mc

[Will Digges]

Matt that was a bad ass jam, thanks for coming down. I had a lot of fun and we played a lot of footbag and did a lot of partying, im going to go crash now im so damn tired form being up all night and playing footbag all morning. Portland is going to be the Bomb, only like 10 days! Woot!

[mc]

played today in a thunderstorm, it was refreshing in comparison to the oppressive heat and humidity. I hit the quantum version of rubberman (whatever that's called), mobius BSOS, vortex BSOS, pdx blender > pdx whirl repeat again, and some other crap. Furious sets were feeling decent today, but I can't work them too much because they hurt me. Spinning is still hard, and it's tough for me to make sure I'm clean.

My moustache is getting really long, and I keep chewing on it. I better get used to it, because I want to grow it long and bushy over my mouth.

I told my dad about Portland today, and he wasn't mad. It probably helped because I had $450 cash in hand when I told him. Didn't stitch today. Might do some later tonight. Footbags are selling well. Someone named Noah Zilberberg bought one and now he wants another, so that's cool. The one I'm using is nice and shreddable, I look forward to bringing it to Portland. Can't wait to go...

will and I have to wake up at 4 AM on the 10th, leave by 4:30, get to the airport by 5:30, and be on the plane at 6:30. This is going to be an adventure. I'm so glad Will is coming. He may just be the most talented footbagger I've ever met, and he's definitely best in NY. Seeing him hit pixie mofly swirl first try was incredible. This is gonna be rad. I can't wait to meet so many new players.

I feel a lot of pain that I missed worlds 06, but I remind myself how lucky and awesome my life is, and how much footbag I have enjoyed and will still enjoy. If I want to go across the world to enjoy footbag, I better start working harder. I'm getting some new direction figured out, at least. I'll see you all with mickey mouse. there's going to be some great photo opps there...

[SandWraith]

Seeing him hit pixie mofly swirl first try was incredible.

Wait-- a five dex move has been hit??

I hope you enjoy Portland; wish I was going in your shoes. I'm sure it'll be a blast.

[mc]

oooops, pixie mofly RAKE, not swirl

Legs are feeling okay from yesterday's sessions, they're a little sore right under my buttcheeks, I think from all those quantums. all in all, though, I feel good. hips aren't tight, thigh isn't sore above the knee (it was a little bothersome yesterday). I may play today, we'll see how I feel after work. Looks like there's lots to be done around the zoo. I'm just enjoying a lunchtime beer right now.

Portland is gonna be the shitTTTT!!! I can't wait to see all my homeys...

to answer the question about a 5 dex move, jeremy o'wheel has footed sailing ss mofly on camera, and says he hit it off camera, and vasek has hit sailing ss flurry in front of ales z who said it was clean. I bet willie will hit one within a year if he tries hard.

[SandWraith]

wasn't there a thread about this not too long ago (less than a year, I'd venture) where no one had hit a 5-dex yet? I believe you, but I woulda thought that thing would have been big news.

[mc]

Well, to answer your question, I don't remember. I know Jeremy was keeping his big move under wraps, and I know Vasek doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks, so I could see how it would slip by without a lot of fanfare. I think people want video with a high frame rate and multiple camera angles and slow-motion for verification on any 5 dex move. Until we get that (or Ken S's word of approval), I don't think there's going to be widespread community response.

I did end up having an after-work session. I was feeling weak and tired. I need to start eating a heartier breakfast if I want to have these sessions after being out in the sun working all day. Today, I reclaimed our driveway from the giant bush that has been working it's way outward for the past few years. The space that it had claimed is surprisingly big. I also cut the grass on some bits of the zoo.

Anway, back to the session. I hit ripwalk > vortex BSOS, pixie whirl > blur > repeat > string, miraging flail BSOS (sweet move!), and some other lame shizz. by the way, yesterday, I hit blur > phoenix repeat, I forgot to mention that. The surface I play on is covered with tiny bits of rock, and they have chewed a bunch of holes in #29, but only on the orange panels. maybe I will not order that color again.

I'm hoping that all this solo playing through tiredness and heat will condition me to be able to play longer in a cooler circle situation, which I hope I'll find in Portland. I just want to play decent and hit some phat moves and represent myself okay... so that will mean light partying.

Can't wait for portland!

I have a footbag to make... Thanks, noah zilberberg!

[hackeysnacker]

Jake and I = twins who may or may not still play - I stopped playing shortly after meeting you

[Jdigges]

Seeing him hit pixie mofly swirl first try was incredible.

Wait-- a five dex move has been hit??

i bet willie could hit that with some work.

[mc]

portland approacheth...

had a fun session today. Stuffed my hair up into my hat, which helped me keep a little cooler, although i would still pour sweat whenever I stopped moving... which reminds me, I should drink some gatorade.

now drinking gatorade...

some session stuff... gyro cloud stall> tootsie roll osis BS, gyro sole stall > same osis BS, midstring janiwalker BSOS, lots of vortex BSOS, whirl> mobius BSOS

so, this and that, I only played for about an hour. I had a hard night of gigging and drinking last night, and I didn't want to completely drain myself today. But it was a fun session.

I'm looking forward to portlandDDDDD!!!!

edit: oh yeah, also hit blurry pickup > motion BSOS first try. I like working on links, it makes me feel like my game could actually be improving. Most of my strings are still BOP salad, though

[mc]

I can't believe I forgot the best part of yesterday's session! that being that I hit flip flurry for the first time! I hit it a few times. It didn't take me long when I was trying near the end of the session, but I couldn't get it all at the beginning.

What I ended up having to do was remember to relax with the barrage so I could do it controlled but loose. Mike's been telling me about loosening up for years, but I'm just starting to do it. I've always just muscled my way through moves, I'm glad I'm starting to figure this out, because footbag is so STRENUOUS for me, and I'm not even busting that big usually. Hopefully it's a move in the right direction that I'm making.

Gotta STITCH! at least gigs are coming together well. I got one at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse for monday the 14th (the day I come back from portland! Will and I will have to go straight from the airport to my gig! This is just now occurring to me) and one for the 26th, also in Syracuse.

It's nice having some good things to look forward to. Like Portland. I can't wait to see you all. This is gonna be SICK!

[mc]

Will and I had a fun session. We tried creature (miraging flail) and some variants. I hit blurry creature both sides, muted stepping, and pixie on one side each. We both had some fun strings. then we went swimming, had some dinner, and started some footbags. Now I'm packing for portland. See you guys there!

[Jdigges]

you and willie make it to portland ok? any huge delays because of what happened?

[mc]

no huge delays, we're here, we're fine, we're playing well. I'm actually getting props from good players after some of my strings. Fun!!! sold a bag or two, making another one with some facile from Zeb Jackson (thanks zeb!) and we're about to pass out. Nick Landes is amazing. Almost hit montage dragon. I bet he could do it.

Tomorrow the shit really starts. Can't wait...

[mc]

I'm at the big party at noah's house. will hit fury > phoenix > blurriest swirl with impeccable style today in competition. I made it to 2nd of 3 rounds in circle competition, beating daryl genz with a daring ass stall mid-string, and with some under-brim stalls in the next round in the middle of some shuffle. I had a good time competing; I'm really glad I made it past the first round, and was able to compete against the great Jim Penske two rounds in a row..

It's been great meeting so many people. Dylan Fry is juggling behind me. This is a great competition, and we're having an awesome time. Noah Jay-Bonn's band is rocking in the basement, and I am wearing no shirt. It's hot in here...

Drink!

[james_dean]

Sweet that sounds like a mad time Props to will that sick 3 is... well.... SICK!

[Wasabi]

... beating daryl genz with a daring ass stall mid-string, and with some under-brim stalls in the next round in the middle of some shuffle.

Yes!

[mc]

I just cracked up at the fact that I wrote "daring ass stall" in my last entry.

Portland was incredtacular. Here is the story.

Will and I went to bed kind of earlyish the night before. We both got up on time and hit the road with my dad who drove us 1 hour to the airport and then an hour home at 4:30 AM. Thanks dad.

Terrorism terrorism! that's all we heard on the radio on the way there. We thought we might run in to a load of bullshit at the airport, but the people working there were making sure they were getting everyone through as fast as possible, and they didn't give Will or I a hard time (and vice versa). So, no problems. A few transfers, all flights on time, good weather everywhere.

We hopped off the last plane and onto a train which dropped us off right in the middle of portland, practically at the shred spot. I got there, and met Scott Behmer, Jeremy Mirken, Bryan Fournier (who, I'm still pretty sure, I had not met before although he felt otherwise), Luis Monhollon, Nick Landes, Sam Potter, Stephen Barnes, Dave Morowsky, lots of awesome locals, and probably a few stylers I am forgetting. Scott gave Will and I a bagel and a banana each, and we got some energy drinks and water, and we were ready for shreddy in no time. No jet lag, no problem. Red, Jorden, Emily K, and Mike Hansen were all shredding, and even Kenny Shults stopped by! what a surprise!

We jammed for a while, and I shredded a big bloody hole in the side of my left foot. it didn't hurt at all, because it was over a life-long callous I've had on my foot from a weird protruding bone (probably contributes to my crank), so it was just a big cool bloody spot for me to have on my foot while I busted superfly barefoot on both sides. I was pretty psyched about that.

Then, we took a train across town, and Noah Jay-Bonn picked us up and took us to the event site. While waiting for Noah, I sold a footbag to Scott Behmer. He bought #33, which was super choice and shreddable.

We went to the net / freestyle competition site, and jammed more, and had pizza at this incredible pizza restaurant. I finished bag #35, which I had started on the plane, at the site. It was immediately reserved for purchase by Bryan Fournier. I sold it to him for a discount because of a mis-colored panel and a slightly overgathered final stitch. Then, it was back to Noah's house for some mild chillery and relaxation.

We woke up sometime around 10 and made it to breakfast around 11 so we could be done by 12 and get to the site by 1. I had pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a sweet beer.

I played well on Friday. I don't remember exactly what I hit, but I remember feeling like I played well each day, so I'm basing it on that. I got an awesome yellow Rock Star energy drink hat with a rubber duck on it. I met Kyle Hewitt and Zeb Jackson, who hooked up some facile so I could make a few bags during the tournament. During competition, Will hit Fury > Phoenix > Blurriest Swirl in Big Trick, which ended up winning 2nd place. We shredded and found more dinner, and made our way to a party at Chris Seibert's house. I had a blast, they had good beer on tap, and Bustin Justin represented the coach big time. Thanks, Bustin. I lost my sandals and will lost his cell phone at the party. Then we went home and I stitched the beginning of #36, and we passed out.

On Saturday, I had a repeat of the breakfast the day before, with more eggs and hash browns. We had more good shred, and I hit a sweet shuffle run with hat stalls between every dex. I met up with Nasty Nate, saw Eli Piltz (surprise!), and continued stitching bag #36, which ended up being my best bag to date, and was sold while it was halfway completed to Reilly, a new player from Seattle. he thought it was sweet. He was hitting lots of good moves for being only 1 month into the game. I hope he likes the footbag.

In Shred 30 2nd round, Daryl Genz, mr 4 panel sand footbag himself, chose a day old footbag of mine, #35, for his competition bag. I was pretty surprised and honored to see that.

We used that same bag for the first round of circle competition in my pool, and it played awesome. I made it to the 2nd round of circle competition against Penske, Genz, and James Randall. Penske and I advanced. Clavens busted so huge in competition. He totally owned it the whole way through. He totally dominated shred at this tournament.

Will and I bought lots of beer and went to Noah's house for the big party. His band played and I got trashed and posted some and had an all around mellow, relaxing time. Noah hooked it up with a sweet futon to sleep on.

Then, came the last day. We bought some breakfast at the grocery, and ran off to the site to catch the final round of circle shred.

It was EPIC. I can't wait to see the highlights video. Dave was answering everyone's big combos with similar ones of his own, plus plenty of the usual clavens awesomeness. Super huge links, busted with strength and control and great style on every run. It was nice to see him be rewarded for all his hard work in front of everyone. Congrats on your Victory, DC.

I played at the Taste of Oregon event site with Sticky Ricky, who liked my style and gave me some good tips. Jorden had a sweet routine to the song "I'm too Sexy". He had a sweet leather vest and a black rock star hot on at the beginning, and he had really fun choreography. Clavens had fewer drops, but Jorden's routine was more memorable and fun by far, so I appreciate him taking the time to put some silliness in his finals routine, even though he can be really intense, and he's one of the best players in the world. Seeing him shred this weekend was insane.

Then, back to the net site for more shred and scrounging some beautiful facile from Chris Miller, which I'm now using to make what is going to be #37, my best bag yet. The stitching is the most consistent, the gather is good, and the colors and pattern are beautiful. I can't wait for it to be finished.

More pizza, then a walk home with will. he wore his rock star hat over the top of his hood and had his medal hanging out the front as he walked around. He looked like he belonged in special ed, and we cracked up. He looked incredible, and I wish we'd taken a picture. Will Rules.

Then, I went out to a show with Luis Monhollon and Eli Piltz to hear Eli's half-brother's father play blues. He was a great singer and player, and he played a song called Sylvie that Eli had played for Luis and I before the set. We drank a few pitchers, and I ate a huge bowl of turkey chili in a giant bread bowl (some of which I saved for later). Luis and I left after about 45 minutes or an hour, and I left my sweet floppy hat there. I have to call that bar, Laurelthirst, to get it.

Hmmm... now that I think about it, that last event occurred on Saturday, not Sunday.

Will and I passed out pretty early on Sunday night, and woke up at the last minute at 4:30, missed our bus, and had to take a cab. It's a good thing we didn't wait for the next bus, because we barely made our flight as it was. Will left his hat, shoes, and medal behind. I left my sweet camera, which I hope Noah sends back soon.

Yesterday was a long day, with overpriced alcohol and terrible Beer Cheese Soup in the airport bars. during the 2nd long layover, I found a bartender who would let me borrow some scissors, after no success with at least a half dozen other people, and i cut out some panels while I drank my beer for the aforementioned #37.

My dad picked us up from the airport, and we had dinner at Dinosaur BarBQue where I later played a gig with my friends Ashley Cox and Kaleena and Kayleigh of The Scarlet Ending. They blew me away and made me want to play rock and roll. Great style, great songs, tight music. It made me sad, but then it made me inspired, and while practicing music with my friend Alex Coronado today, I was reassured about some of the music I've been writing. I just want to play more Rock and Roll.

I played at a rock bar tonight for open mic, and joined my friend on lead guitar for some sweet songs. I also played and sang Crazy by Gnarls Barkley for the first time with some downloaded lyrics. That song rules. it went over well. Fun night.

Now sleep. That's my longest post in a while...

It was great to meet you all. Luis Monhollon and Nick Landes had my favorite styles of anyone of the whole tournament. You're both amazing.

Can't wait to make some star bags. thanks mike H.

[Wasabi]

It's great to hear that you and Will had an awesome time at Portland. I can only imagine how Will looked in his Rock Star hat over his hoodie, plus medal. Gangsta!

[mc]

hahah, gangsta all the way!! he looked badass. something tells me we're going to be seeing that outfit again.

I had a work session before lunch with footbag #37. I believe I'll keep it. it's my best footbag yet, and I'm actually inclined to do something I RARELY do with footbags: name it! I want to call it Handsome, because it looks so good. I believe I described it in my last post. It definitely turned out great. 60 grams, and 60 % full.

It was the bag's first session, and I could do all my tricks with it. Even hit a few swirling drifters, a move that I've only done twice before. I also hit drifter > vortex BS, which I hope to make vortex x2 in the near future. Sam Potter suggested that repeating vortex was the best way to gain control. I'm also going to continue linking into it. came close to swirling drifter > vortex. i'll get that one soon.

Thanks for posting, waylon. I was kind of surprised that no one from the portland tournament responded to that massive post. Maybe I needed some pictures. too bad my camera is in oregon at Noah's house, with will's lavers and medal and hat.

My bags are good now, everyone should order one

[mc]

new move from just after the last post -

ripstein ending on frigid gyro toe, barefoot! I footed it going for barefoot dragonstein, and gave it about 20 more tries until I got it! sweet!