Charley Washburn is serious about archery.

See-ree-us.

The Nevada County Junior Olympic Archery Development coach, Washburn has been shooting arrows since his boyhood. Now, in addition to coaching the elite JOAD group, he teaches anyone with enough enthusiasm.

After seeing the products of his coaching at the JOAD practice Tuesday at the Nevada County Sportsmen's Club in Nevada City, I have this recommendation for anyone interested in archery:

Call Charley.

The man has students hitting the bull's eye from 99 yards away. But they don't just hit the bull's eye; they hit a little X, about the size of a kumquat, inside the bull's eye. The target is so far away that the archers need a telescope to see how well they did.

For many at Tuesday's practice, though, a perfect shot isn't the only reason to keep coming back.

"I really just found a love for it," said 17-year-old Trelaina Borges, who took up archery four years ago. "When I come out to shoot I let go of everything else, all my problems. It's my release."

Borges has made the most of her time as an archer: In 2005 alone she set state records 13 times.

According to Washburn, Borges is preparing for Olympic trials, the first of which is in the fall.

But Borges isn't the only accomplished archer on the team of nine. To date, Washburn's crew has collected 34 state championships from various tournaments, along with 24 state records, seven national championships and four national records.

What's needed for such success?

"A lot of dedication," Washburn said.

The JOAD members don't even get to shoot at a real target for the first half of practice; to draw focus away from aiming and to keep them thinking about form, they empty quiver after quiver into plain white targets.

Here's how it pays off: The Sportsmen's Club gun-toters recently challenged some of the club's archers to a competition (I got the feeling Washburn loves telling this story). Bows and arrows versus pistols at targets 25 yards away, then bows versus rifles (bows from 80 yards away, rifles from 100 yards away).

The archers won.

Nelson Harris, a 16-year-old JOAD member, relishes the chance to compete.

"I really enjoy it," Harris said. "Back when my mom was pushing me to be in sports, I was playing team sports. ... Here, if you make it yourself, you can congratulate yourself. I like how you have to depend on yourself."

Archery has taken over the Harris family: Nelson has finished second in two state tournaments, mom's a member of the U.S. Field Archery team, and big brother shoots for Texas A&M.

As seriously as these JOAD guys take it - each one was hand-picked for the team - just watching them for an hour is inspirational. Maybe it's seeing their deadly shots, or maybe it's seeing them interact.

"We got forced into this group," Borges said. "Now we're like family."

To see what all the fuss is about, call Washburn at 273-7031 or 263-7305. More info is available on the Web at www.NevadaCountyGoldTeam.org.

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To contact Sports Writer Jeff Miller, e-mail jeffm@theunion.com or call 477-4247.

Longbow - One of the most traditional bows, the longbow is not recurved and stands about as tall a person.

Shortbow - A smaller longbow.

Recurve - What separates the recurve from other bows is that the ends curve forward slightly. The recurve is the only bow used in the Olympics.

Compound - With elliptical wheels on the ends, compounds make the most of leverage, allowing the archer to use little energy for a powerful shot.

Crossbow - Turn a bow on its side and mount a stock like that of a rifle.

- Jeff Miller