2010 S&W USPSA Nationals – Getting To Know Your Medalists ­- Tori Nonaka, 2nd Place L-10 & 3rd Place Production

Courtesy of our friends at the Women of USPSA blog.

WoUSPSA: Congratulations on earning medals at both S&W USPSA Back to Back Nationals, Tori! What did you think of the stages at this year’s L-10 and Production Nationals? Did you have a favorite?

Tori: I thought the stage designs were really solid. They were a fun test of marksmanship, movement and gun handling.

WoUSPSA: What are your thoughts on the back-to-back format?

Tori: The back-to-back format ran smoothly. Alternating AM and PM I thought worked well also. It allowed people to get out and see Vegas at night without having to get up early each day.

WoUSPSA: We agree, definitely a nice schedule. What do you think of the range/match location?

Tori: The Desert Sportsman’s Rifle and Pistol Club was a fantastic facility. We also lucked out with great weather conditions for both matches. Being in Las Vegas was also really neat, especially for it being my first time at age 15. It doubled as a vacation for me.

WoUSPSA: Sounds like you had fun – that’s great!  This summer, you posted some outstanding finishes.  Do you find it more of a challenge to compete during the school year? As a sophomore in high school, how do you juggle the demands of both school and major matches?

Tori: I would say competing during the school year is just another added responsibility. I am proud to say I hold a 3.8 GPA right now, due to being very diligent in preparing my work for trips and completing assignments in a timely manner. I miss a lot of school which requires extra work to keep up my level of understanding of what I miss in the class room. This means extra hours after school some days to stay on track. When I was preparing for the USPSA Nationals I would go to school, work out, then head to the range or dry fire and come home to complete home work. I am grateful to have the support of my parents, teachers, and principals who have been very accommodating.

WoUSPSA: It’s wonderful that you’re so committed to both your studies and shooting!  So, when did you start training for the Nationals, and how much was range time compared to dry firing?

Tori: For Limited-10, I had less than 1,000 rounds though my gun and only a week or so of dry-fire. My gear simply wasn’t ready until then. But for Production, I train continually all year. Dry fire at home and trips to the range for both dry fire and live fire are frequent and my training is split about 60/40 between dry fire and live fire. Recently, I have started to use the new S.I.R.T. training pistol in dry fire and I have noticed improvement in several areas. Finally, I have been working out in my school gym to increase my strength to reduce felt recoil and help me drive the gun better.

WoUSPSA: Your training schedule is obviously working well for you!  You had an issue with your ammunition arriving late for the L-10 match. Do you feel it had any affect on your match?

Tori: Yes, UPS lost my ammo along with others as well. Thankfully, Dave Sevigny and Cody Tucker gave me enough ammo to get me through the first day. So I was able to start the match with everyone else. A second shipment of ammo arrived on the second day, thanks to Billy Abbate and Danny Wisner of Atlanta Arms & Ammo. It was stressful trying to get it tracked down but I didn’t let it affect my match performance in any way.

WoUSPSA: Good for you, Tori!  This was your first Back-to-Back National Championships. Was it a challenge to maintain focus throughout the week and did you learn anything about yourself as a competitor at the match?

Tori: Maintaining my focus during the eight days of both matches was not difficult. I love this sport and there is nothing else I would rather do. I am really starting to learn the mental aspects of the game. Competing in this level of match with such great shooters taught me a lot. Having this experience has bettered my shooting and given me a huge boost in confidence. I look to apply this in my future matches.

WoUSPSA: There weren’t many differences between the course of fire designs for both matches. Do you feel that shooting L-10 was helpful for your Production match?

Tori: Shooting the Limited-10 match first was definitely beneficial and provided a smooth transition for the Production match. The only big difference in the matches were some of the target placements and distances.

WoUSPSA: In other sports, top contenders compete together. Do you feel that USPSA should require that established shooters and national champions shoot together or do you feel that competitors should always have the option to choose? What are the pros and cons of shooting with the ladies?

Tori: I think competitors should always have the choice. If they took away the freedom to squad with your friends, then part of the reason we shoot would also be taken away. That being said, there are advantages to shooting with the top competitors. It enables me to get a feel for their pace in a match. Then I can make small adjustments to my own pace and balance of speed and accuracy in a given array. I also tend to keep a sharper mental focus during a match when I squad with top shooters. However I would still prefer the option to squad by my own preference. Choice it GOOD!

WoUSPSA: Do you lift weights or do grip strengthening exercises to specifically build your muscles used in shooting? What other kinds of physical training do you do?

Tori: I feel it is important to build my strength and body mass for shooting. I have become more and more dedicated to working out. I do everything from running long distance, short sprints, weight lifting, ab work outs, and circuits. Also, my friend and fitness expert (as well as GM shooter) Mike Hughes, has recently put together a nutrition and fitness program for me. Being somewhat petite, I have to do all I can to overcome recoil and muzzle flip. I am excited because I know this new program will accelerate both the process and results.

WoUSPSA: Best of luck with your new fitness program!  To stay energized, what is your snack and beverage of choice on the range?

Tori: I love pistachios, bananas and Smart water!!

WoUSPSA: Very healthy choices … Why do you think the participation is low for women in some of the divisions and what can we do to change that?

Tori: The main reason for a lack of female participation is because most girls are raised to believe shooting and hunting are men’s sports. It is very intimidating for most women to even hold or shoot a gun. There are many different ways to go about getting more women involved in the shooting sports. But the most effective way would be for fathers to teach their daughters how to safely handle firearms and then encourage them to give competitions a try. The same goes for husbands. They should invite their wives to give shooting a try. There are enough shooting disciplines for anyone to find their niche!

WoUSPSA: Well stated.  Was this your last major match of the year or do you have more competitions on your schedule?

Tori: The USPSA Nationals were my last major matches of 2010. But even with winter coming, I will continue to train hard and keep the rust off by shooting some GSSF & IDPA indoor club matches to get ready for next year

WoUSPSA: With the match season rather lengthy, how do you typically unwind after your last match of the year?

Tori: I come from a big family and enjoy being home to spend time with them. We are big fans of mixed martial arts and fighting sports in general. We often spend time watching fights. Ron and Meghan Francisco are also avid fight fans and come to our home to join us some times. I also enjoy cooking and baking, listening to music and hunting.

WoUSPSA: Sounds like big fun!  What are your long-term competitive shooting goals?

Tori: My goals in competitive shooting include winning world and national titles in every division of USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, Bianchi and 3-gun. To accomplish this will take many years. I must keep a driven and focused mind set and train hard. Through this, I hope to do my part to shed another positive light on competitive shooting, gun ownership and the second amendment in general.

WoUSPSA: That’s awesome, Tori!  Do you have any special talents or skills that you would like to share with us?

Tori: I use a secret family recipe to make a fantastic grilled cheese!! I have also begun to study Judo.

WoUSPSA: When you aren’t on the road or at the range, what’s some of your favorite activities to do at home?

Tori: When I am not traveling or shooting, I still surround my self with shooters and gun related activities. I like to visit my local gun stores and hang out at Hatfield’s Gunsmithing to learn as much as I can. Some weekends I work at gun shows in the Washington DC area. I like keeping up with all the new products and enjoy talking with customers and helping them choose firearms that fit both their needs and wants.

WoUSPSA: What advice would you give to any new shooters, especially juniors starting out?

Tori: First, find someone knowledgeable to teach you how to safely handle and use firearms. If possible, attend a class at a shooting academy. There are many located throughout the country and the classes are so much fun! Try and familiarize yourself with different types of firearms and common calibers. There are so many types of recreational shooting sports. Everyone can find one or more that suits them. USPSA.com, IDPA.com and NSSF.org are good places for information. And junior shooters, be sure and check out www.juniorshootercamp.org for information about the annual juniors clinic!! Above all, be safe, go shoot, and invite your friends and family to join you!

WoUSPSA: Good advice for sure!  How did you and your family celebrate your awesome finishes at the USPSA Handgun Nationals?

Tori: My family greeted my father and I at the airport. Even after being spoiled with Las Vegas meals for a week, my family took me out to my favorite Mexican restaurant, El Charo to celebrate! It was great having everyone together again. Thank you Dad, Mom, Danielle, Brenna, Shawn, and Brendan for being so supportive!!!

WoUSPSA: And thank you, Tori, for interviewing with us.  Congratulations on your double-medal wins at the 2010 USPSA Nationals!

Check out junior competitor, Tori Nonaka, as she successfully executes a few stages at this year’s Handgun Nationals: