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But Bisbee takes special care to make this point:“ We are not special in that regard, Sue and I, because there are really very many talented people throughout this area.”
However, it’ s hard to overlook Bisbee’ s own apparent talent in the sport. In 2016, he placed 2 nd in the NFAA 3D National Championships, 4 th in the NFAA Field National Championships, 2 nd in the IFAA North American Field Championships, and 3 rd in the IFAA World Field Championships— and was a US team member at that event where the US Team took 2 nd place.
Sue also recently fell in love with archery, and is not without her own success in her new hobby. In 2016, she placed 1 st in the IFAA North American Championships and 2 nd in the IFAA World Field Championships.
Bisbee has found that,“ It’ s a sport that families can compete together pretty evenly, and travel together.” This February, the couple headed to Las Vegas for the World’ s Indoor Championship where the target is 20 yards away and only one-half inch in diameter.
Some tournaments are not divided by gender, typically the indoor ones noted Bisbee.“ But most outdoor tournaments are. There are also different rules for different tournaments.” Archery equipment, itself, is also available in various different sizes and styles for ages and genders. According to Bisbee, the variety of tournaments and rules accommodates very high end to very basic equipment.
Coming to the sport as a hunter, Bisbee generally prefers shooting outdoors,“ You walk six or seven miles, and there’ s the exertion and hiking.” They shoot targets, including imitation 3-D animals.
As an extension of his love of nature, he is also an avid fly-fisherman. When he and Sue recently attended the Black White and Bling fundraiser to support Community Solutions at Morgan Hill’ s Leal Granada Theater, he donated a week at his home in Utah to the auction, and plans to spend that time fly-fishing with the winner.
Bisbee said of Morgan Hill and the South County area:“ I’ ve lived a lot of places in my life. But every time you
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turn around, there’ s an opportunity to get involved.” As a diehard East Coast dweller who commuted 40 weeks a year to his job as an engineering consultant to the electric power industry at SI, it took 32 years for his Silicon Valley colleagues to convince him to move to the West Coast.“ It’ s been really amazing the way we’ ve been welcomed into the communities here. I love Morgan Hill.”
Since the move to Morgan Hill, Sue had been operating a gallery in Los Gatos. In mid-2016, she left to pursue volunteer work at the San Martin animal shelter. While Bisbee remains busy working at SI, with 275 employees and 10 offices across the country, he and Sue support Community Solutions every chance they get. They also support the Healthier Kids Foundation of Santa Clara County.
All of Bisbee’ s hobbies provide a necessary balance to his work life.“ I’ m equally passionate about engineering as my hobbies,” he said. When Bisbee decides to try something, he goes all in. In fact, he once harvested a moose, a once per lifetime opportunity for a hunter, according to law.
Awhile back, he told Sue he was going to start carving out of Bighorn sheep horns. Sue said,“ Why don’ t you start with a bar of soap?”“ No,” he told her.“ How silly is that?” He also loves teaching children how to use a bow. As part of his club involvement, he said,“ We support archery events that introduce children to the sport.”
If Bisbee could offer people a word of advice about archery, he’ d say,“ If people think they have an interest, don’ t be afraid.” He said he wouldn’ t want people to think:‘ Oh I can’ t go approach any of these folks because they are experienced shooters or tournament shooters.’“ There are opportunities without buying equipment, and there are so many ways to enter into it and give it a try.”
“ I originally hadn’ t planned on retiring in California,” he said.“ Now I’ m hoping that with a few years of work left, when they are over and I get to retire, I hope there are hours in the day that I can spend on community activities whatever those may be.” Perhaps when you or your child is ready to try archery, Bisbee will be ready to lend a hand.
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Lanie and Sue Bisbee at the International Field Archery( IFAA) World Field Championships in Australia in September 2016. |
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LANEY BISBEE |