modified.in

FlexThis · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject: Contributions to Footbag

I would like to clear the air and allow the opportunity for others to do the same. This thread was created as a way to boast about your contributions to Footbag however big or small. I'll start with a few that I am proud of, and hope others will be inspired to share as well.

1.) Shred Session: This was the first and only Flash video game made for the sport of Footbag Freestyle. The characters are hand drawn outlines of actual players who were influential in the sport at the time of it's creation. The entire project took 9 months to create and was later added to by popular demand and even included a Save and Load feature of high scores. Special thanks went to Cameron Kennedy for writing the Perl Script used to store all the data and to 24 Hour Fitness for allowing me the time to create the video game. Special thanks was also given to all the players included as outlines in the game. This includes Steve Goldberg and Footbag.org!

2.) Abshire Bag Builder: This was actually the third iteration of the Abshire Bag Builder. This project was done as a way for the community to order custom colored bags from Abshire without contacting him directly. The first interation featured 8 patterns and 20 colors and was linked to Paypal. As smaller bags became more and more prevalent, the bag builder was simplified and colors and options reduced so that bags could be guaranteed a pro-formance (coined by Richie Abshire) level of play.

3.) Named the trick "Paste" aka Pixie Rev. legover.

4.) Invented 28 unique rake tricks that had previously not been explored.

5.) Coined the phrase "Bigfoot" as in Bigfoot and Sideways. This was in conjunction with Ellis Piltz.

6.) Built zoharpro.com (aka Flipsider before the name change). This was a basic layout template that I handed over to Ellis so he could update content himself. The site was later changed to Flipsider and redesigned.

7.) Created banners for Modified Awards. Also created graphics upon request for a select few players bold enough to ask (Thanks for asking - I enjoyed making them for you!)

These are just some of the contributions I have made in my 12 year career in footbag. I have also had the pleasure of attending and participating in the following tourneys and Jams:

1.) Funtastik '97 - Met Steve Goldberg, Sam Conlon, Rippin' Rick Reese, Scott and Valleria D, Peter Irish, Eric Wulff and Carol, Sunil, Daryl Genz, Vence Bradley, Robert Refer, and many many others.

2.) Christmas Jam '97 (Pennsylvania) - Kicked on stage at a mall in the top circle with Peter Irish and Jason Crook. This was an informal Jam of about 16-20 players and very chill. One of my favorite experiences. We were the entertainment for an entire mall for the day.

3.) East Coast '98 (Pennsylvania) - Kicked with Scott D, Peter Irish, Robert Refer, Josh Penny and many others.

4.) Worlds '99 (Chicago) - Made Derrick's videos on footbag.org for a couple of runs. Met too many players to mention including Kenny Shultz, Ken S, Red Husted and Ryan Mulroney. Battled Dave Holton for the first non-Kenny 7 add move. My trick was deemed non-paradox and therefore was only worth 6 adds. But it was fun laying it out for Dave at the host hotel in a room between beds (super small space).

5.) San Fran Jam '00 - Met Torch and shredded with him. This was probably the highlight of my tourney/jam career. Torch was very inspiring at the time with his short runs filled with HEAT.

6.) Venice Beach Jam '02 - Met Ales Zelinka and shredded with him. Got to see Triple Over Rake and was excited to see that Rakes were in existence in other parts of the world as well.

After 2002 I took time off from Freestyle to spend time with my new wife and kids. I picked the bag up again around 2006.

7.) San Diego Jam 2008 - Helped informally judge a mock competition and participated in the Rippin' Run contest. Too much fun!!! Luckily got to meet some of today's superstars including Ben Skaggs and Evan Gatesman. Evan is so good in person that I was literally too in awe at his talent to participate in his cirlce. I even told him so and graciously stepped out of his circle. True story.

Feel free to boast away! I felt compelled to share and hope some of you will do the same.

~peace
_________________

max · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:11 am Post subject:

Hey Damon, don't you also currently hold the paradon rake (world) record?
_________________

C-Fan · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

I think he also invented Thriller and MJ Thriller.
_________________

FlexThis · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject:

I hold several world records:

Pixie Paradon Rake X 3
Paradon Rake x 13
Pixie Rev. Whirling Rake x 7 (I have video of this one! Not uploaded yet)
Sym Rev. Whirling Rake x 5 (same side)

I also have some non-obscure records that I am trying to get on video as well. I play a lot more lately and am hoping to get everything on video so as to not come across as so much of a shit talker. It is exciting! I was so close to beating a record yesterday, but fell short by 3. Today is another day... I'll just try again. Very Happy

BTW - This thread was intended to clear the air for a select few players who only believe that a modified member's opinions are valid if they have contributed to the sport. I feel we all contribute simply by playing footbag. But that is not good enough for some, so I posted a few here. I have more to add, although I am more interested in what others feel they consider as their personal contributions.

I know you got some Ken

Wink

~Peace
_________________

Zeke · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:25 pm Post subject:

Eh, I really don't do much... I'm just bored at work.

crazylegs32 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:56 am Post subject:

he dint hit the first fairy rake or royal rake tho> but Im sure I didnt either. Zeke get props on suggesting fairy same rake tho, just after 99 worlds
My contribution was to do noting but fairy moves when nobody else on the footbag planet(minus aus, they wer all over fairy but had no vids) seemed to do any of them. I learned it all from a guy from alabama I think? somehow the whole local area was able to do fairly moves after I popularized it, I even got Scott D to learn a new trick and hes got fairy and nuke in his arsenal. I really love how my favorite stylers utilize the fairy moves- Flash has some insane style and incorporates fairy and I saw slick nicks old fave move as fairy barroque- thats like the best ever imo!!! nuclear is really my fav tho but after an injury I just cant do it anymore/
_________________

C-Fan · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:28 pm Post subject:

Don't you also have the legbeater rake record too?
_________________

FlexThis · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject:

crazylegs32 - That's awesome. I know Jason Crook did a lot of fairies leading up to '99, but just Fear, Fairy Butterfly and Fairy Legover, nothing too note worthy.

Ken - I want to get that one on video just for you Wink

. However, I believe I challenged you to take that one from me. It is open as of today - so go for it. I don't have a cam, so I have to wait until I shred with someone who doesn't mind filming me and then handing over footage. It's not like I can go out and just film any old time. Still waiting to see your contributions. I remember you rocking Leviathan back in the day - that was huge!!!

I hit spanish fly the other day - just one more dex right?

~peace
_________________

C-Fan · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

FlexThis · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject:

All picking aside Ken - You have been inspirational to not only myself but many many many players. I mean that!

I am glad to see that our age has not kept us from enjoying freestyle. I must admit that it is a lot more difficult to muster the energy needed to perform at any level above intermediate at my age (34). The knees take longer to warm up, the shred times are shorter, and the meat of my strings has decreased significantly over time. I am also shredding at 205 lbs. on a 6' 1" frame, so the energy required is high.

Aside from that I am still trying to break records in my free time. Video verified records that is. Although I don't agree 100% with the list of moves presented (there could be more), I would still like to take a few spots while the numbers are reasonable. I know how I feel after trying to break a record of 50+ or more, and know that I am no spring chicken and expect to see anything I post shattered by the youth of today. It is still fun trying though while I am still able.

~peace
_________________

slapdash21 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

wow see what a nice, positive thread!!

and i agree i feel like there should be a place to brag about your footbag contributions/accomplishments, because while there's a lot of appreciation during and after big footbag events, and maybe for a few random videos, but i feel like people move on too quickly and forget about some of the huge effort and sacrifices many of us have made for the sport. some people have made bigger contributions than others (some people have seriously dedicated their lives to footbag), and the most appreciation should go to people that have taken on pretty thankless tasks.

i can sum up my contributions pretty quickly...

i brought footbag back to boston, recruited several new members, held down the scene for months when people quit or moved away, stitched bags for little or no money for guys in my crew, hosted shoe-modding parties, and hosted the first tournament in MA in probably over 10 years, which included about 20 people staying at my house, and the planning of which took approx. 4 months and cost literally over 4-500 dollars.

its all obviously been completely worth my time, effort, and every cent ive ever spent.
_________________

mosher · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 5:04 am Post subject:

Hmm, I feel like there's a lot I could say here that today's current crop of modified kids wouldn't know about.

I threw some fun events, I taught lots of people to shred and stitch, ran clubs for years and made tutorials on all the things I knew how to do and felt like sharing. Oh yeah, and I invented about a dozen tricks or so including a few sets. Oh and for a while I was really working hard on making a footbag shoe happen because none existed yet.

I love you footbag! Very Happy

_________________

C-Fan · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject:

FlexThis · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:01 pm Post subject:

Recently I have gotten 2 on video. Ever I have hit 5. The transition is tough.
_________________

Laroche · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject:

I haven't done shit for footbag, but footbag has done a whole lot of contributing to me.
_________________