Run Length vs. Intensity

[Jorden]

The title pretty much speaks for itself.
If you were to pick only one, which would you choose? Runs with explosive energy for a short period of time, or a more conservative shred that lasts longer?

I ask because my game has reached a fork in the road. I'm unsure whether to dedicate myself to the world of endurance shred and long guiltless strings, or to push the limits of single tricks and combos and never be satisfied with run length.

Thoughts?

[Bander87]

I personally would pick long runs, but I'm not quiet tiltless yet. I personally think long runs build a foundation for bigger tricks.

[BalinorNZ]

DEFINATLY short intense. I think there is some limit though, by short I mean under 20 contacts.

30-50 contacts is what I call a long run, and 30-50 contacts of mainly bops or moves that whoever the player is can perform easily is boaring.
I would much rather see someone hit a shorter run of moves/combos they find hard with perhaps some easier filler in between.

I always say, if your strings are consistantly over 20 contacts you need to try some harder moves in your strings, if they are consistnatly under 10, you need to school the stuff your hitting more and put in some more filler.

[SlashC]

Why does there half to be a fork?

I voted for both.

[Anz]

Boring to watch long, easy runs.
Fucking neat to see hard sherring with sick link, altough it remains short.

"If you got long runs, your being too easy on yourself"

Intense! Intense! Intense!

[Jeremy]

Depends on how many contacts we're talking.

I'm not a fan of single tricks or very short runs - Occasionally you see one or two cool short runs but certainly if somebody makes a 5 minute video of themself and all it is is big tricks and short hard runs that's very boring. Long runs equally - if they're too easy or repatative can be boring. I really think the middle road is best - but also I think you should go with what you think is best personally, not which ever wins the poll.

[shredzilla]

Yeah, I think Both are necessary as well. I voted for long runs only because I'm working on that for myself, and Both wasn't a poll option. Also, it's neat to see a guiltless run with some Fearless combos thrown in there. I don't think you're at a fork in the road though Jorden. I think personally that you are paving the way for guys like me that admire the dedication you put into learning the sport. Even though you made a comment in another thread about how a lot of the Session footage was taken out of long sessions, to make it a series of really good strings, you still had a lot of long runs, and some insanely cool combos.

The point is you are already a player with the capacity for both. Long easy runs are fun if you just want to zen out sometimes to some good music. Throwing some tougher moves in there can help mix it up a little. Doing intense strings is great for film, and competitions, and just cuz a fearless combo is just incredibly tough and awesome to pull off!

[ptaku]

Weird... It's hard to vote. I voted long runs, but...

What I like the most is long, long, endless run with some intense parts in it. Like - 5 contacts relaxed, 10 intense, 10 relaxed, 5 intense, 10 relaxed, 10 intense... etc... This is the best. And switching between styles like - shuffle and spins and etc. is awesome. I wouldn't chose anything.

[Just call me hagesy]

I voted for long runs

I agree with pawel

[ShredOnLawn]

I chose Long Runs BUt....

I think at Tournaments when there are other people waiting in the circle it's better to be able to bust more impressive short runs so everyone gets more turns.

I really like the look of a shred once you can see the players rythm after they start to get tired you know.

[jon]

I have to vote intense but I dont vote for short.
This topic makes me think of two players really, Felix and Vasek.
I may not have seen enough footbag of either player to say the following but ...
Felix's strings are sooo intense but often short. He links are soo stylish and because of this his strings are amazing.
Vasek's string in my mind are long and hard. They do not appear to be as intense as Felix's strings but that may simply be because he tends to make things look so easy.
Knowing that there is a player out there that can but hard and long makes me believe that you should endevour to have long difficult strings. I think the trick to this lies in making your hard tricks as smooth and efficient as possible. I and everyone else knows what amazing skills you have and I believe that you have the skills to bust HARD strings and links in 30/40/50+ contact runs.
Either way I look forward to seeing where you take your game and the sport as a whole.

[james]

Intense!


Vasek does make it look easy, doesn't mean it is.

[Splint]

I chose short intense runs, but here's what I think about your game Jorden.

You have very solid and totally diverse long runs. I don't think it's an aspect of your game that is hurting at all.

You're short intense game is awesome too and far above advanced. However, I think there is an elite level that you will achieve with a little more focus on the moves and combos that are HUGE. You have "IT". Unlike 99.999% of the players to touch a footbag you have what it takes to be the best in the world.

I also don't think that you have to sacrifice one for the other. It's obvious that you already work on both, you just need to work on one a little more than the other.

The reality is that not everything Vasek or Honza hit is absolutely huge all the time. They do plenty of runs that are long and drawn with smooth flows of swirls and drifters and the like.

You just need to work on managing both a little better.

[Samurai]

i didnt even read this shit... why the heck are you asking this question.. the answer is SO OBVIOUS

you start with an intense combo like 3-6 contacts or whatever u do.. 10.. 20.. then u shift gears into relaxed ballerina shred... then all of a sudden u crank up the intensity again for however many contacts -

ITS CALLED DYNAMICS - u know it.. its a musical term

[Blackend]

Yeah, but not everyone can crescendo and decrescendo in flow like you can, Sam.

[Colin]

Sam hit it. It's all about tension and release.


Tangent:

I can't understand the viewpoint that concentrates on long strings. If players in the 80s (70s?) unanimously decided that it was silly to concentrate on big tricks and links, we'd all still be doing consecutive kicks. Same deal with the mid nineties, only with tiltless shred instead of consecutives. How much time did Sunil spend trying to crack Nemesis? How much better might Ahren have been at stringing indefinitely if he hadn't worked towards slaying the beast? Freestyle Footbag is the culmination of all the crazy shit that people have dreamed up over the past thirty years. Nothing crazy ever happened 40 contacts into a string.


Back to topic:

For a player like you, Jorden, I think the simplest goal to direct your game is to keep working concepts that are strange enough to confuse your peers. I remember hearing that some pretty prestigious players had to do double takes to figure out what your slicing set was all about. I remember your string of vids (starting with epic) being the first that I had to repeatedly slow-mo to figure out in ages. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Blurry janiwalker? Get outta town.

[FlexThis]

I think the ultimate goal is long intense strings. Push til you drop, not push til you bail.

If that makes sense.

~peace
Damon

[HG]

You have "IT". Unlike 99.999% of the players to touch a footbag you have what it takes to be the best in the world.

thats a blatant lie. Its all about time put into the sport, level of practice (serious, goofy, laid back) and many other aspects.

[BalinorNZ]

You have "IT". Unlike 99.999% of the players to touch a footbag you have what it takes to be the best in the world.

thats a blatant lie. Its all about time put into the sport, level of practice (serious, goofy, laid back) and many other aspects.

For once I think I agree with Henny, I think a lot more than 99.99% of players have the ability to be the best, it just depends on how much u play, and body shape and natural ability come into the picture a very slight amount too, but I think it's 90% about how much you play.

Jorden, Vasek, Cleaver, Anssi, I know for a fact all these guys play flipping loads of footbag, it is just a high or the highest priority in their lives so it get's a lot of time, it isn't the same for all of us though unfortunatly.

Anyway, Jorden, we love u no matter what u do ... but do short intense!

[Toby]

I voted for long relaxed runs. This is because you seem to have a creativity that other top players lack and i would love to see a successful worlds routine that is more than just a 2 minute shred.