What does it take to be an Olympian?

Years and years of practice to perfect a skill. Even then, many competitors never make it to the world’s games.

Cortez resident Byron Crites, 18, is one of many Olympic hopefuls. His parents Twyla and Russell are bow hunters. When Byron turned 14, they bought him a compound bow and arrow for his birthday.

Four years later, thousands of arrows drilled into targets, hundreds of hours practicing, various national competitions and a Colorado 4-H recurve bow 2011 state title, Byron Crites has set his sights on achieving his dream of competing in the 2016 Olympics.

“That’s my main goal,” he said.

In January, Crites got a taste of elite athlete life at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. He was invited to the prestigious, six-day OTC archery camp by his coach Gary Yamaguchi. The camp brings together the best young archers from around the world. Each bow and arrow extraordinaire gets “six months better in six days.”

“It’s a very rare thing. It’s for the top shooters in the nation,” Crites said. “There’s a few open spots. It was basically an archery boot camp. Got to bed at 9 (p.m.), up at 6 (a.m.), do your morning workout and shoot for the rest of the day.”

To be the best, one must compete with the best.

Because of the limited camp spots and overall prestige, Crites had to submit a video to the world’s top three coaches, an essay, and send out 30 more videos to archery camp personnel at the OTC. The Cortez native definitely made the most of showcasing his talents and mental toughness. U.S. Olympic Archery Training Program coach Kisik Lee observed Crites performing archery using the National Training System or NTS. The method was invented by Lee and usually takes three to five years to master. Crites did it in eight months.

To work toward his goal, Crites needed to sharpen his mental game.

“He’s the No. 1 coach in the world. I had to show him his own form. It was kind of intense,” Crites said. “It’s definitely a mental game. But all the coaches were pretty impressed.”

Competing for the Olympics is sanctioned under Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) and the U.S. Archery Team. Crites is currently ranked No. 12 in USAT recurve junior division (age 16-21) and must break the top-10 to take an important step toward making the team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Being top-10 can get him a resident assistant position at the OTC in Chula Vista, Calif., which is Crites’ main focus right now.

“I got to shoot a tournament there (in Chula Vista) and it was a great experience,” he said. “It was kind of the turning point. I didn’t really know if I wanted to do it (become a resident assistant) or not.”

Crites had only shot recurve for eight months at that point in August 2011. He faced a 4-year recurve archer in a shoot-off at Chula Vista and did quite well against the veteran. It gave Crites the confidence to go for the Olympics. Being a resident assistant in Chula Vista will give Crites the opportunity to train full-time with the best coaches and archers in the country. Not to mention, doors may open up for sponsors.

In Olympic training and competition, an 8-by-8-foot target is used at a distance of 70 meters. Crites shoots a 1,000 arrows a week practicing at Stone Sand and Gravel, the Montezuma County Fairgrounds and in his basement.

Crites is still going strong in Colorado 4-H, too. After winning the state recurve bow title in August, he secured a spot in the National 4-H Tournament in Grand Island, Neb., June 17-22. Crites placed eighth in Colorado 4-H compound bow in 2009, before making the switch to recurve in January 2011.

In just four years of competitive archery, a little more than a year in recurve and mastering the NTS method in eight months, how did Crites get so good so fast?

“I wouldn’t be where I am without good coaching along the way,” he said.

In addition to archery, Crites played baseball for 10 years, most recently as a closing pitcher for the Dolores High School team.

“Pitching, you learn faster to shoot a bow. It helps with flexibility,” he said.

Being on the mound in pressure situations also helped Crites become more mentally tough in archery. Crites’ focus is primarily with his bow and arrow now, and he has decided not to suit up for the Bears his senior season at the risk of injury.

Why is archery such a passion?

“I love the challenge. I love the competition. Even off by a millimeter, can ruin a shot,” Crites said. “You’re so focused you get relaxed. The Olympic archery feels like a beautiful dance.”

When Crites isn’t shooting his bow or doing his private school work through Cedar Wood Christian Academy, he’s quick to grab a Frisbee and play disc golf at Parque de Vida. Crites isn’t only a crack shot with his bow and arrow. He also won the 2011 Cortez disc golf tournament.

“Disc golf is fun. They have plenty of good courses in California,” Crites said.

The main focus is achieving the main goal of USAT top-10. Crites has multiple USAT qualifier competitions coming up this year to move up the rankings.

One thing is for certain; if Crites’ keeps up his quick release progression in the sport of archery, he may hit his target of Rio De Janeiro.



Reach Bobby Abplanalp at bobbya@cortezjournal.com.