Fanzine

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 25 May 2008 20:01

Still haven't got US Open tix. Grr.

Went to a mall in Maryland yesterday in the hopes of copping some Starbury Cribs. They're the $15 G-Unit knock offs. I was pretty disappointed to go all that distance and not find any in my size. I tried on some other Starbury shoes, so assuming they all are sized the same way, I wear a 7, which is good to know for future reference.

Today I went to Vince's place for a barbeque which was fun. Got in a shred with Adrienne and Vince at a local playground which proved to be a ton of fun. My body felt fine throughout, and it felt wonderful to play. For some unknown reason, scorpion's tail just clicked with me today. I had hit it before, but it was never even close to consistent. Today though I was busting it out whenever I wanted to. Very pleasant surprise. I don't even feel like I started thinking about it differently...low set, fast spin, and start the dexes almost the second you begin spinning. Whatever, it worked. Adrienne was pretty tired and stopped playing early, so I enlisted her to shoot a few runs for me. Unfortunately, my best stuff from today is having trouble uploading to youtube.

With scorpion's tail a part of my arsenal, I felt I played a lot like Mulroney circa 2003. Lots of blurry whirls, smogs, pixie whirls, scorpion's tails, and even the occasional mobius. Had one run with flaming tard bsos and a toebius, but YouTube won't take it.

I a,so got my best run of the day on tape, but YouTube "fails" when it tries to process it. I liked it enough that I'm actually gonna transcribe it for you:

Flip bed-ss bfly-duck clip-stepping illusion-ss butterfly-duck clip-scorpion's tail-pdx mirage-smog-dim-mullet-dyno-infinity-pdx mirage-pixie whirl-duck clip-bl. whirl-bl. whirl-pdx torque-drop on pdx blender.

Here's one of the few runs I was able to upload to YouTube; hopefully you can get a sense of how my scorpion's tail looks and how I was playing today. Adrienne was lying down filming this, and at the end I kicked the bag in the air, and it landed on her. That's what the yelp is about.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp8CaSAjysQ[/youtube]

Gonna try and play with Age and Vince again tomorrow, and maybe bowl a bit. Hope my legs are up to it.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 26 May 2008 12:20

Bought my USO tix today! Now I need to start practicing my routine seriously again. Going dropless in comp is probably the biggest milestone left for me footbagwise.

Here's the only other clip I was able to upload from yesterday's shred.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12f-8CeaFtU[/youtube]

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 27 May 2008 09:41

Super fun day yesterday. Went out to Maryland to bowl and shred with Age, Vince, Lovell and Matt Evans. We played footbag in the parking lot in front of the bowling alley, got some Rita's (ice cream/shaved ice), and bowled a bit. After last session's success with Scorpion's tail, I just wanted to make sure I could still do them. In the past there have been times when I had one great session with a trick, and then lost it. I'm determined to not let that happen to scorpion's tail. I want to keep it, and I think I will. The biggest highlight for me (besides finding I could still ST) was hitting a new trick: toe scorpion's tail! Pretty cool. The set is just like toebius.

Here's one run from yesterday, which shows my newfound scorpion's tail ability:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNFPl32uYGc[/youtube]

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 27 May 2008 20:28

Playing footbag on asphalt two days in a row left my legs trashed. Forced myself to play tonight though, since I have plans for tomorrow night and didn't want to put off routine practice for that long. Yes, now that I've bought my USO tickets I'm back to skooling routines. I figure I should have at least 2 routine-only sessions a week until USO, and do a little routine practice at the end of my "normal" sessions. I'm going to use the same routine I did at Savvy, but with a few small changes to up the variety. I'm a bit torn about how I will approach USO. On one hand, I feel like I shouldn't compete in anything other than routines, since that would give me my best chance at dropless. On the other hand, I'm not going to Worlds, so I want to compete in as much as I can. We'll see how my conditioning is as the dates draw closer.

So tonight I did my first routine run-throughs since Shred for Savvy. I was pleasantly surprised to do a 1-drop on my first try, and I think I hit one or two more 1-droppers during the session. I had one dropless, which felt great. I think my goal will be to have at least one dropless per session.

Not much regular shred tonight. In fact, I think I only got one run on tape which was even close to being a highlight. Still, I like keeping the string of youtube posts going, so here you are:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gejlRtuQtuc[/youtube]

As I uploaded that shred to YouTube I realized that I forgot to shoot a Stephen Barnes run tonight. I forgive myself though, since it was really a routine night. Still, I'll try not to forget next time.

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 28 May 2008 04:41

I think you should hit 2 dropless routines per session (at least on the sessions where you're mostly focusing on routines). You're totally good and consistent enough to do that, and I think it would really more than double your chances of going dropless during the real thing. (that is, double the amount of dropless routines per session, in my opinion, improves your chances by more than double).

In fact, I think you're solid enough to make your goal to get 2 of your first 5 routine runs dropless. Then as you get closer, add pressure by making it 2 of first 4, 2 of first 3 etc.

This is all meant to be a compliment and a challenge at the same time, hope it sounds that way

sen · Post by **sen** » 28 May 2008 06:15

I love reading your blog when you are getting ready for a tournament. You focus really inspires Me to train harder. I also think that 2 dropless is an acheivable goal for each session.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 01 Jun 2008 07:01

Thanks for the votes of confidence Bob and Tony. In my last few sessions before Shred for Savvy I was getting 3 dropless a session pretty easily. I think as things progress my goal will be to limit how many routine chances I have per session, and try to fill my dropless quota in fewer tries.

My legs haven't been feeling too good lately. I think that one long session I had when school ended, followed by the 2 sessions on asphalt gave me shin splints. I can still play, and my legs don't hurt, but I don't feel like I have the kind of spring that I do when my legs are healthy. USO is soon enough that I don't really want to take time off, so I'm hoping that they'll heal if I make my sessions shorter and cut back on shuffle.

Had a shred a few days ago with Vince at a local park. It was fun playing outside and in front of the public, but it was super humid. When it got dark we came back to my place and played a little more. I only did one run-through of my routine, but it went really well. I only had one drop, and it was on the final trick.

Vince asked me if I could do "wisconsin butterflies," which are just butterfliers but using xbdy toe instead of flying clippers. This is a trick I learned at the airport on the way back from Worlds, and hadn't played around with since. I only shot a few runs all session, and this one is my favorite:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6O3D7pFMwA[/youtube]

The first trick is phoenix flyer, but using only toes. I also hit cloud kick bsos in the string, which I hadn't done in a long time.

A funny thing happened to me yesterday. I went to a Smithsonian museum, and as I was walking around looking at the exhibits, I started air-shredding (doing tricks without a bag). Something about museums always makes me want to play... the hardwood floors, the good lighting, etc. Anyway, after air-shredding from one painting to another, some guy walks up to me and asks: "excuse me, but is your name Ken?"

I tell him "yes," and the confused look on my face prompts him to explain: "I'm Mike Strumpf."

Whoa! Apparently Mike and his friend Hugo were in the same room, and when Hugo saw me air-shredding he told Mike: "that guy's playing footbag," and Mike answered: "I know that guy."

Anyway, we caught up a bit and got some milkshakes, and I learned that Mike doesn't play footbag anymore, but is having fun doing Barista competitions. I just thought it was really funny that my air-shredding in public ever yielded anything more than embarassment. Small world.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 03 Jun 2008 05:23

Played last night and the night before too. My legs feel close to a 100%, and my stamina also seems to have returned. I started both sessions thinking I'd just freestyle for fun, and I mostly did, but I also got in some routine practice at the end of each session. On the first day I did a total of 4 routines. My first try I upped the pressure by filming it as my Stephen Barnes one drop, and it went well. My second run through I had a few really stupid drops on easy tricks. I got my focus together though, and went dropless for my last two run-throughs.

My routines on my second day weren't as good. During one early run-through, I felt a mosquito land on my neck, so I had to cut that one off in the middle, and it kinda threw my concentration off for the next one. I still managed to get 1 one-drop (on the last trick!

) and to finish with 2 dropless in a row at the end of the session. All told it took me around 5 tries, depending on how you counted the 2 times I stopped mid-routine. Still, I'm pretty pleased with my consistency. My goal from now on will be to get 2 dropless in 4 tries.

Freestyle-wise I've been on a bit of a butterfly swirl kick lately. Particularly stuff like GDLOs to butterfly swirls, or fog-butterfly swirl.

Here's my favorite run from 2 days ago:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hSyfts09fo&NR=1&fmt=18[/youtube]

I missed the nuke set entirely, if that wasn't clear. "Fakie matador!"

Post by **Zac Miley** » 03 Jun 2008 08:28

C-Fan wrote:
I missed the nuke set entirely, if that wasn't clear. "Fakie matador!"

We were trying the matadors at NYJ.

I challenge you!!! You have to do it with a the butterfly too.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 03 Jun 2008 20:16

I remember back in the day Jon Schneider used to do "fakie blurriers" where he would miss all 3 dexes on purpose. I also remember hearing about Jorden doing "the-ber man" where you miss every dex in rubberman. Harder than you'd think.

No footbag tonight, since I went to an ice cream social with the new kids in my dorm. They seem like a nice bunch.

I made a comment on a video today where I gave a guy props on his game, and said the camerawork in his video was terrible (it turns out that watching a video directly off footbag.org crops it, something that I didn't know). I was amazed at the firestorm it kicked up, with people insulting my game. You would have thought that I insulted the guy personally or something. I think its strange and unhealthy that people on modified are afraid to make honest posts, even when they are respectful. If I am hitting a trick "the," it doesn't help me to get props on it; it helps me for somebody to point it out. Same goes for really bad filming, etc. I think that as long as the comment is made with good intentions, people shouldn't be afraid to make them. It's a bit like the emperor's clothes problem.

The reactions also reminded me how fragile people's egos can be, myself included. I turned down BAP very politely, and for very good reasons (I don't play footbag because I want other people's validation; I play because I have fun and I love footbag), but some people were really offended by it. Seeing Munger's reaction tonight reminded me how politically and socially hard it was to turn down BAP, and made me feel proud for standing up for my ideals back then.

Munger's comments also had the unintended effect of making me feel really good about myself too, since it made me reflect on what I've done in footbag over the last 5 years. I'm not going to go into detail, but I feel really good about where I am in footbag now, and my "career" to date as a promoter and player. I still have some goals I want to achieve but if I had to retire today, I could do so with no regrets, and a lot of pride. I think that's pretty cool.

Since pictures are worth more than words, I'll end with why I play footbag:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=mg6_p4PrSXk&fmt=18[/youtube]

Post by **Zac Miley** » 03 Jun 2008 20:21

There is no way you're the worst thing for footbag ever. In fact, you're probably one of the best. While I don't agree with your statement about the camerawork, I do commend you on not losing your cool, and still feeling good about yourself.

Another commending on spelling 'separate' correctly.

I would love to see the-ber man.

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 04 Jun 2008 05:28

I'm not going to defend you/prop you up, because I know you're smart enough and confident enough to realize that Paul M's post was total bull shit and doesn't even deserve another thought. Well ok, here's some propping up: your game HAS improved, your competition results HAVE shown that, you contribute to the community by way of good write ups of events/personal thoughts/tips/videos, your work overseas is huge and underappreciated, and many would consider you among the nicest players in the game. Ok, before you go getting a big head, I can still kick your ass in basketball. So there.

I can relate a little bit though. People, for some reason, want to take my typed words with a much different tone/intent than if I said those same words out loud. At work I mean. Well, at work at my current crappy company anyways (never was an issue before this position). As an example, yesterday I received an accusatory email about some dumb ass mistake my team had made, and they demanded an explanation. Turns out, the issue wasn't even in my team's area. So I literally responded "I don't know, this is from the XYZ group, I've copied that group. Thanks". And a firestorm started up that I was being terse and condescending etc. Ha ha ha.

My point is, certain people (forum, jobs, anywhere) just can't see past the black and white nature of typed thoughts. So don't sweat it (though I know you're not sweating it anyways).

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 04 Jun 2008 19:49

Got in a spontaneous session with Vince tonight. It was pouring rain out, and my left knee felt a bit funny as a result of the drop in pressure. I have old man joints. I didn't play very well, but it was fun to get in a 2 man shred. Towards the end I did 4 routine run-throughs, which went well. Dropless, 1 drop, 1 drop, dropless. I'm feeling very confident with my routine ability lately. I really hope to go dropless in comp at some point this summer.

Here's a run from my last session:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=EfO5VuWyoxc&fmt=18[/youtube]

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 05 Jun 2008 08:39

Styley links as usual. That's one of the things footbag should be all about in my opinion.

You have a very strong character and it shows by standing by your ideals. That is very admirable Ken.

and I've always wondered where it is that you shred.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 09 Jun 2008 15:52

Thanks Kevin. The room in most of my youtube videos is a lounge in my dorm. Nobody ever uses it except for me. I love it. It's well-lit, heated in winter, ACed in summer, carpeted, near bathrooms, etc. I'll miss it when I move out in 6 weeks. It served me well though; if I go dropless this summer that room deserves a lot of credit.

I went to NYC this weekend, which was super fun. I can't recall the last time I was there, but it may have been as long as a year ago. Whatever the case, it had been much too long. I bused there RT for $40 which was a good deal, and not too much of a hassle. It was sweltering out on Saturday, and beyond the heat and humidity, the air just felt like it was filled with crap. I was so excited to be playing on home turf though, that I adrenaline got me through the worst of it. I'll blog the weekend properly later, but for now I'll just post one of my better combos from Saturday:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=21CyAxbEjFk&fmt=18[/youtube]

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 10 Jun 2008 15:15

C-Fan wrote: The room in most of my youtube videos is a lounge in my dorm. Nobody ever uses it except for me.

Why did I write that? I totally jinxed myself. Last night I went to go practice my routine, and there was a student studying there. I warmed up and did 2 routines, but I couldn't play music during the warmup and I felt obliged to make conversation throughout. Ugh. I only did 2 routines because I was pressed for time and didn't like the setup of the session. First run through was bad, mostly because I was self-conscious about showing my routine to an audience of one who had never seen footbag, but my second run-through was dropless. So I'm still at 50% success, which is my current training goal.

Age leaves tomorrow to California for like 6 weeks, so I set up a session tonight. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that there's a class that start at the same time as the session in that room. Fuuuuuuuh.

Maybe we'll play outside then, if it cools off some. It's been brutally hot lately.

Here's another run from my NYC shred on Saturday. Waylon filmed it, and thought Barrett was in the way of the camera, so he yelled: "Barrett, move your ass!" Which resulted in the following:
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=bJpG4oRNdEM&fmt=18[/youtube]

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 11 Jun 2008 19:18

First post in a while without a YouTube link. YouTube rejected a couple of my vids from NYC (including my 1-shot), and my last session was in a cramped, dark room so we didn't shoot much.

Last night Age and Vince came over for a farewell session for Age. I felt kinda bad, because the room we always play in was being used, and we were relegated to a cramped, darker room. I had trouble playing well, but at the end I hit a dropless routine, and a 1 drop? Whatever, i did 2 run-throughs and got one dropless. I feel like if I had to compete tomorrow I'd be in good shape. In fact, it's a bit annoying to me that I have a full month before I get to compete. The way things are looking now, I will only compete at USO and the NYFA jam for sure. Is Funtastiks even happening this year? It's looking increasingly doubtful that I can make it to Flash's jam, which is a shame, but family comes first.

I took tonight off from footbag, but I plan on having real sessions tomorrow and the day after. My last session I was coming real close to mantis, so hopefully I can hit that next time. That's a move that I never thought I'd hit... it'd be cool to hit it after 10 years of playing.

colefieldhouse22 · Post by **colefieldhouse22** » 11 Jun 2008 20:31

I am going to miss you mucho! *hug*

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 13 Jun 2008 06:27

First real session in a while. I got to play in the nice big room Iâ€™m used to, and it was a good homecoming. My legs felt spry, so I decided to just have fun with shred, and then close out the session with routines. Shred went great. My previous session I was coming really close to mantis, so I expected Iâ€™d hit it this time. Sure enough, I did! Got it a lot easier and faster than I expected too. I also had fun with toe-spins. I was close to getting toe gyro and toe ingyro mirage all bsos, but I kept missing 1 of the 4. I did manage two good toe-spinning highlights though: spinning pdlo-toebius, and this:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=1IgT1_uL-t4&fmt=18[/youtube]

At the end of the session I worked on routines, and struggled. My first run-through was just bad; something like 4 drops. My next try had one early drop, and the rest was good. Third try: dropless. 4th try, the bags collided during my juggle section! Dâ€™oh! So I missed my target of 2 dropless in 4 tries. 5th attempt: droplessâ€¦until the final trick! Damn it! 6th try: dropless. I wasnâ€™t content to finish 2/6 though, so I did another routine and went dropless. So I finished the night with 3/7 dropless, including 2 single-drops. Iâ€™ll just chalk it up to an off-day for routines, which is acceptable. I also know that when I do my real routine, I wonâ€™t shred for an hour before it, and I should also have some adrenaline helping me out.
Overall I was really stoked on the session. I hit a cool new move, hit a stylish and hard new link, and put in some good work on routines.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 13 Jun 2008 06:51

First real session in a while. I got to play in the nice big room Iâ€™m used to, and it was a good homecoming. My legs felt spry, so I decided to just have fun with shred, and then close out the session with routines. Shred went great. My previous session I was coming really close to mantis, so I expected Iâ€™d hit it this time. Sure enough, I did! Got it a lot easier and faster than I expected too. I also had fun with toe-spins. I was close to getting toe gyro and toe ingyro mirage all bsos, but I kept missing 1 of the 4. I did manage two good toe-spinning highlights though: spinning pdlo-toebius, and this:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=1IgT1_uL-t4&fmt=18[/youtube]

At the end of the session I worked on routines, and struggled. My first run-through was just bad; something like 4 drops. My next try had one early drop, and the rest was good. Third try: dropless. 4th try, the bags collided during my juggle section! Dâ€™oh! So I missed my target of 2 dropless in 4 tries. 5th attempt: droplessâ€¦until the final trick! Damn it! 6th try: dropless. I wasnâ€™t content to finish 2/6 though, so I did another routine and went dropless. So I finished the night with 3/7 dropless, including 2 single-drops. Iâ€™ll just chalk it up to an off-day for routines, which is acceptable. I also know that when I do my real routine, I wonâ€™t shred for an hour before it, and I should also have some adrenaline helping me out.
Overall I was really stoked on the session. I hit a cool new move, hit a stylish and hard new link, and put in some good work on routines.