footbag depression (please help)

logan · Post by **logan** » 28 Dec 2005 11:55

okay heres the deal. I love the sport of footbag but I am starting to question where it will get me in life. I mean it takes countless hours of my time, for what seems to be relatively little results. Whenever I hit something big I have no one to show it to, my mom (bless her heart) tries to act like whatever I did was cool but I'm sure it all looks the same to her. Whenever I tell my friends I play footbag and show them a trick they just don't appreciate the sport. Theygive it no respect really. I am to the point where I pratically don't even tell people I play anymore when i meet them cause i don't feel like expalining the whole process when most people just make me out t be a loser for wasting my time playing footbag anyway. I WANT to want to play footbag, and I want to see why its worth it. Please help me I need pick-me-up advice, thanks for your time guys. thanks

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 28 Dec 2005 12:34

Dude, just keep in mind the insane skills you are developing, who fucking cares if your friends aren't impressed or interested. What would help you out is to START A CLUB and find oodles of other people that want to share in your passion with you. These people will shit thier pants with excitement when you hit new stuff and will be supportive and cool people to play with.

I think if you attend a footbag tournament and you meet a bunch of other shredders you will really understand why everyone here has stuck with it. Footbag is so beautiful and amazing and unique, keep with it dude, you CAN go lots of places with this crazy bagthing, just have faith that it is worth your time.

Cheers

shredzilla · Post by **shredzilla** » 28 Dec 2005 13:16

Since you're in Baton Rouge, did you contact that producer looking for actors near the New Orleans area for his Hack! The Movie movie? Here's the thread with his contact info:

http://modified.ca/footbag/viewtopic.ph ... 32&start=0

Footbag is something you do because you love it though. It is a fairly obscure sport right now, but it's growing. People said the same thing about skateboarding and look how huge that's gotten. I'm probably going to move out west myself where the vast population is more lifestyle-oriented, and accepting of things like footbag and skateboarding. It seems like some areas of the country are too conservative for something as radical as footbag. The place I live now, for example, is extremely career-oriented. One of the guys I started playing with hasn't played in a couple of months because he slaves away at work 12 hours a day, sometimes 7 days a week. I've blown so far past him, and I play alone 90% of the time. That also has to do with the winter weather though.

Ultimately no one here will be able to convince you to see the glory in footbag. You have to find the passion within yourself. I have to admit, I've felt the way you feel before, but then I check out a shred vid, land a sick new trick or combo, and all is right with the world. I definitely think one of the keys though is being around other footbaggers. You're probably still in school, so you may need to wait until you graduate to move out west, that is if you don't find other freestylers between now and then. But by that time, you'll be so good that you can apply to a west-coast college, where you will be a 'hackysack-god', and then you'll be grateful for all the countless hours spent mastering those clippers.

Check out a tournament sometime. Make some vids. If you really love footbag though, there is no sacrifice....only Hackrifice...haha yw Erik.

mc · Post by mc » 28 Dec 2005 15:22

You say you wonder where it will take you... have faith, it will take you to wonderful places, if you stick with it and you're willing to do a little travel for it.

Playing footbag has taken me to places where I've had more fun than anything, shredding my ass off with my friends, and pushing my game... places where the parties are full of the coolest, smartest, nicest, most wonderful people I've ever met... It's brought me to my best friends and my favorite memories. You have to try to make it out to a tournament, and then you'll see for yourself. The footbag world is the best. And it's really inexpensive right now, in that you can probably arrange yourself crash space at just about any tournament or jam, and stay for very little or no money. You just have to pay for travel and food expenses.

Stick with it. it's a lot of fun, and when you get to the point where you can do some cool tricks and some long strings, you'll be mind blowing to 99.99 percent of the world. That's even MORE fun. You'll make amazing friends and go to fun places. You'll be in good shape. Trust me, it's worth it.

Guest_2 · Post by **Guest_2** » 28 Dec 2005 15:32

Don't play for awhile

logan · Post by **logan** » 28 Dec 2005 15:41

thanks guys, I think you're right. I really need to look for people to shred with, maybe see if I can go to a tournament. I mean my problem was never with footbag, it was with other people, and not having any one to shred with/appreciate the sport of footbag. and on top of that I'm gonna see if I can make a vid soon and see if you guys can give me some tips on improving. thanks chris, mosher, and matt.

Samurai · Post by **Samurai** » 30 Dec 2005 22:10

basically u need to watch Freestyle Reality to be reinspired. theres some good knowledge in there.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 30 Dec 2005 22:29

Its like this. On day 1 you cant hit shit. On day two you hit a trick and it feels really good because you did something you couldn't do previously. As you keep progressing, your skills increase and you continue to make your body do amazing things it (and you) didnt think were possible. That is cool and that is why you should play footbag. NOT for other people, for yourself, because you enjoy the feeling of breaking down your bodily barriers.

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 01 Jan 2006 12:46

Senor Grommet wrote:Its like this. On day 1 you cant hit shit. On day two you hit a trick and it feels really good because you did something you couldn't do previously. As you keep progressing, your skills increase and you continue to make your body do amazing things it (and you) didnt think were possible. That is cool and that is why you should play footbag. NOT for other people, for yourself, because you enjoy the feeling of breaking down your bodily barriers.

Jeremy has summed up what draws me to the sport perfectly

When somebody asks me how i do that trick i have a funny awnser

You try it.

To spark up your ambition to shred hard and develop a scene your best bet is to start whoring skate parks, Heres what i did

I spent every other shred session at a local skate park instead of my normal lonely apartment street.

dont waste time trying to convince freinds too busy playing video games or watching movies with gfs, Kids are at a skate park cause they want to be outside and doing something different and you will discover alot of the kids dont really like skating to much, alot just hang out with freinds and watch

These kids are the target they are outside being active but just dont have the right sport, order some extra sandbags and make some flyers with all the footbag weblinks included, Make it a point to try and be at the skate park at a consistent day and time. I have had a blast teaching kids how to play footbag and i have also believed to be a positive role model to a few of them in a small way. The next best thing to hitting a trick yourself is seeing someone your teaching hit a new trick! for real its a dam good feeling

Just realize there is a reason that all these people you talk to on modified are obsessed with footbag and realize we all had this in us and had to wait for the moment we discovered what we love, dont be afraid to be that person for someone else and the purpose of your hobby will greatly be increased.

I cant wait for the spring time i miss shredding at the skate parks

BalinorNZ · Post by **BalinorNZ** » 01 Jan 2006 23:48

Great story Shawn! Did you end up with many footbag players from your skate park excersions? You must have quite a crew now?
I'll have to try it one day

.

What keeps me playing footbag is the fact, that basicly, apart from break dancing, there is nothing cooler I could be doing.

Footbag is a great and impressive sport that isn't plauged by the 'showing off' mind set that have killed the public display of lots of other sports.

If you think about it logicly, footbag is the perfect sport. It is cheep to play, all you need is some decent shoes and a bag. It is portable, you can take a footbag anywhere and play almost anywhere. It is very very impressive, and the more time you spend on it, the more impressive it gets! After you have played for a few years and you get guiltless, then things really start to take off. You can shred to music, to a crowd without fear of droping. Footbag is fabulous for your fitness and it's something you can do forever! I'm still gonna be in shape when i'm 80 just because of footbag.

One thing I have found though, is that it takes a certain type of person to get into footbag seriously, often a small group of friends will start, but it normally ends up that only 1 or 2 out of the group stick with it. You need to have the right mind set, and there are others with that mind set, but there are 10 others who think that it's too hard or can't be bothered or are too busy for each one who does get inspired. So don't give up, hang in there and I garuntee you one day before you know it, you will have people around you start playing.

setman · Post by **setman** » 02 Jan 2006 07:02

i've had a footbag depression 4 times.
i was thinking why do i play footbag, because it won't give me money and it takes my time, but when i went to warsaw for my first tourney, i knew that i play footbag for friendship (and beer:P). footbag makes me happy cause i know that i will meet this people again.

Also when i hit something big i'm very happy and i want to hit something big again and again...

There was days when i've thought i suck at footbag and i won't be the best, but i will haven't to be the best, i must be at tourneys.

after Euros i didn't meet anybody who plays footbag, i've been playing alone, but i know that next tourney will be soon...

sorry for my english

Faco · Post by **Faco** » 02 Jan 2006 11:51

Sounds to me that you have entered The Second Footbag Crisis.
Let me explain.

The First Footbag Crisis: Geting to know the basic moves. Stalling the bag. Realising that it will take you more than just kicking the bag around for few days a week.
It is very difficult to overcome the first one if you are not devoted to the sport.
The Second Footbag Crisis: The only good thing about this one is that it separates truly devoted players from casual Freestylers. By now, you have already learned the basic stuff (perhaps a set or two), mainly on your strongside.
Bad thoughts (as you described them) go through your head. Think of it as a puberty crisis.
The Third Footbag Crisis: You can congratulate me, as I recently passed this one. You know many different tricks, you can do basic sets, you train your flipside...but suddenly you realise that now it will take EVEN MORE time and practise. Of course, the wonderful world of Freestyle has already opened for you but...you can't help but think that this is the level where you are going to be for loooooong time.

Well, that division is strictly subjective, of course, but it is the way I explain it to myself.

Good luck in beating them!

p.s
Can't really tell you about the Fourth one

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 02 Jan 2006 12:36

The Forth Footbag Crisis: This is where I am

Where you have hit every single trick and can't think of anything more to hit. Nemesis feels like ripwalk and your 5 and 6 dex tricks are getting boring. You can no longer elevate your game because it's humanly impossible.

Faco · Post by **Faco** » 02 Jan 2006 17:28

You can no longer elevate your game because it's humanly impossible.

And then, there was this kid...they say he was from the Czech republik

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 02 Jan 2006 17:47

Their is no excuse

I was shredding with jorden moir and yeah he can alot of the crazy shit he does in his videos but he does alot of other creative goofy funny tricks.

For example doing toe stalls hunched over as far forward as possible, He called it the zombie

And he was doing a trick where it would look like a butterfly but his delay foot would land on the ground with the stall secured on the inside, Then he did a double "the" dex over the top with his other leg

I dont know if this properly Illustrates the trick but its still an example of what to do if you get that good. If you ever shred with jorden you will quickly realize the only boundries that exist are the ones you yourself place.

Shred hard have fun enjoy life!

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 02 Jan 2006 18:16

Yeah Shawn, thats true. Its hard to just keep playing solo as its more boring than circle shreds. I think variety is definatly key... try new things, keep it interesting. After reading some stuff on pinches, I tried some, its pretty fun.

tuomoruutufan · Post by **tuomoruutufan** » 02 Jan 2006 19:31

I been doing alot of cloud stall

Try cloud clip cloud repeat

If you can get the rythm down it looks really cool

you can see jorden do this in one of his vids

I dont like pincher though i just dont have any desire to learn that trick

But since your trying pincher try gyro pincher from clip or try mirage pincher

jbalexdarkelf · Post by **jbalexdarkelf** » 28 Jan 2006 18:00

Bander87 wrote:Yeah Shawn, thats true. Its hard to just keep playing solo as its more boring than circle shreds.

yehh, going solo sucks, if your by yourself all the time. Thats the problem im going through right no. Theres nobody that i personaly know( that lives near me) to help push me farther, which is basicly why some people get stuck at this point. But that just increases the importance of taking a couple of hours to go to a tourny. i personaly have never been to one, but it makes me feel better when I think about going to a competition and meeting some one who can help push me farther.

I think it helps to have that competitive thing with some one. Heres an example:

When i took martial arts there were 2 guys by the name of tyler and josh. They would always try to out do each other in everything. Therefore each practiced non stop to pass each other up. Even when Josh left, tyler still practiced and got better and better went on to win a gold metal in the wka world karate champ.

See, find a fellow shredder, and help push each other to advance in footbag, and it is highly probable that you will get better, and when the other ones not around, you've become so used to everything, that you just practice to make youself better.

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 28 Jan 2006 18:47

Logan, I think I can sympathize. I can only imagine Baton Rouge has got to be one the worst places to be a footbagger. I've never been there (only Shreveport), but one of my friends at work was born and raised there, and absolutely hates it. He calls Louisiana "Lowsy-anna". He only goes back to BR when he absolutely has to. He went to college here in Austin, TX and has lived here ever since.

So it's no surprise that what you're doing isn't well received. If you go to college somewhere out of state you'll probably have an easier time finding people who are into footbag. For now, try to find people for circle kick. Post an ad looking for players here: http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/

I posted an ad on craigslist in Austin and got 6 people for circle kick. Now I am teaching these guys freestyle, and we are starting to get a club together! Hang in there man. Remember what Winston Churchill said "Never, never, never, NEVER give up.".

janis · Post by **janis** » 28 Jan 2006 23:28

Logan, the biggest advice I can give you is to find some other interested shredders. Yeah I got really pissed off with footbag a few weeks back because I was practicing by myself and got annoyed by the pressure of trying to do new tricks all the time. Now I only play when I'm with the Melbourne crew which is great because they are friendly and interested in footbag. Just enjoy yourself and find a circle to play with and footbag gets to be much more fun, you won't need to keep explaining yourself, other shredders will appreciate your new footbag skills.