Jeremy Mirken's Footbag Blog

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 14 Jan 2009 13:27

Senor Grommet wrote:Here's my white roll spike

HOLY SHIT!

Dude, your roll was wicked cool. Great velocity on that kick!

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 18 Jan 2009 21:03

Air Jer is in the singles and the doubles final of the 2009 Phx Open, being played tomorrow! I'll try to keep my fan base updated!

Priiiiiiiiiiize monaaaaaaaaay!

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 18 Jan 2009 23:12

Wow, both finals! That's friggin' amazing!!

Can't wait to hear how this turns out. Good luck.

zeroman13 · Post by **zeroman13** » 19 Jan 2009 20:43

All I have to say is that he played very well, and that I'm not going to give anything away.

Maybe next time we'll be able to play a match or two?

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 19 Jan 2009 22:11

Ha! Thanks Josh . . . played very well. It's true I guess, but not well enough to win apparently. I got 2nd in both events. Came away with twice my entry fee in prize money though, so I guess I can't complain. And yes, next time, we should get some games in. Having made it to the finals of both events took its toll on my body and so I didn't get too many pick up games in.

I was much happier with my singles performance than with my doubles. In singles, I was narrowly defeated by Chris Siebert, a former world champion, 14-16, 12-15.

In doubles, my partner Jack and I played quite poorly and got ass raped by our opponents. I took it pretty lightly, but Jack wasn't able to maintain a stable mental game. I think that was the difference in us not being able to control our own destiny in that match. Oh well, we learn from our mistakes, and we get better.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 27 Jul 2009 22:52

First post in many months.

Went to Worlds in Berlin and had a great time. I met lots of cool people, and was impressed with the level of play of former freestyler-turned net players. The finals showcase and party was amazing, probably costing upwards of 20,000 dollars.

Overall, the tournament was well produced and very well attended. A few minor shortfalls in the net organization, but overall everything met expectations. Weather was up and down, with some rainy days, but facilities were good enough to play on, even shortly after rain.

My final results for the net comps were 12th in singles (of about 75 competitors), and 9th in doubles (of 43 teams or so). Basically, I met my objectives and beat my seeds in both events. I had been seeded 19th in singles and 12th in doubles (w/ partner Jack Harris).

Now I'm back in Oakland and I have about 3 weeks before my school year starts again. I plan to spend a few days regaining bodily health and playing a lot of Takraw. I want to spend a few days playing in Sac and Fresno with Takraw team USA members, but don't know exactly how I'm gunna make that happen.

Also, over the next few days I'm going to make a priority list of things re: my net game that need improvment/modification. Overall, I'm pretty happy with where I am but I need to work harder to reach my goals of being the best.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 13 Jan 2010 19:47

For the few who care

I've joined a gym. I have lost 10 lbs of fat and am nearing peak physical fitness (when my bum knee is not holding me back). I took a cardio kickboxing class and a capoiera class, and hope to stick with the capoiera. It is super intense, good for flexibility and strength, and balance improvments, and looks pretty cool.

Over the winter break, I travelled to South America to compete in SURA 09, the South American Chsmpionships. It was another super fun experience. I got to meet Kevin Richey from Seattle, who seems to be on perma-vacation down there. I met a sexy chica down there too, and may go back to visit soon. We'll see about that.

Last weekend, my dbls partner Jack Harris and I beat PT Lovern and Eric Wulff in a local doubles tournament. It was awesome. PT is the 2008 world champion and is still on the top of his game, while Eric Wulff is a good all around player with a roll spike, so it was a great victory for us.

This weekend I'm headed to the Phoenix Open for another tournament.

Chat me up on facebook sometime if I know you and like you (but don't friend me if I don't know you)!

A final note about a difference between net footbag and freestyle:

In freestyle, you are allowed lapses in concentration between each run, you can talk, fool around, whatever. Also, once you attain proficiency at certain tricks or sets, they become automatic and you don't need to think about them . . . they just happen. In net, the level of concentration required to kick the small ball precisely is absurdly high, and if you want to be a good player you have to learn to maintain that concentration even between points. Matches can last up to 2 hours, so that is a long time to be hyper-focused. When the focus is lost, points are lost!

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 19 Jan 2010 16:41

I just won the open doubles title with partner Jack Harris at the 2010 Phoenix Open over MLK weekend. I placed 2nd in open singles.

That's my second US tournament victory in open doubles, the first coming with partner Manu Bouchard two years ago.

Last year, I won my first, and so far only, open singles title at the 2009 Windy City Cup in Chicago, Il.

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 19 Jan 2010 18:45

Props.
Your drive inspiring.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 13 Feb 2010 19:13

So. . . the days are finally getting a little longer, which means its back to playing takraw at "the spot" in Oakland. Today, I played for the first time since late August or September. It was very fun, and I played well despite my many months off. My control was off but my frontbacks and sunbacks were still Eddie Money. I think I was about 12/15 in the spike department.

Also, I've been working out a lot and trying to improve my overall body strength and leg strength. My knee is still fucked up though, and it limits my training and my spike development. I haven't been able to hit a roll spike for more than 1 year now because my right knee cannot take the force of the landing.

I tooka look at the footage from the open doubles final at the PHX open 2010, and I calculated that I played the most consistent of the 4 players in the final, with a kicking percentage of 94%. The other players achieved 90%, 86%, and 83%. I also had the most digs and the most digs "kept" on my side of the net. I had the fewest spikes (mostly b/c my partner is the killer on the team) and my spikes were probably dug the most out of any player. Nonetheless, my setting was really good so they didn't have a chance

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 29 Mar 2010 23:38

I now have a sweet poster of myself hanging in my living room. It serves as a great reminder for what a bad-ass I am whenever I am feelin down. I think everyone should have a sweet-ass poster of themselves . . . really good for the ego.

Zeke · Post by **Zeke** » 30 Mar 2010 08:16

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 30 Mar 2010 22:02

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 30 Mar 2010 22:41

If the photo doesn't show, follow the link:

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 09 Aug 2010 21:30

I'm officially good at footbag net now. I finished 5th in doubles and 7th in singles at this year's world champs. I have so much more to practice though! thanks to everyone who supported me by watching my net matches. I definitely felt the support!

BryanFournier · Post by **BryanFournier** » 09 Aug 2010 21:36

Maraxus · Post by **Maraxus** » 09 Aug 2010 23:01

Dude, top 7 in the world in both is absolutely amazing. That's all hard work paying off buddy, keep it up, I want to see you in the two hour long doubles match next time!

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 13 Aug 2010 13:56

dude congrats on your net accomplishments this year!

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 09 Sep 2010 19:11

So, in my kitchen today I played a little freestyle for some cardio. i was too lazy to leave the house but wanted to work up a sweat.

The highlight was hitting a 75 contact tiltless/guiltless string. I also hit some cool tricks (only 4 adds) which I thought were out of the question. Twas fun, but it hurts my joints. The body changes once you stop!

On a side note, this year at Worlds I placed 5th in doubles net, 7th in singles. Currently, my world ranking is 6th in singles (highly inflated) and 11th in doubles (about right).

Thanks Ben, and thanks to those freestylers who watched me compete this year! It was really nice to have the support.

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 10 Sep 2010 11:08

modified

Jeremy Mirken's Footbag Blog

UPDATE