. You have anything to eat back there?”

Keefe pushed himself up from the hearthstone, took his rod, and handed Sandy hers. “I think we may be able to stir up something.”

Keefe walked a half step behind Sandy as they stepped out of the clearing onto the fire road. Sandy turned immediately downstream, and as she turned, she saw from the corner of her eye that Keefe seemed to hold back, for no more than a second, and that he expelled a shallow sigh before he turned down the fire road in step with her. Any other time she’d have noticed nothing in this moment, but now, after finding the botched stoneflies on his bench, she was on the alert. Had he found his haven in the clearing, but then not known how to return to the bungalow from there? In this place he had lived for over twenty years, this place he knew so intimately, had he been lost? For now, she would say nothing, only continue to watch for the signs that might form a pattern. Sandy took Keefe’s hand, something she rarely did, and held it close as they walked the fire road back to the bungalow.

Keefe’s hand firmly returned the press of her grasp.

This is an excerpt from Tim Poland’s latest novel, Yellow Stonefly, now available from Swallow Press/Ohio UP (ohioswallow.com/book/Yellow+Stonefly). Poland is also the author of The Safety of Deeper Water (Vandalia Press/West Virginia UP, 2009). His short fiction, poetry and essays have appeared widely in various literary magazines. He lives near the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, where he is professor emeritus of English at Radford University.

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SUMMER 2019 | THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN

65

The Summer 2019 Issue | GREAT ESCAPE

CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY B Y E M I LY M . G R E Y

I

n mid-spring, this single American woman explored western Turkey. I never felt unsafe or unduly concerned for my well-being. As a medium-toned brunette, I had hoped to blend in. This was not the case, and it did not matter. Wherever I traveled, people smiled, welcomed me, engaged in pleasant conversation and regularly shot the peace sign. An ever-present joy filled my heart as I discovered a timeless culture. Though the vicinities of Pamukkale and Istanbul were wonderful, I savored the best for last.

Nothing totally prepares the adventurer for Anatolia, Turkey’s central Heartland. Neither China’s mystical floating mountains in Zhangjiajie, where part of Avatar was filmed, nor Arizona’s haunting Monument Valley can hold a torch over a mesmerizing region known as Cappadocia. Some of the world’s oldest known human civilizations were established here. Today, breathtaking geological formations are the draw.

Surreal, pinkish-tinged pillars, cones, and cliffs frame the rugged landscape. Over ten million years ago, three volcanoes erupted spewing lava, ash, and mud over the land. Eons later, these explosive products cooled and compressed forming a soft porous rock called tufa. In time, water sculpted beautiful valleys.

Wind and erosion chiseled one of nature’s grandest formations. Oxidation added color.

“Cappadocia means land of horses,” says Emrah, my guide. “No one really knows why it is so named. Horses are not numerous here. The area is known for potatoes and grapes, used to make wine. Apricots and figs are grown later.”

Many visitors rise before dawn to view this heavenly rockbound world from hot air balloons. Having partaken of this activity outside Albuquerque, New Mexico, I elected to keep my feet firmly planted on the earth. There were abundant rarities to see, touch, and photograph close-up, below ground, and atop pinnacles.

“Wow!” I exclaim with childlike astonishment.

Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is shaped with strange towering crags and eleven side-by-side rock-cut churches. Centuries ago, artists painted vibrant frescoes depicting the Old and New Testament on the walls of these sacred caves. My companion and I scramble up steps to examine the interior of these monastic-like structures and feast our eyes on the all-encompassing sights below.

Albeit a Muslim nation, Turkey is called the “Cradle of Christianity.”

We board our private taxi and ride to nearby Avanos and hike up pebbly trails for a panoramic glimpse of 66

THE VIRGINIA SPORTSMAN | SUMMER 2019

the stone village. Residents weave carpets and craft pottery much like their Neolithic ancestors. A local potter invites me to give it a go at the wheel. I could not resist purchasing an intricately designed gold and black wine holder.

We stop for lunch at Seyyah Han Restaurant and Café. Our waiter gently taps an earthen pot. Lid removed, we relish a tasty chicken stew over saffron rice. Turkish cuisine is fabulous and healthy—plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, and grains. Acik cay tea (a weakened version) compliments most meals. Another day we dine on Grandma’s hearty beef and red lentil soup at Bizem Ev Restaurant and Café.

Emrah and I hunch over through a maze of tunnels in an ancient underground city called Kaymakli Cave.

Crude ladders lead to individual chambers with cooking and bedding areas for humans and their animals.

Thousands of early Christians hid from their enemies for months in this elaborate network of constricted windowless passageways. Entries were surreptitiously concealed. No one knows by whom, when and why this subterranean complex was dug.

Pigeon Valley resembles a fairyland with stone buildings and dove cotes carved into the hillsides.

During earlier times, the area housed countless pigeons.

Agrarians used droppings to fertilize the land. Numerous pigeons still inhabit the locality. Trees are laden with deep blue marbled evil eyes, a jewelry or symbol said to protect the bearer from evil.

Red Valley Park is riddled with a series of rose-hued slopes. Earthen pots are strewn on shrubbery. Camel rock is the focal point of Devrent Valley, accentuated with volcanic cones, lunar configurations, and other animal sculptures. Pasabag Park is surrounded by a mass of mushroom-molded fairy chimneys. Sure-footed athletes find a way to doggedly propel to the top.

Our final stop is the charming little city of Uchisar, built around a fairy chimney known as Uchisar Castle.

This highest point in Cappadocia was used as a fortress during the late Byzantine and early Ottoman periods.

At the base of the peak are sundry carpet, toy, and trinket shops. Vendors dole out free samples of delicious fresh fruit like almonds, apricots, and figs.

Emrah and I climb to the summit of Uchisar Hill, marked by the bright red Turkish flag with white star and crescent. This lovely April afternoon, many Turkish families, friends, and tour groups are also on outings.

Gazing toward the east, I view a blue mountain range.

Clustered stone homes glisten throughout the valley.

Of all my excursions, I was most saddened to leave

Turkey. Exceptionally knowledgeable and considerate, Emrah is the best guide I ever had and a dear friend.

Turkish people are among the most hospitable. The landscape left me awestruck. The food was delicious and nourishing. I hunger to see more like Mt. Ararat, Lake Van, and the Ephesus.

WHIRLING DERVISH

All is quiet at Ozel Tesis (1249 Saruhan) in Cappadocia.

Many years ago, travelers along the “Silk Route” stopped at this respite with their camels.

Since the days of Ottoman sultans, the dervish men have “danced” to attain union with God. This spinning ritual is considered one of the world’s most spiritual.

This evening, four young men robed in black and their elder mentor enter the room. They bow several times to each other and all four corners of the stage.

The older gentlemen and one of the musicians make announcements in Arabic.

The young men shred their black robes, revealing all white apparel and a high beige conical hat. Four musicians play instruments resembling an antiquated flute, mandolin, hand-held harp, and drums as the twirling commences. It is entrancing to watch the men revolve rhythmically around the floor. One leg serves as a pivot while arms raise as some performers intensely meditate. Thirty minutes later, the audience is allowed to take photos.

One hundred forty-six miles southwest from Cappadocia is Konya, Turkish headquarters for the dervish. The provincial city’s Mevlana Cultural Center hosts gratis shows Saturday evenings and an annual festival every December.

IF YOU GO

To avoid crowds and hot weather, go in April, May or September. Americans need a visa, promptly granted online at: www.evisa.gov.tr Non-stop flights depart daily from Dulles and JFK to Istanbul. The Cappadocia area’s Nevsehir Airport is approximately an hour’s flight southeast of Istanbul. I was a guest of Suhan Hotel and Spa. However, many visitors stay in novelty cave hotels.

For more information, visit: HomeTurkey.com Emily M. Grey is an attorney, naturalist, and awardwinning writer and photographer. She has journeyed to six continents, including Antarctica. AAA Home and Away and Virginia Wildlife Magazine are among her many outlets.

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