Is footbag on the rise?

redshredz · Post by **redshredz** » 01 Dec 2010 23:28

I walked into our Sole Purpose weekly session tonight about an hour late, not knowing exactly how many people were going to brave the bad weather to make the session. Upon walking I realized that the footbag group had taken over close to half the gym, something like 13 or 14 people and 3 to 4 circles. It was a mix of the current people, new school peeps, and a few old schoolers kicking. I noticed a few people were still missing, and then sat down and did a total headcount of the group. Sole Purpose right now is hovering over 20 dedicated freestylers, though our tops for a weekly session has only been 17. Anyway, it was inspiring to the see that our group is still growing. I am in agreement that footbag does need some new ideas and possibly a new direction these days. One of the things of interest to me is isolating why it is in a growth stage here (as opposed to most other places right now), and how that model can be projected outward.

Anyway, it's my intent that Portland will continue to be the lighthouse through the good times or other. No matter what is going on out there, there is a place where footbag is constant, and still growing. We took a meeting a couple of weeks ago, and with a little restructuring of the group are working to ensure it's continuation. Sole Purpose has certainly taken on a life of it's own beyond one organizer, I hope to see this again in other groups out there. Footbag seems to go in cycles (I've seen at least 3 rotations in my years), I fully believe it will rotate around again as a whole. With a little proactive planning we can make the next surge a good one.

I didn't get a picture from tonight, but here are some recent ones archived.

http://www.fourkast.com/media/images?g2 ... &g2_page=4

Keep kicking all!
R

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 02 Dec 2010 17:46

I should do homework right now, but only after I inform of this:

Today, something amazing happened. My friend, Evan, who has been wanting to get Lavers and hit the next step of "hacky sack" bought a 32 panel bag from Z. Hoffa today through me and I let him borrow my old Lavers til he gets his own pair next week. He really took to it, hitting toe stalls consecutively and also BSOS ATW's. He said he really loves it and wants to keep practicing and stick with it. So cool to see. (Evan: Mark 1)

Another kid, Stefan, walked up to us and asked if he could play. He hopped in and immediately I knew he was going to take up freestyle. He was already doing legovers, clipper kicks, spinning kicks, etc... I was able to teach him (all in 4 hours) clipper stall bs, mirage bs, clipper ducking toe, clipper spinning toe, footed butterfly bs, and he even ducked one spin! He said he was so happy we ran into him because he really loves "hacky sack" but has wanted to find the next level, and he hasn't been able to find anyone to hack with on campus. He wouldn't stop ranting about how much he loves it. I let him borrow a footbag and I told him I'd stitch him one soon. I'm taking Evan and Stefan to go Laver shopping next week

Also, the kid lives ACROSS THE SRTEET FROM ME!!! Go figure. (Stefan: Mark 2)

BEST PART IS:

Stefan says that he's got a group of hackers at Kutztown (15 mins from my college) and 3 or more of them are looking into stepping to the next level too. One kid is even better than Stefan...

(Stefan's friends: Possibly Marks 3 - 5)

Today was a good day

crazylegs32 · Post by **crazylegs32** » 05 Dec 2010 23:18

Hackey seems to be dead, not even on the shelves at major sports stores. but they have lots of baggo sets, has anyone promoted foot baggo?
Someone has to buy the hackeysack name back from whammo for the thing we do to progress. Its not about skill levels, the skills 10 years ago were legit. But the crazier footbag gets using the limited concepts we use, the more it will alienate people who cant understand/could care less. No sport can survive without a base, and our base is hackers.

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 06 Dec 2010 04:15

I dunno, I can buy a hacky sack at about 5 different spots that I know of within 10 minutes of my house, and I live in the middle of classic suburbia. When I lived in the city, same story.

It comes down to two things:

- Doing SOMETHING rather than NOTHING
- Making that SOMETHING count

Players are generally quick to complain about a tournament not being great, or footbag.org not being hip or cool.. and things like that. Players are generally slow to help in any way. Players are generally quick to theorize about how to "fix" and "grow" the sport. Players are generally slow to help in any way.

In my opinion, the sport doesn't need "the ultimate" fix, or massive changes, or an awesome website, or tons of TV coverage, or apparel, or players making a living off the sport. It needs more of what it got when it was first coming up. Dedicated players that hold fun events and jams and get togethers and regularly scheduled practice times in public locations and encourage the general public (NOT just hardcore shredders in waiting) to try it. That's it. It's easy stuff, fun stuff, validating stuff.

There's no reason that every single city in the country (world) shouldn't be accomplishing at least one of these things each year. It just takes someone in each city to do something simple and feasible and fun.

YOU READER... YES YOU... YOU CAN BE THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY DOES SOMETHING.

(and side note... next time you notice another player doing something for the sport [steve g., red, honza, jorden, nick polini, matt cross, ken somolinos, barrett n. etc. etc. etc.] thank them for doing SOMETHING rather than NOTHING for the game)

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 06 Dec 2010 22:41

Edit: Double Post, sorry.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 06 Dec 2010 22:41

Thanks for mentioning me Bob, I know you appreciate us trying to introduce new players. Hopefully more and more keep finding us, especially after that Hacky Sack Fun Day we're trying to hold this Summer.

Just an update:

These kids are hooked. This is only 2 of the 7 or 8 new players Zach Hoffa and I have introduced. Stefan (left) is my student (I'm in the middle) and Andrew (Right) is Zach's student. Both kids are like sponges are are progressing wildly fast. They want to come to NYJ with Zach and I if we end up going. And best of all... they both LOVE footbag already. Andrew sleeps with one under his pillow and Stefan has his in his pocket all day. So cool to see footbag make a come back.

redshredz · Post by **redshredz** » 19 Dec 2010 01:40

I think I know why Portland is so popular for footbag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_9CzLCbkY

This is actually going to be a show, shot in Portland. And yes, I am going to try to get our guys on this show, if they haven't finished shooting it already. Either way, Portland rep. We're crazy.

sen · Post by **sen** » 19 Dec 2010 07:17

Makes me want to move to Portland.

full nelson · Post by **full nelson** » 20 Dec 2010 07:07

Image is a big deal, and I don't think footbag's image can be salvaged in the US. I got into it from hacking, and I agree that it is the best kind of promotion.

Another sport that suffered because of image: rollerblading. Rollerblading has been in a sharp decline since 2005, when it was removed from the X-Games. It's not cool anymore because skateboarding companies and publications had been systematically damaging its reputation for years. Fruitbooters, gaybladers, etc. Might look at their efforts for ideas.

Fade2black · Post by **Fade2black** » 20 Dec 2010 15:40

I maintain that if we show off pure footbag to as many people as we can, the people like us will flock to it, and we wont have to worry about what everyone else thinks or says about it...

Post by **Allan** » 20 Dec 2010 16:36

Fade2black wrote:I maintain that if we show off pure footbag to as many people as we can, the people like us will flock to it, and we wont have to worry about what everyone else thinks or says about it...

+1.