footbag.org

[Maxime Boucoiran (lord2)]

Hey everyone, I was at world's this year and yes I also think it rocked. Then again it was pretty much what I'd expected it to be: lots of shred, and lots of parties with ridiculously cheap beer and LOADS of footbaggers everywhere. I remember a lot of americans/canadians saying that these Worlds were the best they had attended. Tu (Vu) was telling me how these worlds had the spirit of footbag in the US 10 yrs ago. Ahren (German) I take it loved the party scene, Sunil also had some similar comments if I recall correctly.
I don't know what the US footbag scene is like as I have yet to attend a comp there, but from I've gathered it's just not the same. What is wrong with it? As I said the current scene in Europe has been compared to what the US scene WAS like (some years ago). So what heppenned? Why is less fun than before? Is Europe heading in the same direction?

[Jane Zerbe (jane)]

Hey Max,

World's was fun this year; I've had an incredible time at every World's I've ever attended. I think the vibe at World's changed in the states when net and freestyle were not hosted at the same site location. This split the net players and freestylers apart so that we weren't able to all hang out together as much, or able to support eachothers event(s). Also, as the level of play increased, players became more selective in their kicking circles and surfaces. This didn't exist at World's in Prague...it was like old times...everyone kicking with everyone no matter the skill level. Freestylers watching net matches, net players watching freestyle events.

There are a lots of other factors...
World's has been in San Francisco many times. A lot of people live in the vicinity or have friends in that area, so many US residents save money by not staying in the host hotel and driving their own cars. That totally kills the party scene by splitting up the players into several smaller groups instead of everyone hanging together. It's pretty lame actually.

There are a lot more reasons i can think of, but I think these are the main ones. It was the first time that North Americans got to be the foreigners in a distant place, and it reunited us like to good 'ol times that Tu, Ahren and Sunil, etc all mentioned to you.

Oh yeah, the European scene is fresher and younger...there's a lot of energy and excitment there by having the 1st World's ever outside of North America.

I'll stop now

[Ali Dastrandj (spinnin)]

Tu, Ahren and Sunil were smashed in Frankfurt, then came to Vienna(and got smashed), and then finally joined the other smashed people at the Worlds(and got smashed).

All that combined with a sport they love! WOW!

Jane, you said the European Scene is fresher and younger - uhmm... What about the scene in the States. I believe that the "fresh&young" of the states probably weren't able to fly over to Prag, right?

It's about the sport: I think the States has loads of "fresh&young" players who are waiting to play and party with the "older" scene. GET TOGETHER !!!

[Ian Pritchard (chopper)]

Maybe the sweetness of Worlds this year in terms of partying and atmosphere and the whole social thing, will give Worlds in North America a kick in the pants for next year. not that i have any idea what these comps are like and have only read about them...

[Grischa Tellenbach (grischa.tellenbach)]