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 !

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.

Gringos Storm Sur America!

Nelson and Jairo

Upon arrival in Caracas, Jack and Jeremy were given a true Venezuelan welcome: After Jeremy`s flight was delayed, Chino and Diego waited for hours at the airport, then drove the gringos to Nelson and Paulo`s house.  Nelson cooked us a late-night supper and late-morning breakfast the next day.  Paolo gave us his bed.  Before our evening departure, we walked around their neighborhood with the Castro brothers.  Highlights: Unbelievably oversized bottle-rockets and mortars for sale on the street; a skate park with ambulance parked on-site; fresh coconut juice; and, of course, Mirckosoft. 

After a 13 hour bus ride from Caracas to San Cristobal and a very warm welcome from Mr. Carlos Marquez himself, we were ready to to see how how South American players do.  It`s a good thing that footbag skills are not measured by circle hack ability. We have nothing on these coños locos. Scissor behind-the-back sole digs, crazy diving saves, circle jousts, and multiple injuries are part of the game: Circle is a contact sport--fortunately (according to some) Net is not.

We were surprised by the number of net players in VZ, and especially by the fact that 9 out of every 10 footbag players prefers net over freestyle!  In fact, there were only 2 freestylers from VZ at the championships, and about 40 net players.  As you might expect, the potential is tremendous down here, though most of these guys need more disciplined training: The desire for spectacular spikes and stylish saves clearly precedes learning the basic kicks.  Yves and Jeremy spent a good deal of time teaching outside-kick technique.  These guys learn fast...look out!

Carlos arranged for some very nice venues for the tournament.  In particular, the indoor stadium for the last two days was awesome.  Unlike last year in Colombia, he decided to let the gringos compete in the tournament.  Uh-oh.  Like Euro Championships of years past, the IFPA results were to be separated from the South American results.  Translation: Jack and Jer were not going to take a trophy home. 

In Venezuela ``ahora`` (literally translated as ``now``) actually means ``later``, and ``ya`` (already) means ``now``.  Net events were chronically ahora.  Finals day went from 10am to past midnight...and the complete results for open doubles are still undetermined.  We can tell you this much: Two gringos played in the singles final, and only one was under 40.  Despite having a cold and severely chapped (mouth) lips, Jeremy mounted a serious challenge against Yves.  Fufa upset Jairo in an epic battle for the South American trophy.  In doubles, Jack and Jer handled their shit, but Nelson and Panchito (Ronaldo) put up a good fight in the final. 

One final note:  Christmas, i.e. the month of December, in Venezuela is not complete without 24-7 fireworks.  Literally.  At times, we thought Chavistas were shelling the stadium.  Nothing like an ear-shattering boom to keep your mind focused during a match.

(written by Jack, with Jeremy complaining about the lack of `epicness` of the post over his shoulder--Jeremy will post a supplement shortly)

Evidence of Footbag Net in Israel

While browsing You Tube for net footage, I happened to stumble across this clip, which I thought was worth sharing.

Chaos and Montreal to Team Up at Southeasterns in Memphis!

*Air Jer (Chaos #25) is proud to present the 2008 Southeastern Regional BBQ Chicken v. Pork Rib Grudge match (in conjunction with Southeasterns)

*Manu and Air Jer formally announce their partnership for Southeasterns.