Canberra, Australia via SCL - Daniel Boyle

[boyle]

I had rubberman, but then I stepped on my foot as I was going into the final part of the legbeater.

Will get this before I am 30. Which is next week.

[boyle]

I am always interested when these grand debates come up on the Facebook page, usually with something to do with the add system. What my view generally is, is that the add system is pretty fine. It helps you break down tricks into components and have a look at what is generally harder than what you can already do.

Somehow we've got to a system where routines are apparently all about adds, which is not how it should work. Many judges seem to forget a number of these elements.

http://www.footbag.org/rules/chapter/500

1. Presentation: The artistic and/or overall presentation of the routine, with a balance of the following five required aspects of presentation. Note that these are very subjective concepts, and are not entirely distinct from one another (e.g., music and movement may overlap with distribution and linking). The best routine in terms of presentation will maximize all five of these aspects, below.
a) Music and Movement: the relationship between the player(s) and the music, including the timing of moves and music, the rhythm of the routine, the start and finish of the routine, and the relationship of the structure of the routine to the structure of the music. This can be thought of as the artistic composition of the routine, analogous to technical variety.
b) Floor, Planes and Travel: the use of the floor area and the use of different planes (low, medium, and high moves and movements). This means a routine that takes advantage of the entire playing area is considered better than one where the player simply does repeated moves in one location.
c) General Form: the flow and confidence of the player(s) as they present their routine.
d) Distribution and Linking: the linking of moves together into combinations, and the distribution of moves among the composition categories. Note that while this is similar to technical density (504.06), this aspect of presentation refers to the way the player(s) have chosen to integrate their repertoire of moves into the routine for the purpose of presentation. (For example, using a dense sequence of "shuffle" moves during the crescendo, while using spins and flyers to perform a travelling sequence.)
e) Personality and Originality: the appeal of the player(s) to the audience, and/or their artistic impression on the audience or judges, generally incorporating some element of unique style and originality.

Anyway, I've been playing a lot lately, and last night I did some routine run throughs. Did one with thrre drops, most with lots. I have a whole bunch of boxes of Caroline's things in the garage now. Doesn't imped my shred space. Had a long chat with her last night, but couldn't tell you her plans for the coming months.

At least it's not like this time last year, where I knew her plans, but had to keep them under wraps.

Played squash today. Another loss. Gotta beat this bloke.sometime. I could feel some of my shots were getting much better, but some real laziness on the running.

There have been a lot of mentions of Australian bands in other people's blogs, which I find really intriguing. I don't know why the sudden surge in Aussie interest.

Here's some of my favourites. This is already a long post so I'll leave some stories about these for another day.

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

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fsMo7OAzXQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiR9BQNsth0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PYttCsuses[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngaf60XmT9M[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRTxVSGqw3Q[/youtube]

[bobgreen]

There have been a lot of mentions of Australian bands in other people's blogs, which I find really intriguing. I don't know why the sudden surge in Aussie interest.

I don't think I've mentioned listening to them, but I frequently listen to Joelistics as well as Bliss and Eso. I like them in general, but they are also very nice for kicking to.

[boyle]

I am expecting news on a few fronts and I think the results will shape my plans for the next years.

The best thing is if everything doesn't work out, I have work, a place to live and am getting along in my studies.

Hopefully in the very near future our things are going to arrive. Not much footbag news in there, though there are a couple of net bags, a pair of Lavers and a takraw in there.

Another interesting development is that Caroline will probably back in Australia quite soon, possibly by end of the month. Exciting.

Then I think I will hear about this grant. I know the committee met last week, so should find out one way or the other soon.

I also went for a job interview last week, and I think I will find out about that in the coming days.

[boyle]

It's my birthday today. I am 30. Francisca put together this great compilation of friends and family from around the world sending me well wishes. In terms of footbag news, there was some great ones from Caroline and Ian. Some other friends that I've been friends with for a very long time. I was very impressed that my Dad didn't give away the secret (not his strongest suit).

Anyway, Caroline also got Jay to add to the collection.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9KAk0Ltt5M[/youtube]

What was awesome in many of those videos, well there was one that had my friend Doug playing the "Green Machine" Raiders song on a ukulele, that was pretty good, but some of them were saying that I have achieved so much in the time that I've known them, and it is a good time to reflect on that. (Which I will do later on, as now I should be achieving an assignment getting done).

Anyway, good time to mention it, I found Ken's latest video really inspiring. One because it's awesome in general, two because Ken is older than me and has continued improving these last few years, three because it's all filmed on a GoPro and now I have one of them, which was a present for my birthday.

Don't know if I'll be making a flash video like that so soon, but definitely opportunity for better footage coming up.

Our furniture may be delivered this week...that'd be nice....

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Happy birthday dude you've still got plenty of years in the sport

[boyle]

Yes, I certainly hope so. I am playing the best I ever have, but I have not reached my peak yet.

[boyle]

Dropped Francisca and Nicolas off at the airport yesterday, then went down to the beach and had a swim, and played some footbag.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnwpb7c4wfk[/youtube]

Here are a few of the results. I got a few good things on video, and the best thing was it was the first real chance to use the GoPro in an outdoor setting in full sunshine. So that was pretty good.

So Caroline will be back in Australia at the end of the month. That's some good news for the Australian footbag scene. There is also a bloke who is coming to Melbourne from New York. That's good too.

[F[uns]tylin' Eclectic]

Damn. Phoenix> Food> Ducking Clip. Great combo. Super clean. Nice shred all around. I always find it funny when foot baggers do head cam with go pro, because I have like this terrible iconic memory blip about the first time I did that. It was so uncomfortable for me and it's almost like nails on a chalkboard when I flash back to it. Great POV string though. You nailed that one.

[boyle]

yeah, I'm not sure I like the head cam so much. Good little gadget to have, and one of the cheaper ones. It was great to have such a nice day and background to play in. I would like to build on that combo, something a bit more than ducking clipper...it just popped up that way, and that came out nicely, but I'm sure I could add a couple more fearless on to that and boost up my best in that. Looking forward to getting more use for the gopro though. Excited to have it.

[boyle]

So, I would have mentioned this grant I applied for a while back. I didn't get unfortunately. I was through to the second round, which selected 12 from the original 100, but then I was one of the unlucky three....voted off the island, shall we say.

I will apply for that grant again next year. It would be great to get. It is all about building links between Australia and Latin America, which is something that interests me.

Too bad not to get it, but life goes on.

Caroline is back in Australia this week and it is Ian's birthday this weekend, so that could be a mini footbag event in itself.

I had a couple of good tours yesterday. Aside from seeing a few world champs in action, I did my little footbag presentation dropless twice. I usually have one or two minor drops, as I am talking as well while doing it.

Had a good short session yesterday, over 20 guiltless on the first string.

So it's now one week since the family has been away. Been pretty slow going here. Had a nice lunch with a few friends yesterday.

Had our boxes arrive last week. It was about time...

[boyle]

Currently in Sydney. Going to Ian's 30th on the weekend. Lots of footy to watch also. Going to give Ian an "age appropriate" present. Think it should be fun, and a chance to kick. Caroline is still a possibility, but she is in Australia now which is good news.

Having been working a lot on my freestyle football lately, getting a bit better than that. Getting things like DATW pretty consistent. Working on footbag too. Hit whirlygig for the first time in a long time, giving plenty of demonstrations too. A few dropless here and there.

Had a good chat with Dean, one of the YHA managers. Bit of potential to do something alongside the Asian Cup in January.

[boyle]

In a rare turn of events, I have been playing footbag with other people. That's refreshing. Caroline is back in town, so we had a quick kick yesterday before I came down the coast.

I am uploading a video from the session. Caroline's game looks much better, much smoother. Couple of new tricks in there too. Considering that we last kicked together 3 years ago (almost exactly), one would expect a bit of a change in the repertoire.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct9rgBrp6ko[/youtube]

I wasn't really playing very well yesterday. I was quite sore. Anyway, I went up to Sydney on the weekend. My sister was going up there, so I got a lift with them. Watched the AFL grand final, which the Hawks, who are "my team", won. Again. Very easily this year. So the game wasn't particularly interesting as it was over as a contest halfway through.







The following day was Ian's 30th. It was in a nice park by the water, had a BBQ. I arrived right on Chilean time, about 2 hours late. I had gone down to the beach in the morning and it took me longer to get there than expected.

As seen in the pictures above, I did well with the weather. Oh, I played a little bit down by the beach as well. pixie ss whirl>vortex was a highlight there.

I gave Ian an "age appropriate" gift - a bottle of red wine and inside the bag for it I added a net bag. We also played some Kubb. It was really windy, which made things difficult. After being down on the ropes, we came back and had a victory. This was mainly thanks to Ian's girlfriend Jess, who knocked down the last of the blocks with ease.

We also played some footbag. Even though we were drinking beers midway through, and playing on grass, I hit a few good things. Enterrage was one, phoenix>food processor another.

Ian didn't really play, he wasn't wearing shoes, but Dyalan got in a few good runs, including some good quantum and atomic stuff. The last time he played was 6 months ago when I was out for the conference, so there was a bit of rust there.

[DC Clinks]

Nice pictures mate. Sounds like a fun time. Keep up the Sh®ed.

[boyle]

Cheersmate.

Had a bit more kicking today. Solo sessions, as to be expected in Bega. Though growing up going through high school playing hacky sack was pretty popular. That's a key to why I'm involved in this sport, so many years on, so that's something good. Speaking of my youth, I spent some time at the skatepark today. Met a couple of nice young blokes there. One had actually lived in Chile for a while a couple of years back.

Anyway, for those of you who aren't going to watch - I hit ripped warrior>matador for the first time today. I've been trying for a while, so was pretty stoked about that.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbgGY4aAj5M[/youtube]

Had a couple of good tricks up my sleeve today, but still feeling a bit lethargic. Think I'm going to try to rest early tonight. Have had a few late ones recently.

[boyle]

Had a good session yesterday. Went down to Floriade, which is a big flower festival, and brings many, many people to Canberra. After doing it for more than 20 years, they have also got the exact right time of year for the weather. It's after the bitter cold of winter, and before a few weeks away where all you here is "it's so hot, I wish it was winter again". Of course, for the Canadian and other northern readers, boo hoo, -7, harden up, etc, etc.

Anyway, went down with Caroline and we played outside the festival gates, and put down a hat. It took a little while before the coins came trickling in, and eventually we were thrown out of there. I had some good long runs, so did Caroline. By the time we were kicked out, we had almost $20 in the hat, which was after just over 20 minutes.

Copey, and his whole family, came to join us a while after. We kicked on a pretty crappy area, it was sloped, but I was still playing well. I hit that combo phoenix>food processor again, and also hit full symp tap a little later on. Since it's not every day in Australia that you have a three person circle, we finished the session with a little circle contest. Copey's daughter Sakura was the judged and she said I was the winner. I had a couple of good runs, especially in the density section. Good to practice circle contest strategies, rather than just playing in a circle.

Went and played tennis afterwards with my friends Rhys and Pete. We were playing on a very, very hardcourt (asphalt), with brand new, very bouncy balls. Pete was in strong form, against Rhys he served up a full games of aces. I played ok, and had some good rallies.

I played a bit of footbag on the court, then Rhys came over, he used to play a bit when we had the club at uni. He was kick along, did a clipper or two, and then he did around the world, which he had never done before. So he has realised that the key to improvement is not to practice at all....

[boyle]

I've got a positive feeling about the Australian footbag scene. While it's never really bound to "blow up", it seems there's a bit of activity, and even people saying they're keen to play. I got in touch with the bloke from Newcastle, who posted on footbag.org

I'm heading down to Melbourne tonight for the Oceania freestyle football titles, and he's going down there too, so I can get him started.

I did 50 guiltless today in a short session with Caroline. Also hit spinning ducking rake. Anyway, Chris from New York is also going to be arriving in Australia next month, so that would be another session.

The fact that I have had Copey, Ryan and Dyalan out for kicks in recent times is important too. They may not be playing much, but they've still got a few tricks in the bag. Think we will do a nationals in Canberra before the end of the year, since this is where there is a reasonably active scene.

Looking forward to the trip to Melbourne.

[Asmus]

Hey Daniel! Say hi to Caroline from me and enjoy Aus.

You feeling like writing something for BSOS.IT?

[boyle]

Yes, I have a few story ideas up my sleeve. One will be a bit of an extended response to the current big topic on Facebook, which is about the boom/bust of footbag.

I think a key issue has been that of people involved at an organising level to create a legacy. Things often come down to one person, then they leave and the scene is at a crisis point. There are a lot of factors. There are plenty of people still playing though, so that's good.



I am down in Melbourne for the Oceania Championships for freestyle football. I think there is great potential for collaboration with freestyle football, others not so much. I have had a couple of nice opportunities though just being down here, one was to go up in the Eureka Skydeck, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, and do a bit of a launch/filmshoot. A bloke from the news came along, but I don't know if it was shown.

I went up there with Olly Bowman, he has a pretty cool style. He lives in Christchurch, New Zealand so has played with Phil Morrison plenty of times over the years. He puts a fair bit of clipper work into his game, as well as tricks that are similar to a clipper (ball resting against the back of your leg kind of thing), and then does swirls and whirls out of them, which I'm sure have their own names.

I got an article in the local paper from my hometown, which was a bit of fun. I like the photo they used too, I completely forgot about that photo. That was a fun shoot - when the world cup draw was done and the "group of death" was Chile - Netherlands - Spain - Australia, we went to the corner of the streets Holanda and Chile - España and I did some footbag in an Australia jersey.

Here is the article - http://www.begadistrictnews.com.au/stor ... ch/?cs=510

I also have a google news alert for footbag, which doesn't go off very often, and that was in my inbox today. Anyway, I'm intrigued to see how I go at this tournament, I was having a bit of practice this morning and it wasn't looking all that promising.

Though I did hit ducking clipper>ducking clipper with a ball for the first time. I would just like to hit a couple of good tricks, not have too many drops, then I'll be satisfied.

[Asmus]

You are kicking butt promoting buddy! I like both photos in this post.