Category: Sponsored Events
Check out this podcast about Hacky Sack co-creator Mike Marshall
UPDATE: World Footbag Donates Footbags to SCHEELS for Jamaica Outreach Trip
We have received word that the SCHEELS trip to Jamaica with our donated footbags has been a success! Here’s the message we got from their event coordinator yesterday:
“We had a great trip and really enjoyed the time we were able to spend with the kids of Corn Wall Court. We spent 5 amazing days teaching the kids numerous different American sports in addition to doing several different service projects to enhance their school.
As a group we would reflect every night about the things we had done during that day. It was amazing to hear all of the stories and moments that touched each and every one of my team members. We will forever remember this experience and the kids. We can’t wait to go back again next year!
Thank you again for your donation!”
[announce] 2014 IFPA World Footbag Championships July 26-August 3, in Paris, France!
This announcement originally came to us via the IFPA Announcements email list. Sign up at Footbag.org!
Hi footbag fans,
On behalf of IFPA’s Worlds Operating Committee, I’m pleased to announce that
the 2014 IFPA World Footbag Championships will be held July 26 – August 3,
2014, in Paris, France!
For 2014, we had three formal bidders, but the first two had to be rejected
for various reasons.
Eventually the RHN Footbag Club from Paris set up a formal bid, which was
voted in favor by IFPA Worlds Operating Committee.
You can find more detail about the new Worlds bidding process and the
players’ bill of rights at this link:
http://www.footbag.org/
We all have to understand that an early decision of WOC about future
World Championships is strongly related to potential bidders.
It would be awesome to publish such a decision more than a year
in advance. But we depend entirely on clubs and organizers to
do the leg-work and provide much of the talent and volunteer
time to make the event viable.
So if your club is interested in hosting a future IFPA World Footbag
Championships, please inform us as soon as possible (details at
the link above). You don’t need to have a complete project plan — if
your club has potential and good will, that’s a good start!
In addition, IFPA has outlined a Players’ “Bill of Rights”, documenting the
rights that footbag athletes should have at the World Championships and
hopefully all other events.
This Bill of Rights guides the organizers and informs the priorities and
choices that are made in providing arrangements, venues, and schedules for
the week-long event.
Expect a separate email announcement soon soliciting bids for 2015.
We’re very excited to have Paris take the event for the first time this
summer. We have the utmost confidence in the team, including
Grischa and RNH Footbag, as well as other French players, clubs,
and organizers who will help make this year’s event “fantastique!”
Check out all details on the official event listing (more details
including a full Worlds website, will be coming over the next
weeks and months):
http://www.footbag.org/events/
If you have questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact the
IFPA Worlds Operating Committee at woc@ifpa.footbag.org.
We hope you all can make it!
Regards,
Wiktor Debski
Worlds Operating Committee
IFPA Executive Director
http://www.footbag.org/list/
wiktordebski@footbag.org
World Footbag Donates Footbags to SCHEELS for Jamaica Outreach Trip
World Footbag is a sponsor of many local footbag events as well as the World Championships each year. We’re also proud to donate to all sorts of other good causes that come across our path during this footbag-guided journey we call life 🙂
Recently we received word from SCHEELS, one of the amazing retail partners we work with, that they needed donations of footbags and other equipment for a trip their staff is taking to Jamaica. They will teach young people in Jamaica to use the equipment, then leave it with them for free to use after they leave. We thought this was a fantastic venture so of course we sent them a dozen of our Stellar Staller (glow in the dark) footbags to support their cause.
Here is some more info from SCHEELS about their trip:
SCHEELS Employees to Serve Jamaica
Our society tends to worry and stress over the most minimal things. We do not realize how some of the rest of the world is living. We have become a society that values material things. We always want more. Sometimes it takes an experience to shake us of this mentality. It takes a child’s joy over a box of crayons or a piece of candy. Its takes a hug from an elderly gentleman who is thankful for a visitor. It takes a family’s tears after the rebuilding of their collapsed one room home. It takes a smile on a child’s face after kicking their first soccer goal.
SCHEELS, an employee owned company, is planning a trip to Jamaica to share their passion for sports with the local population. During their week long adventure the employees will interact with the children to teach them several different activities ranging from Foot bags and Frisbee to Soccer. Not only is the group donating their time and talent but they are also donating all of the sports equipment they can take with them.
This trip will forever change the outlook on life and definition of happiness for the SCHEELS team. Their team will greatly impact the lives of others, and the people they meet will make an impant on their lives as well. Relationships will be made, lives will be changed and people will be served.
World Footbag Receives Our First #WildRecords Submission!
This Just In From A Glass Box In Shanghai!
We’ve got our first submission to The Return of Wonderful World of Wild Records! It comes from Robert Ponzio in Shanghai who has this to say about his amazing feat:
We’re so excited to get this awesome submission as the very first submission for our new #WildRecords segment! The Return of Wonderful World of Wild Records is officially started!!
Tell us what you think of Robert’s Wild Record in the comments!
Tis the Season…
Head Honcho Bruce Guettich reminisces about the holidays:
I’m feeling grateful! I guess the holidays do that to me. It’s a good feeling, I wish I could hang on to it year-round. Somehow I let this wonderful feeling slip away at times, and I have to ground myself to remind me how good life is. I’m grateful for a lot of things, my family and friends, my workmates, my health, winter (I love winters), and I’m also feeling very grateful for our customers. In the past 30 years of business, this company has worn many hats along the journey of promoting this wonderful sport, but the one constant has been our customers. I am so grateful for the support and encouragement of the players who have purchased from us over the years. I can honestly say that without your support we wouldn’t have survived.
We take pride in customer service. We live by the motto, “if you’re not happy, we’re not happy.” If you ever purchase something from us that doesn’t perform up to your expectations, please let us know about it so we can make it right for you. Anyone at World Footbag has the power to make things right, but if you want to talk with me, please know that I’m here for you too.
In doing a quick year in review, 2013 gave the sport of footbag a lot to be grateful for. Footbag had three most deserving players inducted into its sports Hall of Fame – congrats to Becca English-Ross from Eugene, OR, Jan Zimmermann from Zurich, Switzerland and Ole Schnack from Berlin, Germany. The World Footbag Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada crowned a new open singles footbag net champion. Karim Daouk from Lausanne, Switzerland made the leap from top level (Big Add Posse) freestyler to a rising star in footbag net. Wendy’s Old Fashion Hamburgers teamed with Guinness World Records to promote our sport through a footbag give-away campaign featuring footbag world records in thousands of stores across the United States. And finally, World Footbag (a.k.a. WFA) celebrated its thirtieth birthday this past May.
May your holiday be a kick!
Gratefully yours,
Bruce Guettich
World Footbag President
Sandmaster Footbag
The Sandmaster Footbag is a great choice for any footbag enthusiast that looks for stickiness of stalls in their footbags. While there are a lot of footbags on the market, the SandMaster Footbag looks to take it to the next level with fourteen panels that keep it well rounded while in play. Other footbags you find may be made of cheaper material, however the SandMaster is top quality, and hand stitched with synthetic suede guaranteed to last for a very long time. Filled with sand this footbag comes with World Footbag‘s highest recommendation
“It takes a kicking, and keeps on sticking!â€
If you haven’t checked out footbags or played “footbag†you really need to get in the game. While this blog touches base on a quality footbag, you should also be aware of the many benefits footbags can provide for your health. Can you think of any offhand?
How about increased coordination? Footbag can help improve your coordination and it’s a known fact some tae kwon do instructors have their students practice with footbags to practice moving their legs in precise movements. Pretty cool huh? Footbag can also help with flexibility, it engages your mind, it’s great exercise and footbag can actually increase your social skills! While basically simple to learn, freestyle footbag can take years to fully master as well.
If you’re still not convinced to give it a shot, then think about this fact: Footbags cost around five bucks, close to the cost of a Starbucks coffee which might last but a few minutes. For those who have already begun to use footbags, the results have been very positive. Most start quickly and find themselves addicted and can’t stop learning new tricks and footbag moves!
The sport of footbag has a pretty interesting history as well. Did you know it was actually invented back in 1973 by Mike Marshall and John Stalberger? Seems John was nursing a bad knee and found the bean bag to be great therapy. After the two began experimenting with some rather crude footbag mockups, the first footbag was born.
Early Footbag ( aka Hacky Sack)
If you feel like getting some serious exercise that’s fun and healthy, be sure to check out the SandMaster Footbag here! While this footbag is sand filled, World Footbag has a wide variety of other cool footbags. Some are crocheted, metal filled, plastic filled as well as a wide variety of other fillers and outer cover combinations. The Sandmaster Footbag itself is also available in dual colors guaranteed to make your bag a hit at the park or beach. Don’t forget to check out the history of the footbag (footbag) here! Get in the game today!
School Tours Gone By…
Head Honcho Bruce Guettich talks about school tours and performances:
Outfitted with survival gear over the top of our touring team
warm-up suits, Peter Shunny and I were transported by bush plane over
hundreds of miles across the frozen Alaskan tundra from school to school.
We would land on a dirt runway, be picked up and put in the back of a 20
year old pickup truck, paraded through a village of a few hundred people living at a subsistence level, and then dropped at the door of a school
awaiting our performance and clinics. It’s hard to imagine a community
where no roads lead to the outside world. The only way in or out would be
by plane or in some cases only a river or the ocean could take you out.
What an amazing state with amazing people. Truly the land of extremes.
If you’re like me, going back to school after a summer break was half
torture, half excitement. The torture was usually centered on the
realization that my time would now be seriously compromised by homework
and attending class. The excitement was always about seeing my classmates
again and reconnecting our friendships.
After I graduated, and moved into my profession with footbag, I found my
way back into schools as a performer and teacher of the sport. I’ve had
some unforgettable experiences with a host of wonderful touring partners.
I’ve performed at schools in Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada and in
almost every state in the US, but I’d have to say that the highlight of my
school touring career was that 10-day tour to the interior of Alaska in the middle of winter.
For more than twenty years, the back-to-school time signaled World
Footbag’s start to another footbag touring season for our teams. Vehicle
preparation, scheduling, training, outfitting and calming the nerves of
rookie touring teams consumed our days in late August and early September
before sending our guys off on their footbag crusades across the country.
Throughout the ’80’s and ’90’s our school performances and physical
education classes gave footbag and this business life. Although we’re not
promoting in the schools at this level anymore, the memories always seem
to heat up a little when the leaves change color, the air turns crisp and
yellow buses hit the streets.
It is with deep appreciation and admiration that I would like to send out
a special acknowledgement, and thank you to all the past World Footbag
Association touring pros. The players listed below have helped to pioneer
our sport and they have contributed greatly to its continued prosperity.
Beeal Bethurum
Jimmy Caveney
Scott Cleere
Greg Cortopassi
Mark Defilippo
Chris Donofrio
Andrew Gunn
Jeff Hass
Philo K. Holland III
Mag Hughes
Paul Hunley
Jeff “Animal” Johnson
Jon Lind
Scott Milne
Randy Nelson
Allan Petersen
Rippin Rick Reese
Dave Robinson
Peter Shunny
David Yevin
Dan Zahner
May your school year, your children’s or your grandchildren’s be filled
with success and plenty of kicking breaks.
Be passionate and stay healthy,
Bruce Guettich
World Footbag President
Current Footbag Guinness World Records
Current Footbag Guinness World Records
Sanctioned by World Footbag
Last submission to Guinness: January 1, 2012
Record Holder: Ted Martin / Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
Category: Open Singles Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: June 14, 1997
World Record: 63,326 kicks – 8 hours, 50 minute, 42 seconds
Event: 1997 Midwest Regional Footbag Championships
Location: Lions Park, Mount Prospect, Illinois
Record Holder: Constance Constable / Seaside, California, USA
Category: Women’s Singles Footbag Consecutive
Event: 1998 Women’s Singles Footbag Consecutive Fest
Location: California Athletic Club, Monterey, California
Record Holder: Gary Lautt / Chico, California, USA
Record Holder: Tricia George / Clackamas, Oregon, USA
Category: Open Doubles Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: March 21 & 22, 1998
World Record: 132,011 kicks – 20 hours, 36 minutes, 17 seconds
Event: 1998 Chico Challenge
Location: Lia Way Rec Center, Chico, California
Record Holder: Constance Constable / Seaside, California, USA
Record Holder: Tricia George / Clackamas, Oregon, USA
Category: Women’s Doubles Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: February 18, 1995
World Record: 34,543 kicks – 5 hours, 38 minutes, 22 seconds
Event: 1995 Heart of Footbag Freestyle Tournament
Location: Eagle ¹s Hall Rec Center, Portland, Oregon
Record Holder: Ted Martin / Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
Record Holder: Andy Linder / Geneva, Illinois, USA
Category: Open Doubles One Pass Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: April 3, 1993
World Record: 27,956 kicks – 3 hours, 56 minutes, 54 seconds
Event: 1993 RecPlex Footbag Consecutives Challenge
Location: RecPlex Fitness Center, Mount Prospect, Illinois
Record Holder: Constance Constable / Monterey, California, USA
Record Holder: Tricia George / Clackamas, Oregon, USA
Category: Women’s Doubles One Pass Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: July 28, 1987
World Record: 6,136 kicks – 1 hour, 4 minutes, 23 seconds
Event: 1987 World Footbag Championships
Location: Golden Recreation Center, Golden, Colorado
Record Holder: Andy Linder / Carol Stream, Illinois, USA
Category: Open Singles Timed Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: June 7, 1996
World Record: 1,019 kicks – 5 minutes
Event: 1996 Midwest Regional Footbag Championships
Location: Mount Prospect, Illinois
Record Holder: Ida Bettis-Fogle / Columbia, Missouri, USA
Category: Women’s Singles Timed Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: August 11, 1997
World Record: 804 kicks – 5 minutes
Event: 1997 World Footbag Championships
Location: Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon
Record Holder: Ted Martin / Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
Record Holder: Andy Linder / Geneva, Illinois, USA
Category: Open Doubles Distance One Pass Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: March 10, 1995
World Record: 622 kicks – 9 minutes, 24 seconds
Event: 1995 St. Patrick ¹s Footbag Fest
Location: Kishwaukee Community College, Malta, Illinois
Record Holder: Tricia George / Clackamas, Oregon, USA
Record Holder: Paul Vorvick / Tigard, Oregon, USA
Category: Open Doubles Timed Ten Minute One-Pass Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: August 5, 2006
World Record: 1,415 kicks in 10 minutes
Event: Fun in the Park
Location: Wilsonville, Oregon
Record Holder: Jody Welch / Mountain View, California, USA
Record Holder: Tricia George / Clackamas, Oregon, USA
Category: Women’s Doubles Distance One Pass Footbag Consecutive
Date of Record: July 28, 1992
World Record: 249 kicks
Event: 1992 World Footbag Championships
Location: Colorado School of Mines Athletic Field, Golden, Colorado
Record Organizer: Andy Linder, Geneva, Illinois, USA
Category: Largest continuous circle of people playing footbag
Date of Record: July 6, 2001
World Record: 946 people playing footbag in a circle
Event: Cornerstone Festival
Location: Bushnell, Illinois
Record Holder: Alex Zerbe, USA
Category: Footbag
Date of Record: June 30, 2004
World Record: 26 Consecutive Eclipses
Event: L’Été De Tous Les Records
Location: Biscarrosse, France
Record Holder: Vasek Klouda, Czech Republic
Category: Footbag
Date of Record: July 6, 2005
World Record: 35 Consecutive Diving Butterflies
Event: L’Été De Tous Les Records
Location: Argeles-Gazost, France