Nick "Houdini" Polini

[Matt K]

Cool, liked the little videos.

Stop doing Blazing stuff =P

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Don't bogart the blazing, bro So stoked for your concert in Glenside. Really looking forward to kicking with you again. Your ankle should be just about healed now! ...aaaaaannnnddd I just texted you this same thing, so reply to whichever you feel more significant/more fun

I only have one update and it's not entirely footbag related.. ok, well it kind of is.


Highlights:

I just bought a GoPro Hero3! So excited to start filming again! Going to try to film every session after I receive it.

That is all. *chhhh* Over.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Pretty fun hour-long session with Jackson after I got off work. Wish I had my GoPro though :/ Not many amazing things were hit, but for a short session, I was extremely pleased with what I came up with. Going to have to rehit all of that once I do get it.

Highlights:

All Stepping & Pixie shuffle: around 20 contacts. WORD UP PUT THE TURD UP. Fuck yeah mom.
Infinity Swirl b2b! So happy about that. I have wanted to get that for a long long long... long long ... time. This was also a challenge from Nick Pasquarello a few years ago. So happy I finally got that. It's all about setting lower. Once I realized that, I nailed it. Boom. Fuck yeah mom.
Near Butterfly Swirl BSOS (new trick on both sides)
To cap off the session... DOD Swirl bs! New on boaf of dem.

Best part of the session: I put my shred bag on top of an ant hill. So, I won that game.

After the session, Jeremy came down and we went on a run. We hit up a nice trail that runs along the river. During the run I looked across the river and see a medium-sized bird on a tree. I stop in my tracks and yell "bird!" like I always do when I see a bird (anyone who has gone into the woods with me or been near a field with me will understand this), I peer across the river and try to ID it, but there was a glare from the sun. I thought it might be a Red-Tailed Hawk, because I saw one on the same perch a month or 2 ago and I thought it had a similar body shape. Then I realized it was a Great Blue Heron. As I realize it, this scumchucker comes up from behind me, walking his dog and nonchalantly says, "It's a Heron." FUCK YOU, GUY! I KNOW WHAT IT IS! HOW DARE YOU TELL ME WHAT BIRD I'M LOOKING AT! I knew it was a Heron, I just couldn't see well because the sun was in my eyes. Bet that guy felt so smart for telling me what I was looking at. Actually, it was a GREAT BLUE Heron, he probably didn't know the exact species, just the family name. Ha. What an asshat. So as I was walking away, mind on fire with bird rage, I said, "Oh, a Northern Flicker" and pointed to some bird that was flying around. I don't know if it actually WAS a N. Flicker, but it was really sunny and I had no way of seeing any detail/color on it.. Just the first intelligent bird name that came to mind. The guy had no idea what I was talking about. IN YOUR FACE. Never mess with a bird nerd. Just for the record, I did see some real Northern Flickers further down the trail. On the way back, we figured we would see the guy again, but he turned around because he was so mentally fucked up from losing the bird battle. I felt bad for him, but at the same time, THAT IS WHAT YOU GET, DICKHEAD.

/end bird rant

[Cass]

Hahaha nerd rage


Props on DOD Swirl that's bawss

[krustykrakk]

I only read the caps parts. still happy.

[h0ag3yb3atZ]

Stop doing Blazing stuff =P

and double down swirls, ya dingus.

sound improvements nick-alfred. east coasts is gonna be fuuuuuun.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Can't wait for ECFC, Hogan Beetz. Twill be a fun time.

SO I got the YeoPro (coined by Hogan) in the mail the other day and tested it out last night.

Before you see the footage, know a few things...

-my road declines towards the curbs (because we're in a flood zone and that shape helps the water disperse) so I have to compensate for that by moving around
-I had just eaten dinner and a good amount of it too, so I was playing on a full stomach, plus I had a big protein bar before dinner, which was stupid
-I had worked out at the gym the day before, so my legs were so tired from that and they didnt wanna step or atomic as much as they usually do

Now check out the test footage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiwn71yf ... e=youtu.be

I'll stand closer to the camera next time I film.

Actually getting ready to go disc golfing with Drew Krause, then we're gonna shred. Will film da shit.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Played some Disc Golf with Drew Krause and Jackson this morning. We saw some cool wildlife including a wood frog, and a praying mantis eating a grasshopper. Got footage of that, not on my GoPro tho. Regretted not bringing it along :/ Anyway, we said we would keep score in our heads. Between my ADD and Jackson's... well, Jackson'ness, we both forgot what our score was on the 3rd hole. Whatever, we had fun anyway. We didn't play all 18 holes either, it was way too hot. After the half game, we went to RIta's and got some water ice, then found a parking garage to play some footbag.

Jackson hit Pixie Ducking Heel Stall, by accident, but it was madd cool. Drew was just getting back into it, but was getting things back quickly. Blur, Stepping ss Rake, Drifters, Dynos, etc... Also hit his first Gyro Mirage. Props Drew.

Highlights:

Today's new trick: Full Symp Alpine Stepping Osis
Ducking Symp Dyno 2nd try
Spikehammer BSOS & Twirl BSOS (same run)
Footed Blurry Whirl> Mobius BSOS
Pogo Blurry Torque> hand> Flip Pogo Blurry Torque> hand
Skull Smasher almost BSOS (I'm happy with one side though)
Some ok shuffle


I need to start setting Drifters lower. I go for the dex sometimes and almost dislocate my hip :/ I'm gonna start stretching that leg more and pulling it towards my chest and whatnot.

Fun session, but we didn't film and it didn't last long due to the heat, plus Drew had to leave.

Probably will have another session tonight with Jeremy, Jackson, and maybe Nadiah (if she comes down today)

Edit: Just hit my first Slapping Legovers bs (barefoot.. Might work on Quantum tonight)

[Strix]

Nice video Nick. I found myself cocking my head to the side as I watched LMFAO. "It was a funny angle!"

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Very Thanks! :B And that's what I get for mounting the YeoPro on top of a car

So I won't say how my second session went... I will just release the video sometime tomorrow hopefully.

I will say, however, that my cat threw up earlier and it looked kind of like Jesus sitting on a chair. Didn't think about taking a picture, because that would be weird... I regret that decision now.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Here it is. Da vibeo...

Enjoy!

https://vimeo.com/73667664

[Strix]

Ok so that was my favorite footbag video ever. First off the Ska was sweet to listen to. Then at 2:05 you had the Police tell you your AWESOME, twice. Then the little guy shredding at the end was bad assery. Oh and your shredding was pretty good to lol :p

Nice work. The quality of the video was pretty good all around as well, nice and clean.

[DTank126]

"Watch out, we got the new better guy than Honza." Hahahahahahahahaha. Best Jackson comment ever.

Other than that your vid sucks. You suck. Go buffalo some Buffalo buffalo you buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Was that an attempt at symp swirling blender at ~00:49?

[Cass]

Fun video!!

Little boy was sooo cute

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Hey thanks everyone!

Ryan, glad you liked the ska. I used to be HUGE into ska. I still love it though.

Doug, fuck you man, go hang a salami, im a lasagna hog. Also, no, that was a Swivel attempt :/

Cassy, thanks! Glad you liked it! And the kid is Jackson's nephew. He loves footbag right now.


So tonight, I really wanted to fix my whirls on flipside. I kind of found a way to do it but holy shit, are they stubborn. I just have to keep working my way up to doing them properly. Right now, most of my flipside whirls are thin or THE. I would rather fucking fall than work on my flip whirls, but I'm dedicated to this sport, so there's no way I'm going to let that slide. I feel like I have a bad disease after seeing my flip whirl on video, so I need to find a way to cure myself. Filmed some headcam strings with YeoPro but decided they weren't worthy of an upload.

However, I did film a new unicycle distance record tonight that I was stoked on. Check it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysabKZK4 ... e=youtu.be

Unicycle almost feels normal now, which is sweet.

Tomorrow, Toolman and I are meeting up at Berks to teach Albert Harris III. I love that kid's name. Anyway, off to sleep.

Oh filmed a backup sick 1, something I've actually never hit before. Want something bigger though. We'll see.

Thought for the night:

Scum Dumpsters & Patio Potatoes

[Strix]

I used to be huge into Punk and Ska back in high school. We had a big scene for it. I still listen to OLD punk and ska now and then. When I say old I mean 70's - 80's stuff. Cock Sparrer, Toots and the Maytals, Sham69, The Skatalites, my list is to long but had to throw out a few.

Nice Unicycle vid.

Thought for the night....random or inspired?

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Awesome dude! I love all of those bands, plus probably that entire list you didn't feel like naming

Filmed the other day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCwZqWs1 ... e=youtu.be

Nothing big, just a decent shuffle run with variety and Mike's first Mobius on flip.

Tonight, I sesh'ed with Jackson...

Highlights:

Fairy Clipper> Merkon *rpt a few times
Fairy ss Reverse Swirl BSOS
Fudge BSOS
Fairy ss Reverse Swirl> Ripstein

Nothing much really. Gonna start doing my normal drill days now to get ready for ECFC..

Oh also, I hit this as a back up for the Sick 1 comp, just in case I couldn't hit my goal trick, but I ended up hitting it the other day, so this is a new one for me.. I dont care if I'm not the first to hit it, I'm naming it "Ripped Flapprior", because that name is the BWOMMMMM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKdZc7Be ... e=youtu.be

[Strix]

@ "Ripped Flapprior"

Yeah what do they say on the east coast? "That ish was ill B"

...

Nice one Nick

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Wow, Ryan! I was totally convinced that you were an East Coaster for a second! lol Thanks dude.

So today marked the first day of drills set number 2. Pretty damn happy with where drills set 1 got me. Not exactly 100% satisfied with all of the drills or tricks, but I will be repeating the components with each month of drills to further solidify them. And as I've seen with my past shred, when I practice a concept, then abandon it and move on to other things, then come back to the first component, that first component is all of the sudden amazing. So this is my hope for my drilling this year. The way I look at it, just after Worlds, I did a month of Anssi's drills and they upped my game to a scary (for me) level. Still watching that last video, I'm pretty amazed at what drilling did for me in August. I think if I keep up my monthly drilling, my game will be at a pretty watchable level by the time Worlds rolls around again and I wont feel too awful about my game anymore. I'm also excited that some other players, like Hogan and Toolan have also been doing the drills, and it's been paying off for them, too.

I just wanted to clarify what my drill program has been... Since it worked well. I hope others try it.

August:

Part I) ATW-Orbit Suicide (ATW x3> Orbitx3> ATW x2> Orbit x2> ATW > Orbit> Switch feets> same thing> switch feet> same thing> switch feet> same thing)
Part II) Drills:
a) Sidewalk> Ripwalk *rpt (3x starting on each side, so 6 total)
b) Blur> Legbeater> Ripwalk *rpt (3x on each side)
c) Toe Drifter> DLO> Whirl *rpt (3x each side)
d) Toe ss Reverse Swirl> Blur BS (3x on each side)
Part III) Record trick: I try to break my record every time
a) Atomsmasher (set at 5 :/
Part IV) Trick Attempts:
a) Inspinning Clipper (10 good attempts on both sides)
b) Ripstein (10 attempts bs)
c) Paradon (10 attempts bs)
d) Pdx Whirl (10 attempts bs)
Part V) Warm down: kicks


September:

Part I) ATW-Orbit Suicide (ATW x3> Orbitx3> ATW x2> Orbit x2> ATW > Orbit> Switch feets> same thing> switch feet> same thing> switch feet> same thing)
Part II) Drills:
a) Fairy Clipper> Merkon *rpt (3x starting on each side)
b) Drifter> Whirl *rpt (but good frozen ones with awesome form) (3x on each side)
c) Fairy ss Mirage> Fear *rpt (3x each side)
d) Pdx Illusion> Atomsmasher BS (3x on each side)
Part III) Record trick: I try to break my record every time
a) Diving Osis (set at 5 tonight.. record broke by 2)
Part IV) Trick Attempts:
a) Swirling Mirage (10 good attempts on both sides)
b) Fairy Reverse Swirl (10 attempts bs)
c) Spikehammer (10 attempts bs)
d) DOD (10 attempts bs)
e) Pdx Drifter (10 attempts bs)
Part V) Warm down: kicks

Oh, and I do these drills every other day. On my off days, I cross-train (gym, kayak, ab roller, running, unicycle, etc..)

I couldnt get any better at Atomsmasher b2b so I figured I'd trail off on that one and see improvements in the future.

My Diving Osis record was broken within 2 tries. Stoked on that.

I was pissed the other day when I tried my new drills. I spent WAY too much time trying to hit Drifter> Pdx Drifter *rpt. So I decided to make that one Drifter> Whirl *rpt. I think this will fix my Drifters, even though I can do them pretty well already, but I feel like I can never be good enough at Drifters. However, I watched a video of Jay doing drift> pdrift *rpt and he jumps to the SIDE. I was like twisting the shit out of my hips and whanot. That was the wrong approach. So I started jumping to the side with my trick attempts of P Drifters. SO much better already. I hit 7/10 of them. So that was a big boost. Got kinda dark during my tricks, but My flip step duck for Spikehammer felt on fire. I ducked it every time. I hit like 6 on flip. I won't bother with strong side until my flip catches up, because my strong step duck is pretty consistent. Flip is looking way better though. Very cool thing I noticed with DOD. I hit almost all of them on flipside. My flip usually sucks... Then I realized, those flip Orbits have really been drilling that muscle movement into my legs. So that was awesome. Hit almost all of my Fairy Rev Swirls on strong and a lot of them on flip. Swirling Mirage feels great strong, flip needs work, but I'm feeling them out. I found that when I lock my swirl leg and make it more stiff, the swirl set goes higher and feels stronger. I know Pdx Illusion> Atom is a bitch link, but I SUCK at P Illusions. I was originally using Blizzard> Tapdown, but no way fuck that. I didn't hit it once. My flip Pdx Illusion was too uneducated. It feels a lot better now. I hit the link all 6 times. I love the way Fairy Clipper> Merkon and Fairy ss Mirage> Fear feel. So stylish. So pimp. Easier for me to do, as well.

Well, I hope reading about my drilling hasnt been too mindblowingly boring. If it's too stupid, then someone just say the word, and I wont blab about the drills anymore.

Oh and as one drill goal, I'd like out of this, it would be Swirling Mirage> Fairy Rev Swirl *rpt. I know I can hit it on strongside, but weakside isn't good enough yet.

After the session, I drank a protein shake and did ab rolls for about an hour and a half, on and off.

Now my abs feel like they're going to crawl away from my chest.

Drilling is so boring to read about. I apologize.

[Strix]

To some drills may seem boring. Although for someone like me who wonders what someone might do to get better, reading posts like that are insightful. Although to complete the circle of information you mentioned Anssi's drills...Something like training programs or drills?