{"id":7482,"date":"2010-12-06T22:13:28","date_gmt":"2010-12-07T04:13:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/?p=7482"},"modified":"2010-12-06T22:13:28","modified_gmt":"2010-12-07T04:13:28","slug":"uspsa-handgun-nationals-%e2%80%93-getting-to-know-your-top-5-%e2%80%93-kippi-leatham-5th-place-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.downrange.tv\/blog\/uspsa-handgun-nationals-%e2%80%93-getting-to-know-your-top-5-%e2%80%93-kippi-leatham-5th-place-production\/7482\/","title":{"rendered":"USPSA Handgun Nationals \u2013 Getting To Know Your Top 5 \u2013 Kippi Leatham, 5th Place Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

Courtesy of our friends at the Women of USPSA blog<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WoUSPSA:<\/strong> Congratulations on your TOP 5 finish at the S&W USPSA Production National Championships, Kippi! \u00a0Before we talk about your Production Match, we were wondering why you were unable to shoot the L10 Match?<\/p>\n

Kippi:<\/strong> Well, thanks! \u00a0Yes, I was signed up for the L10 Nationals, but a last-minute sitter situation prevented me from coming with Rob to the first match. \u00a0I was actually still juggling babysitters from Vegas on Thursday. \u00a0Our poor daughter just gets bounced all around when we go out of town. \u00a0Hopefully she doesn\u2019t mind too much! \u00a0All in all, it worked out nicely, as I got to spend some unplanned quality time with her.<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>That\u2019s always a bonus! <\/strong>So, what did you think of the stages at this year\u2019s Nationals? \u00a0Did you have a favorite?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>The stages were very challenging, and a bit on the hard side, but I prefer it that way for a Nationals! \u00a0Hats off to the Nationals design team, range crew, range officers, stats personnel, administrative crew, chronographers<\/strong> and Desert Sportsmans R&P Club!<\/p>\n

I liked Stage 4, Drinks on the House II, because it had a couple of swingers and a Max Trap target that you activated from a different position. \u00a0I enjoy the kind of stages that invigorate me \u2026 \u00a0shooting the Max Trap while moving into that last position was a rush! \u00a0This stage reminded me of something we might see at a World Shoot \u2013 and I felt really at home on the barstool with a mug in my hand! \u00a0: )<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WoUSPSA: <\/strong>Happy hour at the range, speaking of which, what do you think of the range\/match location?<\/p>\n

Kippi:<\/strong> OK \u2013 not going to sugar coat this \u2026 I like Vegas as the location for many reasons: \u00a0Close to home, decent weather, availability of hotels, restaurants, activities, but I don\u2019t feel the range is so safe. \u00a0Too many ricochets, rocks and bullet frags in the air \u2026 : (<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>How would you describe your performance? Were you happy with your match?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>I shot pretty accurately (although the mini poppers were my nemesis) and had few penalties, but I was extremely slowwwwwwww! \u00a0Don\u2019t know if I was just trying to see too much due to the large number of difficult target presentations, or if it actually just takes my older-ish eyes that much longer to focus on hard shots? \u00a0During post-match discussions, Rob suggested that I pick up the pace and accept a few misses \u2013 and I\u2019m thinking he\u2019s right. \u00a0Gosh, that\u2019s really hard to admit \u2026 : )<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>But might be worth a try, huh? \u00a0Now, how early did you start training for the Nationals, and how much range time did you put in compared to dry firing?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>Dry fire?? \u00a0I unfortunately don\u2019t make time for that anymore, and most of my draws and reloads probably reflect that choice. \u00a0I began practicing when Patience went back to school in the middle of August. \u00a0That gave me about two months to prepare. \u00a0I try to practice at least twice a week and also shoot the matches on weekends.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WoUSPSA: <\/strong>Sounds like a manageable schedule. <\/strong>To stay energized, what is your snack and beverage of choice at a match?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>I drink water and water with Emergen-C constantly. \u00a0I also try to chew on a Cliff Bar or eat a banana every other stage or so. \u00a0It\u2019s a must to keep my energy up. \u00a0Bananas are the perfect range food \u2013 except for the fact that they get squishy, turn black, start leaking and smell to high heck if you leave them in your range bag for an extended period of time \u2026 \u00a0not that I\u2019ve ever done that.<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>Yes, nearly the perfect range food! <\/strong>Did you learn anything about yourself as a competitor?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>I\u2019ve been suffering from major self-induced nerves these last few years, and feel that I finally managed to tame them at the Nationals in Vegas. \u00a0I always want to be a little anxious, nervous, adrenalized, choose your adjective, but not to the point that it effects my performance negatively. \u00a0So, I was extremely pleased that I learned to control my emotions during the entire match!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WoUSPSA: <\/strong>Good for you! <\/strong>As a Top 8 contender, do you feel you should always have the choice to shoot with whomever you like? \u00a0\u00a0What are the pros and cons of shooting with another squad vs. the Ladies?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>At <\/strong>a National Competition, I absolutely think the \u201ccontenders\u201d should be squadded together. \u00a0If you\u2019ve proven yourself and have the ability to place in the top numbers of your division and category, you should be with others who are also trying to win, place, show or finish Top 8\/16!<\/p>\n

More often than not, our performances are based not only on skill, but weather conditions, lighting, pressure, nerves, cameras, crowds, knowing that your closest competitor just shot an amazing run <\/strong>\u2026 It all plays into the equation, and it\u2019s a BIG part of our game. \u00a0Trust me, it\u2019s not the same match when you\u2019re not squadded with your close competitors, and when matches are won and lost by a few points and often fractions of points, it makes a difference! \u00a0Eva \u2013 I love you, completely respect your opposing opinion, and hope we can continue to agree to disagree on this one! \u00a0: )<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>If contending competitors are spread out all over the range, it\u2019s also extremely difficult for the video crews, photographers and reporters to properly cover the match<\/strong>. \u00a0Due to the nature of our scoring system, our scores can only be compared \u00a0if we\u2019ve all shot the same stages, so it\u2019s nearly impossible to tell who\u2019s in the lead.<\/p>\n

Please understand where I\u2019m coming from \u2013 I\u2019m old school. \u00a0Historically, I\u2019ve never known or considered squadding an option, but rather a reward<\/strong>. \u00a0My first Nationals was in 1988, and I arrived in Barry, IL to try to earn a slot from the S&W Ladies Match. \u00a0I fortunately won my slot and went on to finish 8th overall at the Nationals. \u00a0When I showed up the next year, I was in the ladies squad! \u00a0I couldn\u2019t have been any happier, while simultaneously sick to my stomach. \u00a0: ) \u00a0It was considered an honor to shoot with the Ladies or in the Super Squad. \u00a0It was where \u00a0a driven competitor wanted to be \u2013 in the limelight.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Now,\u00a0squad scatter<\/strong> happens all the time at Area Matches, lower-level competitions, and unfortunately<\/strong> at the SS Nationals. \u00a0Although, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the best for the sport, I think that it\u2019s a good way to compromise. \u00a0If someone wants to shoot with a friend, husband or just meet new people, Area matches<\/strong> are the\u00a0perfect\u00a0place for that, however, when National Titles<\/strong> are on the line, we should handle the squadding more professionally, based on proven performance.<\/p>\n

And every now and then, the Top-8 \/ Top-16 squadding system is fooled when a shooting-star<\/strong> comes along and breaks into the winner\u2019s circle as a somewhat \u201cunknown\u201d. \u00a0The extremely talented Valerie Levanza-Rosales<\/strong> and our (Arizona\u2019s) amazingly skilled Nils Jonasson<\/strong> come to mind. \u00a0 At their first Nationals, they each shot outside of the top squads because they had not yet proven themselves on that level \u2013 and WON! \u00a0What an astonishing accomplishment! \u00a0Wanna make any bets on where our young, up-and-coming shooting god Nils will be squadded next year <\/strong>though? \u00a0Congratulations again, Nils, on your 2010 Limited National Championship Title \u2013 Arizona is so proud of you!<\/p>\n

Want to finish this topic by acknowledging and thanking Paul Erhardt<\/strong> for tabulating the daily leaders at the Nationals with his posts on USPSA\u2019s blog. \u00a0That was very exciting to see! \u00a0Back in the 90s, we had Marilyn Barnhart <\/strong>who kept the men\u2019s scores current up to the minute, and down to the hundredth of a point. \u00a0She was awesome! \u00a0 What do you think about a Leader Board, Paul? \u00a0: )<\/p>\n

Are you sorry you asked now, and is my time up yet ? \u00a0: )<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WoUSPSA: <\/strong>No, no, and we\u2019re almost done! \u00a0Was this your last major match of the year or do you still have more competitions on your schedule?<\/p>\n

Kippi:<\/strong> I shot the USPSA Area-2 \/ Desert Classic after Nationals and am now officially done!<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>With the match season rather lengthy, how do you typically unwind after all the matches have settled down?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>I enjoy golfing, spending time with friends & family and getting my house \/ life back in order. \u00a0During the match season, it\u2019s amazing how quickly chaos can ensue.<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>What are your long-term competitive shooting goals?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>To try to\u00a0remember<\/strong> the time when I was able to finish in the Top 3! \u00a0: )<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>WoUSPSA: <\/strong>If you weren\u2019t a competitive shooter, what do you think you would be doing?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>Dancing<\/strong> has always been my passion and first love. \u00a0I live vicariously now through a few of the reality shows. \u00a0I\u2019m truly amazed by the capability of the human body and the artistic creativity of today\u2019s dancers and choreographers. \u00a0Luv, luv, luv \u201cSo You Think You Can Dance\u201d! <\/strong><\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>Do you have any special talents or skills that you would like to share with us?<\/p>\n

Kippi:<\/strong> I occasionally hit great golf shots! \u00a0 Still can\u2019t get under 100, though. \u00a0: (<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>When you aren\u2019t on the road or at the range, what\u2019s one of your favorite activities to do when at home?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>Attending our daughter\u2019s soccer<\/strong> and sporting events, cooking for family & friends, and wrestling with my little girl, who is now taller, stronger, and sassier than I.<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA:<\/strong> <\/strong>What advice would you give to any new shooters starting out?<\/p>\n

Kippi: <\/strong>Have fun, form new friendships, set realistic goals, surround yourself with good shooters, and practice if you really want to improve \u2013 No, matches are not practice! \u00a0: )<\/p>\n

WoUSPSA: <\/strong>Congrats again on your Top 5 finish, Kippi! \u00a0Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.<\/p>\n

Check out this video of Kippi shooting a few stages at the 2010 S&W USPSA Production Nationals.<\/p>\n