Nate, thanks for the PM. It really clicked with me.
I shredded today in the barn. It was so fun. I basically would pick a concept that I wanted to incorporate into the run, and then somehow during the run get to it. Or I'd start the run with it. Fun.
west of philly - bob
I was digging in my blog for a post I wrote in 2005, and on the same page I found a post where I thanked people who influenced me in footbag in my early years. I wrote this on Feb 17th 2005, and I'm not sure if you even saw it:
Bob Riefer When I got into footbag, the West Coast was easily the dominant footbag scene. Ryan Mulroney, Ahren Gehrman, Peter Irish, Tuan Vu and lots of other BAP players lived in California, and it seemed like everybody else who was REALLY good lived in Colorado. The dream was to move to the West Coast where the shred was. Josh`s tournament was a step in the right direction, but for several years the tournament scene on the East Coast pretty much only consisted of Funtastiks.
Bob was largely responsible for helping the East Coast flourish and develop into a legit footbag area, by hosting big, professional footbag events. The 2nd Philly Open was the first tournament where I won an Open event, and to this day I still use the wallet that I won as one of the prizes. That weekend I won routines (I had a 1 drop routine the first day, something I still haven`t topped! Shocked Embarassed ), as well as the phat combo contest. That was one of the very first phat combo contests ever, and was run by Dan Kramer, who also deserves props as the originator and inventor of that event. I walked away from the tournament with $225, 2 t-shirts, a Vans wallet, and the pride of having won my first Open tournament. Even then I was aware of how much hard work and money Bob put into running the tournament, and after winning, I offered to give him back a good chunk of the prize money to help him cover costs. He refused, even though he went in the hole on the tournament, just on the principle that the competitors should keep the money they won. This was probably the first time that I became aware that in order for our small sport to really flourish and spread, it is our responsibilty to make sacrifices and run tournaments. Give away free footbags. Hold tournaments. Do it even if you lose money. Do it even if nobody thanks you. Do it for the sake of the sport. Big biiiig props to Bob Riefer.
Bob Riefer When I got into footbag, the West Coast was easily the dominant footbag scene. Ryan Mulroney, Ahren Gehrman, Peter Irish, Tuan Vu and lots of other BAP players lived in California, and it seemed like everybody else who was REALLY good lived in Colorado. The dream was to move to the West Coast where the shred was. Josh`s tournament was a step in the right direction, but for several years the tournament scene on the East Coast pretty much only consisted of Funtastiks.
Bob was largely responsible for helping the East Coast flourish and develop into a legit footbag area, by hosting big, professional footbag events. The 2nd Philly Open was the first tournament where I won an Open event, and to this day I still use the wallet that I won as one of the prizes. That weekend I won routines (I had a 1 drop routine the first day, something I still haven`t topped! Shocked Embarassed ), as well as the phat combo contest. That was one of the very first phat combo contests ever, and was run by Dan Kramer, who also deserves props as the originator and inventor of that event. I walked away from the tournament with $225, 2 t-shirts, a Vans wallet, and the pride of having won my first Open tournament. Even then I was aware of how much hard work and money Bob put into running the tournament, and after winning, I offered to give him back a good chunk of the prize money to help him cover costs. He refused, even though he went in the hole on the tournament, just on the principle that the competitors should keep the money they won. This was probably the first time that I became aware that in order for our small sport to really flourish and spread, it is our responsibilty to make sacrifices and run tournaments. Give away free footbags. Hold tournaments. Do it even if you lose money. Do it even if nobody thanks you. Do it for the sake of the sport. Big biiiig props to Bob Riefer.
It's been a good week for the footbag community for me. First Nate sends me a really great PM out of nowhere. And now Ken posts that really nice recap of a previous post that he had. Thanks guys! 
I can barely wait to get home from work to shred. I haven't felt that way, at least not this strongly, in a long time. I mean, I've been looking forward to playing, but not like this. This is like that "I must shadow tricks in the supermarket" type of irrepressible (sp?) energy. And it's because I'm going to shred and incorporate practice components rather than just drill. And it's because I think all that drilling for the past bunch of months, makes this approach possible now whereas in the past there were too many holes in my game to make this approach good for my game. I'll shred today, tomorrow, and then Thursday with Brian. Saturday I'll drill. Sunday back to shredding. Repeat. Bsos.
Btw, I've become a little bit of a bsos player. That's definitely one of my least favorite styles due to its predictability, but it's a necessary evil right now as I improve certain things (certain things = just about everything ha ha). The only thing that's good is that I generally separate the bsos and don't hold myself to hitting repeat combos, just hitting both sides of a trick in any order is fine.
I'm also a little hyper because the recruiter that got me linked with Sungard (her firm ONLY recruits for Sungard so she's basically an extension of their HR dept) called me over lunch and said she thinks my interview on Thursday is basically a "go / no-go" interview. The other candidates' files are listed as "on hold" in the HR database, while mine is "actively interviewing", and she says Sungard's history is not to bother the EVP level (who I'm interviewing with) with any candidates besides the one that the hiring manager wants to hire. So pumped.
I can barely wait to get home from work to shred. I haven't felt that way, at least not this strongly, in a long time. I mean, I've been looking forward to playing, but not like this. This is like that "I must shadow tricks in the supermarket" type of irrepressible (sp?) energy. And it's because I'm going to shred and incorporate practice components rather than just drill. And it's because I think all that drilling for the past bunch of months, makes this approach possible now whereas in the past there were too many holes in my game to make this approach good for my game. I'll shred today, tomorrow, and then Thursday with Brian. Saturday I'll drill. Sunday back to shredding. Repeat. Bsos.
Btw, I've become a little bit of a bsos player. That's definitely one of my least favorite styles due to its predictability, but it's a necessary evil right now as I improve certain things (certain things = just about everything ha ha). The only thing that's good is that I generally separate the bsos and don't hold myself to hitting repeat combos, just hitting both sides of a trick in any order is fine.
I'm also a little hyper because the recruiter that got me linked with Sungard (her firm ONLY recruits for Sungard so she's basically an extension of their HR dept) called me over lunch and said she thinks my interview on Thursday is basically a "go / no-go" interview. The other candidates' files are listed as "on hold" in the HR database, while mine is "actively interviewing", and she says Sungard's history is not to bother the EVP level (who I'm interviewing with) with any candidates besides the one that the hiring manager wants to hire. So pumped.
Bob R.
Pretty fun shred last night. Shredding solo is much more tiring than drilling solo. Basically, like I said before, I start out a run with nothing more planned than trying to incorporate a certain move or concept, and let the rest just happen naturally. My runs are currently pretty short for the most part (average of 6-7 tricks probably) so when I drop, I pick right back up and try that last part again and continue from there.
Good things:
- I can blur on both sides now (could barely do strong side before, and could never do weakside) and I usually don't miss.
- I can ripwalk with good pop on bs now (previously, was a little bit of a jaywalk on weakside)
- I can weakside pixie in runs and out of tricks harder than pdx mirage (though I usually am doing pdx mirage first because it's a little shaky still)
- I can hit double switchover on my strong side now. That's harder than paradon in my opinion, so I was happy about that. Gives me one more way to get to a toe.
- I learned that the toe curl is important on pixie set. Boy, what a difference.
- I can hit either drifter in a run.
Things that need work still:
- atomic in a run is shaky as hell, maybe only 40-50% success rate (vs. 90% success rate to start a run). And that's the strong side. Weakside needs some drills on saturday.
- weak DLO is only a run starter right now.
- weak smear is only a run starter right now.
- whirl continues to be the drunk cousin that embarasses me at weddings.
- The set on my spins drifts in unpredictable directions still. Simple stuff is hittable anyways, but that needs more drills.
- Paradon on both sides is so effing close to being as easy as a butterfly, but I miss more than I hit. One tiny breakthrough is yet to come, but I think it's possibly as near as this weekend that it will happen.
- weakside dive is still cumbersome. Other ducks and dives are solid. Can start to layer butterfly or mirages or legovers back onto those components.
edit: and of course, the main weakness is length of runs. As you can see from the long list of weaknesses, the run length is to be expected. But shredding is better for balance and thinking on your feet than drills, so I expect length to increase naturally. Initial goal is to be able to consistently rip 15 tricks with at least 50% non-bop.
Will shred again tonight.
Good things:
- I can blur on both sides now (could barely do strong side before, and could never do weakside) and I usually don't miss.
- I can ripwalk with good pop on bs now (previously, was a little bit of a jaywalk on weakside)
- I can weakside pixie in runs and out of tricks harder than pdx mirage (though I usually am doing pdx mirage first because it's a little shaky still)
- I can hit double switchover on my strong side now. That's harder than paradon in my opinion, so I was happy about that. Gives me one more way to get to a toe.
- I learned that the toe curl is important on pixie set. Boy, what a difference.
- I can hit either drifter in a run.
Things that need work still:
- atomic in a run is shaky as hell, maybe only 40-50% success rate (vs. 90% success rate to start a run). And that's the strong side. Weakside needs some drills on saturday.
- weak DLO is only a run starter right now.
- weak smear is only a run starter right now.
- whirl continues to be the drunk cousin that embarasses me at weddings.
- The set on my spins drifts in unpredictable directions still. Simple stuff is hittable anyways, but that needs more drills.
- Paradon on both sides is so effing close to being as easy as a butterfly, but I miss more than I hit. One tiny breakthrough is yet to come, but I think it's possibly as near as this weekend that it will happen.
- weakside dive is still cumbersome. Other ducks and dives are solid. Can start to layer butterfly or mirages or legovers back onto those components.
edit: and of course, the main weakness is length of runs. As you can see from the long list of weaknesses, the run length is to be expected. But shredding is better for balance and thinking on your feet than drills, so I expect length to increase naturally. Initial goal is to be able to consistently rip 15 tricks with at least 50% non-bop.
Will shred again tonight.
Bob R.
This is probably old news, but someone at work sent it to me. This squirrel is better at footbag than I am:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5vNuOS9xebY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5vNuOS9xebY
Bob R.
Shredded last night in the barn. Similar strengths and weaknesses as the previous practice. Annoyingly (if that's a word), I was continually missing weakside pdx mirage when setting up for pixie or atomic or even paradon. I kept telling myself that quote that I read recently from Clavens ("dex fast, catch slow, don't worry about the next trick until you hit this one") but was still missing. I chalked it up to worry about the interview tomorrow.
The next few weeks will be interesting.. I'll either have a new job or not. Which will most likely mean that I'll either have a new barn or not. I'll either start having breakthroughs on string length or not.
Gonna take Keegan to the pool tonight. This is my first time in the pool since I've been thin again. Not that anyone is looking at a dad with a kid, but I still felt terribly self conscious when I went in the past.
The next few weeks will be interesting.. I'll either have a new job or not. Which will most likely mean that I'll either have a new barn or not. I'll either start having breakthroughs on string length or not.
Gonna take Keegan to the pool tonight. This is my first time in the pool since I've been thin again. Not that anyone is looking at a dad with a kid, but I still felt terribly self conscious when I went in the past.
Bob R.
So, the Sungard thing has taken an interesting turn. They had to move my interview from today until tomorrow because the EVP that I'm interviewing for is being promoted to CMO and is in all day meetings about that today.
Since I'm taking time off from work for the interview, this caused me some grief (it's a little fishy to change your story about why I need time off the same week that I'm taking the time off.. i.e. it could possibly raise some eyebrows around here). But this grief allowed me to have another conversation with the hiring manager. Basically the topic was: how much of a contender am I for this position? Becuase, I can't risk the job I have for the job I want unless chances are pretty good I'll get that job.
Interestingly, she said she still has two candidates (me and one other) in mind. She said we're totally oposites and she's trying to determine which type she wants. She labeled him as a worker bee, head's down, analytical type, not that personable. She said I was more of the 'star personality' in that I can plug into lots of situations in terms of skills sets and in terms of my ability to communicate with people. Seems like that'd be a good thing right? Well... she said she was worried I wouldn't want to be a doer (she's right, but I won't tell her that right now) and that I'd be networking for my career and would get bored (again, she's basically right, that's my plan.. but I won't tell her that either). Whereas the other guy wouldn't bring as much to the table, but he'd be Steady Eddy that she wouldn't have to worry about getting promoted etc.
So I of course double talked and said things like: “I’ve always found that I learn the most and am best prepared to make decisions and improvements when I have the chance to really get involved at the ground level, to see the nuances up close and personal. It sounds to me like the projects that are coming up with our team are the type where I’ll have to roll up my sleeves and crank through a high volume of information. I can’t wait to get started.â€
Since I'm taking time off from work for the interview, this caused me some grief (it's a little fishy to change your story about why I need time off the same week that I'm taking the time off.. i.e. it could possibly raise some eyebrows around here). But this grief allowed me to have another conversation with the hiring manager. Basically the topic was: how much of a contender am I for this position? Becuase, I can't risk the job I have for the job I want unless chances are pretty good I'll get that job.
Interestingly, she said she still has two candidates (me and one other) in mind. She said we're totally oposites and she's trying to determine which type she wants. She labeled him as a worker bee, head's down, analytical type, not that personable. She said I was more of the 'star personality' in that I can plug into lots of situations in terms of skills sets and in terms of my ability to communicate with people. Seems like that'd be a good thing right? Well... she said she was worried I wouldn't want to be a doer (she's right, but I won't tell her that right now) and that I'd be networking for my career and would get bored (again, she's basically right, that's my plan.. but I won't tell her that either). Whereas the other guy wouldn't bring as much to the table, but he'd be Steady Eddy that she wouldn't have to worry about getting promoted etc.
So I of course double talked and said things like: “I’ve always found that I learn the most and am best prepared to make decisions and improvements when I have the chance to really get involved at the ground level, to see the nuances up close and personal. It sounds to me like the projects that are coming up with our team are the type where I’ll have to roll up my sleeves and crank through a high volume of information. I can’t wait to get started.â€
Bob R.
-
Frank_Sinatra
- Avenging Disco Godfather
- Posts: 1660
- Joined: 09 Jan 2007 12:43
- Location: Chicago, IL
Bob, I hate to tell you this. But after our candid phone conversation today I just feel guilty. I am your hiring manager... Frank_Sinatra is a sham... this modified account was just an elaborate ploy to assess your character and skills.
I'm sorry. And now, with this admission, I must leave modified for good... I wish
I'm sorry. And now, with this admission, I must leave modified for good... I wish
ha ha, thanks for your time during our interview! 
Interview went really well. She told me I'd have an answer by end of this week, but she made several comments that made me think she was leaning towards me. That could just be a setup to be even more disappointed, but I'll just remain hopeful.
edit: Also, I found out the guy I interviewed with (who was just promoted to CMO) is 37. And my immediate boss is 32. I didn't ask, she dropped both pieces of info on her own. Holy crap. That's super young for both of them to be where they are. And it makes me want to be there even more >> they should create a vacuum effect that I can draft behind for years.
Going to drill in the barn later. Shred tomorrow.
Interview went really well. She told me I'd have an answer by end of this week, but she made several comments that made me think she was leaning towards me. That could just be a setup to be even more disappointed, but I'll just remain hopeful.
edit: Also, I found out the guy I interviewed with (who was just promoted to CMO) is 37. And my immediate boss is 32. I didn't ask, she dropped both pieces of info on her own. Holy crap. That's super young for both of them to be where they are. And it makes me want to be there even more >> they should create a vacuum effect that I can draft behind for years.
Going to drill in the barn later. Shred tomorrow.
Bob R.
Nice, drills went well. I wrote down everything I do. And I spent "two sits" on each one. A "sit" being: when I'm drilling something, eventually I get tired enough that I need to sit. That's one "sit". It worked nicely and allowed me to get through the full list, which is a pretty long list. Took me an hour. I think I'll do it again tomorrow, and then shred during the week. I think that will work, because when a drill was going well, I'd turn it into a shred string, so I got a little of both. Shred helps drills, and drills helps shred is what I felt like today.
Bob R.
Tired shred. First attempt at uploading vid. I don't have speakers on this computer, so I don't even know if audio worked (if it didn't, sorry). This is a tired practice. I miss lots of weakside pdx mirages. Nothing special, but I guess it's time to start getting pointers. So, please comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7kw3x4mp4c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7kw3x4mp4c
Bob R.
Cool. I hope more vids come in the future.
The 2 things I noticed the most were your hands and head. I think you are expending energy on your arms and hands that you don't need to. Consciously relaxing the hands may help you out. I also noticed that you kind of hunch over the bag with your head. While you want to keep your weight forward, your head shouldn't be that far forward. Watch Ales play, and take note of how straight his back and neck are when he plays. Emulate that.
Final thought: your flip pixie will improve when you mentally separate tricks as "set, plant, next component." Stuff like dimwalk and plo, it looks like you are starting the next component before the pixie is done. Don't do this.
The 2 things I noticed the most were your hands and head. I think you are expending energy on your arms and hands that you don't need to. Consciously relaxing the hands may help you out. I also noticed that you kind of hunch over the bag with your head. While you want to keep your weight forward, your head shouldn't be that far forward. Watch Ales play, and take note of how straight his back and neck are when he plays. Emulate that.
Final thought: your flip pixie will improve when you mentally separate tricks as "set, plant, next component." Stuff like dimwalk and plo, it looks like you are starting the next component before the pixie is done. Don't do this.
Kljopa wrote:
Ken wrote (I'm paraphrasing):
Thanks for the comments guys!
edit: And thanks Matt and Ben for comments in the youtube area. I think Kljopa is right afterall.. I'll let myself guilt until my game is back where it should be. Plus, maybe everyone can tell me some tips on 2 adds that will help me with other stuff. Will try to put something up after Thursday night's session (because Monday and Tuesday practices are so tired still from playing 4 days in a row, but Thursday has energy)
I actually don't except when extremely tired or really out of balance. But, I was extremely tired and hungover (aka out of balance) this particular day.You tend to plant on infinites
You may be right, let's re-judge when I post something that's more representative of my skill than this first vid. I was sooooo tired. I should have probably not posted until something a little more 'like me' was ready.i dont see why you wouldnt add 2's to your game
Ken wrote (I'm paraphrasing):
Good call, will focus on that.better posture will be good for you
Totally.. Been trying to convince my body to do that, wasn't achieving it in this session. Will try to capture better attempts later this week.your flip pixie will improve when you mentally separate tricks as "set, plant, next component."
Thanks for the comments guys!
edit: And thanks Matt and Ben for comments in the youtube area. I think Kljopa is right afterall.. I'll let myself guilt until my game is back where it should be. Plus, maybe everyone can tell me some tips on 2 adds that will help me with other stuff. Will try to put something up after Thursday night's session (because Monday and Tuesday practices are so tired still from playing 4 days in a row, but Thursday has energy)
Bob R.
Well, I think I'll mostly post when I have video updates to share. My thought process is that improvements that I can see are kind of pointless (unless I have a tip for myself that I want to remember) if I can't reproduce on command for video.
Basically, I made that short vid, and although it was a tired/off day, I can read between the lines of the comments >> basically, I suck. (I know everyone's comments were nice and constructive, it's just a blow to my confidence to realize that although once a solid guiltless player with decent string length, and despite the hardest practice I've ever done, I am now [properly] advised to ease back to a novice level)
So, I taped my last two practices and was able to get some better string length on vid. Still not great, but better. I did mix some 2 adds into some runs as suggested, while other runs were guiltless. I also captured some tiltless warm up runs. This weekend, I'll see if anything is worth posting for more feedback. Scratch that, I'll capture some vid regardless because it's pointless to show "best of" highlights if my goal is to improve - I'll let you see how crappy I am, because that's my best chance of improvement.
Thanks again for the comments, keep them coming. Though I sound 'down', I'm not. Just determined.
Basically, I made that short vid, and although it was a tired/off day, I can read between the lines of the comments >> basically, I suck. (I know everyone's comments were nice and constructive, it's just a blow to my confidence to realize that although once a solid guiltless player with decent string length, and despite the hardest practice I've ever done, I am now [properly] advised to ease back to a novice level)
So, I taped my last two practices and was able to get some better string length on vid. Still not great, but better. I did mix some 2 adds into some runs as suggested, while other runs were guiltless. I also captured some tiltless warm up runs. This weekend, I'll see if anything is worth posting for more feedback. Scratch that, I'll capture some vid regardless because it's pointless to show "best of" highlights if my goal is to improve - I'll let you see how crappy I am, because that's my best chance of improvement.
Thanks again for the comments, keep them coming. Though I sound 'down', I'm not. Just determined.
Bob R.
I've been mentally chewing on your last post all day. 2 things stick out in my head:
1. You say you aren't down on yourself, but I still think you need a more positive attitude. Don't think of yourself as sucking, or compare yourself to your old game. Instead, think of everything you are doing as bonus points and net benefit. I try not to compare myself to my old self. My strength and stamina are definitely lower. But I feel like I have a better attitude and more creativity on my side now, and that compensates for it. I also feel that with school and work, I should just be happy to play at all. It's a very slight difference in perspective, but I really want you to look at your game in a positive light, and not in an "I suck" way.
2. I was just commenting to Chris Miller the other day that it is more valuable to shoot and watch a bad session, than to shoot and watch a good session. The good session will help your confidence, but the bad session will make you learn and improve.
I hope we get a chance to play soon Bob. Any chance of you making it to Maryland on the 22nd for Age's tourney? (Shred for Savvy).
1. You say you aren't down on yourself, but I still think you need a more positive attitude. Don't think of yourself as sucking, or compare yourself to your old game. Instead, think of everything you are doing as bonus points and net benefit. I try not to compare myself to my old self. My strength and stamina are definitely lower. But I feel like I have a better attitude and more creativity on my side now, and that compensates for it. I also feel that with school and work, I should just be happy to play at all. It's a very slight difference in perspective, but I really want you to look at your game in a positive light, and not in an "I suck" way.
2. I was just commenting to Chris Miller the other day that it is more valuable to shoot and watch a bad session, than to shoot and watch a good session. The good session will help your confidence, but the bad session will make you learn and improve.
I hope we get a chance to play soon Bob. Any chance of you making it to Maryland on the 22nd for Age's tourney? (Shred for Savvy).
Hey Ken,
Thanks for the comments. Don't worry about me, I've been good and bad at lots of things, and one thing is always constant >> I don't really have an off button to stop trying to improve at something that I love to do. Although I have good and bad days mentally with this game (which comes with the territory) I'm still convinced that all the work will ultimately pay off. I don't think sucking at footbag right now is a terminal state.
No can do on Shred for Savvy (though Brian is going, so take him under your wing a little if you could).. I'm travelling the following weekend to Boston, and I only get so many weekends away from the kids granted.
Thanks for the comments. Don't worry about me, I've been good and bad at lots of things, and one thing is always constant >> I don't really have an off button to stop trying to improve at something that I love to do. Although I have good and bad days mentally with this game (which comes with the territory) I'm still convinced that all the work will ultimately pay off. I don't think sucking at footbag right now is a terminal state.
No can do on Shred for Savvy (though Brian is going, so take him under your wing a little if you could).. I'm travelling the following weekend to Boston, and I only get so many weekends away from the kids granted.
Bob R.