USPSA Nationals: '09 Nationals Archives

October 08, 2009

S&W USPSA Handgun Nationals Photos

J.Scott of Action Shooting Podcast was on hand at the Nationals match and awards to take photographs. He has the photos in a gallery, available for purchase as downloads OR prints. The gallery for the Open/Production match is here, and the gallery for the Limited/Limited 10/Revolver match is here.

Thanks to J.Scott for getting the awards shots and putting them online.

Posted by Kimberley at 10:49 AM

September 04, 2009

Squadding Announcement

Per Match Administration, we will not be making further changes to the squadding assignments after 12pm Pacific time. We have taken care of most issues, but if you have a last minute request it MUST be emailed to Matt Pickhardt prior to 12pm Pacific Time today. Thank you for your understanding.

Posted by Kimberley at 10:29 AM

September 02, 2009

Squad Lists Posted

*****UPDATED 9/3/09*****
Squad lists for the Smith & Wesson Handgun Nationals are posted on the left sidebar.

Open Squad Assignments *updated 9/3/09
Limited Squad Assignments *updated 9/3/09*

These are the final squad lists. You may still direct any errors to Matt Pickhardt, but at this point your chances of getting a change are very low. We will still consider your request and if need be will make a correction BUT please understand that in order to have the match registration run smoothly we need the squads to be static at some point. This is that point.

Again, THERE WILL BE NO SQUAD CHANGES AT REGISTRATION.

Posted by Kimberley at 04:52 PM

August 27, 2009

Ammo shipped to American Shooters

If you have shipped match ammo to yourself at American Shooters, they will have it ready for you to pick up at their location. Just let them know that you are there to get USPSA Nationals ammo under your name, and they'll grab it for you. Their address is:

3440 S. Arville Street
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Please remember to thank them for receiving and holding your ammo - it saved a lot of gambling money that would have gone to the hotel for receiving. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Pickhardt at USPSA.

Posted by Kimberley at 12:00 PM

August 21, 2009

S&W USPSA Nationals stages posted

The stages, including range map, have been posted in .PDF format on the left sidebar. Links for your viewing pleasure are also provided here for the Open/Production and Limited/Limited 10/Revolver matches. Squadding is in process and won't be completed for a while yet.

Posted by Kimberley at 11:05 AM

August 20, 2009

Round count posted

The round count for the Smith & Wesson USPSA Handgun Nationals is 306 rounds per match. We will be posting stages as *soon* as we can. Please be patient.

Posted by Kimberley at 12:21 PM

August 17, 2009

Registration times

The schedule to the left has been updated to reflect the new registration times for the Smith&Wesson USPSA Handgun Nationals. The correct times are from 1pm-6pm on Sept. 11 and Sept 16 at The Orleans hotel and casino. If you are planning to try to walk-on, please arrive around 30 minutes prior to the start of registration in order to get yourself on the list.

Posted by Kimberley at 01:16 PM

July 17, 2009

Update on ammo shipping

***Update*** Please do not call or email American Shooters asking them to confirm delivery. They are helping us out, and it's not reasonable to expect them to check on the package status for hundreds of competitors. You can use the on-line tracking service from your shipping company to verify delivery. Thanks for your understanding.

Because The Orleans charges by weight to receive packages for guests(and they are none too excited about receiving and storing ammunition) we have arranged to have American Shooters receive ammunition from competitors. They will store it and make sure it gets to the range. They will also be offering a complimentary day pass to each shooter for use of their indoor range for sighting in.

Send your ammunition *clearly marked* to yourself at:

American Shooters
Attn: Ray Witham/nationals competitor ammo
3440 S. Arville Street
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Be sure to thank Ray at the match, as he has been instrumental in making sure this part of the Nationals runs smoothly. American Shooters has been very generous with their offer of the use of their range for sighting in and accepting ammunition. Again, we do not recommend shipping ammo to yourself via your hotel (even if it isn't The Orleans) as they tend to charge by weight for receiving packages and often have restrictions on receiving explosive or flammable items.

Posted by Kimberley at 09:29 AM

June 29, 2009

Widow Activities at the '09 Nationals

We know that many of you are bringing your spouse and/or families along to Las Vegas. To that end, Mrs. Sherman approached us with the idea of having an activity list for those that don't want to spend all of their time at the range. We very much appreciate the effort she put into this task.

Please click here to download a pdf of events

If you’d like to participate in any of these events, you will need to coordinate one day prior with Miranda Sherman at 402-980-0345 or email her at sparkysherman@msn.com.

Bring the whole family and have a blast!

Posted by Kimberley at 03:33 PM

June 22, 2009

Shipping Ammo for Nationals

Send your ammunition *clearly marked* to yourself at:

American Shooters
Attn: Ray Witham/nationals competitor ammo
3440 S. Arville Street
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Posted by Kimberley at 03:44 PM

June 01, 2009

Classification page notice explanation

Some of you who were offered a wait list slot may notice a strange message on your classification page which says that you owe $20 on your slot fee. If you are not sure if this is on your classification page, please check because if it is you were affected by a small problem with our system.

For a short time the system was charging only $250 of the $270 slot fee (not including the wait list fee) rather than the full amount. If you were one of the unlucky few to have been caught by this, your slot is still safe and we've got all of your info. We just need you to either go to your classification page and click the button under the notification and charge the difference OR you can call us up and we'll be happy to process it for you. If you've already contacted us to arrange payment or seen the notice and paid, thank you very much.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or trouble this caused, and we have made sure it is fixed - all future transactions for the wait list should be handled correctly. We appreciate your patience and invite you to call us if you have any questions or problems.

The other minor problem we fixed is that the system was not sending out confirmations upon payment online. The payments invariably went through and nothing was affected OTHER than your nerves, thinking that we may have bumped you from the list. That is now corrected and you should see the correct confirmation on your classification page.

Posted by Kimberley at 04:15 PM

May 26, 2009

Last day to get slots in!

Today is the *FINAL* day to get your slot in to the office for the 2009 USPSA Handgun Nationals. If your slot is in transit, you haven't mailed it yet or you aren't sure if we have it today because it was mailed 'just in time', please give us a call. We can check to see if we have received it, and if necessary take payment by credit card over the phone. Payment will suffice to hold your slot, but please be aware that if your slot shows up with payment after the deadline it will be returned to you and your slot will already have been voided. There is *NO* way to reclaim your slot! Please call if you have any questions or need to make payment. We absolutely want you to have your slot! Thanks for your understanding and prompt attention to any outstanding slots.

**UPDATE** I've noticed a number of people on the wait list have not paid their wait list fee yet - If you are signed up but have not yet paid your $25 fee, it is *very* important that you do so as soon as possible. If you are listed as not having paid, you risk either missing a slot when your number comes up OR being bumped entirely for nonpayment.

Posted by Kimberley at 01:21 PM

Shipping ammo to the Nationals

Here is some information you may find helpful regarding ammunition for the 2009 Nationals. :

US airline generally limit ammo to 11lbs. If you wish to ship ammo to yourself at the the match, the following info may be helpful:

Ammo may not be shipped by US Mail

UPS may be used to ship ammo by ground only. Ammo is classified "ORM-D", not "Hazmat". You do not need a hazmat contract with UPS to ship ammo, but you must either arrange for a UPS pickup of your package (details on how to do this at www.ups.com), or bring it to a UPS depot.

"UPS Stores" or independent business that offer UPS shipping services (office supply stores, etc.) will not ship ammunition - you must go to a "UPS depot"

Packages containing ammo must be labeled "ORM-D Cartridges-Small Arms". You can find labels at www.uspsa.org/orm-d.

Las Vegas hotels customarily impose a substantial fee for receiving packages for their guests. USPSA is currently trying to arrange for a location to receive packages at no charge to nationals competitors. We will keep you posted on developments in this area.

There is more information including the USPSA match ammo program, TSA guidelines and information for foreigners available through links on the right sidebar.

Posted by Kimberley at 10:28 AM

May 22, 2009

Wait List slots

We have released a very few slots to the wait list, partially as a test and partially because they weren't deadline dependent. We don't expect to release very many more if any until the deadline passes and we can take a full accounting of how many slots there are to put on offer. So unless you are very, very high up on the wait list, sit back and relax this holiday weekend and visualize success at the Nationals. The slot deadline is end of business May 26th, and we will be working diligently to process slots received and arrive at the point where a bulk wait list invitation can be made as soon as possible.

This weekend, make sure you take time to think about the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country and for your freedom. Happy Memorial Day!

Posted by Kimberley at 04:06 PM

May 20, 2009

Slot Deadline is May 26th

Just another friendly reminder - The slot deadline is Tuesday, May 26th at close of business (5pm Pacific time). Any slots not received at that time will be voided and rolled in to the waitlist, so if you haven't sent your slot yet NOW is the time to get on the stick. If you are facing a circumstance where you don't think you'll be able to get your slot in by that deadline, PLEASE give us a call at 360-855-2245 and pay your slot fee by credit card. This will ensure that we don't void your slot and give it to some lucky dog on the wait list. We would hate for anyone who earned a slot to miss out!

Posted by Kimberley at 01:27 PM

May 19, 2009

Working on staff for Nationals

Many of you have applied to work as volunteer staff for the Nationals, and have called or wondered out loud why you hadn't heard anything yet.

First of all, we would like to thank everyone for their interest in helping out. Practical Shooting is a volunteer sport, and without the generous time, money and energy that members put in to helping make the match run we wouldn't have much of a match at all.

If you sent us a staff application, the Match Director and Range Master have received your applications and you're logged in our database. They've got their hands full trying to sort out not only who is accepted, but where everyone will be assigned. They are also volunteers, with jobs and home lives to keep up with on top of their Nationals duties. It's a complex process and it takes time, but even so we fully realize that it's important to be able to make your travel arrangements and confirm your time off from work as soon as possible. The process is moving along with all deliberate speed. As soon as we have a list that is complete enough to release, all volunteers will be notified first by email of their status. Unfortunately we can't use all of the help offered; some will be accepted and some will be put on standby/alternate status. Either way, an email will be received letting you know. Following that will be an official hard copy letter sent by mail, and anyone accepted to the match will also be sent match and area information.

Again, we realize that it's important to let you know as soon as we can where you stand. We don't want you to think that we've forgotten about you or that we don't appreciate your offer to help. Thanks to all who have volunteered, and extra thanks for your patience.

If you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to contact Matt at the Sedro Woolley office.

Posted by Kimberley at 10:51 AM

May 01, 2009

Back-to-back Nationals Match Hotel

We have finalized negotiations with The Orleans in Las Vegas to be our match hotel. This is a great casino/hotel near the range and off the strip(but still close) which has many amenities for you and your family. There are 12 restaurants, a bowling alley, a cinema, a kid's arcade and complimentary shuttle service to the strip among other things.

You can reserve your room through their online reservation system, using discount code: 9USPC09. You can also make reservations by phone by calling 800-675-3267 - make sure you tell them that your group is 'USPSA Nationals' to get the USPSA rates. The weekend rate is higher than the weekday rate, but those are still well below their normal weekend rates. The rates are as follows:

9/10/09 - $38.00
9/11/09- $86.00
9/12/09 - $90.00
9/13/09 - $43.00
9/14/09 - $43.00
9/15/09 - $43.00
9/16/09 - $43.00
9/17/09 - $43.00
9/18/09 - $90.00
9/19/09 - $90.00

We have reserved a set block of rooms, and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. When those are gone, there won't be any more so make sure you don't wait until the last minute.

Registration will be held at The Orleans on Sept. 11 from 2-6pm and on Sept. 16 from 2-6pm as well.

Posted by Kimberley at 10:44 AM

April 30, 2009

Slot Deadline Approaching

Just a friendly reminder that the slot deadline will be here sooner than you think. Your slot needs to be here by the end of business on May 26 *with payment* or it will be handed out to some lucky person on the wait list. If you are not certain that your slot will get here in time you can call the office and have us put your slot fee on a credit card. That will make sure your slot remains yours even if it doesn't show up quite by the deadline.

We have finalized the match hotel contract with The Orleans, and are waiting for their online reservation system to be processed and readied for us. This should take around 24 hours, and once it is available a link will be posted with a promo code for USPSA so you will get the discounted rate. It's a great hotel with many amenities, and we've gotten a great rate. Thanks for your patience!

Posted by Kimberley at 12:22 PM

March 19, 2009

Wait List for 2009 Handgun Nationals

***Update*** Although the slot form states that the wait list will be on STANDARD time, that is incorrect. The wait list start time is DAYLIGHT time, which shouldn't cause too many problems since your watch should be set to DAYLIGHT time. Even so, we didn't want anyone thinking that for some reason USPSA was an hour different and showing up late to the party.

The Wait List for slots to the Back-to-Back 2009 USPSA Handgun Nationals will be opening on May 17, 2009 at 11:01pm Eastern Daylight time. The link to the wait list will be located at the member page of USPSA.org. You will need the username and password found on the latest issue of Front Sight Magazine to log in to the member area. The wait list fee is $25 per slot, which is refunded if you are not offered a slot. Step-by-step instructions will lead you through the process.

**IMPORTANT** Those of you not familiar with the change made to the process last year will need to be aware that if you register in the first 25 hours that the wait list is open, you will not be able to pay your registration fee. Your registration will still be recorded in the order in which it was posted to the system, an acknowledgement email will be sent and a notice will be added to the member's classification page. You MUST return within one week (between May 19th and May 26th) to pay the $25 wait list registration fee in order to keep your place in the queue. You will be notified of this on your classification page in addition to the normal wait list confirmation. This change was made in order to mitigate problems we experienced with overload between our server and our third-party billing partner while the early rush was going on. Subsequent to the first 25 hours you may pay as normal when you register.

**Returning to the web site and paying the fee IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MEMBER** - Failure to return in the generous time allotted and pay your fee will result in your record being removed from the queue and everyone who signed up later and paid their fee will move up at least one place on the list. There can be no appeal.

If you have any questions, please call the Sedro Woolley office or email Matt Pickhardt.

Posted by Kimberley at 01:03 PM

March 18, 2009

Invitational Slots to Nationals

The earned invitation slots to the 2009 USPSA Handgun Nationals have been mailed. If you accepted a slot offer or placed in the top 16 for Men, Top 8 for Women or were the overall Junior winner of your division at the 2008 Nationals, you should be receiving your slot in the mail shortly. Simply fill it out and return it to us with payment in the enclosed return envelope BEFORE THE DEADLINE (May 26, 2009) and we will make sure your slot is reserved for the match. If you prefer to pay by credit card you may call the Sedro Woolley office and we'll be happy to help you.

The US Postal Service is fairly reliable, and we do our best here to make sure everything is correct on our end, but due to a number of things that can go wrong it is always possible that your slot will be lost or misdirected. If you haven't received your slot within 10-15 days from March 18, 2009 please contact Matt Pickhardt by email or phone (360-855-2245) so we can correct any problems. The sooner you alert us to the problem the more time we have to solve it and keep you running on rails for the match. Thanks for your cooperation, and congratulations again on earning your slot!

Posted by Kimberley at 03:02 PM

February 26, 2009

Schedule of events

We've got the dates and times posted on the left sidebar for both Handgun matches now. The schedule is as follows:

Open/Production Schedule:

Friday -- Sep. 11 from 2-6pm -- Registration at match hotel
***Note - NO registration after 8am on Saturday***

Competition is 1/2 day schedule
Saturday -- Sep 12 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 5 stages
Sunday -- Sep 13 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 5 stages
Monday -- Sep 14 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 5 stages
Tuesday -- Sep 15 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 3 stages
Tuesday -- Sep 15 from 8pm-finish -- Awards

Limited/Limited10/Revolver Schedule:

Wednesday -- Sep. 16 from 2-6pm -- Registration at match hotel
***Note - NO registration after 8am on Thursday***

Competition is 1/2 day schedule
Thursday -- Sep 17 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 6 stages
Friday -- Sep 18 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 6 stages
Saturday -- Sep 19 from 8am-finish -- Competition - 6 stages
Saturday -- Sep 19 from 8pm-finish -- Awards

Please note that registration days are now Sep. 11 and Sep. 16. The difference in competition length between both matches is intentional.

Posted by Kimberley at 02:40 PM

February 17, 2009

Slot prices for Handgun Nationals

Slots for the USPSA Handgun Nationals will cost $270 dollars for earned slots, and $295 for wait list slots. We are currently calling with slot invitations, and plan to have the deadlines for slot returns as well as dates for the wait list posted soon.

Posted by Kimberley at 01:44 PM

January 30, 2009

2009 USPSA Nationals Volunteer Request

We are now accepting applications for volunteer staff for the 2009 USPSA Nationals matches. To open and print the form, Click here (PDF) and in .doc format here. You can either mail it in to us at:

USPSA
702A Metcalf
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284

or return it by email to: Matt Pickhardt
If you have worked the Nationals in the past, you should be receiving this form in the mail shortly.

As always, not everyone who applies can be accepted but everyone is welcome to apply. We'd love to have your help in Las Vegas this year!

Posted by Kimberley at 11:42 AM

January 22, 2009

2009 Nationals division breakdown

The division breakdown for this year's Handgun Nationals matches in Las Vegas will be Open/Production from September 11-15 and Limited/Limited 10/Revolver from September 16-19. The shooting schedule is still being worked out and may affect the dates when final. The dates are to be considered provisional, but the division breakdown is set. We look forward to seeing you at this year's events, and we'll be doing our best to make it a Nationals to remember!

Posted by Kimberley at 10:24 AM