Winterstrong - Thin Air & Deep Water

A few years back, Bert Sorin, the owner of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, invited me down to an event called Winterstrong. I wasn’t 100% sure what it was, but I was intrigued enough to agree to come down and bring with me 22 LR rifles and pistols. As Bert described it, we are going to shoot guns, eat some good food, and have a good time. I didn’t need any more convincing.

At the time, I don’t think Bert or any of us knew what Winterstrong would become. It’s gone from less than 40 people in its first year to more than 300.

This past weekend, we made the trek down to Lexington, SC, for the 8th annual Winterstrong event. It’s now a yearly event put on by Sorinex Outdoors.

Sorinex Outdoors is a brand advocating the strenuous life. The life of survival. It is hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, shooting, archery, cooking, survival skills, and human performance.

It is searching for the Thin Air and diving into the Deep Water.

A case can be made that this was the first true “winterstrong”. We have been there when it was 70 degrees and sunny, 40 degrees and rainy, but never in the middle of a blizzard.

Who knew we escaped the Iowa weather in January only to bring it with us! It was cold and wet, yet somehow the conditions only made it that much more fun!

Winterstrong is hard to put into words, and pictures don’t do it justice.

Where else do you have 200+ yard shots with a 22 LR rifle with snow pelting you in the face, a potluck featuring everything from oysters to venison (you have no idea how good this smelled after being on the range all day), and a group workout taking place at an outdoor gym in the brisk morning air. This only touches the surface of what took place on a farm in South Carolina.

In a nutshell, Winterstrong is a 2-day event where, on the first day, you can shoot rifles and pistols, try archery, and learn survival techniques and first-aid skills. All of the above and then some are combined into a competition to be held on day two.

However, it is so much more than that. It’s a gathering of individuals who are some of the best of the best at what they do. From former professional athletes to special forces, world record holders, and others who operate at a high level.

The amazing part of this event is how every single person who attends drops their ego. Everyone is eager to learn and is supportive of everyone involved, regardless of skill level.

Individuals whom I met for the first time there, over the course of 2.5 days and multiple candid, deep conversations, have become lifelong friends.

It’s almost like the outside world doesn’t exist…at least for a couple of days.

One of my favorite aspects of this event is the chance for our team to work with new shooters, some of whom are heading to the range for the first time. It’s the perfect time for them to learn, as we are fortunate to have top-notch instructors volunteer their time and expertise on the range.

I have given a lot of thought to why we have so much success with new shooters at this event, and, beyond the instruction, it's the event's overall environment. It creates a different vibe when everybody is supportive of one another. Whether that person is a former Recon sniper, a world champion shooter, or a strength & conditioning coach putting rounds downrange for the first time.

For those of us in the shooting community for years, or even decades, I think we forget that we all had to start somewhere. We forget that somebody had to introduce us to the sport we have grown to love. Attending events like this serves as a reminder that if we want to continue growing our community, we may have to check our egos at the door.

Sincerely,