When Did You Start Playing and What Keeps You Still Playing?

[boyle]

What it says in the title. When did you start playing - what got you beyond circle kicking and what makes you keep playing?

[Max Power]

I started kicking in high school very casually. It was a fun activity to pass time and hang out with friends. In 02 Benny invited me to the middle Pennsylvania for a hacky sack tournament. I had no idea what that meant and said yes. I found myself in a room filled with shredders like Ken Solominos, Jon Schneider, Flash Bevier and many others. I had no idea what was happening, totally intimidated. I found a circle my speed with hacky sack Jack and Dan Greer. I went home thinking I can't get that good but I could learn a few things. I started practicing from time to time and playing with Benny. I'm not sure how long it took, was it a few months or up to a year at some point I got the bug. Having people around my level who wanted to learn too who I could play with was an important factor at the time. Eventually I found NYFA and having a large group with many players who were much better was motivating a bit later.

I think most people who play this sport know the feeling of surprising yourself. That's always motivated me and I think having that feeling the 1st time is kinda how you catch the bug. I think it needs to be a bit of a complicated movement though. I did a flapper stall early on, I was surprised but had no idea what to do with it. Doing something like a dim walk or dlo or datw maybe. Idk on your 1st days all those things seem impossible buy once you get it you suddenly think...I can do anything.

I feel like I'm rambling