Tournaments need a new level added

[Kenar]

Speaking as an Intermediate competitor, don't get rid of the Intermediate routine event. Working toward competing in that event is what keeps me motivated to keep on kickin' and trying to get better. I realize that I am a little different that other kickers (age 65), but love the sport and working toward the Intermediate competition at the US Open every year. I finished last again last year, but was very happy with my progress in my routine, and will keep working to improve it.

[yyz]

Sorry to chime in so late here, but as the "grandfather" of intermediate freestyle Routines at worlds, I would like to say that it took a LOT of doing to get it added to the list of events!!! For one I find it very exciting to see a new player out there, alone, doing what they do, even if it mostly is not so good, I focus on the positives and not the negatives. Intermediate freestyle has given rise to some GREAT professional players, just look at worlds 1999-
1. Alex Zerbe (Seattle, WA, USA)
2. Marc Inzinger (Alsbach, Germany)
3. Brad Kaplan (Arvada, CO, USA)
4. Antti Lehtovirta (Helsinki, Finland)
5. Cameron Kennedy (La Mesa, CA, USA)
6. Ken Somolinos (Scarsdak, NY, USA)
7. Canyon Hart (San Diego, CA, USA)
8. Zeke Ibardaloza (Chicago, IL, USA)
9. Jon Nagela (Arlington Heights, IL, USA)
10. Matt Churney (Chicago, IL, USA)
10. Ian Dubman (Columbia, MO, USA)
10. Anthony Glick (Cleveland, OH, USA)
10. Bob Green (Pocatello, ID, USA)
10. Andrew Hires (Cambridge, MA, USA)
10. Dan Klokow (La Grange Park, IL, USA)
10. Yacine Merzouk (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
10. Neil Payne (Washington, DC, USA)
10. Chris Zagars (Saratoga Springs, NY, USA)
some other notable former intermediate freestyle competitors . Matt Churney,Justin Dale,Jeremy Mirken,Tomas Tucek,Max Kerkhoff,Wiktor Debski,David Clavens,Chris Kovacs,Daniel Greer,Taishi Ishida,Dustin Rhodes,Tom Mosher,Sergey Kozlov,Slava Sidorin,Mathieu Gauthier. This is a real notable crew, who knows how valuable there experience was to there future success. I believe that one day this sport will have enough money and support to split events, but until then we should stick together. Here is some thought, Have you ever read "footbags" resume???? I think not because we do not have one!!!!! lets change that and then we can move forward towards the topic of this post. I mean I remember a time when this sport had many many other events other then freestyle!! Now freestyle has become the main event, lets not pull the legs out from under it yet, be patient!! Oh I have not read all of the comments on here, so if your name is listed above and you had a contrary comment I in no way meant to single anyone out. happy shreddin, shredaholic(retired) tjf

[james]

The only reason there is an intermediate level is because the sport is so small as it is. I'm all for increasing the credibility by eliminating intermediate in major events. That's not going to stop someone from playing if they truly love what they're doing. Open routines is the perfect place for a budding player to cut their teeth. You gotta do your time before you can throw down, that's just how it is in any sport, why should we be different?

[Kenar]

I totally disagree. Without the Intermediate events, I wouldn't be working so hard at trying to perfect some moves. I am just in the one-adds and 2-adds now, but am getting better at many of them, mainly because I am working to compete in the Intermediates at the US Open. Some of us, especially the older folks, like me, take forever to get a new move down. Please don't take away my goal because you think everyone should compete in the Open division (which I won't). Or, if you only have an Open Division, make one with age brackets so that an old fart doesn't have to compete with a youngster. This sport is supposed to be fun for everyone, isn't it?? Don't make it just for the young kickers.

[james]

The sport IS for everyone (and fun for those who do it), competing is not for everyone. That's how the rest of the world works!
Your goal to get better should not hinge external factors, but simply on how much you enjoy playing footbag! That's how I see it anyway.
I feel the same way about being an 'old fart' compared to the youngsters btw :p

[Kenar]

To each his own. Some of us need the goal of competing, others don't. I, for one, don't think I would be kicking as much if I didn't want to improve for the Open.