10 Questions: Gebben Miles 2009 NSCA Champion

Here are 10 Questions with Gebben Miles the National Sporting Clays champion of 2009. Switching guns just a month before the event, with Anthony Matarese and Scott Robertson biting at his heels, he won an epic shoot-off against Brandon Powell for the win. Some would consider his win an amazing feat, me included. A shooter with a strong faith the young Arizonan has also made waves in the shooting community off of the field as well.

International Sporting Clays: I guess anyone would say that winning the Nationals was a more than OK way to finish out the year but how would you say your overall performance was throughout the season?

Gebben Miles: I had a slow start to the year. I didn’t shoot for three months before the Browning/Briley this past year and it was not a good idea. What I did after the shoot was just work very hard on my game. In March my season started turning around and I had some really good performances, including a tie for 3rd at the U.S. Open. This year made me realize there is no substitute for hard work. There is a quote in the weight room at U of A that says, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard."

ISC: Did you have any particular goals for the season and was winning Nationals one of them?

GM: Winning the Nationals has been a goal of mine for many years. I’ve learned that you have to set mini goals on your way to the big goal. This season was compiled of daily goals that included perfecting my pre-shot routine and really learning how to tie my faith in with competition.

ISC: How did you prepare for the event? Did you have any particular training regimen leading up to it?

GM: I switched guns to a K-80 Pro Sporter a few days before the Arizona State championship which was just over four weeks from the Nationals. This made me train really hard for the Nationals so I could figure out the new gun. I shot 30 out of 33 days leading up to Nationals with a minimum of 100 shells in a practice session but never more than 300. Along with working on my physical game, I worked on my mental game even more. I spent many hours per day perfecting my pre-shot routine, working on Biblical principles about incorporating God into sport and being mentally prepared for every situation that I could face.

ISC: You switched to a K-80 this year can you tell us a little about that decision?

GM: As I mentioned in the previous question I did switch from a Perazzi to a Krieghoff K-80 Pro Sporter about 5 weeks before the Nationals. I wasn’t going to switch until after Nationals because I was shooting very well at the time. When I received the K-80 I was so impressed by the way it moved and the feel of the gun that I wanted to start shooting it immediately. It is just a sweet shooting gun. I’ve never felt a gun that moves so solid and is just fun to shoot.

ISC: How did you set up the gun? Stock work? Balance etc…

GM: Krieghoff balanced the gun just like a stock Pro Sporter, but they of course custom fit the wood. I shoot a slightly longer length of pull than a stock K-80 and the forend is slightly longer than a stock gun as well. It’s just like different size shoes for different size people, the dynamics are the same just bigger or smaller.

ISC: Any problems adjusting to the gun?

GM: As stated earlier, I struggled the final day of the Arizona state because I had started off so well with the gun that I figured I would have no issues with any type of target. However shooting some really tough targets at the state made me realize I needed to work just as hard with the new gun as I did before.

ISC: What kind of shells do you shoot?

GM: I don’t have a shell sponsor. For practice I shoot cheap shells but for competitions I like shooting Winchester AA Super-Handicap.

ISC: What type of shooting method do you use?

GM: I shoot all "methods." My coach is Steve Schultz of Target Line shooting school and he teaches all methods of shooting. While my foundation is Intercept, Steve has taught me when and where to use a method. Certain targets can be broken more consistently with a specific method and you certainly can’t break every target consistently with just one tool in your bag.

ISC: Tell us about the meetings you’ve held at some events and the Athletes in Action organization.

GM: I’ve held meetings at several events this year that are chapel type meetings. I felt "called" a year ago to start doing this and to serve the shooting community. I didn’t feel like I was equipped to do so, but I realized that God doesn’t always call the equipped but he always equips the called. These meetings have turned into more of a Bible study format and we talk about Biblical truth and how we can incorporate that into sport. Athletes in Action is a ministry that is geared toward athletes and is the organization that has helped me get my life on track and learn how Jesus can be part of my sport and how I can glorify Him on the field of shooting. I’ve learned how to use shooting as an act of worship. I love the sport of sporting clays and I love the people involved in the sport. That is why I want to serve the community of sporting clays and be a spiritual resource for people in the sport.

ISC: What are your plans for next season?

GM: My plans for next season are to continue shooting. I have to realize what has gotten me where I am and that is shooting. I’ve been blessed with the resources that have allowed me to shoot and hopefully be able to continue to shoot in the future. Winning nationals has definitely opened some doors for me as far as expanding my ministry and also with some other new exciting ventures.

2009 National Sporting Clays Championship scores

International Sporting Clays thanks Gebben Miles for his time and cooperation.