The IFPA World Footbag Championship started in 1980. Here’s how it all began and how the championships developed.
The first Footbag Championships, at the time merely a national event, were held in Oregon (United States) in 1980.
The Golden Years
In 1983, the competition moved to Boulder, Colorado for two years until 1985, when the championships began a nine-year stint in Golden, Colorado. In this suburb of Denver, several unforgettable pages of Footbag history were written, including the first official World Footbag Championships, held in 1986. During these formative and critical years in the development of the sport, the Championships were organized and run under the auspices of the World Footbag Association (WFA).
On the Road to IFPA
Under player pressure, the Championships eventually moved away from Golden and the WFA, and became a roving event under the newly-formed International Footbag Players’ Association (IFPA).
The first stop was San Francisco in 1994 and 1995.
In 1996, the Championships left U.S. soil for the first time, bestowing Montreal with the honour as its host. The year was to become a landmark year in the sport’s history: for the first time, a Canadian, Sébastien Verdy, secured a title in the open (and strongest) category, winning Net singles and doubles, with Emmanuël Bouchard.
In 1997, the competition returned to the game’s roots in Portland, Oregon, where a record 212 players registered for the event, a number unsurpassed until 2003. In addition to the great sums of players, the level of talent made an immense jump from previous years, with top players receiving much attention. Peter Irish executed a show-stopping performance in freestyle finals, winning his fifth singles title, a world record he still holds today. The Championships were held in conjunction with a huge music festival, which attracted 200,000 spectators to the site every day.
In 1998, the World Championships returned to Montreal, and once again the event was an enormous success. The players greatly enjoyed Montreal, and tens of thousands of spectators witnessed the Freestyle finals at the Jardin des Etoiles and the Footbag Net finals at La Ronde. The year was especially memorable for Eric Wulff, Emmanuel Bouchard, and Carol Wedemeyer, all winning their first world champion titles in singles freestyle, singles net, and women’s freestyle, respectively. All delivered exhilarating performances, pushing the level of play to unprecedented heights. Bouchard has since defended his singles world champion title five times, and remained unbeaten in his last 30 tournaments, while Wedemeyer has won four of the last five women’s freestyle world champion titles.
Destiny brought the Championships to the Windy City, Chicago in 1999, where Scott Davidson claimed the singles Freestyle title on his home turf, upsetting hopeful up-and-comer Ryan Mulroney.
Mulroney returned with a vengeance in 2000 in Vancouver, and crushed the competition. At 21, he broke the judging system with a score that was theoretically impossible, in a decisive win that would make him the youngest player to win the singles freestyle title in at least 10 years.
2001 brought the Championships back to San Francisco, where Emmanuël Bouchard won singles net once again, and Ryan Mulroney defended his singles freestyle title, proving to be a huge step above the competition.
A New Era
In 2002, again in San Francisco, the sport of Footbag saw a new era in its evolution. Ryan Mulroney, hoping to tie the record of three straight singles freestyle titles was upset by a controversial call, and handed over the title to the newest phenomenon, Vasek Klouda, a 15 year old prodigy from the Czech Republic. On the courts, Bouchard dominated once again in singles, while the players from the U.S. reclaimed the doubles crown.
Footbag took another grand, evolutionary leap in 2003, when the World Championships touched down outside North America for the first time, gracing Prague, Czech Republic as its host, and drawing a record number of 215 competitors from 21 countries. Vasek Klouda and Emmanuel Bouchard continued to rule their respective events, and Europe saw a thrilling display of athleticism they will not soon forget.
Worlds 2004 were hosted in Montreal, Canada, for the third time. The audience had a chance to witness the dream match in singles net finals when Emmanuel Bouchard and the legendary Kenny Shults finally faced each other over the net. Emmanuel managed to turn this thriller into a victory and at the same time ensured his place as the worlds best net player. In freestyle finals Vasek Klouda continued his triumph by taking his 3rd successive World Championship title and the Finns reached their biggest achievement this far, when Jere Linnanen managed to take the 5th place. For the first time, there were four different nationalities represented (US, Canada, Czech Republic and Finland) in the freestyle final, which was a huge landmark in freestyle footbag history.
The 26th World Footbag Championships were held in Finland in 2005. At the Helsinki Sports house (Urheilutalo) a hugh crowd witnessed Emmanuel Bouchard winning the World Footbag Championship in open singles net for the eighth year in a row. In doubles Net he completed his title collection for 2005 when he and his partner JF Lemieux , also from Quebec Canada , won the battle against Florian Goetze from Frankfurt and Patrick Schrickel from Berlin. This was the first time a European Net Team advanced into the final of the World Footbag Championships ever. In Woman Freestyle Carol Wedemeyer once again proved to be very cool under pressure and executed a sweetly smooth and difficult 3 drop set that proved good enough to eek out the closest victory in her 7 year run. Tina Aeberli, a 15 year old phenomenon from Switzerland, put the pressure on by hitting a difficult and beautifully choreographed 3 drop routine just prior to Carol’s and became second after all. In open freestyle, 5 times World Champion Peter “The Executioner” Irish, USA, performed his final World Championship routine in nearly flawless fashion and in front of an adoring crowd. It was a one drop classic. Peter finished 5th overall and went out in style by setting a new world record in making the cut to the final round of Open Singles Freestyle at the World Championships for the 15th consecutive time.
The IFPA World Footbag Championships 2006 were hosted in Frankfurt, Germany. On the net court, the audience witnessed a landmark year in the Footbag sport’s history: for the first time, a European team, Florian Goetze and Patrick Schrickel both from Germany, won a title in the open category of Doubles Net. In open single net Emmanuel Bouchard won the final and the World Footbag Championship for the ninth year in a row against his Canadian team-mate Jean- Francois Lemieux. The women Freestyle competition was won with a beautifully choreographed routine by Tina Aeberli, who became second in the year before. Vasek Klouda executed a show-stopping performance in freestyle finals, winning his fifth open freestyle singles consecutive title and remains the man to beat at the World Footbag Championships for now.
Summary of IFPA Worlds Results
Single male Freestyle Champion
2007 Vasek Klouda
2006 Vasek Klouda
2005 Vasek Klouda
2004 Vasek Klouda
2003 Vasek Klouda
2002 Vasek Klouda
2001 Ryan Mulroney
2000 Ryan Mulroney
1999 Scott Davidson
1998 Eric Wulff
1997 Peter Irish
1996 Rick Reese
1995 Peter Irish
1994 Kenny Shults
1993 Peter Irish
1992 Peter Irish
1991 Peter Irish
1990 Kenny Shults
1989 Kenny Shults
1988 Rick Reese
1987 Kenny Shults
1986 Lon Lind
1985 Kenny Shults
1984 Andy Linder
1983 Jack Schoolcraft
1982 Event not held
1981 Event not held
1980 Event not held
Single female Freestyle Championesse
2007 Tina Aeberli
2006 Tina Aeberli
2005 Carol Wedemeyer
2004 Carol Wedemeyer
2003 Carol Wedemeyer
2002 Carol Wedemeyer
2001 Carol Wedemeyer
2000 Carol Wedemeyer
1999 Sam Conlon
1998 Carol Wedemeyer
1997 Sam Conlon
1996 Sam Conlon
1995 Sam Conlon
1994 Sam Conlon
1993 Sam Conlon
1992 Tricia George
1991 Sam Conlon
1990 Constance Constable
1989 Heather Muggleton
1988 Constance Constable
1987 Sam Conlon
1986 Tricia George
1985 Nancy Reynolds
1984 Event not held
1983 Event not held
1982 Event not held
1981 Event not held
1980 Event not held
Open doubles Freestyle Champions
2007 Vaclav Klouda/Jan Weber
2006 Michal Ostrowski – Tomasz Ostrowski
2005 Vasek Klouda / Jan Weber
2004 Vasek Klouda / Jan Weber
2003 Ale� Zelinka & Vaclav Klouda
2002 Daryl Genz/Rick Reese
2001 Daryl Genz/Rick Reese
2000 Daryl Genz/Rick Reese
1999 Tuan Vu / Eric Wulff
1998 Daryl Genz/Rick Reese
1997 Greg Nelson and Tuan Vu
1996 ?
1995 ?
1994 ?
1993 ?
1992 ?
1991 ?
1990 ?
1989 ?
1988 ?
1987 ?
1986 ?
1985 Jim “JimmyC” Caveney / Bruce Guettich
1984 ?
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?
“Women doubles Freestyle Champions”
2007 not played
2006 Tina Aeberli – Lena Scheiwiller
2005 not played
2004 not played
2003 not played
2002 ?
2001 ?
2000 ?
1999 ?
1998 Evanne Lamarche (Phoenix, AZ, USA) and Ann Kaplan
1997 ?
1996 ?
1995 ?
1994 ?
1993 ?
1992 ?
1991 ?
1990 ?
1989 ?
1988 ?
1987 ?
1986 ?
1985 ?
1984 ?
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?
“Open Mixed doubles Freestyle Champions”
2007 Gosia Nycz – Wiktor Debski
2006 Gosia Nycz – Wiktor Debski
2005 Samuel Hufschmid / Isabelle Widmer
2004 Sam Conlon / Greg Nelson
2003 Sam Conlon & Greg Nelson
2002 ?
2001 Greg Nelson/Sam Conlon
2000 Greg Nelson/Sam Conlon
1999 Lisa McDaniel (Berkeley, CA, USA) & Greg Nelson
1998 Carol Wedemeyer and Eric Wulff
1997 ?
1996 ?
1995 ?
1994 ?
1993 ?
1992 ?
1991 ?
1990 ?
1989 ?
1988 ?
1987 ?
1986 ?
1985 ?
1984 ?
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?
Single male Net Champion
2007 Emmanuel Bouchard
2006 Emmanuel Bouchard
2005 Emmanuel Bouchard
2004 Emmanuel Bouchard
2003 Emmanuel Bouchard
2002 Emmanuel Bouchard
2001 Emmanuel Bouchard
2000 Emmanuel Bouchard
1999 Emmanuel Bouchard
1998 Emmanuel Bouchard
1997 Randy Mulder
1996 Sebastien Verdy
1995 Randy Mulder
1994 Randy Mulder
1993 Danny Borsky
1992 Kenny Shults
1991 Randy Mulder
1990 Kenny Shults
1989 Kenny Shults
1988 Kenny Shults
1987 Gary Griggs
1986 Kenny Shults
1985 Kenny Shults
1984 Kenny Shults
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 John Stalberger
1980 John Stalberger
Double male Net Champions
2007 Patti Schrickel, Florian Goetze
2006 Patti Schrickel, Florian Goetze
2005 Emanuel Bouchard, J.F. Lemieux
2004 P.T. Lovern, John Leys
2003 Emmanuel Bouchard, Yves Archambault
2002 Peter Shunny, Chris Siebert
2001 Alexis Deschenes, Yves Archambault
2000 Danny Borsky, Randy Mulder
1999 Emmanuel Bouchard, Sebastien Verdy
1998 Emmanuel Bouchard, Sebastien Verdy
1997 Kenny Shults, Randy Mulder
1996 Emmanuel Bouchard, Sebastien Verdy
1995 Kenny Shults, Randy Mulder
1994 Kenny Shults, Randy Mulder
1993 Kenny Shults, Randy Mulder
1992 Kenny Shults, Randy Mulder
1991 Chris Routh, Jim Caveney
1990 Kenny Shults, Mag Hughes
1989 Chris Routh, Ken Hamrick
1988 Kenny Shults, Mag Hughes
1987 Kenny Shults, Mag Hughes
1986 Kenny Shults, Mag Hughes
1985 Kenny Shults, Mag Hughes
1984 ?
1983 Shults / Hughes
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?
Single Female Net Champion
2007 Jody Welch
2006 Julia Tikhomirova
2005 Tina Lewis
2004 Julie Symons
2003 Jody Welch
2002 Jody Welch
2001 Jody Welch
2000 Lisa McDaniel
1999 Tricia George
1998 Jody Welch
1997 Tricia George
1996 Lisa Mc Daniel
1995 ?
1994 ?
1993 Jody Welch
1992 Jody Welch
1991 Jody Welch
1990 Jody Welch
1989 ?
1988 Jody Welch
1987 ?
1986 ?
1985 Tricia George
1984 ?
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?
Doubles Female Net Champions
2012 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
2011 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
2010 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
2007 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
2006 Lisa Uebele/Helena Schlichting
2005 Tina Lewis Sam Conlon
2004 Genevi�ve Bousquet, Maude Landreville
2003 Amy Westberg-Lisa Mc Daniel
2002 Julie Symons / Jody Welch
2001 Lisa McDaniel, Amy Westberg
2000 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
1999 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
1998 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
1997 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
1996 Jody Welch, Julie Symons
1995 ?
1994 ?
1993 Jody Welch, Tricia George
1992 Jody Welch, Tricia George
1991 Jody Welch, Tricia George
1990 Jody Welch, Tricia George
1989 Jody Welch, Tricia George
1988 ?
1987 ?
1986 ?
1985 ?
1984 ?
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?
Mixed Doubles Net Champions
2011 Jody Welch, PT Lovern
2010 Jody Welch, PT Lovern
2007 Lisa McDaniel / Florian Goetze
2006 Julia Tikhomirova/Andrew Ronald
2005 Andy Ronald / Sam Conlon
2004 Alexis Desch�nes, Julie Symons
2003 Amy Westberg-Emmanuel Bouchard
2002 Lisa McDaniel / david Butcher
2001 Marilyn Demuy, Emmanuel Bouchard
2000 ?
1999 Sebastien Verdy (Outremont, QC, Canada) & Tricia George
1998 Amy Westberg, Emmanuel Bouchard
1997 Randy Mulder, Julie Symons
1996 Brent & Jody Welch
1995 ?
1994 Brent Welch, Jody Welch
1993 Brent Welch, Jody Welch
1992 Brent Welch, Jody Welch
1991 Brent Welch, Jody Welch
1990 ?
1989 Brent Welch, Jody Welch
1988 ?
1987 ?
1986 ?
1985 ?
1984 ?
1983 ?
1982 ?
1981 ?
1980 ?