Cory Niefer is one of the best air rifle competitors in the world but he is far more focused on his athletes than on his own accomplishments.
“I always believed that I was a better coach than an athlete, but I’m an OK athlete as well,” said the native of Yorkton, Sask., and coach of Saskatchewan’s 2011 Canada Winter Games air rifle team
Niefer recently won the Champion of Champions competition in the United States, with a score of 597 out of 600. Air rifle competitors stand 10 metres away from a 4.5-centimetre diameter target and shoot 60 times in an effort to hit the centre
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The 11-time national air rifle champion also coached Canada’s 2008 Olympic air rifle team.
Niefer said Team Saskatchewan will be the one to beat at the winter games in Halifax.
“If you ask anyone in our sport, we’re slated as the team to win.”
Winning a national championship in 1998 and armed with a masters of science in kinesiology, Niefer established the national training centre for air rifle in Saskatoon in 2002.
“I believe this is a phenomenal place and we have great resources here that need to be developed,” he said.
“My main goal was to allow athletes to stay in their communities, while having access to the best training and a team atmosphere.”
One rural Saskatchewan shooter who has his sights set on competing at the winter games was identified through a southeastern Saskatchewan cadet program one year ago. After qualifying for the 2010 Saskatchewan Winter Games through a local cadet competition, Mack Kohl was recruited to be part of Niefer’s elite team.
“By being part of our team, you get to train with a great group of people, you learn life skills like setting goals and you learn emotional control, which is one of the biggest parts of this sport,” said Niefer.
“It’s one of those sports that changes you as an individual because of the emotional control you have to learn early on in your training.”
Team Saskatchewan athletes train six days a week, from two to six hours a day. While the entire team only trains together one to two weekends per month in Saskatoon, Niefer communicates with his rural athletes through Skype and e-mail.
Kohl said it’s a big commitment, especially since he has to drive 350 kilometres to Saskatoon from his hometown in Montmartre, Sask., for the weekend training sessions.
“It’s given me more control overall. Even in school, I’ve been better at getting work done,” said the 14-year-old.
“I’ve also learned that setting goals is everything. If you don’t set a goal, you won’t reach it.”
Kohl hopes to qualify for the Commonwealth and Olympic games one day.
Niefer said with the resources provided by Sask Sport and the coaching and team support available in Saskatchewan, there is no reason Kohl and other Saskatchewan shooters can’t train in their home province and set high goals.
“The kids who have good motivation and an interest in the sport, can achieve anything they want.”
