I am back in Canada-land, and have a bunch of, no-emotion running through my veins. Without footbag, I just, for whatever reason don't really have anything to look forward to in the day. I got back from worlds, and from waaay too many double switches, landing on my ankle really poorly from a handstand (fuck ben, ) and just over-footbag in general I figure it is probably the best solution to take as much time off, until my legs are normal, as possible to start playing again. It all started after the Germany shred, when that night I woke up to having one of THE biggest charlie-horses in my life. For the week after, I couldn't walk without the back of my thigh hurting like crazy, and then I had to play footbag in Vienna, two countries later, and it prolonged the fucked-up-ness. I had to practise my routine, but, I couldn't play, and it just was a really vicious cycle. So, knowing that I couldn't clipper, I had an unnecessarily long atomic-only session, and then I couldn't move my hips without pain because the muscles that I over-used were too tired. Great. So I got to worlds, and was really half-assing everything, until I had a shred with Matthieu, where we were really just fooling around.
At that session, I hit maybe like, 2 things that pushed me? Some harder five add links, but as I said, I really was just "PLAY"ing footbag, not doing anything impressive. I was also saving myself for routines, and that is the worst feeling ever. At worlds, all I want to do is shred, and saving is just like, footbag-blue-balls. Big tease. Anyway, so before the routine my legs were done, because Kevin taught me how to do double switches completely downtime (and Kevin, yesterday I got atomic opp double switch bs, challenge done). Well, that COMPLETELY fucking was the WORST decision ever, as my legs are still not recovered from it. The muscles in your thigh that control crank, are just weak and tired. So yeah, I sucked it up and did my routine, and then for the rest of worlds, thankfully, since there was no place to even try to play footbag comfortably, I didn't look like a wimp who didn't play footbag.
Oh, on the note of challenges, for Anssi, I got pdx whirling swirl bsos yesterday.
Oh, on the note of playing yesterday, WORST idea ever. I had been saving myself since after Prague, and then yesterday, wednesday, arrived home monday, I felt decent and had two small sessions. Well, today my ankle feels just nice and tender, and in the middle of that foot it feels like there is a hinge that isn't supposed to be there. My muscles are fine however, but, bone/joint pain is the worst, because it is so dangerous. I have to do a footbag - demo tomorrow at 2:00, and thankfully I can get away with just doing tiltless to impress the "under 14 year old" camp that I was invited to. However, as the first paragraph said, knowing that I physically can NOT improve my game after WORLDS is the biggest frustration. I start university in a week, and I feel kind of guilty that I am not even remotely excited about that, because all I can think about is what I could and should be doing with footbag.
That being said, I had a pretty good day for footbag yesterday, despite the fact that I am retarted and should never had played. How long will it take until this DAMN ANKLE recovers from ONE handstand I didn't land properly on? Note to self, don't give into Ben Roscoe's peer pressure of doing things that sound really fun, and completely harmless.
As for a worlds write-up, aside from Anssi, Kevin, Montreal-ers, Ben, Justin, Mikko and Eric Chang I couldn't care less to remember anything about it. Of course the rest of the community was great, but two years from now, worlds '08 will really only be recalled in my brain happily are the above mentioned. The entire event pretty much was a waste of thousands of dollars, which, I can't stand to forgive. Next year I am going to make it to the US open, because I can guaranteed enjoy the event, which is always a success...Never again will I go to Eastern Europe, and it would take some serious convincing to bother me to spend my time, effort and money to make it to Worlds in Europe, unless it was in Finland. Actually, since I can drive to NYJ this year which will cost, very little in comparison to a flight last year, and US open will be cheap-er, I might just take a private trip to Finland and go to one of their bigger tournaments sometime throughout the year, depending of course on University and other, financial burdens.
So yeah, Anssi Sundberg. Without a doubt, if I were to model myself after any other footbag player, it would be Anssi. Every aspect of his style I admire, his trick selection is, with the exception of a bit of Johnny and Jorden, untouched, and his consistent both sided-ness and trick execution makes me quinge. Who else can tuck their shirt in and play footbag without looking odd? His advice always makes clear sense, and his ability to be blunt or, frank about something clears the way for productivity. Apparel choice? Top-notch. Best backpack on the face of the planet, and just a styley individual overall. I can't pick apart his personality 100% however, because of the English-Finnish gap that I can tell doesn't let him express things just the way he wants it. I should learn Finnish, it would so be worth it. Some of the shit that came out of his mouth, thank god I have it all on video. "For example a cultural fact is that--", hehe. There's a reason he is at the top of this list of people. I can ALMOST say his name right, if I try. Anssi let me film him hitting random tricks and combo's just so I could study for later, and damn well, at yesterday's session I reffered to it twice. It helped me!
Kevin Regamy. It all started with him just before worlds, when he sent me a message that just broke the ice. It was a very casual one, drunk maybe? and it just set the idea that at Worlds we could talk and it wouldn't be awkward like we just met. When I got there, Kevin was really one of the guys that I could comfortably sit with, or say hello to, or anything, as I arrived and felt pretty alone. He introduced me to a handful of people, which also helped that situation out, and again I felt as if we had already established some sort of friendship, even though I had seen him a total of 20 minutes at worlds the previous year. He did go out of his way for me, and I can really appreciate that. He also helped me quite a bit with footbag concepts, and inspired my thought process that perhaps I should break free of the two dex up-down time toe moves that I limit myself to. Who wouldn't like to see a fearless combo with something like a massacre, or even chainsaw in it? As my mind does not belong in the Regimbald, or Moir family I am limited to stealing ideas from other footbaggers and attempting pathetically to make them my own, for my hopes in mastering every concept. Not only did single tricks become clear with Kevin, but I think learning new tricks and mastering them will become far more clear from now on. From now on, I am happy that I just will have another Canadian footbag friend, who I can legitimately consider a friend in the community.
Ben Roscoe. He really reminded me of Zac/Matt on this trip, as we really stuck together during the days where people didn't play footbag at a footbag world championship, and talked our fair share. Everytime I saw Ben, for the first time in the day it wasn't really a question of if I should go say hi and remain together, it was just like reaction like saying Good morning to your parents in the morning. Ben always seems to push me to do things that would likely be fun, even if it is playing footbag in a sandpit for 1 hour, or painfully missing a bsos-two person sole stall for 30 minutes infront of EVERYone in the stands. He is the person I wish I had as a friend in University, because of the many social things I would be exposed to that I will never alone take advantage of. Sucks that I can only really be with Ben for a few days out of the entire year.
I don't know the Communities impression of Justin Dale, but me for one, has a very good one. Last year at Worlds, completely self-lessly he came to me and helped with pdx whirls. I didn't even ask, but as he saw that I was struggling, he took the time out of his day to help some beginner for a solid 10 minutes, and I'm sure felt no inner-anger or boredom. At this tournament, I will always remember watching Vasek's 2 minute "performance" in the stands, and what he said. The last day of Worlds, I got to hang around him for quite a while, and I really only got a glimpse of how awesome it would be to live somewhere in the West Coast, to have regular 'jam' sessions with him. Even small interactions, like before routines when Ben and I were bullshitting with a footbag and he was in a hammock. Just the exchange of his words always seemed to leave me with a positive feeling, and I like that.
I felt closer to the Montrealers this trip than any other, and that is a severe opportunity that I am greatful for. Like, Matthieu is known by every footbagger I would imagine, and I actually hung out with him at Worlds. Ianek is so busy at worlds, doing all his organization and thinking, and he took the time to talk and help me. I mean, I stole breakfast from the hotel Slavia because of Matthieu, and had my first exposure to Power-thirst because of him. I didn't keep tabs on what he did at worlds, but I felt really special to be able to hang out in the montreal room for 2 hours and, not feel, like an outsider. While watching Net, Ianek and I came up with my next competitions "sick 3", and it probably took 30 minutes of toying around. This benefits him in NO way what-so-ever, and he just passionately decided to help me, and that too just left me feeling very accepted, which is the best feeling I ever encounter. Being a part of something,
Eric Chang was another Footbag player that I was happy to be around, not just for the free peanut butter/jelly sandwhich, but to always have to talk to and even play footbag with. I think I played in, what, 4 circles at ALL of worlds? 2 or 3 were with him? 2 distinctly were very fun, and I look forward to having another one with him. He is just such a fun guy to be around, and very generous. I guess in a way he is like Erik Chan. Like Kevin, I just felt as if Eric was an actual Friend of mine, instead of just a friendly individual who I happen to know.
Mikko is quite like Justin Dale at Worlds for me. Mikko was in Bots. I assume everyone knows that? Like, Mikko was in BOTS! That DVD means so much to me, and well, jesus, Mikko was in Bringout out the Shred. Does everyone remember the close up shot of his clima's as he was scooting around the floor, all in slow motion as vividly as I do? Fucking Super-star, like, seeing Penske for the first time. Even better, I got to Warm up for Circle with Mikko, and get my ass handed to me, by Mikko. Mikko also gave me sincere 'props' and 'respect' for my routine, and well, Mikko props are nice props. Can I even say his name right? Can I say Tukka's name right? Again, TUKKA was in fucking BOTS! If anyone owns alpine smear, it's Tu-kka. Screw Santa, Tukka is really the only reason I even look forward to Christmas Vacation, I get a christmas calendar! Jebus, this is exactly the reason I want to go to Finland. One session with Tukka, just again, fooling around with Matthieu and Tukka. Who gets to try stupid shit with those two? God, for those moments I really am glad I wasted all that money to get to Worlds. Having a pitch-dark request session with Ianek and Tukka, hitting drifter*5 when you can't see the bag, mobius, and more! BOTS! Agh, I am going to watch it. Break time.
Every moment I had with a Finnish person, either at an Afterparty, on a Tram, waiting around in the stands talking about playing footbag but not actually playing footbag, anything, just really struck me as dandy this tournament. Imagine if I met other people, Juho, Felix, anyone. MHmmm.
Yeah, so again, I have to sink into the "sit and wait" mode and wait for Mr.Ankle to stop being a bitch, even though I am Icing it, and wearing a brace anytime I do anything. I want to hit Mikko combo's, quite alot actually. Like, Johnny combo's, nukes all around, sexy crank, unique toe links that I have never thought to hit. Anssi style? Crazy style was '06, Anssi style should be like, Fibionacci years, so, 2001,2003,2005,2008,2013 and so on. Do you realize the potential for awesome-ness if all footbaggers did that? All nice whirls with your knee pointed downwards, and double switches galore. Erg,. Oh, on poetic notes, I got Matthieu, your challenge for spinning ducking->gyro diving*rpt a few times yesterday. I shall master it when I can play, for moses' sake.
Man, I have some priceless random-sideline-video hilarity videos', it is a shame I probably wont upload every one into this blog.
Was very cool to meet you. You have a future in footbag, you learned all this new stuff so fast. Just remember to spend enough time on learning each concept and don't rush into new tricks too fast. You're dropless routine was bomb. I've never gone dropless so ---> big props 
but footbag is just THAT GREAT for him! I'm definitely glad we spent some more time chilling this time around.
jk. well i did, and i want to say it here. your bags are coming out pretty nicely, as i told you you will be getting some as a sort of repayment. 
