7 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE GOING “KATNISS” AT AQTIV ARCHERY

The kids have Merida in “Brave,” for the ladies there’s the fierce Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games,”  the guys have “Arrow” and “Hawkeye” and for the rest, well, they have Legolas.

The weapon of choice that predates history is making amazing comeback into the 21st century thanks to these larger than life heroes, and though you probably wont anyone carrying a bow and arrow around, there are already several archery schools/centers that can help you learn the sport.

Besides the obvious of helping you improve your aim, Archery has several other benefits. One, is that it can help you improve your focus and tune out all distractions as such competing in tournaments is good practice for coping with high-pressure situations. And since you’ll be used to high pressure situations, it will further boost your confidence.

Since you will be using your arms a lot, archery can strengthen your core, arms, chest and shoulders. It will also improve your coordination and consistent practice builds muscle memory.

Archery may require you to move much, but it still good exercise, according to a magazine, drawing a bow burns about 140 calories per half-hour which is the same as walking at a brisk, 3.5-mph pace.

Finally, those who regularly practice archery says it helps them relax. According to them watching the arrow fly and see it hit bulls-eye is indeed a relaxing feeling–well that i still cant attest to since i have yet to hit a target 🙂

But before you head over to Oculus Archery at the SandBox Alviera, here are some things you should know;

1. Aqtiv Archery: After introducing outdoor archery last year in partnership with Oculus, SandBox is raising the bar with the introduction of Aqtiv Archery. This entails having archers run through a challenge course and face moving targets and obstacles in an outdoor maze under time pressure. This was designed with a more fun theme since archers will wear costume headgear in keeping with the theme of the maze setting. Themes and targets will change periodically.
   For the recreational archer, it’s the next step to improving their skills and enjoying archery even more at the SandBox. But you will not be forced to try the course and visitors will still be able to enjoy the regular archery range with stationary targets especially for beginners trying outdoor archery for the first time.
2. Not for kids 7 below: While Archery is for everyone, only kids 7 years old and above will be allowed. This is to ensure that the archer has enough upper body strength to pull the string properly, and enough attention span to last a minimum of 30 minutes staying in one shooting position. There is no maximum age for the sport as they have had beginners that were well into their 60s.
3. Wear sports clothes and leave all your “bling” behind: Archers must combine basic archery knowledge, agility, and hand-eye coordination to run thru a maze and shoot moving targets while under time pressure. One very important requirement is that participant has basic archery knowledge. Participants must also be prepared to run. Due to the nature of the activities, participants should avoid wearing jewellery, loose or sharp objects such as steel, belt buckles or key chains or carrying hard or valuable items in pockets. Appropriate footwear includes sneakers or sport shoes. No slippers or sandals.
4. Mission: Monsters of The Wall: Aqtiv Archery is structured into a role playing game (RPG) model in this mission players must survive an infestation of man-eating monsters. Shoot their life source using your bow and arrow. You only have 5 minutes to complete the task. Fail, and feel the wrath of the hungry ones. Participants will be encouraged to wear costumes provided.
5. Solo or group play? While group competition is encouraged, only one archer can be accommodated at one time in the arena. Total playing time will be 5 minutes. But group competition can still be done by ranking scores (number of hits/time)*(100). Aqtiv Archery is also planning to hold tournaments in the future so better sharpen those skills as early as now.
6. How much are the packages for Aqtiv Archery? Rate for Aqtiv Archery is P250 per attempt but guests may also avail of the Archery Package at P400, which includes a 30-minute session for Target Archery.
7. Excited much? Here’s how you can book trips to Sandbox. The SandBox is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9AM-5PM. Booking guidelines and details are available on http://www.alviera.ph/ and on http://www.facebook.com/AlvieraPH.

The SandBox outdoor archery range, operated by Oculus Archery, has had over 5,000 visitors since the attraction opened last year. Children as young as 7 years old to some strong seniors, all new to the sport, have found their bliss in this outdoor feature as they learn the basics of archery in a stationery setup consisting of 12 lanes of targets.

With Aqtiv Archery, participants are given a mission that must be completed within 3 to 5 minutes in the maze depending on the mission’s level of difficulty. Unlike target archery, participants must expect turns and twists and moving targets. For the first mission, archers will face off against Monsters of the Wall. They will be on the run, which adds difficulty to the activity. And in keeping with a themed and more fun setting, participants will be wearing costumes and headgear.

“For the recreational archer, it’s the next step to improving their skills and enjoying archery even more at the SandBox,” said Krizia Chu-Tranquilino, General Manager of Oculus Archery. Themed settings will change over time, so if you’re a court jester in this adventure, you may be a witch, a Viking or even a hippie in the next.

The SandBox offers different archery packages but first-timers can try the 30-minute target archery first. It includes basic lessons, equipment and a stationary target. This is a pre-requisite before guests can try Aqtiv Archery, which requires basic archery knowledge that has to be combined with agility and hand-eye coordination. Archers who beat the set time for the challenge will be granted Archery Elite status and will win some tokens from Oculus Archery. Every end of the month, the top 5 fastest archers that completed the challenge will be showcased.
Rate for Aqtiv Archery is at P250 per attempt on the challenge maze and a package rate of P400 includes 30-minute target archery.

Alviera and Oculus Archery will look into hosting tournaments in SandBox in the near future, in partnership with academic and sports institutions.

Other SandBox attractions have been bringing families, friends and even corporations to the park regularly in large numbers. The longer and now tougher Aerial Walk takes visitors through an obstacle course above ground. The Giant Swing keeps riders thrilled 10 meters up, and many are lined up for the Adventure Tower’s offerings: rappelling, wall climbing and free fall. Other thrill seekers enjoy Avatar One, Asia’s first roller coaster zipline at 180-meters long. The SandBox’s open fields are ready for outdoor activities like camping, kite-flying, field games and other sports.

“The launch of Aqtiv Archery is only the beginning as SandBox continues to expand in size and attractions in 2016,” said John Estacio, General Manager of Alviera. “Other attractions to be launched this year include a 3-hectare Urban Karting, Airsoft, and Paintball facility together with the opening of restaurants.”

Visitors can also watch out for exciting signature events such as the upcoming summer music and camping festival, Brightscape Campfest.

Alviera is a 1,100 hectare masterplanned development by Ayala Land in partnership with Leonio Land. The property will have residential communities, shopping and dining establishments, offices, and academic institutions as it becomes the new regional growth center of Luzon. Upcoming developments include the Alviera Country Club and the Alviera Industrial Park.