RawSko - Ray of Light (intermediate or open?)

RawSko · Post by **RawSko** » 06 Jun 2007 05:33

http://www.footbag.org/gallery/show/11579

Direct Link:
http://v.footbag.org/media/872/RawSko%2 ... 0Light.wmv

Song: "Neutral Milk Hotel"'s King of Carrot Flowers - part 1, 2 & 3

I filmed a 40 minute shred session and extracted the best strings. I was supposed to be practising for my school play, so I was couldn't have a full session. I think it's a valid snap shot of my game at this point though.

As I said, this was for a school project. I wasn't planning on posting it. I've made a bunch of videos lately (ie: this year

) that I didn't post. But, it's driving me crazy. I don't know whether to compete open or intermediate at Worlds this summer. I want to compete Open, but when I whent to compete open at Funtastiks 06 when i wasn't ready for it, I was given alot of flack. It made the tournament alot less fun and I competed terribly. At KICKASS II, I was going through alot of knee pain, so I wasn't origionaly going to compete at all. But, I slathered on the tiger balm and I was put in the Intermediate division. That was the best thing ever! I loved it. I came in first place and I had the time of my life. ...............Clearly, making the right decision for where you're going to compete is important. I'd like to compete open, but if you think I'm not ready, let me know. I've competed 3 times before (Kickass 1 & 2, and Funtastiks 06), but I've never done routines before. This sortof makes me lean (albeit, reluctantly) towards the Intermediate competition for Worlds...

Please tell me what you think.

acxel22 · Post by **acxel22** » 06 Jun 2007 10:00

A lot of progress since Kickass 2!
If you feel ready for open I think you should do it, you seem consistent and already got good variety.

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 06 Jun 2007 10:22

wow man, can't remember the last vid I saw of you, but WOW!

You have gotten GOOD!

IMO it's a tough call, one that I'm probably not in a position to make. To give you some background, I think US Open last year, your shred would have been the top echelon of intermediate. You are definitely guiltless, but the level of people in open were people who could go guiltless 20+ contacts regularly (I saw a few runs in yoru vid in the 15 contact range but I don't think you ever got to 20, granted it was a short session) with LOTS (not just a few) of 4s, 5s and 6s thrown in their runs. For the small tournaments you could probably do open no problem, but for something big like worlds, you will probably be in the top tier of intermediate. But if you want a challenge, compete in open! I think bottom line don't let that stress you too much though.

Awesome video though, look forward to seeing you at worlds. Maybe we can have a circle with all the Bens in it (you, me, skaggs, rinowski, rea etc.)

mikeanello · Post by **mikeanello** » 06 Jun 2007 13:21

You have good style and a nice collection of moves. But, in my opinion you should compete intermediate. I was under the impression that you should not compete open until you win an intermediate competion. I could be wrong, but a long time ago that was what I was told.

Keep up the good work and no matter what you should compete. It is good for your personal and footbag development and will help motivate you more than if you have no intentions of ever competing.

Peace.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 06 Jun 2007 13:27

he has won an intermediate.

dp · Post by dp » 06 Jun 2007 13:28

I would suggest thinking about what competitions you'd be doing. Do you think you could organize an open level routine? If so, do it, if not, just stick with intermediate.

mikeanello · Post by **mikeanello** » 06 Jun 2007 14:24

BenRea wrote:he has won an intermediate.

Thanks. I didn't know that. In that case, you should compete where you feel comfortable. No one knows how you feel about it more than you do.

Peace.

habitat · Post by **habitat** » 06 Jun 2007 16:09

It's the classic situation that everyone who is in the "dead zone" that lies between intermediate and open like you and myself has to face. As for me though, I've competed open twice and got last at everything, everytime. It sucked. But I got over it. (and stopped competing

)

It's just how you want to play it. Either have a pretty good/for sure chance at winning intermediate or challenge yourself and get your ass handed to you by the pros. Which in turn, should motivate you to become better. Rather than let you feel comfortable with your mediocre win.

Just my opinion. Good luck at worlds.

King Monkey · Post by **King Monkey** » 06 Jun 2007 17:20

I think if you have been pretty successful at an intermediate comp already, and are guiltless, then you should play Open, and never play Intermediate again. But i guess its a matter of self-worth or motivation, and whether you are concerned that other ppl will think you are sandbagging.

Wumbo · Post by **Wumbo** » 06 Jun 2007 18:01

you have an effortless style, cool. your set is very straight, too.

i honestly think you should go for intermediate. remember this is worlds intermediate, and dont feel too sure about winning the event with ease, instead push yourself. i think the yardstick for intermediate has raised compared to the years before. create a well planned nice routine, and have some fun. thats my advice.

david · Post by **david** » 06 Jun 2007 18:25

Your intermediate.

Pro's should be hitting like 8 fearless. And I'm not being a hardass. Pro at worlds should have like 30 people, not 60.

Put it this way, your longest run was maybe 30 contacts? That means 4 drops if you play at that difficulty the whole routine. Take into account that the top players DO play at that difficulty the whole 2:00.

Go intermediate and see what happens. I sure as hell won't discount you if you win, but your going to have a lot of people around your level against you I'm sure.

Look at it this way, you might get cut your first round in open, and then you get to do a routine in front of a crowd once. Go intermediate and you could do it twice or three times. Thats double the experience.

Easy choice.

david

markkkus · Post by **markkkus** » 06 Jun 2007 18:34

i voted for he's should go open but finally,after reading your post david, i'm with your opinion...Two or three rounds is better for experience than just one...

RawSko · Post by **RawSko** » 06 Jun 2007 18:50

I think that if I were to compete intermediate, I would train just as hard. There's no way I would look at my game right now and be like "sure to win intermediate, at least." If I thought I'd win it for sure, then there would be no question as to where I should compete. I definately do think that I would be pushing myself absolutely as hard as I could if I competed intermediate. It would be no less of a task.

I'm attending Worlds 08 for sure too, so... maybe I should save my competing Open until then?

Frig! I'm just so excited to compete Open! But, maybe it would be better if I did save it.

...I hate progressing slowly. Only thing worse than that is not progressing.

cammel · Post by **cammel** » 06 Jun 2007 19:41

Hey, great video, I was really impressed with the stepping, pixie, spinning and ducking. I agree though that you should go intermediate. Also I think you should work on throwing in some double downs and eggs/DLOs. Everything else looks great, pretty both sided.

Michu · Post by **Michu** » 07 Jun 2007 07:29

I've the same opinion like dc. It's better for you to play intermediate. Your game is great. You can gain more experiences in intermediate than open...But it's your decision.
Good luck
Michael

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 07 Jun 2007 07:49

david wrote:Your intermediate.

Pro's should be hitting like 8 fearless. And I'm not being a hardass. Pro at worlds should have like 30 people, not 60.

Put it this way, your longest run was maybe 30 contacts? That means 4 drops if you play at that difficulty the whole routine. Take into account that the top players DO play at that difficulty the whole 2:00.

Go intermediate and see what happens. I sure as hell won't discount you if you win, but your going to have a lot of people around your level against you I'm sure.

Look at it this way, you might get cut your first round in open, and then you get to do a routine in front of a crowd once. Go intermediate and you could do it twice or three times. Thats double the experience.

Easy choice.

david

This just in: I'm going to compete intermediate.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 07 Jun 2007 08:20

I think Dave's post is completely wrong. You dont have to be able to hit 8 fearless to have a good open routine.

By definition, routines have very little to do with sheer difficulty and a crapload to do with originality, choreography and showmanship. Alex Zerbe got to finals of routines (2x I believe) and his difficulty was like 1/8th of other open competitors, mostly butterflys and pdx mirages. he has a really good some, dressed up, and made the most of the tricks he could reliably throw down.

RawSko, it really depends on what you want out of your tournament experience. There is no wrong answer. Just remember, you get NOTHING for winning intermediate except people telling you, you should have gone open!

Now, I didn't even watch your video, but we sure as hell know that you'll get your ass whooped in Open. Thats okay though. If you want to test your abilities around other at your own similar level, you can go intermediate. But if you want to try to put on a show and surprise some cocky mother f-ers, go open.

Good luck.

TayChaint · Post by **TayChaint** » 07 Jun 2007 10:52

i have no idea what level you should compete in at worlds but cool video and excellent music choice

, i love neutral milk hotel!

Michu · Post by **Michu** » 07 Jun 2007 11:08

Senor Grommet wrote:I think Dave's post is completely wrong. You dont have to be able to hit 8 fearless to have a good open routine.

By definition, routines have very little to do with sheer difficulty and a crapload to do with originality, choreography and showmanship. Alex Zerbe got to finals of routines (2x I believe) and his difficulty was like 1/8th of other open competitors, mostly butterflys and pdx mirages. he has a really good some, dressed up, and made the most of the tricks he could reliably throw down.

RawSko, it really depends on what you want out of your tournament experience. There is no wrong answer. Just remember, you get NOTHING for winning intermediate except people telling you, you should have gone open!

Now, I didn't even watch your video, but we sure as hell know that you'll get your ass whooped in Open. Thats okay though. If you want to test your abilities around other at your own similar level, you can go intermediate. But if you want to try to put on a show and surprise some cocky mother f-ers, go open.

Good luck.

Well if every player would have the same opinion like you, there wouldn't be an intermediate competition. Every player could play open and try to surprise the others....

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 07 Jun 2007 11:25

Johnny wrote:
david wrote:Pro's should be hitting like 8 fearless. And I'm not being a hardass. Pro at worlds should have like 30 people, not 60.
This just in: I'm going to compete intermediate.

Yeah, no kidding, hey?
I haven't hit 8 fearless.
I voted open, but I do agree that the experience at a bigger tournament in intermediate could be really helpful. I never thought of players at this level as intermediate, though... I guess the bar has been raised since I was a youngun.

modified

RawSko - Ray of Light (intermediate or open?)

Where should I compete at Worlds?

RawSko - Ray of Light (intermediate or open?)