registering: intermediate or open?

calemccoy · Post by **calemccoy** » 10 May 2010 18:23

hello everyone! so, i am obviously asking this question for my own personal situation, but i feel there could be benefit from general discussion on this topic. i have never officially competed before, and plan on competing at this year's U.S. open and at worlds.

do i register for open, or intermediate?

ive heard in the past that unless your level of play is exceptional, which mine is not, you should register for intermediate if you have never competed before. however, i feel at least considering the smaller turnout of intermediate players at uso, that my registration in intermediate might be a slight sand-bagging; conversely, the open category at uso, not to mention at worlds, seems a ridiculously high level of play for me to compete in with no prior experience or immense skill. what do you think?

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 11 May 2010 05:37

Go open. Intermediate should only exist for people who wouldn't compete at all if there wasn't an intermediate event. If you go in a lower event so that you can place better, that's pretty much the definition of sandbagging. It's also silly that there is even intermediate events at world championships. Compete against the best, get smashed, learn from it.

Empty · Post by **Empty** » 11 May 2010 08:22

I read posts on Your footblog, i don't know how it's going in the USA but in Poland intermediate is for players with no experience. You play in the intermediate if you are on first, second, third turnament or jam. Then you play in open. I think playing in open will be better for your progress. You will want to play with bests players, take nice play and beat more expierience players

But it's only my opininon

g00d33 · Post by **g00d33** » 11 May 2010 10:56

Yeah, I also say do open. You'll get more out of it.

Reid · Post by **Reid** » 11 May 2010 19:22

I think Polish players should be entered open as soon as they leave the womb.

habitat · Post by **habitat** » 14 May 2010 14:07

Open. I competed at the US Open 2006 and went "open" and got dead last in every category and I actually did pretty well for myself. Felt shitty at the time but it was actually a good experience looking back at it. I would have stomped Kyle and crushed his dreams of bragging to everyone he was the intermediate champ.

Abe · Post by **Abe** » 14 May 2010 14:47

I don't think there's anything wrong with going intermediate.
I'm pretty sure Ryan dominated his intermediate pool and so did David.

If your inexperienced at doing routines, go intermediate. The level of play in routines at 2008 worlds blew me away. I think you'll have plenty of challenge. I think it also helps tournament directors seed open pools if inexperienced do intermediate, especially at a large event like worlds.

I always thought your play was good, and there is no intermediate circles, shred, or STP so you can always have your open experience in those events.

KRyan · Post by **KRyan** » 25 May 2010 01:57

I don't know if I should go open or intermediate either. I competed at my first comp this year and I didn't do too poorly but I know I would probably come dead last if I went open. Also if I did intermediate, that means I won't
be able to do shred 30, circle etc as they are only open events right?
You can check a recent video of mine to see my skill level, or if you know who I am, advise me on what I should do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iKkA-AN ... tube_gdata

I am on the right of screen

Asmus · Post by **Asmus** » 25 May 2010 05:56

Maybe you could do intermediate at USO and see how it feels?

KRyan · Post by **KRyan** » 25 May 2010 06:16

I was thinking of going to USO but I don't know if I would be able to miss two weeks of Uni

Really want to go, but I would need to go from san fran to portland and back for as cheap as possible as well. Its going to be quite expensive.