Going worlds alone

[matt_bailey]

So I have just found out i can have the time off work for worlds and have booked flights (WOOP!) to go along with my spot at hostel x berger

But im not going with anyone and this will be my first tournament.

Just wondering how people have:

a) found their first tournament experience
b) found meeting people and fitting in at tournaments

I was also wondering whether its strange for players to attend tournaments, (worlds in particular) and not compete. Would i still get to hang out and play a lot if i dont compete?

But dont get me wrong, despite these minor concerns, i am SOO psyched

Thanks,

Matt

[jay7]

Having your first tournament as worlds, is a great experience. I did it in 2007, and it was the best week of my life, thus far.

I had your concerns as well, but, I will briefly tell you that you shouldn't have them. With footbaggers, you can't help but fit in. You'll be amongst the coolest people on the planet, no lie.

Shred on the sidelines, go eat with a group of people, and just get into it. You'll guaranteed fit in with someone. As for competing, just do it! I dropped 6+ times my first routine, at worlds, in front of everyone, first intermediate of the tournament. It is a great experience to have, as it really breaks the ice for all other tournaments ahead. You'll learn a lot.

Glad you are coming.

[C-Fan]

So I have just found out i can have the time off work for worlds and have booked flights (WOOP!) to go along with my spot at hostel x berger

Congrats, that's fantastic news!

But im not going with anyone and this will be my first tournament.

Don't worry about the first part, cause you'll make a ton of friends. As for the second part, that'll just make it more memorable.

a) found their first tournament experience

You won't forget it. It can be overwhelming, but you'll be riding adrenaline for most of it, and it will go fast. The nice thing is that if its your first tourney, even a shitty one will seem good.

b) found meeting people and fitting in at tournaments

Worlds is a big party, and there are lots of cool people in the scene. I find that every Worlds I end up hanging out with a different group of friends, and that's part of the surprise/fun.

I was also wondering whether its strange for players to attend tournaments, (worlds in particular) and not compete. Would i still get to hang out and play a lot if i dont compete?

No, that's fine. I'd recommend you compete though, because then you can tell your friends you competed at World champs of something. Plus, if you end up competing in the future, the experience will help. But yeah, you'll have no problem getting to hang out and play if you don't compete. If anything, I find that competing usually lessens my ability to hang out and play.

See you in Berlin man.

[Tripp]

I wore Vans to my first jam.

Have fun.

[boyle]

Hi Matt

This is my first worlds (first overseas trip actually), but I have been to quite a few Australian competitions, although it will be completely different experience in Berlin.

I think you will have a great time, I would definitely compete if I was you as well.

You can get an article in your local paper saying "Bailey takes top UK spot at World Footbag Championships" or something similar. I am staying at the xberger too, maybe we'll be in the same dorm, I'm definitely keen to hang out.

[PoisonTaffy]

Hey, last year's worlds was my first, this will be my second.

I didn't compete last year and won't compete this year - So I have no advice on that, sorry. Not competing wasn't a problem. On the contrary, the reason I'm not competing is because I don't plan or aim to be the world's best, I aim to have fun, and competition spoils my fun.

Regarding the fitting in thing

I didn't play as much as I could. During the first few days when I didn't know anybody, most circles seemed homogeneous either in level or in country of origin, and being like the 10th worst player there and the only one from my country, I didn't feel very comfortable joining most circles. Also, rooming with net players didn't do allot of good for fitting in shred circles, even though they were awesome people.
By the third day, though, I found enough people to play with, either around my level or that just didn't care about level (not enough of the latter, imo). Unfortunately the day after I got sick when serious rain caught me while I was touring Prague

Outside the shred court, level didn't matter as much. There it was down to who's just friendly and who isn't, and there were lots of friendly people. I was a little star struck some times which made for a few awkward moments but overall there are allot of people I am looking forward to seeing again.

Advice: Room with shredders if possible. Go to the parties. Join circles. Talk to people If you see yourself competing in the future, DEFINITELY compete. The experience will be good for you.

See you there!

[Muffinman]

I've never competed, and there are two main reasons why:
1) Stress (I'm not good in front of lots of people)
2) I'm there to have fun and shred on the side. If you are a competitor, you have to work with a schedule where you show up earlier for competition and events and judging and all of this and awards or whatever. Whereas, as a casual attendee you can come and go as you please. And there's definitely more time for casual shred and meeting people because you don't have to stress over practicing a routine or "Oh noes maybe I'll injure myself" or something.

Having said that, though, I also wish I could say that I competed at World Championships, even if I knew I was gonna do terribly. It's a hard balance I think, but maybe ask someone who competes off and on and see what the up and downsides are to it all.



Regardless of competition, Worlds will be the best week of your life. If you have time, you should travel a bit after, maybe with footbaggers to another jam! It's gonna be a sick first tournament experience. Also, remember to not overplay the first few days -- there are many days where there will be hack non-stop (unless it's like Prague...)

[Tjuggles]

Matt,

That's awesome news about worlds! I'll see you there. You picked the best tourney to go to for your first time. Take Ken's words to heart; he knows what he is talking about.

Also, compete!! That is one of the best things that you can do for your game is to compete.

See you soon!

[matt_bailey]

wow thanks for the response, i feel better already ha!

its nice to know competing is purely a matter of choice and there isnt pressure to compete

i would like to compete to do something different with my game and also to get the UK on the map, but at the same time its quite short notice for a routine (or multiple routines)

Plus i'd be torn between open and intermediate

But i guess ive got like 2 weeks to decide

TJ im glad you will managed to escape the lockdown on japan! i guess i need to find you a table to sleep under in berlin right?

i look forward to seeing you all there!

[mc]

I recommend you stitch a bunch of really good bags and sell them at worlds. That's a good way to get your name out there and meet people as well. When people who bought your bags play with others, someone invariably asks who made them game, and then they'll say it's you and maybe introduce you, etc etc etc.

Make them all with those little wings on them. Seriously. If you make 10 bags with wings on them and sell them when you get there, everyone will know who you are.

[C-Fan]

i would like to compete to do something different with my game and also to get the UK on the map, but at the same time its quite short notice for a routine (or multiple routines)

If it's your first time, only work on one routine. I really think that only a very few people are skilled enough to be able to do multiple good routines at a single tournament. In my experience, I've done much better when I've drilled a single routine and gotten it good, than showed up with multiple half-assed routines.

[Colin]

Everyone is this thread is way off. Worlds is a marathon of boring competitions, lame parties, and dull people. You probably shouldn't even go.

/sour grapes

Have fun man.

[matt_bailey]

make 10 bags with wings on them

exactly my plan ha! i hope then that the bags can speak for themselves rather than have to guess from a picture

but how do people go about selling at worlds? i dont want to seem really rude while doing it. plus do stitchers tend to take their stuff and make bags at the comp?

thats what i was initially hoped to do Ken, but say the impossible happens and i get through the first round (only really a possibility with intermediates i guess) do i not need another unique routine for second round?

[mc]

A good way to sell is to go to where the shred is happening, sit down and watch what's going on, and put your bags for sale on a little handkerchief in a neat row in front of you. People will see your bags arranged like that, and it will be pretty apparent that you're selling them, especially if you sit there stitching...

Which answers your next question and the first one at the same time... that's a great way to sell - stitch publicly! Someone will come over and ask what's up and check out your bags. With those little wings, you'll make sales in no time. It's a great gimmick.

See you there! We can talk about stitching technique.

[C-Fan]

say the impossible happens and i get through the first round (only really a possibility with intermediates i guess) do i not need another unique routine for second round?

Nope. Frankly, not a lot of people watch the first couple rounds of competition, and that's doubly true for intermediate. Speaking as both a judge and a spectator, I'd rather see the same good routine twice than two different routines which are both half-assed.

[matt_bailey]

We can talk about stitching technique.

Hell yes, or probably more likely i learn proper stitching technique ha!

And thanks ken, thats encouraging and makes it more likely that i'll compete!

[yyz]

hey matt glad to here you have chosen too support footbag by attending worlds. If you have decent bags with little wings on them I already want too buy one! I would hope that you would consider competing some day if not this year at worlds. Footbag is fun and is surrounded by exceptionally cool people, but this is the world championships!!!! Too me there is nothing that compared to my first worlds routine, it was awesome(so awesome that I actually do pretty much the same routine today) Ken is right even the handfull of people who can excell with multiple routines are better when they focus on just one routine. I would simply grab some music that you no better than any other music and shred for 1 and 1/2 minutes and try to coordinate your strongest(the one's you do with out fail)tricks to some of the sequence's in the music. Based upon your questions I would strongly suggest you compete intermediate and maybe even experience some golf and net remember one price covers all. see ya there ted f

[Lycanthrope]

i did not like my first tournament (worlds '04, montreal). but then again i was only 16 and it was my first time out of the country. i was also stuck in the only room which managed to smuggle a pipe through customs, and as a nonsmoker i did not appreciate it. i'm sure you'll have a better time than i did. just make the best of things.

I've never competed, and there are two main reasons why:
1) Stress (I'm not good in front of lots of people)
2) I'm there to have fun and shred on the side. If you are a competitor, you have to work with a schedule where you show up earlier for competition and events and judging and all of this and awards or whatever. Whereas, as a casual attendee you can come and go as you please. And there's definitely more time for casual shred and meeting people because you don't have to stress over practicing a routine or "Oh noes maybe I'll injure myself" or something.

Having said that, though, I also wish I could say that I competed at World Championships, even if I knew I was gonna do terribly. It's a hard balance I think, but maybe ask someone who competes off and on and see what the up and downsides are to it all.

yeah, its stressful, but if you do well and perhaps exceed your expectations of yourself in an event, its the best thing you'll ever feel. also, if you're REALLY good... you may even make it home with some prizes.