brad@anize
Updates, Travel Diary, Photos and Thoughts
So Internet usage isn�t as easy and frequent as I�d maybe like, so here the little bit I can get down now.
First up, its great to be at Worlds. Frisbee people everywhere. The logistics here are hopeless. Fields and hotels spread all over the place and no organised parties. Its practically impossible to spectate and properly catch up with friends. And Internet. The bus timetable is awfully scarce and they don�t always turn up, meaning you lose time getting anywhere. Hopefully that will get better or we�ll find ways around it.
The opening ceremony involved meeting at Cathedral square where it proceded to piss down in buckets. Everybody wet. By this time I�d met some of the South Africans and the Xhosa players (mainly juniors) responded in voice, singing, stomping (dancing) and smiling in the torrential rain. The other teams loved it. The finnish dancers in white tshirts on the stairs got both wet and photographed. After a walk to the stadium and an uneventful (from where I was) opening ceremony, Australia took on Finland. Hopefully there is lots about this on the links on the left column. The Aussies made mistakes and fell behind, but two stretches of fantastic defense, brought them back and put them ahead to win 17-15. Pottsy played a HUGE first half and great game. YES AUSTRALIA. I split my time between South African and Australian contingents meeting the first and making reunions in the second, even if Mel came back with “I don�t know who you are”. Ooops. She got it eventually.
Our first game against Canada, went to 1-1. Wow. It ended 2-17. Their offense wasn�t working, but we don�t actually have one. This was a fun game. They handed out some presents for Male MVP (the other Brad (Swimmer)), Female MVP (Abby) and gave me Most Spirited Player which was nice. GB on the muddies and squishiest pitch ever also went 2-17. Voodoo unfortunately rested this one and Tina took a while to see me. Mud smelt shitty. I laid out repeatedly. I played as a handler and in a zone (we played a weak version of huck and zone, but its not at all windy) I played deep-deep. Ummm… I shouldn�t really be doing that at Worlds. Its all good.
Nighttime hassles with buses and a �15 taxi later, dinner was eaten (Bolognese) and South Africa went for Beers and dancing on a boat on the river. It was good. These people are fantastic. The walk home wasn�t.
Today we only had one game against the French and I was a bit surprised, but unfortunately we�re excellent at achieveing 2-17 scorelines. Before that we did some drills and things, with enough beginners on the team that they are learning simple things like run a deep and a short cut.
I eventually got to see the Australians play Germany in the mixed division, where Oz did not bringe their A-game and I had to watch my friends beat them convincingly. I only knew 3 of the Australians, but watched with Broken leg Sacha and Mel. Kel presented me with T-shirt and CD for Portugal. Yeah Australia. Sch�n gespielt Fruende.
Back to the main fields, failed to get washing in (tomorrow the bus for 9am game leaves at 7:50 and the washing arrives at 8), dinnered (curry and rice) and showered with the Germans and their Vodka. German Ultimate has its positive sides and they only held it a little against me that I�d cheared against them (but for them as individuals…)
Other results that I picked up, Oz juniors (male) are 2-2, Mixed beat Switzerland convincingly (after losing in Zurich pretournament), Canada women beat USA including an 8-1 run (I caught the start of the game and said “Aaron said I should say Hi Gwen”), USA crushed Australia (Open) where apparently they didn�t bring their game.
I hope the results are up in more detail on the WUGC website.
cya,
brad