May 15, 2020
The governor of the State of Minnesota had recently released updated Executive Orders regarding the COVID-19 situation. At current, the peacetime emergency declaration has been extended to June 12 and the Stay Safer Minnesota order establishes that groups or gatherings cannot be larger than 10 people. The governor has updated the orders numerous times now since the beginning, and it is always made only about 4 days before the current order expires. At that, we won’t know if he will lift or ease the current order until around June 8, which places it barely a week before the dates of the Nordic Vortex Tri-Gun. One thing that seems always constant though is the limitation on group sizes that is pretty universal across the nation.
These past couple of days, we have been trying to figure out ways to work around and within the restrictions in place. We had to come up with a plan to make the event work legally as our host Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club is required to follow the law in allowing such a large event. We’ve looked at alternate dates, but the Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club is a very popular venue to both public and law enforcement training, and it is the only venue in the state that could host an event like the Nordic Vortex Tri-Gun. There are no openings left in the year that would allow us the time frame we need to set-up, staff shoot days, and the main event.
We’ve brainstormed the idea of a modified match schedule, ½ day formats, having shooters shoot with the match staff, making the stages shorter, and other ideas. As we considered each idea, we realize that all of them makes the Nordic Vortex Tri-Gun a lot less of the grand event that it is. And it makes for a disservice to our sponsors and shooters.
So we were left with a couple of options:
- Keep hanging on and hope that the order is lifted or eased before the match dates, and risk having to cancel the match just barely a week before it starts.
- Cancel the match now and thus give everyone a head start to cancelling or making alternate plans for the weekend.
With all sadness, we chose the latter. We contacted our partners at Nordic Components, Vortex Optics, and the Forest Lake Sportsmen’s Club, and we all agree that this was the best decision to make. We know that many of our shooters are disappointed, but know that none so more than us.
We will be issuing match fee refunds to every paid shooter. Shooters who paid via Practiscore will see a refund on their credit card and those who paid via check will receive a refund in the mail. Jomar will be working through this process over the next week. If you do not see a refund by June 1st please contact him directly at the email below. We will not hold any match fees for placements in next year’s match. The registration process for next year’s match will be determined at a later time.
We want to thank you all for your patience and understanding. We also thank all our sponsors and partners in supporting the Nordic Vortex Tri-Gun. For sponsors please reach out directly to Tiffany with any questions. If you already sent product she will be in contact with you directly over the next week for instructions. We will bring back the Tri-Gun next year and make it as grand of an event as you all know it to be. The 2021 Nordic Vortex Tri-Gun will be on June 18-20, 2021.
Jomar Villamor – Match Director & Registration Coordinator – Jomar.MN3GG@gmail.com
Jay Schmitt – Match Director & Sponsorship Coordinator – Jay.MN3GG@gmail.com
Chris Cazin – Range Master & Stage Logistics Coordinator – Caz41@hotmail.com
Tiffany Overland – Sponsorship Coordinator – TiffanyOverland@gmail.com
