Get to Know the Coach – Jens Ekwall

Jens Ekwall Youth Coach, Unnaryds Pistolskytteklubb

For Jens Ekwall, the Swedish Cup represents something truly valuable: a major international competition taking place on home soil. As a youth coach at Unnaryds Pistolskytteklubb, he sees the event as an ideal entry point for young shooters to gain experience at a higher level.

This is the second year Unnaryds’ youth shooters are competing at the Swedish Cup, and Jens explains that the club has always aimed to introduce standing shooting at an early stage. He himself took part in the very first Swedish Cup toward the end of his own active career, which gives him a long-term perspective on how the competition has developed.

One of the highlights this year was seeing Olle, his son, reach the final, competing against shooters who otherwise perform at national team level. For Jens, it is especially rewarding to watch young athletes manage their nerves in such situations – and then to see the relief and pride afterward when they realize they have handled it. At the same time, shooters like Jasmine Kranendonk, who attends a shooting sports upper secondary school, bring more routine and experience into finals, showing different stages of development within the group.

What makes the Swedish Cup special, according to Jens, is that it is a professional competition held at home. It feels “for real” in a way that club competitions simply cannot match. At the same time, the event offers great breadth, including disciplines like running target, which are not often part of major competitions. Even learning to follow commands in English can be a challenge for young shooters – it is not only about performing on the firing line, but also about adapting to the situation as a whole.

The real challenge, Jens explains, is getting shooters to perform under pressure in the same way they do at home, where conditions are calm and familiar. Every shooter handles pressure differently, and each one has their own “toolbox” of strategies for managing competition situations.

When it comes to routines before a competition, Jens emphasizes the importance of a proper warm-up as a key factor in preparing both mentally and physically.

Quick Questions

• Morning qualification or evening final? You have to adapt to the schedule you’re given
• Music or silence before the start? Music – a bit of noise and stimulation works in the long run
• Favourite place to compete (besides Sävsjö)? Öckerö and Morup – halls with good visibility and plenty of space
• Coffee or energy drink? Coffee, for me personally
• Gold medal or personal best? Personal best

What would you say to yourself before your very first Swedish Cup?
Have fun and enjoy the whole experience.