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The American Jousting Alliance trains people in the skills of the traditional medieval sport.
The silver shields glinted in the sunlight as the riders took off, pointing their lances at each other.
Underneath the Saturday afternoon sun, the American Jousting Alliance's training had started.
Surrounded by trees and mountains in Los Padres National Forest, a handful of students gathered to learn the tricks of the jousting trade from James Zoppe, founder of the Alliance.
Zoppe, 51, a fifth-generation circus performer and fourth-generation trick rider, became interested in jousting long before recent Renaissance Faires became popular.
"The whole trick is to joust realistically but theatrically," he said.
Zoppe started the jousting alliance in 1995 to create safe standards, rules and guidelines for those participating. He has since gathered a small, loyal following who come from near and far to learn his trade.
Those who come for training learn from him a variety of skills.
Zoppe teaches basic riding skills including how to handle a lance and shield while controlling a horse. Students can also learn to spear large rings with the lance, or how to spear accurately while galloping on horseback.
Zoppe also teaches the importance of a good relationship between the horse and rider, and knowing when to praise or correct a horse.
Shane Mead, 14, came from Lebec to learn jousting but was once a neighbor of Zoppe's.
"I didn't have a good dad figure," Mead said. "James kind of adopted me. He got me into jousting."
Mead has been bucked off a horse three times but he is not deterred. He has assisted Zoppe as a "squire" in tournament competitions but has never jousted in them.
Ian Kearns-Brown, 14, of Lockwood Valley enjoys the excitement of the joust.
"When I was little, it was all those swords and spears and people bashing each other," said Kearns-Brown, who has been a neighbor of Zoppe for many years.
Dan Gardner drove from Anaheim to take part in the lessons.
"I've always wanted to do it," said Gardner, who sells wholesale birds during the day. "It's a rush. I like medieval stuff."
Gardner hopes to be ready to take part in a September tournament, he said.
Barbara Edwards, Event Coordinator for the alliance who is also an administrative assistant in the Santa Clarita Valley, said jousting's "the coolest thing ever."
"If you think of all the extreme sports that people do today -- well, this is something older made new again," she said.
Stacia Lloyd of Norco drove 2-1/2 hours to learn the art of jousting.
"It's a blast," Lloyd said. "It makes you feel really powerful. It's a pretty rare thing that he does here."
Zoppe first began jousting in 1980 and has seen the popularity of Renaissance faires and medieval memorabilia skyrocket.
"I've seen a growth in Renaissance faires," Zoppe said. "It's staying popular."
Zoppe compared jousting to trick riding.
"It's very difficult and challenging," he said. "But it gives you a lot of adrenaline."
Jousting also brings a feeling of camaraderie, he said.
"At the end of a joust, you salute each other, but you want to shake hands."
For the future, Zoppe remains optimistic.
"I see this going on as more people are trained," he said. I see tournaments being staged on television and doing well."
Tracey La Monica
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