Ultimate

Last Ulti game of the season. Kinda sad really.

The game itself was alright, though I don't feel like I played all that well. I was running pretty hard and reading the disk pretty good. The only one play that stood out for me where I knew I played well was a sideline catch. The disc was way out of bounds, but I managed to keep a toe inside the tape, then catch the disc as I fell to the ground. I love catches like that.

Nearing the end of the game my catching went to pot. I couldn't catch anything which was really bad since I was a handler, and I dropped more than 1 throw right on our end zone line. Talk about failure.

The final point was a little lame. Nobody was really trying and everyone was goofing around. The other team was trying to throw a hammer to win the game, and most of their throws were hail mary, get it close to the end zone and hope someone catches it, throws.

Eventually someone on the other team caught it and the game was done. I had lots of fun this season, and there was a recent email about fall league up at UVic. I have to decide if I want to keep playing, or wait until next summer again.

Last night was our last double header. I was pretty stoked to get out and play both games, but as it turned out I could only stay for part of the first game.

I worked hard during that time though. There was a wind so we zoned quite a bit. Since I was giving it my all I was part of the cup. While cupping, I even felt like I knew what I was doing.

While handling I felt sharp, and my throws were pretty accurate. This is always a challenge in the wind. I also did a good job of breaking people checking me and getting passes off.

A weird call led to a point for our team that I didn't feel good about. A pass to me was pretty low to the ground, but when I caught it, my fingers were a couple inches above the ground. I know I caught it cleanly. Someone on the opposite team called it down and we went back and forth a couple times. Everyone else was still running, the count was still going, and I had the disc. I was frazzled and confused when the most senior guy on the team who heard what was going on called for a pass. I passed it to him and he threw it for the score. When we were lining up I felt pretty crappy on how it went down. I should have either contested the call (and the disc would have went back to the thrower), or I should have tapped it in and kept playing. Thing was, my check was still counting, so in my mind the play was still going. Not my favorite point.

The opponent who called the disc down is an excellent player. Later in the game when I was checking him he had a fantastic catch. The disc was hucked to him in the endzone, and even though I managed to get to the right position at the right time, and gave the disc a healthy swat (couldn't catch it), he still managed to snag it for the point.

Another point we decided to do a huck and zone. Once I saw who got the disc, I waited a couple seconds for the deep zone marker to meet up with me, then I broke for the end zone as the huck was made. I managed to outsprint my check, and handily caught it for a point.

Today I have a sore foot though. I bruised or strained something in my right foot so that when I put all my weight on it, it hurts a lot.

Next week is the last regular season game, then the final BBQ. I'm going to miss playing again.

BC has been in a bit of a heat wave the last couple days. It's been hot, but I've been enjoying it. Mid 30's yesterday and today, and a little higher over the next couple days. Someone on the news called it the heat wave of a lifetime. That I doubt.

It helps that I work in an air conditioned office, and the AC actually works. This is not the case with the AC in my truck. Yesterday I had to drive Yoshi up to Duncan. He is having a vacation with my sister for the next week. The drive was very warm, and I was more concerned about Yoshi than I. All the windows were open, and even on the Max AC setting, the truck was blowing out warm air. Driving fast on the highway got the air moving enough to keep me and Yoshi cool(ish). Any time traffic was backed up and moving slowly was when it got a little much for me.

Tonight I have an Ulti game. It is supposed to be hot, hot, hot out. Not sure how I will fare, but I do plan to take loads of water. 3X as much as normal. I am drinking lots of water today, and also planning on keeping my head wet as much as possible during the game.

Thursday I have another drive planned, so hopefully it will be a little cooler by then.

Last night's ulti game was awesome. We actually forfeited since only myself and two others showed up. We managed to scramble a bit and get a line on the field. The other four players had just played a game so weren't exactly fresh.

Right off the bat this new line had some chemistry. We flowed the disk up the field making crisp precise passes. I struck for the endzone all alone, and almost got snubbed by the handler. He was looking to throw it elsewhere, and it wasn't until his girlfriend yelled that he tossed it to me.

The sun was pretty low making vision difficult, but we perservered and the team made some excellent defensive moves. There were several hand blocks by our team throughout the game.

I was amazed at how I felt the entire game. I had wheels. I could break free of anyone last night. As such I was able to cut to the endzone and catch for many points. Also, since I had wheels, we did a semi zone so I was in line to mark one of the handlers. Each time we pulled I had to boot it down the field to try and cut off the throws.

One offensive play that stands out for me was when I was striking for the end zone, and my check had a better position than I to catch a high floater. I knew I was beat so I stayed back a bit. He actually didn't catch it, but swatted it. The disk didn't drop as he planned, but instead wobbled and floated a bit. Seeing my chance I raced at it, dove, and got lucky grabbing the disk shortly before it hit the grass. Did I mention we were in the end zone? I dove and made the point. Sweet.

Another stellar play we did was when we had the disk right on the end zone line. Mike called for the moses play with me set to receive the throw. Everyone stacks up in the end zone clogging everything up. When the disk is in play, suddenly everyone peels for a sideline, each person a different direction than the person in front. The last person back then has a clear run at the disk. Just like moses splitting the red sea. It worked for the second time this season.

Anyway, everyone I played with was appreciative of the energy and drive I had. For me it was a perfect night. It wasn't too hot, it wasn't windy, I felt like running, and I was having a great game. Can't wait for the next one.

Ulti tonight was fun. I needed to get out and run, and I did accomplish that. I cupped a bit, handled bit, and made some decent cuts.

Something I need to work on is my memory. This is the first team I have played on that changes things so much between points. Positions, the force, man versus zone. Once the disc is in the air I seem to forget what was laid out. I'm lucky if I can remember who my check is. Once tonight I had the force totally backwards. That is bad for so many reasons.

My throwing and catching were good though. I had a few excellent throws to open players and I was proud of that.

We did a couple huck and zones due to the wind and I was part of a couple of them. I even managed to catch a point on one of them.

There was another endzone play after a huck where my teammate put the disc just out of my reach. Running my hardest I was just a couple steps too far away. Quite frustrating. In retrospect I wonder if I had laid out, maybe I could have got it. Who knows.

At the end of the game we were still down a couple points, so we chalked up another loss. One thing we can be proud of is that we scored an upwind point while being zoned.