Montreal - Yet Again

The AkiSphere 2010, presented by AKIQ

Thanks Aki Quebec!  I stole a link to your flash vid to liven up my post and I can’t figure a way yet to link it from the embedded flash itself .

Now for the post…

I’ve said it many times before.  Probably every time I’ve attended a Montreal tournament and lived to write about it.  But don’t simply expect to get out alive.  If the competition doesn’t get you then the city just might.

Make no mistake though, it will be worth it.

If you consider yourself a net player then you must attend the Montreal summer event.  If not every summer then every other.  Figure out a way to make it happen and then make it happen again.

This year was the 2nd installment of the The AkiSphere, officially titled The AkiSphere 2010, presented by AKIQ.  However, Yves Archambault and his partner in crime of the time, Martin Cote, started this whole Quebec summer tournament scene some 20 years ago.  It’s not a grand stage.  It’s a simple venue.  Basically, invite some friends who happen to be kick ass net players, setup some nets in Parc La Fontaine, deliberate over the seeding (and basically get it right), draw up the brackets, and GO!

Of course, come finals day - line a center court, bring in a sound system and some banners, organize a staff of judges and downtime entertainment, and then let the players set, yet again, a new standard for quality of play in this no budget yet highly competitive sport!

4 of the 13 teams had a legitimate shot to win the doubles event.  From the semi final matches through to the championship and including the bronze metal match, all of them were highly entertaining if not epic!

First up on Championship Sunday was the #2 seeded Gilles Demers and Francois Depatie-Pelletier against the #3 seeded Team Chemistry - Ben Rochon and Jean Francios Lemeaux!  Gilles and Frank won in straight sets 15-12, 15-12 but the match was a bit closer than the score.

Next up, it was the no. 1 seeded Chaos #3, PT Lovern, and Montreal/Chaos #27, Emmanuel Bouchard VS the number 4 seeded Chaos #2, Jack Harris, and Chaos #25, Jeremy Mirken.  Most of the crowd expected a lop-sided result for PT and Manu.  They were heavily favored.  However, Jack and Jeremy showed everyone they well deserved the stage come showtime and they pushed the defending champions to 12 in both sets.  Most notably, jumping out to a 7-1 lead in game two only to relinquish it to the 2008 and 2009 Montreal champions.

Hence, the stage was set for a highly anticipated title match between the no. 1 and 2 seeded teams.  The rally of the day was won by PT and Manu in game 3 with two incredible digs followed by an total kill.  First Manu got under a murderous sweep from Franky and then PT did the same from the same.  Each dig was a perfect 5’ high bump, followed by a juicy set, and while the first impressive answer from Manu was dug (seemingly effortlessly), PT saw a picture perfect set from Manu to which he could do nothing if not absolutely murder it… sunback… boo ya!  The war, however, went to Gilles and Franky in 3 sets - 15-13, 13-15, 15-13.  There were many amazing rallies including several side out duels that seemed to go on forever.  GThe crowd grew and stayed for the entire match. Why not?  How could you leave once you caught a glimpse and dared to sit and watch.  It was simply epic.

Somehow, following the doubles final Franky managed to challenge JF in the singles final.  Well, I’m not quite sure if that’s the best way to describe it.  JF took game one 15-1 and it looked like the long hot intense weekend had taken from Franky any motivation for a fight.  Then, he answered JF in game two, um, 15-1… wha?!?!  Yes, seriously!  In the end JF’s experience was the difference and he finished off the doubles champion 15-12 in game 3.

For the bronze metal - CHAOS!  Our boyz, Jack and Jer, yes… Chaos #2 to the twoFive, notched perhaps their biggest victory yet while defeating the current Green Cup champions, Ben Rochon and JF Lemieax, in straight sets 16-14, 15-12.  Jack and Jer jumped out to a… 2-11 deficit in game one?  Yes, but only to come back and win that.  I mean no disrespect to Team Chemistry.  Chaos’s jubilation is a result of how this highly this team is regarded.

On behalf of all Team Chaos I thank Gilles Demers, Luc Legault, Martin Cote, and the entire staff of the AkiSphere!  You were great hosts and ran a solid event.  We’ll never forget it and will surely return.

Before then, we’ll see you at The 2010 Green Cup, presented by Chaos, and The 2010 World Footbag Championships!

Ciao

Here’s a link to an interview Gilles took part in on some Montreal News affiliate…
http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/rdi_week_end/2009-2010/Entrevue.asp?idDoc=114315&autoPlay=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radio-canada.ca%2FMedianet%2F2010%2FRDI2%2FRDIEnDirectMatinWeekend201007040800_3.asx

Alive and Kicking In Chitown at The WCC

Ben comes dangerously close to death, seriously, but escapes with hardly a scratch. Him and Walt also came oh so close to reaching the semis. These guys just keep getting better. Their day will come - doh!

The drama started on Friday before the tournament action even got under way.  They don’t call it the Windy City for nothing and the Memphis boys experienced Chitown’s wrath first hand as a 70MPH gust off the lake brought a tree down on top of them.  Perhaps it is by the grace of the footbag gods?  Perhaps it is their cool scrappy Memphis style?  Perhaps… sheer luck?  We don’t really care how but The Boyz are still with us and barely a scratch was had.  Life is good.

The match of the day on Saturday was a nail biter between the #3 and 4 seeds, Team Chaos and Team Memphis respectively.  Current World Champion, Chaos #8, Patti Schrickel, and his partner for this event Chaos #5, Eric Wulff, lost game 1 to Team Memphis, Ben and Walt, 15-21.  Chaos controlled the tempo in game 2 however, as Patrick’s serve came alive.  They took it 21-15, forcing the rubber.  Game 3 wasn’t as pretty as it was scrappy with the wind and the sun toying with service tosses and sets.  The crowd of, hmmm - let’s call it several including the head judge, was treated to a roller coaster ride including some fun for the whole family - pg13 may contain strong language, “WTF!?” .  In the end, Schrickdog and The Wulff, that’s Team Chaos 5 to the 8, pulled out the match executing down the stretch - 21-19.  Following that, Eric and Patrick advanced to ‘The Show’ at Navy Pier with a straight set win over the 6th seed in the elimination round.  They’ll face Cory Current and Scot Hansen, event director, for a spot in the Championship Match.

The upset of the day goes to Cory and Scot who stole the #2 seed from Chaos #25 and Chaos #2 in the pool and in stunning fashion, hence gliding into the semi-finals with a bye in the elinination round.

The #1 seed, Chaos #3, PT Lovern, and Honorary Chaos #27, breezed thru their pool as expected and will face Jer and Jack in the semis today.  This match has tremendous showtime potential with 3 great defensemen and 3 offensive powerhouses on display.  I’ll let you figure who I’m speaking of .

As for the other semi-final, it’s not my place to speculate since I’m one of the participants.  Bahhahaaa… Patti and Eric are the favorites but Cory and Scot made it clear they’re not to be taken lightly.  All the pressure is on Eric and Patrick to live up to expectations.  There is potential for a Cinderella story here as the hometown team would love to advance to the Championship match.

Singles, hmmm… well, ok… Patrick Schrickel, Chaos #8, *may* face Chaos #25, Jeremy ‘I booked a flight out Sunday evening’ Mirken should there be enough time to fit it in before ‘Jer Bear’ has to leave.

I’ll be back with a wrap-up tonight or tomorrow morning.

Happy Father’s Day and esepcially to those Chaos fathers and fathers of Chaos fathers !

South American Killers -- SURA 2009

Here, finally, is some video footage of SURA 2009 in Bogota, Colombia.

The future of footbag net is in South America!
I encourage everyone to think about attending SURA 2010 in Caracas, Venezuela.  Venezuela is home to some of the world’s finest beaches and coral reefs, as well as the world’s tallest waterfall.  Venezuela would like to remind you that they win a disproportionate number of beauty pageants, too.  Early December, warm and dry, is an ideal time of year to visit…

Chaos Approved
In 2007 PT, Eric and Patti attended the 1st South American Footbag Championships in Medellin, Colombia.  Their mission: To develop a relationship with the growing footbag net scene in South America.  They provided coaching and participated in various exhibitions to promote the sport, but did not compete because of the wide disparity in skill levels.

In 2008, Jack and Jeremy of Chaos joined Yves Archambault of Pro-Kicker to continue that mission in San Cristobal, Venezuela.  This time, perhaps prematurely, the norteamericanos entered the tournament.  The energy and style of the South American players was easy to appreciate, however, there was too much focus on offense--with plenty of injuries and fouls--and not enough on basics and defense.  That said, a few of the players could legitimately have competed internationally at the open level.

This past December, Jeremy and Jack returned for the 3rd South American Footbag Championships in Bogota, Colombia.  Things have changed.  Several of the South American players are now clearly ready for international competition (you will get to meet a few of them at the 31st IFPA World Championships in Oakland), however, most of these guys are quite young, and though their fortunes may rise with Venezuela’s and Colombia’s, for now it is prohibitively expensive for them to travel abroad.  In the short term, the goal is to get enough North American and European players to attend next year’s tournament to raise SURA 2010 to level 3.  Think about it…

Black Monday: Phoenix 2010

Chaos Domination Tour

Chaos #25 and his loot from the fiery Phoenix

Once again Amy hosted a great net event in Arizona (Thanks Amy!).  The field was small but deep, with players from Memphis, Oakland, San Francisco and Portland.  While the rest of the country was deluged with rain and snow, a patch of sun opened up over Phoenix for the season’s first throw-down.

Sunday was an exhausting day of doubles competition: Pools, Quarters and Semis.  The first semi-final was a re-match of last year’s finalists.  This time Chaos prevailed over Chaos/NPR in 2 sets.  The second semi-final was a Chaos vs. Memphis matchup.  Memphis surprised everyone, dragging Chaos’ finest into a 3rd set.  As the sun set over the arid desert, PT and Eric pulled down their blast shields and forced their way to victory.

Thus the doubles final was a repeat of last week’s tourney in Oakland:  Jeremy Mirken and Jack Harris vs. PT Lovern and Eric Wulff.  In a shocking coincidence, all four players showed up Monday wearing the same outfit, a variation on the ‘little black cocktail dress’.  PT and Eric pulled to an early lead in the first game, but Jack and Jeremy fought their way back, ultimately defeating the #1 seed in 2 sets.

In singles Chris Siebert and Jeremy Mirken battled it out in 3 sets.  Jeremy took the first set, but Chris dug in and ultimately prevailed.  Grueling, brutal, exhausting.  Need I say more?  Chaos is pushing for rally scoring (no side-outs) for singles only at tournaments.  Think about it.

Doubles Results:
Jack Harris / Jeremy Mirken
PT Lovern / Eric Wulff
Chris Siebert / Tuan Vu
Walt Houston / Ben Alston

Singles Results:
Chris Siebert
Jeremy Mirken
Walt Houston
Jack Harris

For complete results, check footbag.org.

Other Highlights:
Walt and Ben are on the verge of cracking the top ranks.  In pool play they took Jeremy and Jack to 3 sets, then repeated that feat in their semi-final against PT and Eric.

Sucky Brad has arrived on the singles scene (look out ladies!).  Mr. Williams pulled an upset in his pool, and later defeated Ben Alston in the first consolation round.  Max points were once again awarded to our very own boy toy.

Despite all the hype, their was no nipple exchange between Walt and Jeremy.  Jeremy was rebuffed on a technicality, and the Suckremony’s MC Sucky Brad was left holding the mic.

Sura '08 Mix II

2008 South American Footbag Net Championship
(Campeanato Sudamericano)
Open doubles video mix

Filmed by Jack Harris and Miguel ‘Pepe’
Edited by Jack Harris

In December 2008 Jack and Jeremy of Chaos traveled to Venezuela for the 2nd South American Footbag Net Championship.  This video features some of the best South American footbag net players.

Notes:
Facebook took down my other Sura ‘08 video because of alleged copyright violations.  This time I posted to YouTube with higher definition.  I’ll repost (and re-link) the original video soon.

World Footbag Championships 2007 - Open Doubles Net Bronze Match in HD

High Definition Video of Footbag Net

All 3 games of the third place match are now available.  Click on the images to view a low-resolution sample.  Click here to see all of my videos on Vuze that can be downloaded via your bittorrent client.

Sorry about the delay for games 2 and 3.  I had to switch to using an older version of Premiere.  As a result the quality is not as good for these games.

I used the MPEG2 encoder for game 2.  Unfortunately the file is much bigger (1.9GB) and the quality seems worse than the Quicktime files.

I went back to the Quicktime (H.264) encoder for game 3.  I managed to get the file back to a reasonable size, but the quality is not very good.

Click HD to see all listings of High Definition Videos.  Click video to see all postings with video footage, high def or not.