mouseman's journal

[mentor]

Hi Jere

I always enjoy reading your posts and follow your blog. I just have to comment on a little thing you wrote.

I would say that FFO2004 were more skilled than euros2004. Does that make FFO2004 the second most skilled tournament in the world?

Maybe your right that we missed so many Finns at the Euros that FFO became "stronger" this year. Maybe they can outnumber/ level all the shredders in the rest of Europe minus Vaska & Ales.

You had a lot of strong super shredders in FFO this year. A BAP player does not necessarily equal a super routine player. When you raise the issue of having the second strongest tournament in the world it makes me wonder a bit.

Finland has always been a strong footbag country in many ways but I was a little surprised to see many Finnish top players saving their juice for the Worlds and only a few chose to compete at the Euros this year.

Actually it feels a bit weird to organise what is the most expensive footbag tournament in our history so far and not see more Finish top players in the house. The ones who were here represented massive though (massive props!). But the Euros should be represented by the best players in Europe. We are supposed to push European footbag together…or?

I was surprised and a little sad not to see Justin Sexton at the Euros as well. I heard a rumour saying he was knocked down by somebody? Is that correct?

No doubt that you have just experienced the most wicked event and I really wish I could have a fly on the wall.

Mads Hole

[C-Fan]

I was surprised and a little sad not to see Justin Sexton at the Euros as well. I heard a rumour saying he was knocked down by somebody? Is that correct?

If he keeps playing mouku (sp), SOMEBODY is gonna take him out one day. God knows he has it coming.

But I think Mads raises a very interesting point. Maybe a new thread is in order? I also think its interesting how Euros is the 2nd biggest tourney after worlds, but there doesn`t seem to be an American equivalent. There used to be Western Regionals, but now the next closest thing are the Shred Symposiums, which do not feature routines.

Anyway, thanks for the update on the Finnish tourney, I`m glad to hear you are all already looking for sponsors for next years worlds. Any particularly memorable combos you hit or saw? Keep up the great blog.

[pillar]

Actually it feels a bit weird to organise what is the most expensive footbag tournament in our history so far and not see more Finish top players in the house. The ones who were here represented massive though (massive props!). But the Euros should be represented by the best players in Europe. We are supposed to push European footbag together…or?

You are correct. That's how it should go. But the main reason why didn't all the finnish top freestylers show up to Euros was _money_. That simple. Our government supports Team Finland members for one international tournament and since the Worlds are the most expensive one, we chose that. Now with that support, going to Worlds was almost the same price and therefore many choose to go only there. It's sad, but that's how it happened.

Be assured that many more will be present for Euros'05, since the Worlds are held in Finland and we can get the support money for Euros!

I was surprised and a little sad not to see Justin Sexton at the Euros as well. I heard a rumour saying he was knocked down by somebody? Is that correct?

True. His doctor recommended him not to fly at the time, because of what had happened to him. He wasn't happy about it either.

[mouseman]

Hi Mads!

I'm sorry, I said it wrong!

I'm really enthustiastic to build up a strong and solid european footbag community! As my brother said, the only reason why the whole team finland didn't come was because money and how our country supports us.

And I wish they would have chosen euros instead of worlds! FFO2004 might have been more skilled, but euros were still the best and most organized tournament what I've been into! Huge props from that.

Personally, euros this year gave birth to a dream inside me. A beautiful dream of well organized tournaments with real athletes.

But still the fact remains, the finalists in FFO2004 were (in my opinion) more skilled than in euros2004. That does not put a shadow over your tournament. I don't see a reason why we should be competitive. If someone makes a good tournament, it doesn't make anyone elses tournament any worse, it just adds up the happiness of footbag players.

Anyway, I was foolish to said that. You are my personal hero Mads and I think of euros2004 as the best tournament I've been into.

[mouseman]

it's been a while..

I want to start saying that worlds 2005 was really professional and good event. The press was present and it will have a big positive influence in footbag scene and people's opinions of footbag in finland. I enjoyed every second of it.

Personally, it's been a black year for me. In october I got injured. My ankle didn't recover until I went to finnish army. Having a low overall condition I was put into sport division. I entered the army 11. january and it was one of the longest and coldest winters in Finland. I got instantly sick and it continued the whole six months I was in the army. I was seriously ill with many diseases with high fever. Spending over 20 days in military hospital lying during my time in army I wasn't at my best when I got out just a couple weeks before worlds.

I planned my routine in one week and got only couple times to practice it. It was really great to see that the skills I had year ago hadn't gone anywhere. I wasn't able to shred so much in worlds but I still did great ending up 9th in open freestyle.

Worlds definetly did give me lot's of inspiration and motivation to play. I hope that next year I will be able to do even better.

I'd say these were the best worlds I've ever been in. The average skill of players were really high. Also there were really many players from all around world. Poland was a big suprise for me and I'm sure that they will be a big part of next worlds. Also I was really happy to see the womens so strong. Worlds '05 was great succes to me, finland and footbag as a sport.

over and out,
- Drama Queen :)

[shreddaily]

Spending over 20 days in military hospital lying during my time in army I wasn't at my best when I got out just a couple weeks before worlds.....but I still did great ending up 9th in open freestyle.

whoooo. Congradulations man!

[mouseman]

It's been a while - yet again :)

I have played footbag occasionally after worlds 2005, but I picked up footbag two or three months ago with my brother once again and we have been playing one to three times a week ever since (approximately two times per week). We're doing good and playing is really fun. Lately we have been playing with Santeri Karvinen and playing with three people is much better than just two. But again, two is so much better than playing alone.

We have both got married since my last post and Juha has a baby boy now, so we are in a different situation in our lives now than before. I continued high school, graduated and pushed myself to Helsinki university (studying history). Life is good and footbag is a great sport to keep us in shape (Juha has got a little weight (shaping up like a real man:)), so we want to keep that in check by playing footbag :))

I went to finnish masters 2007 and it went well. I still got most of my tricks and I was able to keep the bag up pretty well, but I soon found out I'm one-sided and focused on a narrow trick base. I've been trying to school that now and I've had some progress.

Some stuff I've hit recently:

- weak side whirr
- both swirls okay
- 11 drifters (also some drills like pdx whirls, drifters and pdx drifters)
- pdx torque - pdx torque
- paradon with 3 dexes (been trying for a long time)
- some drills, rubberman, paradon - barrage - double switch over - repeat
- quantum sets and other toe stuff. Weakside pixie's giving me a hard time and dlo's currently hurt my back.
- a lot ducking and diving (also weaving and zulu) components
- weak side spinning is under a heavy training :)
- furious set is getting better (haven't got it from the weak side yet)

and some miscellanious stuff (blurry barrage, weaving legover, weak side mercony, weak side alpine leg beater, symposium whirls etc).

So I've been improving pretty nicely and I enjoy playing more when I have all these new components that I can try to hit during a string. I don't feel like I'm doing the same run over and over again or that I'm just trying to nail hard tricks from my better side.

Maybe I'll write something more frequently from here on out.

[verena]

wow! nice to hear that you're doing well and still (or again) playing footbag, jere!

[mouseman]

Today's practice:

- whirr bsos
- flipside janiwalker

At a previous practice session I hit tombstone-tombstone.

[mouseman]

Some progress in yesterdays training session with Juha and Santeri.

- flurry (both sides)
- tapping drifter (both sides)
- atomic drifter (both sides)

I'm not sure if I've hit my better side tapping drifter before.. can't remember.

Anyway I founded a footbag club in Helsinki university. We got accepted to the student organization's list of supported clubs and organizations, which means we can get some funding and great places to host events cheap or completely free. I got some expectations of how things will turn out. But more about this in the near future.

[mouseman]

Some new stuff at today's practice with Santeri and Juha:

- flipside gravedigger
- pixie diving butterfly
- pixie diving whirl
- pixie ducking whirl
- frontside symposium fusion
- torque-drifter-repeat
- atomic torque (both sides)

And after a long pause blurry whirl-blurriest-blurriest-blurry whirl (- blurriest-blurriest)

After all a great training session. Everyone was on fire!

[mouseman]

Had a second session this week. Some new tricks I hit today:

- flipside pixie whirl
- swirl bsos
- whirling swirl
- paradox nova

My brother Juha was also on fire!! Hopefully he will continue his footblog sometime soon ;)