One Toasty Blog

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 14 Sep 2009 19:58

To start things off, a little background info on how I got into the sport:
As of June 2009, I have started playing footbag with a more serious motive (While still having fun, of course). My first footbag was a crocheted one. My brothers and I would kick it around rarely but still have fun. Last year (Junior year of high school, 2008), I had pretty much a free class for a whole semester, and my friend would always bring his footbag. That's when I really started playing. It was to my advantage at the time I didn't know what freestyle footbag was, so I was able to learn all the basic kicks without worrying about learning bigger tricks. We'd just circle kick and sometimes play 3-hit burn (I'd much rather play in an enduring, circle game, though). I remember I first discovered the sport of freestyle footbag while I was looking online to find some "hacky sack" games to play, because circle kicking and 3-hit burn just weren't fun enough. Upon Googling "hacky sack games," I stumbled across a site called http://www.freestylefootbag.com/games.htm There was a HUGE list of different games, so I started browsing the site. Lo and behold I discovered freestyle which immediately caught my attention.

A summary of my summer (Chronological order):
-Discovered freestyle
-Began practicing stalls (By this time I had all my kicks down from playing during school)
-Discovered Modified
-Started stitching my own bags
-Nailed all basic stalls
-Broke my ankle
-Ordered and made my first bag from USL
-Made some more bags
-September 4, 2009 (Specific date because I was so overjoyed): I went to the doctor and no longer had to use crutches or wear a walking boot.

So that's that. I'm extremely excited I'm off my crutches. I've been stretching and strengthening my ankle since then so I can start playing again like before I broke it. A few days ago I started back. Turns out footbag helps my ankle (If I'm not too rough, of course). I can actually do ATW in and out with my right side. I don't have enough balance at the moment to start working on the left. But I'm striving every day to make it happen.

Swizzle · Post by **Swizzle** » 16 Sep 2009 06:00

Thats really cool that you broke your ankle and decided to make bags instead.. i guess it was not that cool for you though, but that shows passion, which it awesome.

I can't seem to start stitching because of lack of time, somehow i never have time... which probably is not ever true.. But i always want to kick instead. =/,

anyways i gotta go, (of course) lol, but good luck, update where your at moves wise, i don't have too much help for you because im fairly new myself.. but have fun

`Cory

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 16 Sep 2009 10:40

I started stitching bags before I broke my ankle. But breaking my ankle drove me to stitch more bags, which caused me to run out of the [crappy] material I currently was stitching with, which THEN gave me the motive to order my first batch of USL.

As far as moves go, the list isn't long:
BEFORE I broke my ankle, I had all the basic kicks and stalls (couldn't alternate clippers, but was practicing). Now recovering, I've gotten all my kicks and stalls back, except clippers. I can get ATW in/out with my right side. I almost got my first ATW in and out with my left side yesterday. This is all I'll be practicing for awhile until I'm almost fully recuperated from my injury.

Swizzle · Post by **Swizzle** » 16 Sep 2009 13:12

very nice, how did the USL work out, was it awesome?? and what kind of practice mateiral did you use? you stitch 32 panels? i think im gonna start as soon as a i can, trying just bed sheets, i don't want a bag out of it, but the general idea of how stitching it all would be. and testing like stitching the two tops (1 pent and 5 hex) the top and bottom, and then stitching hte middle, see if that works lmao, i don't know what i'm doing yet

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 16 Sep 2009 14:03

My first few bags were made of felt. Then the next few were made of suede. Then I bought some shammy cloths to make 32s. Then came USL. Moving to USL was like using a skateboard from WalMart then moving to a MiniLogo or some other top-company board. It was just like Heaven.

Swizzle · Post by **Swizzle** » 16 Sep 2009 15:05

Awesome description lmao, i owned a walmart skateboard like 8 years ago.. lol

will_T · Post by **will_T** » 16 Sep 2009 22:49

this guy has gone from making shamwow ghetto bags to top of the line in short order. i remember seeing this guy's first USL 32, and what he's currently making in a matter of weeks.

just awesome. ive got some catching up to do

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 18 Sep 2009 16:31

Thank you for the compliment, Will. But you're bags are bags are kickin' awesome as well! Your first bags were like, "Whoah." (Which means awesome

)

Anywho, today was awesome. Two of my close friends came over today, and we all played. I found I was actually raising my foot just a little too high for ATWs. I mean, I rotated my foot completely, but it was just a little above the bag. I've already fixed the problem. So ATWs in/out are looking decent (I suppose). Working on my left side now. Came close today to getting my first left-side ATW. I kind of over-rotate my foot. And my clippers are coming back! Although I still don't have ANY strength in my right ankle, so I can't do any hardcore kickin'. I need to start working the strength back.

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 25 Sep 2009 08:37

So, I ordered the Vasek Klouda Manual the other day, and just a few pages into it I can already see a similarity of mentality and physicality required for skateboarding and footbag. Obviously, they're two very different sports. But, they both share many things:
1) They are both sports you can play by yourself but are much more fun with other people, regardless if you are good at it or not.
2) You learn tricks on both sides (weak and strong, goofy and regular).
3) You can't just practice the trick until you eventually get it. You have to visualize the trick and truly understand it. Think out the steps of what not to do, what to change, how to make it better. Dream it, do it, replicate it. Practice in every situation possible.
4) They're both non-hostile sports.
5) They both drop what makes us difference and brings us together.

Swizzle · Post by **Swizzle** » 25 Sep 2009 13:25

Once your finished with it, can you rate how much it helped you? and is a defintaly something to keep for reference when you need it and stuff. i have thought about ordering that alot, can't make up my mind.. i mean its only 5 bucks lmfao, and some money goes to IFPA. sounds cool

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 25 Sep 2009 14:00

Yeah, I'll rate it. I've printed it out into a little booklet. That way I can take it with me wherever I go.

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 08 Oct 2009 19:16

I finished the Vasek Klouda Manual (I actually finished it about a week ago), and I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about footbag. It's full of information that will drive you to do better as well as appreciate footbag more. It has helped me in many ways, and with the cheap price of only $4.51 you just can't pass it up. On top of being a great little book, half of the money is donated to IFPA. So, I give it my recommendation.

Onto footbag itself (It's really short). I got my first alternating clipper! Only 1 class for school tomorrow. Then practicing till I go to work.

Swizzle · Post by **Swizzle** » 09 Oct 2009 04:52

ha, awesome, i'm gonna buy it after school today

thanks man

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 02 Nov 2009 10:10

Nearly a month since my last update. A lot of good things have come about! My ankle is recovering very nicely from the break. I still don't have my full range of motion back but enough that it doesn't interfere with footbag. As for not having full strength back, this is definitely a hindrance and learning the flipside on some tricks is a bit slower than it should be. But, footbag is definitely helping my ankle. I've been drilling the basics like no tomorrow, hit mirage on both sides, butterfly on both sides, pixie on only one side, clipper form has improved greatly I would say. Thank goodness I have a camera which made me realize I wasn't on the ball of my foot when setting from clipper, which I have now fixed. I'm feeling really good right now and all that's on my mind is footbag.

Toasty · Post by **Toasty** » 15 Nov 2009 14:22

Woo! I'm really happy right now! I've been practicing like no tomorrow lately. Here's a summary of all the tricks I've gotten on both side: ATW In and Out, fairy, illusion, legover, mirage, pickup, pixie, and butterfly. So now I'm just going to practice these till my legs fall off. I don't want to learn any bigger tricks until I have these down solid.