Day 13 - November 18th

Josh sent me an email telling me to update my blog more.
There are two things wrong with that. First, his comment on my previous entry encouraged me to spend more time away from computer screens. Secondly, Josh hardly ever updates his blog.
This email was out of line, Josh. It truly was. For shame.

I am, however, sorry that it's been so long. I had a tournament to play in and it took up most of my time. I ended up rooming with a couple girls from the women's team (Little Miss Bossy was the team name) and one guy (Brandon) from my team. We are beachfront with a view of the ocean right where the sun sets. It's out of a movie, it really is. The beach is great, and the waves are solid too. The day before the tournament a few of us went surfing. Steve-o (playing with Mephisto from Montreal) was the only one with any experience, and most of his experience was dictated to him half an hour before we set out by the guy he was staying with. Anyway, we let him go first to see what it was like, and the waves were so strong he couldn't get out to the break. So that was a waste of time, but an entertaining one at least. Brandon and I went boogie boarding later in the week, and it was pretty cool. We didn't last very long, because we were so sore. I still am sore. Probably will be for some time.

For anyone who doesn't know, I was competing in the World Ultimate Club Championships (as in Ultimate Frisbee, but it's not a frisbee, it's a disc, because Frisbee is a brand name. And we weren't playing with Frisbees, we were playing with Discrafts.), which is a week-long tournament that happens every 4 years. 4 years ago it was in Hawaii. Now, all the tournaments back home are 2 or three days... usually a Saturday/Sunday or a Friday/Saturday/Sunday, and those are tough enough. The whole week-long thing really is a draining experience. It also didn't help that our team (Too Bad) had only 10 or 11 guys, where most teams had at least 18. Some brought closer to 30. So I got a lot of playing time, which is good for experience, but I felt like hell every morning all week. The pool we got seeded into was the toughest one in the tournament, with the top-ranked Sub-Zero (USA), the eventual runner-up, Thong (AUS) and the second best (to the champion Buzz Bullets) Japanese team, the Bouhsears. Our team had never played together before and these guys have been together for years. So we dropped all three of those games in spectacular fashion, and were re-seeded into a more reasonable pool. We won our opener in that pool, but then drew a really deep Aussie team (Deathstar) that really pushed us and left us drained. We lost, and we didn't really ever recover. We played some beatable teams (EMO from the UK, the Columbian team and another Japanese team, Flippers) and were with them for the early going in all the games, but their depth took over and they all pulled away in the second half. So we didn't do so hot, but the experience of playing the best teams in the world, as well as teams from everywhere, was amazing. And the games were spread out enough that we got to watch some really solid ultimate between games. Mephisto, the Montreal team with a handful of Edmonton representation on it, came in with high hopes, and swept their opening pool (including a prime-time universe point win over the UK's Clapham, and another universe point win over the New Zealand team). Universe point essentially means it's a tie, and the next point wins. You win the universe, apparently. Just ask Shannon. Anyway, they then drew the aforementioned Thong, and lost on universe point in painful fashion, and they hit a bit of a slide from there, losing to both other Aussie teams in their pool before beating Fire of London to scrape a spot in the quarters against the Japanese Buzz Bullets. Now Buzz Bullets-sponsored by, and employed by, a Japanese window-making company. They get time off to train and get airfare free etc. So they are essentially semi-professional. They were easily the class of the tournament. So Mephisto ended up 8th, losing a lot of close ones. The ladies team won their opener and their closer but had some trouble in between.

But it was really an unreal experience. I didn't injure myself or re-aggravate my hamstring, and I'm certainly in running shape now, and I'd like to think I learned a thing or two.

Most of the week, it was go home and pass out reading on the couch and wake up very sore. Once, though, we had a team BBQ. Kangaroo meat!!I played cutter/striker the whole tournament, and got very little time off, which meant I was essentially the designated runner, as I was the youngest guy on my team by almost 6 years. So I am tired. And am walking like I have a stick up my ass.

The Japanese won the Open, Women's and Master's (old guys) titles, but Vancouver's Team Fisher Price pulled out the co-ed title.

The party last night, after everyone was finised except for the finalists, was great. We drank, we danced, we got kicked out, so we hit another bar and did some more of the same. The Edmonton contingent in the back of one of the late-night shuttle busses was quite vocal, with renditions of 'Summer of '69', 'Build me up Buttercup', and that song about a moose that likes juice. The song works because moose and juice rhyme. Oh, and there was a Hockey Night in Canada theme song appearance earlier in the night.

I taught everyone how to play Trapped and everyone loved it, more and more as the game went on (as is usually the case). We got lamb kebabs (donair, essentailly) and crashed poolside at the end of the night. We watched the finals today under a makeshift lean-to using tables and water jugs and milk crates. We are nothing if not resourceful.

There is a BBQ tonight at the condos Mephisto stayed at. I have lamb meat and chips and am quite excited.

Tomorrow, there is the Red Bull Air Race which involves some sort of strange flying mechanisms and large pylons in a harbour. So I hope to catch that.

After that, I really am not sure yet. I am considering going to a 4-day surf camp and learning to surf. Apparently the price is quite reasonable, and I think that another round of stress on my muscles is exactly what I need. I also want to end up in Melbourne in early December for a hat tournament (ultimate tournament where the players are split into teams at random).

The camera I have, but I can't turn it on. It may need batteries, so I will get it new ones and see. No progress on the laptop, but I have been busy.

I have a decent tan (farmer's) and a light burn on my face, but overall I think I handled the sun well. And it has been nothing but sun.

Also, I traded that Canada shirt you got me, Mom, the red one with 'Canada' down the back, for a really cool Shiok! jersey (Singapore co-ed team). Our Too Bad jerseys were ugly and plain, so I am stuck with both of those.

OH! Forgot. We went to the zoo! Saw cool animals. I like wombats. Like that story, Wombat Stew. Remember that? Ewey-gooey-yummy-chewy wombat stew!

I hope someone picks up on that reference.

The tournament is over, and the adventure starts tomorrow.

I'll keep you posted.

-P