Nick "Houdini" Polini

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 12 Nov 2011 16:09

Haha Turkey Jam, I like it. Can't wait to kick with you again dude. Really looking forward to it.

Just finished making my most recent baby (#28 ):

Damn happy with it and damn happy to be stitching again.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 13 Nov 2011 23:02

Just finished a session with Ivan, Nathan, and George.

Ivan was killing it. Bsos Pdx Mirage & Bsos Butterfly a few times and madd long runs filled with legovers, mirages, and clippers. PROP'ed.

Nathan was also killing it, but with Nukes, and shuffle and 69's. Damn, he's getting so good. PPPPRRROOOOPPP'ed.

George!!! George hasn't been able to play for a while due to being busy and taking night classes. Anyway, he got his Lavers in and has been playing by himself when he has time. His stuff is looking pretty solid. He almost hit his first dragon, but the bag kept falling off. He's got the crankles. His frigid osis is one of the best I've seen! Once he gets good, he's gonna be a fun one to watch, I can tell. P! R! O! P!'ed

Then there's me... Hmm... Well...

Highlights:

Toe Spinning Clipper BSOS (I really like toe spinning stuff now)

Pixie Muted Rake> Spinning Clipper (I got props for that one

)

Diving Osis> Osis> Infinity> Blur> Pixie ss Mirage bs (A run from Lon Smith, and I hit all of this but the pixie ss Mirage in my last session.. It felt easier this time)

Revstein (First one in a while)

Lots of cool muted gyro themed runs that made me feel like Lon.

Blender> Spinning Clipper BSOS

After the session, we realized that the concrete was made up of big squares... perfect for 4-square!! So we played that and had a really good time with that. That was probably the funnest part of the night.. I love freestyle, but man, when you have 4 fun people playing 4 square, that shit can be hilarious. We were laughing almost the entire game. Lots of fun with that one.

Then I found out that I have a big stinky hole... In my footbag game... My Diving Clipper on flipside is muff cabbage. So I spent a good long while trying to get better at that.

Ended on Flip Diving Clipper x4, Strong Diving Clipper x7 (I know I can do way more, but I was tired... That really sucks to say, because that's just how far behind my flipside still is :\

Anyway, taking a break for the rest of this week.

Oh yeah, I stitched another bag today...

#29!

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 19 Nov 2011 23:54

Damn. I would love to write a shitload, but I'm tried as hell's balls. I don't even know if hell has balls, but if it does, then there you go. Uh...

OK first off... Thanksgiving break just started! BUT before it started, Nathan, Ivan and I signed our lease for next year. We're officially room mates and we have a FOOTBAG HOUSE!!!!After that, I drove home for the holidays last night... for 4 hours

The ride was so shitty because the assholes in front of me wouldn't move, because the assholes in front of them wouldn't move, and the assholes on front of them wouldn't move, etc... This went on forever. Large system of assholes who wouldn't move, spear-headed by one huge asshole in the front of the line that wouldn't move.

Anyway, once I got near home, I stopped at Bob R's shred barn to kick a little. Jeremy and Jackson were there too. Was great to see everyone again. Oh and I gave Bob my bag #29. He really liked it.

Highlights:

Nothing huge, but I did manage to hit Bob's challenge... Torque> Inspinning Osis

Today, Jackson and I went to my grandma's to help her out. Before we left, Jackson and I had a quick session...

Highlights:

Jackson is getting good at Symposium stuff and he inspired me... Spinning Ducking Clipper> PS Whirl

While working at my grandma's , we raked leaves and played footbag every other minute, because of Jackson's brilliant idea to put a footbag in our pockets, while we worked

Anyway, after that, Jackson, Jeremy and I met up and went to go kick. We kept looking for a lit spot, but everything was whack as hell and our normal spot was occupied by an old people rave party (?) WTF?... I guess that's cool or something...

Once we found a spot, Jackson dipped out because he wanted to eat pizza. Jeremy and I played hard tonight. I taught Jeremy Dyno and he hit it both sides within a few good attempts, and then he ended the session on Fairy ss muted Dyno. So sick... Props dude. That really impressed me.

Highlights:

Kept footing Frankenstein!!!! Only hit it one time ever, and tonight was almost a few more. One I footed so nicely, but it peaced out and flew off my foot.

Drilled with him a bit.

Ended my session on something I'm really pleased with.. Gyro Clipper x10 (Thought it was 11 at first, then saw the footage)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbmxWfe3Dp4[/youtube]

Jeremy noticed that, when I was trying them b2b, at first, I was planting on my strong side ones and muted my flip... He said they looked like 2 different tricks, and he told me to try to do them the same way... Then some advice Doug Tank gave me, kicked in and I started owning them. Plan on doing more later. These feel great to me now

K, shit, I'm going to bed so hard. Falling asleep on the laptop. Oh shit, I am really likes the mac haha i can write whatever I ksjrl anf you hsbr ok i'm awake now. That was nuts, when i was typing that gobble-dey goook whoa... "gobble-dey goook" that's nuts! It's like a secret message from thanksgiving, himself. I wish he would be my foppd supply for his jkids. I keep drifting off to sleep as I'm typing! So cool! I'm having a lot of fun with this. I'm just gonna try wishing you people a happy thanksgiving, but now i;m sarting to dp that shtuuff. Shit, I/m just gonna say it before o do this again. Happy thanksgiving, I hooe rhat theh sad fe h. Being tired rules..

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 20 Nov 2011 15:11

Wow, I was really tired last night. I'm still very amused by that gibberish-sleepy writing I did in my above post. Pretty wicked...

Anyway.. Had a session today with Jeremy, Jackson, and Corey. One of my better ones since I've been home. We all were doing pretty well today. Jackson had a real cool symposium link going on. Jeremy was doing some pretty great shuffling with fairies and pixies. Corey was hitting some good Pdx Illusions.

Highlights:

Some good shufflely strings

Flipside Fudge (new on flip.. Thanks to Jeremy for giving me the idea)

20 contact Guiltless then a 25 contact Guiltless. I dropped on stepping ss clipper

Vortex BSOS both midstring

Seeing my girlfriend tomorrow

So no footbag... unless she forces me to play... that would be cool.

DTank126 · Post by **DTank126** » 22 Nov 2011 10:51

Hey man, gyro clippers are lookin good! There were just 2 things I noticed.

1. Delay longer. I feel like a good benchmark trick to know if your delaying long enough is rev. swirl. See if you can hit gyro clip>rev. swirl>rpt for 12 contacts.
2. Your arms. Your left arm looks great, but your right arm is tucked in. This should help for balance too, kinda like how you put your arms out for slackline.

Anyway, I hope this helps a little. Keep it up man, your game's looking strong.

Jazzkid · Post by **Jazzkid** » 22 Nov 2011 15:12

^ +1

reverse swirl is what I used to do this drill

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 22 Nov 2011 22:32

I will definitely try that drill soon, guys. Thanks for the tips!

Had a session with Jeremy today! Sorry.. Had an AMAZING session with Jeremy today. Amazing for both of us really.

Jeremy is getting good in a hurry. I suggest you check out his FOOT BLOG He ducked his stepping set a bunch of times and also footed Ripped Warrior! He also hit his first Atomsmashers on both sides. He was even hitting Fairy Butterfly> Ripwalk. He's only been playing for just over 3 months too. You're gonna wanna keep an eye on this dude.

I was super pumped on my highlights..

Highlights:

First off... A big dream trick that really made my day... LEANING JOWLER!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u4ziIWv ... ideo_title[/youtube]

I haven't seen anyone hit that since Peter's days.

Tombstone (1st try, 1st hit) Nathan inspired this one. Thanks man.

First half of Rubberman! I hit Atom> Leg> Blur> Leg and was ready to kick myself because the atomic set on that last leg was high enough to get an Atom out of it

Mobius> Mobius! First try! First time ever hitting it in Lavers! I haven't hit a single Mobius since I've started drilling Gyro Clippers, so I figured it would be interesting to see if they paid off at all... FIRST TRY BABY! Woo!

New Fealess link that was pretty easy, just needs a little work.. Spinning Solestice> Spinning Solestice

I asked Jeremy to hit me with a good trick to BSOS to end the session... That bastard says "Fairy ss Butterfly"

It took me forever to hit, because i couldn't figure out whether I needed a Blur or Stepping ss Mirage to get it to land on the right toe to complete the bsos lol It was hell. I hit it eventually though.

After that session, I drilled some stuff I needed to work on... Mainly, Flip Symp Swirls.

Swirl> Symp Swirl BSOS

I also had a really long run that was dominated by mostly swirls on both sides.

Tomorrow, Jeremy, Jackson, and I are going to sesh with Bob! He recently took out the old rubber floor of the shred barn and replaced it with a crazy plywood/foam-insulation-hybrid-bitchin'-dance-floor-impact-absorbing-machine-of-awesomeness. I can't wait to see it. I bet it will be amazing

Bob was raging about it the other night lol I'm really excited. Then after the session, Nick Pasquarello is coming home and so is Drew Krause and we're gonna try to play. Really looking forward to tomorrow. Just want my legs to feel better over night.

Oh shit, check this out...

My mom asked me the inevitable question... "So what do you want for Christmas?" I replied... "Heh, new legs.." and she says to me, "hold on, let me get something..." She walks into the dining room and grabs this FootSmart magazine, and plops it on my lap. I flipped through and this little beauty immediately caught my eye... HOLY SHEEP SHIT... So I said that's all I wanted and she was cool with it. I'm so stoked on that. I wish I had it right now. That is the one present that I would use almost every day.

h0ag3yb3atZ · Post by **h0ag3yb3atZ** » 23 Nov 2011 05:03

leaning jowler looked awesome, definitely going to have to try that again next time i play.

how about stepping in mobius now?

Jazzkid · Post by **Jazzkid** » 23 Nov 2011 11:24

Dude....

love the video of your new trick and the video of you hacking with the bag going everywhere.....super funny

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 23 Nov 2011 20:45

Thanks Kev and Mark. Timberwulf has always been a dream trick. I WILL hit it eventually. I really like Leaning. I'd like to work up to putting it in midstring. Mark, glad you liked that video lol

Tonight I had a session with Bob, Jeremy, and Drew Martini lol

So this morning is when it all started.. I get a text from an unknown number... "You shredding tonight?" "Fuck yeah, but who is this?" "This is Anssi." "Whoa... You're really good". "Lol this is Drew." It was Drew Martin, and he was in town for Thxgiving.

We all kicked tonight. Everyone had a really great session. Drew had some heinous links. Bo had some really stylish strings going down. And Jeremy was killing it with some Tiltless and Atomsmashers and stuff. Nuts man. I had one of the best sessions I've had in a while...

Highlights:

FOG BSOS!!!! This was really sick, because this was actually the FIRST time I ever hit Flip Fog and then I strung out of it and surprisingly sauced it!!! I was so hyped.

Smog (3rd one ever, felt easy this time)

Ripped midstring and kept string for a while after! Felt so controlled.

Flog! (First time ever!)

Gyro Symp Rev. Swirl! (First time ever!)

Food Processor> longer string

Ripstein> Symp Swirl! Siiick liiink

BED WETTER BS!!!! New on BS!!! Bob said I have Peter Irish eggbeaters. I hit my strongside Bed Wetter within 1 or 2 shots. Flip took me a minute.

Since I had been pretty good at eggs out of nowhere, Drew and Bob asked if I ever hit Pdx Egg. I hadn't. I tried it and hit my strongside Pdx Egg on the first try. Flipside I hit on my second shot. Stoked on that.

Flapper> Far Flapper midstring> longer string

Singularity> Pdx Torque

Gyro Mirage> Toe Whirl> Gyro Whirl

Blurry Torque> longer string

Spinning Clipper> Spinning Flapper> Spinning Clipper> string

Stepping ss Symp Swirl> interesting string with a Vortex midstrung

Fume> String

Pendulum> Dustpan

Random tricks that I hit when Bob requested:

Zig-Zag

Scorpion's Tail

So, needless to say, I fuckin... like... really like Eggbeaters now.

And kinda odd, I've mentioned this before, but I've noticed that my strongside Fairy is my left leg, and my strong Pixie is the right leg. I hit Flog from strong Fairy, Smog from strong Pixie... So I pretty much have a pretty solid uptime toe game, I guess. I'm gonna start embracing that I think.

Jazzkid · Post by **Jazzkid** » 23 Nov 2011 21:18

Wow ...what a session ...damn...
Now I'm really pumped to play and get back...nick, because of you I will go after almost all of the highlights u just wrote..congratulations on all the tie stuff ...damn.

mc · Post by mc » 23 Nov 2011 22:36

Damn dude. Great session post. singularity > pdx torque really jumped out at me. I hope we can shred it up soon and do a little filming session.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 24 Nov 2011 12:59

Thanks a lot Mark and Matt

Mark, can't wait to see your highlights when you come back! And Matt, hope to kick with you sometime soon too. I'm gonna try my darnedest to make it out to NY over X-Mas break.

So today, I had a little pre-Turkey shred session with Nick P and Jackson. Jackson had some cool symp Mirage and ducking links. Nick P always gets so much better when I see him during his visits home. This time, it was different. His Atomsmashers looked solid as hell, his DLOs looked so sticky. And best of all, he's got DOUBLE SPINNING CLIPPER DIALED. Scary. I saw some Zenger in him today. Oh and CLEAN PS Whirl in pants lol

Highlights:

So I tried out what I was talking about... Only using strong Fairies and strong Pixies... It worked. My strings were so much longer. I was BSOS'ing (sorta, well, like, my version of BSOS) Shut Downs and Dimwalks like crazy (Strong Dimwalks and Strong Fairies). This is the way I'm going to play from now on. It works better for me.

FRANKENSTEIN!!! 2nd one hit! Easy this time!!!

My legs hurt a lot today, but I still strung really long!

My stuff feels so dialed now and I'm loving it, especially with my new one-side Pixie/Fairy decision. Now that I'm doing this, I don't have to panic before I'm about to do a flip Pixie and possibly hit it based on hope. Now I can almost always be certain I will hit that trick. I feel like it gives my strings more variety. Also, Ryan Mulroney had only a strong Spinning, so I don't see why I can't roll with just one Pixie and one Fairy. Stringing is becoming pretty easy and much more fun

This was a facebook status the other day, but I'm using it again...

I will harness the Inspins, Torques, Leaning sets, Stepping Ducking, and Eggbeaters of Peter Irish, the Spins, Ducking, and style from Lon Smith, the Swirling sets and Swirls from Mark Monistere, and the unusuals of Jon Schneider. Mark my words. I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Edit: Today is Thanksgiving, and now that everyone left and we ate and stuff, I just decided to look back on my blog. This really got me. In footbag, I'm really thankful for stuff like this...

Post from Bob last year:

"on your weakside, weird stuff is still acceptable to practice for these two weeks. in fact, I'd encourage it because that's what makes your game so awesome, but the learning gap from your weakside to strong side is becoming the grand canyon quickly.

also, you seem to have forgotten drifter and DLO. I see some whirl in your highlights, that's good. spins. weakside weakside weakside.

on basics, your legovers are nonexistant. illusions are not there either. your in-out dexes come easily (such as pickup) so you can lay off there a bit. pdx mirage should be in every run at this stage.

you'll thank me one day young grasshoppa"

I'm thanking you now Bob. Sorry I was so stubborn for a while there. I really can't believe where my game is right now. I don't wanna like brag and stuff, because I don't like that, I've come so far in just a year. Others have told me this, but I never really believed it... Now I showed myself proof in Bob's year-old post. A year ago, around this time almost, I was so one-sided and I had no legover, drifter, dlo, or illusions. And now I'm hitting Bedwetter bs, Fog BSOS, Blurry Drifters bs, Voids, and a bunch of other crap I NEVER EVER thought I'd hit. I really do feel like there is a big level change in my freestyle soon. I'd like to film on Saturday with Bob, Jeremy, and Jackson.. We've all improved greatly.

Pasquar · Post by **Pasquar** » 24 Nov 2011 16:56

While I do enjoy the strong fairy/pixie tactic for string variety, I would advise against ignoring your flipside, I can see vividly imagine talking to you in like 6 months with you regretting this new decision and that contributing towards weak bothsidedness. Just a thought.

your game looks 50x better, as per every time I kick with you. Hope we can kick tomorrow. If not definitely Saturday for sure.

sen · Post by **sen** » 24 Nov 2011 20:57

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic wrote: My stuff feels so dialed now and I'm loving it, especially with my new one-side Pixie/Fairy decision. Now that I'm doing this, I don't have to panic before I'm about to do a flip Pixie and possibly hit it based on hope. Now I can almost always be certain I will hit that trick. I feel like it gives my strings more variety. Also, Ryan Mulroney had only a strong Spinning, so I don't see why I can't roll with just one Pixie and one Fairy.

Some feel this is why Ryan was not able to overcome the gap from his position to take back the reigns from Vasek. Just saying.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 25 Nov 2011 21:22

I don't want to take back the reigns from anyone, I just wanna push myself to get as good as I can get and have fun while doing so. I'm not trying to beat anyone but my past self. That's just my perspective on freestyle.

Had a killer session with Jeremy and Nick P! Nick hit his first 6 ADD! One I haven't hit yet too. Voodoo! Looked madd clean. Props man. Nick's stuff was so improved too. Saw him hit a lot of new things, most notable was Hopover Swirl. Jeremy was just stringing like a crazy guy who strings like crazy. No new tricks for him but I can see his strings getting more solid every session. Came close to Torque, that'll be his soon. I'm again, very pleased with how I've been playing.

Highlights:

Best strings in one night I've ever hit. Oh my God, total CONTROL man. TOTAL GUILTLESS CONTROLLLLLL. Longest string was (imo) well over 30 contacts with more stepping than there were BOPs

11 contacts of Stepping ss Clipper> Ripwalk rpt!!!! I am so happy about this. And it actually felt easy. This is easily my new record for shuffle

Pixie ss Swirl (new trick)

Stepping ss Osis b2b

Symp Swirl BSOS a few times

Alpine Legbeater

It really sucks, I know I hit a new 5 ADD tonight, I just don't recall what it was :\ EDIT! I hit Reactor

That's new for me.

Pdx Torque> Pdx Torque FIRST TRY

I'm also really happy that I was able to break down Torques, so that Nick and Jeremy both understood it and Nick hit it within a few tries. Jeremy footed it, just needs to turn more.

I'm also really excited about something the guys said to me: "Your stepping looks really good, like it just kinda floats up now." God, that made me feel so happy. My hard work is finally paying off

So happy with where my game is right now. Now I feel like I can just drill a new concept every now and then and I may finally be on the right path.

I'd also just like to come clean and just say that, yes, I do hide little things under my hat from time to time, just so that I have a little secret under there that only I know about.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 28 Nov 2011 13:22

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic wrote:
So happy with where my game is right now. Now I feel like I can just drill a new concept every now and then and I may finally be on the right path.

Hopefully this video backs up my statement above.

This is some new footage from of Bob Riefer, Jeremy Mellor, Nick Pasquarello, and myself from Thanksgiving break. Hope you enjoy it. (Stick around for an extra bonus string after the credits

)

http://vimeo.com/32795030

h0ag3yb3atZ · Post by **h0ag3yb3atZ** » 28 Nov 2011 21:35

stepping ducking sole osis is the coolest trick i've seen on tape in a long time. looked super easy and a mob in the seal is never a bad thing.

As far as one sided pixie/fairy, i gotta disagree with everyone and say that if it's not your focus and your strings are dense enough where your not doing 15 smears on the same side then fuck it, it is freestyle after all. I'm all about both sidedness for myself because im ocd crazy, but i can dig it if you pull off slight one sidedness well.

keep the bag on the up.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 29 Nov 2011 09:16

Yo thanks a ton, Kev! I'm glad you liked it. Also glad you support my choice to use one fairy and one pixie.

So last night I had a session with Nathan in his trippy-acid-trip designed carpet. He hit some great stuff and I hit a new 5-5-5, both on film. We were gonna submit it to Mark's comp, but we lost all of the footage. :\ Nathan's was actually madd sick. I only had that 5-5-5 and it wasn't sealed :\ I'll reveal it since I don't think I'm going to go for that one again for the competition.

Highlights:

Again, not sealed.. Ripped Warrior> Singularity> Pdx Torque

Blur> Legbeater> Ripwalk rpt ( I want to practice this one more. I feel like this will help me a lot.)

Spinning Ducking Osis> Mobius a handful of times.

Ripwalk Flapper> Singularity> attempt at P Torque

Might try a new link tonight.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 29 Nov 2011 10:53

Haven't posted in a while, since I was offline for most of Thanksgiving break. Similarly, haven't had a chance to check out the recent vids in this blog, but I'll try to tonight.

Assorted comments:

1.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic wrote: hope to kick with you sometime soon too. I'm gonna try my darnedest to make it out to NY over X-Mas break.

That'd be sweet; it sounds like you've improved a lot since the last time we played. But then, I was delirious with a fever at NYJ, so my recollection is hazy. I think we're shooting to have two sessions, probably 3 hrs a piece, likely on the 27th and 29th, in the heart of NYC. I'll update the thread in Journies as it gets finalized.

2.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic wrote:I hit a new 5-5-5, both on film. We were gonna submit it to Mark's comp.

If it makes you feel better, I think Mark's comp was for "most adds in four tricks."

3. Your gyro clipper video clip has me excited for you. A couple years ago I posted a clip of me doing consec gyro clippers, where each side was different. In my case, I was raising my arm on my weak spin, and strongside was fine. As Doug pointed out to you, you tuck in your arm on your weak spin, and the other looks fine. Anyway, once Erik Chan pointed out that I was doing them differently on both sides, I was able to normalize them, which in turn greatly helped my flip spins. So hopefully you'll do the same, which is great news for your bothsided spinning in the future.

4. Is leaning set stepping inspinning? If so, what's stepping spinning called? I used to know all these, but now it's muddy in my head. I think leaning is stepping inspinning...but now it's annoying me not knowing what stepping spinning is. In any case, I challenge you to hit whichever one you haven't yet.