Paths to victory

Summary

In this SCA Coaches Corner episode, three recent Crown Tournament winners look back on how their lists unfolded, what they prepared for, and what it felt like to win. The subtitles do not include timestamps or a complete blow-by-blow account of any tournament.

Korsak of Avacal

Korsak describes years of near-misses before earning his first crown. After reaching the finals several times, he learned to treat each list as a worthwhile day, win or lose.

He recalls an earlier final against Sir Gregory Beck, the knight who had knighted him. Korsak took the first fight, Beck responded with a striking performance in the second, and Korsak ultimately prevailed in the best-of-three. In another final, Korsak says he was hit hard enough to feel it in his ribs.

The conversation highlights the mental shifts that can happen in a final: one moment, a fighter is focused on the bout; the next, they are thinking about what winning will demand of them.

Miles of the West

Miles says his latest victory gave him a second consecutive reign and would be his seventh crown. He had fought for years while dealing with recurring back pain, and during an earlier reign, he even used a walking stick between rounds.

To prepare, Miles described losing weight, training at the gym three to five days a week, and repeatedly visualizing victories over the kingdom’s toughest fighters. He tries to make the tournament feel familiar before arriving on the field, though he acknowledges that the duties of the crown can sharply reduce the time available for fighting.

Sean of Artemisia

Sean reflects on a long history with the crown. He first won in 1998, and says his latest victory came after a long gap. The tournament tested endurance, including a lengthy bear-pit portion before the quarterfinals.

Sean said technical discipline helped carry him through when he was tired. He also made a deliberate effort to stay focused and take every opponent seriously. Recalling an earlier loss, he recognized that he had underestimated an opponent and later treated the experience as a lesson in respect and concentration.

Lessons on the crown and the tournament

The discussion extends beyond results to the work that follows. The winners describe balancing fighting with courts, travel, service, and the needs of their kingdoms. They emphasize that a Crown Tournament is both a physical and emotional test: reaching a final is not the same as winning the crown, and thinking too far ahead can distract a fighter from the next bout.

They also discuss preparing with partners, communicating about the strain of a reign, and accepting help with court roles and logistics. Their advice is to fight with full effort, respect every opponent, and remember that ruling is service—not simply a reward for winning.

Presenters and sources

• Presenter/host: Shawn/Sean (the subtitles vary)
• Guests: HRH Korsak of Avacal; HRH Miles of the West; HRH Sean of Artemisia
• Source: SCA Coaches Corner, “Paths to Victory”