footbag in Europe

colefieldhouse22 · Post by **colefieldhouse22** » 28 Aug 2007 08:59

hey everyone,

I was invited to teach about footbag at a girls youth program that is focusing on sports that are played in Europe.

I was wondering if anyone had any information about the history of footbag in Europe like how and when it was brought over there or any thoughts about why footbag is relatively popular there.

Also, if you have any interesting information or facts about the scene in Europe, that would be awesome to have too.

Thanks!
Adrienne D.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 28 Aug 2007 10:43

You could mention that the world's best female player is European, as is the best male player (Tina Aeberli and Vasek Klouda). You could also mention that back in the 1980s there were only pockets of footbag, like random europeans who knew about footbag. I forget the name of the guy, but there was one dude who was real good at net and made footbag net bags. He was from the netherlands I believe [edit: Allen Petersen!!]? Footbag in Europe really began to spread with Justin Sexton from Finland, who was the first guy to really create a scene in Europe. He was organized enough that he got footbag tournaments officially recognized by the finnish govt, so thanks to some Finnish law the top few finishers at national (finnish) champs would have half their airfare paid by the Finnish govt to compete at World champs. That's why Mika K, Ilkka Malin, and Juho Vessa were at worlds from like 97-2000.

Also mention that the first footbag shoe in the world was made and marketed in Europe, the Quantums by planet footbag.

Senor Grommet · Post by **Senor Grommet** » 28 Aug 2007 13:42

Footbag is popular today in Europe primarily because it never suffered from the "stoner" stereotype like hacky sack did here in the US. In fact, there is one, maybe several, countries in Europe that include footbag as part of the physical education curriculum in the elementary/middle school years (Finland).

Additionally, Europe is much more of a foot sport culture than the US (a hand sports culture), take for example their love of Soccer as opposed to American Football and baseball.

Footbag is relativelt "new" and cool in Europe and has had the help of hard-working players/promoters (Russians in St. Petersburg, Jan Zimmermann in Switzerland, Mads from Denmark, Ole Shnack/many germans in Berlin and rankfurt Germany) and mass media coverage.

I don't know all of the specifics but if you contact some of these people, you can get a lot more specific info. At least you have some generalities to go on

mentor · Post by **mentor** » 28 Aug 2007 15:27

He he...

Things started years before footbag players in Finland and Justin Sexton kicked their first bag. There was more than one guy that was really good at net (ask Kenny) and they all came from Denmark not Holland.

I'll try to find time soon to give you the whole story about footbag in Europe.

It actually all began in 1981 when this guy http://www.footbag.org/members/profile/14882 brought home a Hacky Sack form his vacation in the States.

mentor · Post by **mentor** » 28 Aug 2007 16:00

This old thread might have some more info for you...

http://www.footbag.org/forum/viewtopic. ... ght=#10363

colefieldhouse22 · Post by **colefieldhouse22** » 31 Aug 2007 17:59

thanks ya'll! this was all really helpful!