Imagine soft ocean breezes, endless sandy beaches. Imagine lush, tropical vegetation and unlimited food and drink. Now imagine so much rain that roads washed away under the fury of swollen rivers. Imagine a lake forming in front of you, complete with ocean life, in the middle of an archery range!

Not rain nor sleet, nor snow, nor hail would prevent the 11th Annual Costa Rica Cup. Not even the tragic events of September 11 that caused over 40 cancellations could dampen the spirits of those that did show. A competition of courage under extreme conditions, the courageous archers battled against the elements. Caught between Tropical Storm Michelle in the Caribbean and a system in the Pacific, the tournament was blessed with flooding, mudslides, loss of power and hot water. 

The first hint of what was to come coincided with the first moment of the Opening Ceremonies. Sr. Juan Jose Wedel barely spoke before the heavens opened and doused him. We chuckled, headed for shelter, and waited out the first of many downpours. 

I count myself as lucky that the sun did shine upon our arrival. Early Saturday, the sun made an appearance that lasted for the entire day. The beach, the golf course and our hearts were full of promise that the trip would be one we would never forget. Without a doubt, it was an event we will never forget and will live in the memories of the participants for a long time.

I marveled at the amount of rain that could come out of a cloud; how the timing of the showers was always in sync with the whistle of the judge. Day after day, night after night, the rain continued and we continued to shoot. For three days our feet were soaked, our bow parts began to rust, but we continued to shoot. The bridge washed out, the river flooded the road and the field yet we continued to shoot. The finale of this event was performed by the 1st and 2nd place men’s compound class by doing swan dives from the 50m line. The fact that neither was hurt was another testimony to the amount of water that had accumulated on the field.

This was not a story of specific winners, scores, or world records. It is a story of courage, commitment and camaraderie. This 11th Costa Rica Cup will live in our memories for years to come. When can I sign up for 2002?