Heavy rain at the Slave Lake Gun Range almost washed out this year’s .22 semi-long range competition, but the skies cleared just in time for the first shots to ring out.
Now in its third year, the 2024 event drew 20 competitors from across the province, bringing in shooters from Grande Prairie, Edson, Edmonton, High Prairie, and Westlock. But for local organizer Ian Fornoles and his son Jasper, the successful turnout was the latest milestone in a father-son journey that started during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before 2020, Ian had never shot competitively. While his father-in-law back in the Philippines was an avid gun collector, Ian only fired his first rifle when a friend in Edson invited him out to the range.
With no prior training, Ian found himself looking down the scope at targets set anywhere between 300 and 1,000 meters away. To his surprise, he hit every single one.
Recognizing his natural talent, his friend encouraged him to get his Possession and Acquisition License (PAL) and buy a rifle. Ian took the advice to heart, using YouTube videos to learn the intricacies of scopes, gear, and breathing techniques.
Soon, he was travelling to communities like Cold Lake, Sherwood Park, and Edson to compete in NRL22 and PRS precision shooting disciplines.
Wanting to share the hobby, Ian bought a basic .22 rifle for his 11-year-old son,
Jasper Fornoles. The boy quickly proved to be a natural on the trigger, prompting Ian to upgrade the young shooter’s equipment. Ian says his wife is fully supportive of the shared hobby, knowing the family maintains a strict adherence to safe gun handling.
Jasper’s competitive edge was on full display at a recent season-ending progressive steel match in Edson. In a rare finish, Ian, Jasper, and an Edson local ended up in a three-way tie for second place. The local competitor took the silver, leaving the father and son tied for third.
Because both had used up all their ammunition, they had to settle the tie-breaker with a quick game of rock-paper-scissors. Jasper won the hand, officially claiming third place. The following week, the youth returned to the range and won first place outright.
He brought that same winning streak to his dad’s local event. At the recent Slave Lake competition, Jasper was crowned the Youth Class champion for the third year in a row. Meanwhile, local shooter Dwight McLean took home first place in his division, utilizing custom targets he built himself for the event.
Ian’s motivation for starting the local competition was simple: Slave Lake is a major hub for hunters and gun enthusiasts, especially in the fall, but the community lacked a friendly precision shooting match.
In 2022, Ian launched the first competition with just eight shooters. Word of mouth helped it grow to 28 competitors in its second year, stabilizing at a solid 20 participants this year.
To keep things fair and encourage newcomers, Ian divides the competition into four categories: Open, Base, Ladies, and Youth. The classes are based on skill level rather than just the type of equipment a shooter brings. His main goal is to remove the intimidation factor for beginners and show that anyone can learn the sport.
“People were saying, ‘Even Filipinos can do it,’” Ian says with a laugh, proud of how they’ve broken barriers as a self-taught team.
Looking ahead, Ian hopes to expand the Slave Lake event even further.
He plans to move registration online next year in hopes of attracting up to 50 competitors from across Alberta. Bringing in more visitors, he notes, would provide a welcome economic boost to local hotels, restaurants, and fast-food locations.
The Fornoles family says the sooting range isn’t the only place the Fornoles family competes. On weekends, Jasper trades his precision rifle for a quad, racing on dirt tracks across the province.
The teenager is currently the 2024 Provincial Champion in quad racing, with an upcoming race scheduled for early August in Olds. It is a title he earned after a rough previous season. Last year, a crash during round six of a triple-crown series left Jasper with four dislocated bones in his shoulder. The accident forced him to miss the year-end awards banquet, where he was supposed to walk on the stage to receive a trophy for a third-place overall finish.
Despite the severe injury and his father’s understandable concerns about getting back on the track, Jasper refused to step away from the sport.
From left are Ian Fornoles, Jasper Fornoles, who earned first place in the youth division, and Mailene Fornoles. ]
“Papa, no, I don’t want to quit. I still want to race,” Jasper told him.
Today, Jasper continues to dominate the provincial racing circuit (a follow-up story will be coming about this) with the same focus he uses at the shooting range.
Whether they are dialing in a scope for a long-distance shot or navigating a dirt track, Ian and Jasper Fornoles are making a name for themselves in Alberta’s competitive sports community—and helping put Slave Lake on the map in the process.
Julia Magsombol
Lakeside Leader