Wasabi: M(s)+J = BLAST

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 18 May 2006 08:33

Last night and sometime this morning I had to do a (somewhat depressing) solo shred session that I believe some people in modified (especially those a bit new to footbag) might not like. I went and did a retirement shred with the Red Lavers I have, then laced them to the standard shoe lacing with the original reds just a few minutes ago. Here's a pic.

I'm sure to seal them up from freestyle for good, as they have given me some imbalance toward my playing style through time. One of the walls on my right shoe is very uneven, so it affected how the shoe felt whenever I played. Plus, I'm a lover for G-units now (not to say I'm a Laver hater at all, but your love has been bested by another shoe

). They will be my prime walking shoes for the summer, so they're not going to be trashed. They're sick looking shoes even though they're not meant for freestyle anymore, so there's still the fond memories I've had of them.

However, I'm working on a secret project that I will not post in this blog. A few months ago, I've talked with Josh Bizzle about it. All I need is some sharpies to get it all done. Expect something cool from me if I manage to pull it off.

... I *really* want to go to Ottawa for Ottawa day and then spend a week in Kingston for the summer. I know I posted that I can't go in my last blog entry, but I'm still searching for good prices on the internet. Here's to hoping.

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 18 May 2006 12:52

Sweet reds, i'm sure they will be missed.

Do you guys in the NYFA ever shred on sundays? Its easier for me to get up there on sundays, but if not i'm sure i could make it on a saturday. I've got Karate untill 12 though, so I wouldnt be there untill a little later.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 18 May 2006 13:23

Nelson,

If the weather is really poor on Saturday and we're pumped to shred, we shred on Sundays sometimes (but hate to feel sore on Sundays I bet). The best time to shred on Saturdays. And, we usually begin shreding at 1:30pm, but people have come a little around 2:00 or even 3:00 (if I partied a bit much on Friday night, that is

).

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 18 May 2006 14:48

Yeah, well I can definatley be there by three. I dont have anything else to do on saturdays either, so my dad will probly ditch me and come back later.

Great! Probably in a couple weeks ill come.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 19 May 2006 06:54

This morning, I had a revelation concerning footbag. I was looking and dousing my Lavers and G-units with foot powder and scrounged around modified. I was looking at the two stitching topics of Bags that people made and those that people received. Of course, I saw a small history of my posting history on modified. The reason I was looking back was because I needed a new desktop wallpaper and was looking for the cool Cod pics with his bags and oranges. And I thought to myself "Damn, I've been here for awhile."

I came to think about the history I've had with footbag. The many people I've interacted here. The many I've met at several events. Even the amount of PMs I tried to count in having received and sent to people. What an astonishment. I looked at my post count and haven't noticed how 700+ posts would be so extreme. The shred shoes I've had, sold, given away, retired. The bags I have from a variety of stitchers here in modified and footbag.org, both new, in use and retired. The tricks I've been schooling during my shred sessions, even if I played only twice a week. Hell, I looked at my wall and went to see the letters and envelopes that people have sent me with their bags, their shoes, the shred shirts they sponsoring. It was amazing, but also frightening how deep I delved into such a sport and a community like this.

I guess what I'm saying here is that I'd like to go back to simpler times. The childhood fascination that comes with footbag. Does anyone really remember the emotions they felt when they made their first dive into footbag? I don't, but I feel a bit of it every time I see and remember the items I've listed. And you know what? I stitch too, so in effect I'm going to interact with people with my bags. So far, I'm making a bag for Troyson and one for Pengpeng Du, and then a few tester bags if my sample facile arrives by next week. Everything feels so awkward, and yet so warm now. It's currently raining outside my window.

What should I do about this, I wonder? Is this a different approach to feeling pumped about footbag? I'm not sure, but it is definitely a revelation for me. Maybe, just maybe, I would like my friends in this footbag community to send me letters or postcards in case I made a purchase or trade with them, as will I. Tom Mosher helped inspire me that idea when I bought that KICKASS t-shirt from him last year. Time is moving a bit too fast for me, and I don't think I can keep up.

I think I'll school some flip clippers to regain my crank for Chris' jam tomorrow, then stitch a bag. I'm going to type up my late final paper to my professor ASAP and just chill for a bit. Oh, and that money order I'm suppose to send to BuckRuckus; I'll do that too (with a letter included). I think I should make a footbag memoir housing all of these letters and envelopes. I regret not having the envelopes that had my Docbag and O'Wheel, since I trashed them long ago. Oh well. But a footbag memoir/collection of letters - what a great idea.

*Note: Parkour won Footbag on some internet poll. This made me a bit upset, as I'm guessing most of the votes prior to the modified hijacking is with a "hackysack" state of mind, instead of footbag which has a much more serious overtone. Iron Clad Ben made an astonishing point on how the benefits of footbag outweigh that of parkour. Did parkour win because of how thrilling the danger is, or how cool the stunts are done? What is the training except to be careful on your feet, arms and balance? Footbag has a much more rigorous training in comparison I believe. It's all nonsense, I know, but this definitely proves that footbag is going nowhere as a sport.

**edit: Minor rant above. Footbag is advancing for sure, but it killed my euphoric nostalgia. And I hate it when something abruptly destroys that type of mood. Yes, I'm well aware that I make a lot of half-assed comments.

shreddaily · Post by **shreddaily** » 19 May 2006 07:41

Nice post execept:

Do you realy think one internet poll shows that footbag is going nowhere???
That sounds rather silly to me...
Granted footbag may be going nowhere but a poll on an obscure site (where 1 person can vote an infinite # of time I believe) holds little relivance.

Going out for sushi today...Heavy on the wasabi.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 19 May 2006 08:10

Yeah, it was nonsense. I had a good euphoric feeling this morning and was hit by this bad news. Killed the mood just a bit.

Don't forget to cleanse your palette with Ginger!

Also, I got my cuddlebaggie from Peng! I'll post pics later at the usual forum board.

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 19 May 2006 17:54

Wow, what a transition, from a heartfelt message about time and memoirs and remembering the start, to

"Clean your pallet with ginger!"

you cracked me up right there.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 22 May 2006 15:43

Mendham Jam was really cool, and so was the Sunil Jam the day after. I didn't have time to train for the events, but I still had fun hanging out with the people there. Chris Balch's competition was really chill and laid back. There was definitely a ton of tension when Chris Miller and Troy Erstling was doing Rippin' Run, but it was all very cool. Dave Clavens represented with a lot of force that weekend (and owned Chris Miller at Addiction a-plenty).

Having Sunil there with Dave hitting Nemesis with his Sick 1 felt like a good tribute.

There was only one thing I didn't like about the Mendham Jam, and it was a group of kids that were impressed about footbag, but tried to bribe us into buying some of our bags like a mob. Especially one kid in general who tried to buy my Grandma Ash bag with $20. It was cool and all, but his smug attitude and flaunting his "highly esteemed" $20 bill turned me off. Sure, if I had a few Mr. Sandbags with me, I can sell you at an affordable price and give you a free lesson, but this was too much. I don't like dealing with people so smug that they think money grows on trees. It was bad news waiting to happen.

I got a few pointers from Sunil and Dave about atomics, which was very enriching I believe. I've been having a couple of problems nailing a proper set lately. Dave suggested that i work on my flip butterfly, and with some work, sweat and tears, I finally hit it! I know it's not that big of an accomplishment, but damn did it feel so good. I'm schooling that on Tuesday ASAP, including some legovers and mirages.

On Sunday, I've come to the realization that I should lengthen my strings a bit more and concentrate on them. I couldn't believe that hitting legover bsos > mirage > butterfly was soo hard! The usual string I did (before my leg injuries) turned to crap that day. It hit me hard, and I felt a bit depressed about it. Personally, I felt it was a simple learning experience that I should really consider. I have to drill like crazy on these moves for a great foundation on my strings.

Funny note about the weekend, and my choice for that specific title on my blog: Chris Balch's brother gave us a final warning before we bunked into a friend's house. He mentioned in the most eerie voice ever: "Beware the Chesteeerrrrlooope!" Me, Chris Miller and Dave pretty much (I believe) thought "WTF!?" right at that precise moment. Hilarious. We joked about it throughout the night and into the morning after.

I showered my sweetheart with much affection on Saturday night. I hope she feels the same way.

Really, I want Jersey Spike to be this much fun, if not much more! I have to school on my strings and make some tester bags, finished up two finals, and rest up for Jersey Spike!

david · Post by **david** » 22 May 2006 15:52

hey man,

sunil mentioned to me that i was being pretty harsh on you when we were playing. i thought maybe this might be true. im sorry if thats the case, i guess im just so adament about helping people out, exspecially when the problems are so little and easily fixed. i hope you found the intended kindness in my remarks, not the harsh exterior they might of carried.

i really enjoyed hanging with you this weekend. your a cool dude who goes with the flow. i really admired that you stuck up for what your opinions when me and chris felt different. that was cool in my book.

see you next week.

watch your back for the chesterlope.

david

HG · Post by HG » 22 May 2006 16:04

why are you retiring those red lavers? look at the sole, there must not be any wear on the bottoms!

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 22 May 2006 17:18

Henry,

The right shoe has been giving me a lot of problems for some time, and is a bit slanted to the right whenever I play in them. That's really the reason why I'm retiring them unless I get some sandpaper to fix it. I just don't want to go through the trouble in working on the left just the same.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 22 May 2006 19:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh_F_E9TNZI

Barret Neimeth, a fellow NYFA, filmed this vid up on youtube. Mad props to his hard work on the film. I was a bit displeased by my face cutting short by the dark building behind me, but it was all cool. At least i got the hooker scene.

Guest star was Philip Wachmann who made a visit to NYC to have a shred with us. Man he looks awesome! Everyone did so well in this film. But in all, it was Rizz who became the true hero to this video (and Bruce the antihero for rescuing the Sandmaster from the Drug Dealer then kicked it into the street to be run over by a truck).

I hope Barret will be making more footbag films in the future (but without so much contrast to light and dark this time). Whatev, it turned out well - that's all that matters!

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 23 May 2006 11:10

For some reason, I look into modified as an on-looker (or lurker for the technical internet term), and I see so many people so gungho in trying to help the community or advancing the sport. The Nike sponsorship and the topic of shoe resources in Bags & Equipment are two big examples that pop into mind. Do people really want to rush into things like this so much? Don't they understand the detrimental factors that can happen if they do this?

I don't know what to think, because if I share my feelings straight up in this blog I'm sure there will be someone out there to refute it. Plus, discussing matters like these online isn't the best course of action I believe. A personal discussion would be much more fitting, as you will be able to form much more concise arguments and approach yourself much more formally than just words on a screen. However, I will say this: that people, no matter what the situation is, will focus more on the benefits of their actions than the bad. It's better to have a balanced and clear thought than to be so hyped on acting rashfully. Practically speaking, think before you act.

Anyway, onto better knews: I think I found a good sizeable template that can be used for floppier bags, and I just used old credit cards to cut into them. It took a few tries, but I think I found the right cuts that I'm really comfortable with (permanent too!). So, I have two sizes, one for regular sized bags and minis. For now, i think I'll make two regular sized bags, and will use the panel pack I bought from Mosher a few weeks ago to split the work. It's Dark Jade and Punch, I think, and I will make two separate bags with Green grape. I wish I had Petit Pois or s tronger green so that I can make a "money bag" but I'm not sure if I can wait for long (Jersey Spike and all). In any case, I have to remake Troyson a bag so Punch and Green Grape seems like a solid color combo. Good contrast.

The video I posted is getting rave reviews! Barret is going to be pleased when he sees the comments on the Video section of modified tonight. Post more people! Let him know of his awesome film!

Relaced my G-units today. I guess by looking at how Dave Clavens and Ken Somolinos laced theirs I was a bit inspired to make a lacing that shared both. Plus, I switched my Spencos crosstrainer insoles for the original stock. For some reason, they felt really bulky and kind of hurt my playing style just a bit (I felt a bit more elevated from the ground when I last transitioned from Lavers). Also, I haven't really felt much difference in terms of shock absorption (if not worse when I had the Spencos on). I guess it really depends on comfort, and I think the original stock is all that I need now.

I'll be schooling more on flip tricks tonight. Flip Butterfly, Mirage and Legover seem predominant on things I need to work on. My flip clipper seems to be getting better, and with more work I'm sure I'll be ready for Jersey Spike. God, I just need to finish on these two final essays for my final this Thursday, and everything will be done! Well, registration too. Whatev.

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 23 May 2006 18:19

That lost video was awesome. Very new york. I loved the scene where the sandmaster broke, so she stitched it back up and kept on shredding. Hardcore.

KUTGW!

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 24 May 2006 23:06

Nothing much to report. My flip butterfly looks like it's getting solid with each attempt, but for some reason my legs feel "shy" to hit it in front of people. I hope to hit consistent infinities sometime soon. I keep neglecting to work on my flip mirage. I should consider Drew and Dave's advice on toe and clipper mirages, bsos.

Can I say that I "footed" knee drop? Anyway, my most unique string today, I believe, went like this: legover bsos > mirage > toe set > knee drop stall (!). The bag landed perfectly on my lap/knee as I knelt down for the catch, but then rolled off just a few seconds later! Argh! What a styley move!

*Note to self: buy notebook to list moves to school on.*

Met some freestyle yo-yo players when I went to shred with the NYFA crew. It felt like GRASS all over again... but they didn't go to GRASS. I guess I was just thinking about Steve Brown (?) and whatever.

Stitched up Troyson's bag today. Man is it big! Bigger than a golfball. The shape is a bit irregular, but with break-in I'm sure it'll look spherical. I think the next bag I stitch with this template is going to be choice if I pay more attention to it. With finals completed tomorrow, I'm sure to make two more bags for Spike & Shred. i know I mentioned five tester bags, but I think I can only do three. Maybe I'll ship them to people, but I'm going to need some dimebags. And poly pellets.

I need to go to a Walmart. Stupid NYC.

Friday will be a special day-off from footbag, at least for playing. I'm going to walk around Manhattan with Yan Yee (the girl I've been talking about) for the whole day window shopping. Play it cool Waylon! Yeah. It'll be a refreshing day before I head off into Somerville and such. I'm sure to expect no internet connection, so I'm really going to miss her dearly throughout Memorial Weekend. At least I have my cellphone, and I think I get free nights and weekends.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 26 May 2006 19:08

I got bashed by some members of NYFA about footbag etiquette and "self-serving" on Thursday night. The whole shabang is, I don't plan on self-serving to myself whenever I'm in a freestyle circle nowadays. It just doesn't appeal to me anymore. I'm free to self-serve to myself if I'm schooling by myself or outside a circle. However, when I'm in a circle, I clearly won't self-serve. I've had this dilemma for quite some time, turning my old 5 self-serves to 3, then to 2, and finally none at all. It's my decision and I'm sticking with it.

Seriously, wtf? I was literally forced by Ken David to "self-serve." I think this is the first time I witnessed the most jackass comment/discussion in a freestyle circle ever. People can and always had bashed on the concept of self-serving, but has anyone refuted on "not" self-serving? It's just ridiculous.

Anyway, flip clipper showing lots of improvement. I noticed that my form on clippers had a lot of slouching involved. As I improved on my posture, my clippers seemed a bit easier. Flip butterfly showing some improvement, but not so much that it can help me realize on good atomic form. When I get to Jersey Spike, the first things I will school is on the basics.

I haven't gotten to stitching anything after finishing up Troy's bag. My finals literally killed me, and I had a date with Yan Yee just today. I'm just really busy. I'll start stitching up a bag tonight, but most likely it'll be finished tomorrow. I'm sure to give it to someone to test and keep, and I know who to offer.It's a secret! Any other tester bag I'll just send off through the mail if it comes to it.

Hakker · Post by **Hakker** » 28 May 2006 04:52

Well good luck with those flip butterflies. And Ken david

I pretty much always self serve, but thats just because ive only one other person to shred with regularly.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 29 May 2006 16:38

Jersey Spike & Shred was great overall, but I felt really down because the minute I began shredding I tweaked my ankle at a butterfly. I guess my G-units were laced a bit loosely, or my socks were too thin. Bummer. However, it was great seeing all of my East Coast buddies again, so that's all that matters. I was surprised my shin delays were so great, since I haven't really practiced on them for too long. I showed off to Jack Keller my shin > knee drop link, which looked really styley. Maybe when I set it from the knee all the way up to x-body sole, then I can really impress the man. Maybe it'll look better than his Sole Stealer?

Here's to hoping. It'll definitely look really cool in routine, and I can hit it really well.

Matt Cross, Chris Dean, Paul Agostinelli, Josh Benham, Chris Miller, Dave Clavens, Chris Balch, Rob Creel, the Digges brothers - it was great to see them all. The tweaked ankle really killed my shred mood most of the weekend, but my footbag spirit was still there. I was stitching a couple of bags when I was there, especially two six-paneled bags for Jamie Lepley (sp?), the world champion for footbag golf.

He's going to use my bags for putters. One was made from Blue Hawaii and the other Opal, but I have no pics to show. Oh well. The one with Blue Hawaii wasn't so impressive, but the Opal one was alright. I gave an old six-panel (all Opal) to Chris Miller with a new filler, and he loves it. I guess you can say that Jamie was referred by Chris to make him a bag.

I tore my G-units right by the Brocka. I was forcing my feet into my shoe, and the corner toward the eyelets popped. I stitched it back up with flosh. Chris Dean had it worse! One of his G-units tore in half on the side and the tongue ripped off. He stitched it back up with my needle and floss, and it looks really choice. His shoes look so cool right now.

When Caleb Abraham was there, we instantly became friends. It was a weird feeling, but he was definitely very optomistic. He and his friend gave me a new nickname(s), so it was awesome. Man was it fun to hang out with him, although brief. Maybe I'll see him in ECFC? Seriously, him, Dave Clavens, and Chris Kovack are so electrifying in the same space and time. It was one of the few enjoyable moments I had in a footbag event.

The parties were very chill. Of course, I got pretty wasted, but not so much as Barret and Rizz. I didn't drink much alcohol. To tell you the truth, this would be the first few parties I've had that I felt homesick. I never usually get this feeling, but you can say that my feelings were influenced by my date with Yan Yee before I went to Spike & Shred. Our relationship is still very fresh, so it's understandable.

I'm back in NYC finally. I'll post more on what happened in Jersey Spike if I can remember, but I had fun. I'm going to nap a bit. Wayway out.

Troyson · Post by **Troyson** » 29 May 2006 17:36

Hey Waylon, just wanted to tell you the bag you made me is great. The stitching looks really good considering its only your 4th bag, and it is already somewhat shreddable. Right now it kicks really great, and it stalls allright although its kinda rolly. But i did hit bubbabeater with it today, so all in all i like it alot

I was pissed that i couldnt come today, it was so beautiful out. Sigman had to do a project so he didnt want to take me, and i had no other ride. It was fun being there while i was, and i hope i get to see you again soon and we will shred some more. Me and sigman are thinking about having a jam on the weekend of my bday(july 28th), but i will post more about that in journies to tournies.