Nick "Houdini" Polini

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 22 Apr 2011 17:03

This is a really cool post I'm about to make. As I've mentioned, I'm doing an instructional project with a girl I'm friends with in English class. She never really played footbag before this project, but just recently, she started getting into it. She's got all of her basic stalls bs and kicks bs. She informed me that she hit flapper yesterday. How awesome is that?! And tonight, I went on facebook and her profile picture was this:

I stitched her that footbag at the beginning of this year, but she just wanted one because they look neat, now she actually uses it

We talked about the pic for a bit and I asked her about it and she replies:

"Lol yeah it slipped my mind to tell you today, but when I was taping those tricks last night I just had so much energy and I rly liked how I could move my legs and feet in those ways. So, I may just start footbaggin' as a hobby ;D hehehe. Great exercise. Natural high. Awesome.

"

I guess I worked my "new player" charm again. Welcome a new player to East Coasts, everyone. Hopefully she sticks with it.

Jazzkid · Post by **Jazzkid** » 22 Apr 2011 17:16

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 22 Apr 2011 17:30

Right!?

EVEN COOLER UPDATE!

I just found out that a new chick player, Erica Frantz (StitchHappy on Modified), actually went to the same highschool as Nadine. And they live 15 minutes away from eachother!

HOLY FUCK. Can you say, easiest shred-partner hook-up EVER!?

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 23 Apr 2011 13:55

Nick P is home for Easter and so am I. We just finished a Nick P Squared shred session. Lotta fun, as it always is when kicking with Nick. He hit Spyro Mirage! Twas gnarly as hell. And he also hit a couple Blurry Whirls! He always improves every time he comes home and we get to play. He's in G-Units now, which worried me at first, but I told him what Monistere told me "Train in Lavers, Play in Units" and Nick said he would. So I stopped worrying. Sucks his semester is only half-way finished :\

My highlights:

Hit 3 flip Ripsteins! I'm up to like 6 total now I think.

Hit 3 more flip Swirling ss Mirages. I'm up to around 8 now? Totally came so close to Swirling Pdx Mirage! Footed the shit out of it. Grrrr...

Hit 3 more flip Mobius!!!! One was from an osis, which I've never hit before. This will be good for Mob> Mob in the future.

FOOD PROCESSOR!!!! First Time... Fuck Yeah.

Ripcurl! 2nd one ever

Pdx Grifter 2nd one ever

Footed Ducking Pdx Torque TWO times. And when I say "footed", I swung my osis too hard and it shot away. Fucking Fuck!

Some Pdx Torques and played out of them

Played out of a few Mobius

Another Fairy Warrior

Today was a really good session for both Nick Pees. Plus I got to try Nick's Units out... and I came to a conclusion... I'm getting Units.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 25 Apr 2011 09:59

After I got out of class, I walked to my car, saw that I had Quantums on, remembered that I had a footbag in my pocket, reminded myself that I really love playing footbag, and hit:

Clipper> Diving ss Clipper> Blender> Pdx Mirage bs

...Then drove home.

Jazzkid · Post by **Jazzkid** » 25 Apr 2011 12:48

DAMN man....

flip mobius
flip ripstein
swirling p mirage (almost)
FOOD

HELL YEAH NICK.....keep it up man your improving really fast

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 25 Apr 2011 20:46

Thanks Mark! I'm trying my best, cuz my best is all I got. I've really been trying to do as many flip ripsteins as possible. I can feel my flip leg getting stronger and gaining more control over that double dexterity.

I filmed with my student, Stefan, today. He was stringing tiltless pretty well and I told him we would film some of our session. I just edited the footage and it will be up sometime tomorrow. It's the best stuff he and I both have ever gotten on tape... It was Stefan's first film though, so of course it's his best footage

I'm pretty stoked on his progress. He's improving more and more every time we kick. His strings are all pretty similar in the video, but it's going to be good for him to see himself shred for once. As for me, I hit a handful of 5's and strung out of them, and I have a midrun ripstein that I'm pretty hyped on. I really need to work on my flipside. I use it in the video, but I need to be doing more dexes with it.

Fuck, I can't believe this is my last week of classes, then finals next week. Holy shit, time flies. MUST... STUDY... BUT... WANT TO PLAY FOOTBAG INSTEAD.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 25 Apr 2011 21:55

Here we go...

Critiques are welcomed...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhQfJ7cfZ4Q[/youtube][/youtube]

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 26 Apr 2011 17:50

So I studied the video above a lot and I noticed that I don't have any real toe game, so I'm going to be focusing on that a lot in the near future. I hate my toes. Toe tricks are my least favorite, but you gotta do what ya gotta do..

I had a session with Stefan for like an hour tonight as just a quick study break. He worked on his clippers while I worked on my toe game. He hit his first Mixer! I was so pumped for him! He also tried it flipside and he footed that bitch like 4 times. Gave him madd props.

I didn't really have anything new. I drilled Butterfly> Blur for a bit. Couldn't beat my old record of rpt x4, I got 3 and a half :\ I felt more in control of them this time though. I only drilled this for like 5 minutes, plus my legs hurt from shredding yesterday.

I'll be doing a lot of drilling in the future after classes are out. Can't come soon enough!!! I gotta study for finals now. PEACE!

Jazzkid · Post by **Jazzkid** » 26 Apr 2011 20:26

^That video was sick....

Flapper osis>pogo butterfly
drifer>vortex (plant) mobius hand seal
spinning weaving osis
flapper>reverse swirl
Drifter toe (zipper I think) was RIDICULOUS
toosie roll>anchor>rev swirl was

Great improvements....

things to check out that might help you..
think of osis as gyro clipper where when you catch the bag it will not be scooped but stalled in a clipper position after the turn
drill to fix this for some moves
spinning osis>reverse swirl on both sides then repeat if you can
spinning osos>ripwalk
butterfly>blur or dimwalk blur at LEAST 10 contacts even if you to a warm up then ONLY that for a session

challenges (or just cool shit to consider)
pixie opp no plant clipper>gyro pickup>butterfly>blur bs and repeat
reverse swirl>dyno repeat
reverse swirl>twirl repeat
pixie opp no plant clipper>gyro mirage repeat

for toes just get a 2 or 3 trick toe to toe guiltless combo that you can do automoatically in a run when the bag gets to your toe

I used to do

Spinning legover>magellan>smear>run
magelan>dlo>smear
smear>pixie legover>magellan
pixie ss ilussions>magellan>smear

great job man

Stefan . glad to see footage of you..

tip..

DO LEFT CLIPPERS ALL DAY LONG and dont go to sleep until you can hit 4 alternating clippers starting from both sides 3 times each

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 27 Apr 2011 09:54

Yo Mark! Thanks for the compliments, critiques, and how to fix my rough edges! If I had seen this before class today, I would have drill some of these a little bit ago. I drilled other things that I needed to work on instead. But I'll definitely start doing some of those drills, they sound perfect for my flip toe.

Well, my day started off with footbag. I presented that footbag project in front of my class today. I walked up and put up my powerpoint, and said to the class, "Greetings! My name is Nick Polini, and for my presentation, I'm going to teach you the basics of Freestyle... (*drop footbag to my foot and hit Pixie> op clipper> Spinning Clipper> Flapper*) ...Footbag. Most of the facial expressions in the class were priceless. It went really well. I also passed a bag around the class so they could check out out close up. Coolest presentation I've ever given.

After that, I went to my Soil Science class and when we got out, I sat under the stairs with my friend Suzanne to wait for our friends to go to lunch. Suzanne was looking at my footbags and then tossed one at me. I hit ripstein with it immediately. I told her to throw the rest at me. She proceeded to throw all 20-some bags at me. I hit ripstein with about 10 of them and footed about 2 others. Not bad. Then she did it again, and I did Whirling swirls. I hit about half of them. During these, people were watching above on the stairs and saying things like "Damn! Check this kid out! He's a beast at hacky sack!" So that was kinda cool. Then once I finished whirling swirls, we did the process again with flipside spinning ducking clippers. I hit 1 out of 20-some and footed 3 others. Kinda pissed about that one. Then we went to lunch.

After lunch I walked to my car, and was about to drive home, but then I really was bugged by how I sucked at those flip spinning ducking clippers and how I couldn't hit that link I hit in English class on flipside. So I walked to the labyrinth and drilled for about an hour and came up with these sweet highlights!

Flip spinning clippers> hand catch x50 (these now feel almost perfect)

Flip spinning butterfly (rare for me)

Flip spinning flapper (also very rare for me... I think this might be my first legitimate one)

Flip Spinning Pdx Mirage (First time I've hit it)

Flip Fairy op Clipper> Spinning Clipper (x10)

Flip Pixie op Clipper> Spinning Clipper (only twice, but I was wearing casual shorts so it was difficult to set without hitting my shorts)

Oh! And in the process of flip pixies and flip fairies, I figured out how to fix my fairy problem. Whenever I did flip fairy, the set was pretty good, but my knee popped painlessly. Fixed it! No more painless pop! I also figured out how to get more umph on my flip pixies!

Once I hit these, I started to leave, when I rememered "FLIPSIDE SPINNING DUCKING CLIPPERS!!!" So I walked back to the labyrinth and proceeded...

Flip Spinning Ducking Clipper> hand catch x10 (Froze the final clipper on #10. I'm really starting to figure these out. I feel like Doug Tank when I do them now

And this Flip Spinning Ducking Clipper Drill led me to some NEW 5's!!!

Flip Spinning Ducking Osis

Flip Spinning Ducking Butterfly

Flip Spinning Ducking Pdx Mirage (Also accidentally pulled what I called a "Mark Monistere"... Spinning Ducking Pdx Miraging Toe Pound

Most definitely stoked on this drill session

Must study now.

Corey · Post by **Corey** » 27 Apr 2011 11:36

You bitch!

Did you really hit flipside sd clipper x10? Like no drops?! Can you let me be better than you at one footbag move? Flip Spinning ducking pdx mirage? Asshole! Whats next gangsta party b2b? Oh you should go to youtube and watch "foukast preview" The firt run has all of those news fives in the same run bs.

Wait I just saw the handcatch part. But still. Do some spinning ducking knee bumping ducking stuff! It is what all the cool kids do. Anywayz props!

mc · Post by mc » 27 Apr 2011 11:48

so, what did you learn from hosting your first jam?

not looking for any specific answers - just curious.

thanks again dude.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 27 Apr 2011 12:34

Corey: Yeah, there were hand catches. But I'm still getting the general concept. I like that idea, sd knee bumping. Never really tried that. I'll take you up on that suggestion. I'll be sure to check that video out when I get a chance. Thanks for the props. Keep at it yourself, dude.

Matt: I had a dream that PA Jam was still happening but I didn't know where it was taking place. Then I see Hacky Sack Jack and we start talking about bikes, then you showed up and you were really drunk but you showed us where the footbag was taking place

Anyway, Things I learned:

1) Expect the unexpected
2) Always have a back-up plan
3) Plan early
4) Read Bob Riefer's "How To Run An Event"
5) My room mates are behind me right now mocking everything I'm typing.
6) MORE FLIPSIDE
7) If you're planning to run the event with someone else, make sure they're reliable

ALWAYS invite Jeff to your jams
9) That 4-square courts should be bigger than I think
10) Swirling sets rule
11) Footbag players enjoy japanese mechanical kitty banks
12) Making your own shirts is hard, but worth it
13) Footbag players are the best people I've ever met. Even better then most of my highschool/college friends that sit around doing nothing with their lives.
13) And most of all.... I LOVE HOSTING FOOTBAG EVENTS. It made me feel like I was actually doing something to help out the footbag world, rather than just shredding with a few other people or by myself. I'm planning on hosting another one at my campgrounds in Harrisburg around Labor Day weekend to make up for the loss of Funtastiks. More on this in the future, when I find out more.

sen · Post by **sen** » 27 Apr 2011 13:44

Just watched the vid and really enjoyed it. You can really see progress with each vid you put out. I love seeing your mix of bigger tricks and the unique stuff you throw. Fun to watch.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 28 Apr 2011 12:49

Hey thanks, Tony! Much appreciated man. That was awesome to read.

I just took my Organic Chemistry final and got an 80%. Made it out with a high B in the class all together. Fa shizzle!

About to drive home for one last cardiologist appointment (hopefully) and then shred with Jackson & Bob. Probably just going to drill tonight.

F[uns]tylin' Eclectic · Post by **F[uns]tylin' Eclectic** » 28 Apr 2011 19:48

Stupendously enjoyable shred time happy greatness with Bob and Jackson tonight!

We all did a lot of drilling and experimentation tonight. I suggested that Bob should hit vortex because his spins are sweet and his drifters rule. He was so close to it! Footed a few times. He'll hit it... REAL DARN SOON. Jackson worked on clipper> clipper freeze. That will do him a world of good.

My highlights:

Leaning op toe bs! It felt so good! I know I can do more with this. Will be experimenting in the near future.

SeEeEeCrEt SeTtTtT (Bob told me not to reveal this to anyone until it's on tape and I get better at it and hit it clean every time)

Zipper set op legover (starts like Dustpan)

Inspinning clipper

Drilled a lot of spin clip> duck clip rpt. I think I got around 3 one time

Pixie Gyro Toe (going to work this more and try to hit mirage out of it)

Bob fixed my flip Pixies! Now every time I do them, I think about a death wall in front of me and if I touch the wall, I die!

This helps me stand straighter

worked toe Drifter bs a little bit

Every run for the next few weeks will start with Flip dimwalk (my homework from Bob)

Really fun session. I saw Bob's bunny! It's kinda Japanese, just like his daughter assured me! Oh and CUTE. I really like Peter Irish's style and I want to do more inspinning and leaning sets. I'd like to hit Leaning Jowler soon. I think that would be hot tits. Is that a cool thing to say? "Hot Tits"? Does that even make sense? Eh, maybe it'll catch on. I'm going to start using it in casual conversation. I think it has a ring to it.

I really like spinning. 2 more finals to go until I have the whole summer to practice my ass off and hopefully improve a lot! Hot Tits, That'll be great! It'll catch on...

Edit: This is the song I'm currently obsessed with. Favorite band, but never really cared for this song too much until last night, when I looked up what Olympus Mons actually was (Huge mountain on Mars and bigger than Everest... actually it's THE largest mountain in the entire solar system. Pretty cool, right?). Now it's one of my top favorites by them. If you don't know the Pixies, check yourself, stupid. Intellectualify yourself and listen to all their songs.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nM-Xx4faZI[/youtube]

DTank126 · Post by **DTank126** » 29 Apr 2011 09:27

Bah, that must be off of Bossanova isnt it? Thats the only Pixies album I dont have.... I WANT it!

Also, whats the secret set?!? Fusing? Nuclear? Swirling? Bev clickety? I demand video. DEMAND.

Rieferman · Post by **Rieferman** » 29 Apr 2011 09:31

The secret set is dope and I can say for sure that it was hit cleanly several times. It's possible that someone else has hit the set before, but I haven't seen it. And if it HAS been hit, I think Nick has the best chance to actually use it comfortably in a run which is much more important than being "first". In fact, I think Nick's biggest upside is that he will be able to incorporate so many concepts (both unique and familiar) into runs seamlessly.

yeah, so Nick's getting good in a hurry

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 29 Apr 2011 10:34

DTank126 wrote:Bah, that must be off of Bossanova isnt it? Thats the only Pixies album I dont have.... I WANT it!.

It's off of Trompe Le Monde. I highly recommend Bossanova though...that's my favorite album of theirs.

Glad to hear your game is improving so quickly. Looking forward to video of the secret set. You should hit it both sides in a string, too. Secret sauce...mmmm.