STOCKTON – The California Central Valley Archery Academy is right at home with the San Joaquin County Fair.
That’s because Building #5 at the SJC Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton, is where Matthais Macasaet has set up shop for the past three years. He refers to CCVAA as “the archery capital of Northern California.”
Kisik Lee, who is the head coach of the US Olympic Archery Training Program, has paid visits to the fairgrounds specially to teach his scientific method to archery, according to Macasaet.
For the first time, archery is being offered at the SJC Fair, which returned this week after a two-year absence.
Macasaet, for one, was thrilled to have his CCVAA as one of the attractions of the five-day event which concludes on Sunday.
“It’s been great having first timers (in archery) stop by,” he said on Friday.
Included was Lukas Roberson. The 9-year-old Lodi boy received some brief instructions on handling a bow and arrow along with the proper way of taking aim and firing by Macasaet, who got into the sport by happenstance.
“I was studying abroad about five years ago when my family got into the archery business,” he said.
Up until that point, Macasaet, who had a Business Management background, decided to help out the place originally located on March Lane in Stockton.
Given the overhead, he found that the fairgrounds were more feasible to his archery business. Along the way, Macasaet also received plenty of education and instruction on the sport.
Most of his real work came in the actual doing.
“Archery is a shooting sport that takes quiet muscles,” he said. “It’s like a cross between weight lifting and golf.”
The first question Macasaet will ask of fairgoers who are looking to take aim at one of the targets situated some nine meters away: “Have you ever shot?”
As for the other fair attractions, the Midway rides and the carnival have been as popular as ever. An unlimited-ride wristband for $30 allows access to the Super Slide, the Viper, the Drop Zone, Ferris wheel or the roller coaster.
The hypnosis show along with the BMX Freestyle Team exhibition and the exotic animals show, “Wild About Monkeys,” is free.
The fair also featured the K9 Kings Dog Show and live bands performing on the stage along grass-bowl venue.
General admission is $10 adults, $5 children age 6-12 (5 and under is free), $7 seniors, military & students with ID.
For more information of the fair, call 209.466.5041 or log on to www.sanjoaquinfair.com.