The World Footbag Championships are back in America

After two years in Europe (2008 Prague, 2009 Berlin) the World Footbag Championships were back to the US, precisely in Oakland, California. The venue for this tournament was directly inside the hotel after a couple of days in a park nearby to play the preliminary matches. The huge conference areas at the Marriott in Oakland, CA were fitted with carpet and sport court and banners for sponsors. (Pro Kicker was there). It was very convenient for the players who stayed at the hotel to go back and forth, get rest quickly in the rooms and  battle on the courts while enjoying the pool and the nice Californian weather.
Here are a few previews of the finals matches.

You can see the complete matches with scores and slow motion on this video on demand page

Some of the finals were outrageously good. I especially enjoyed the doubles finals, a classic Germans versus Aki Québec brawl. Find all the details below.
Another great match featured German Florian Götze meeting Tuomas Kärki from Finland in the singles finals.

Both the mixed doubles and women doubles finals displayed good moments but also too many unforced errors although the mixed was of higher quality.
One of the finals was not played as Russian finalist Yulia Tikhomirova had to head back early and ,thus, had to forfeit her fight for the women singles championship. Geneviève Bousquet inherited the title, her first in singles at a World Championships.

31st IFPA WORLD FOOTBAG CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 1-7, 2010
Oakland, California, USA
Finals matches :

Women singles net finals

Competitors:
Geneviève Bousquet from Montreal, Canada – Club Aki Québec vs
Yulia Tikhomirova from Moscow, Russia – Club Footbag Moscow

Format: Best of 3 games to 15 points – side out scoring

Forfait Yulia Tikhomirova
Winner: Geneviève Bousquet

Note: Geneviève and Yulia met in pool play and Bousquet won the match.

Open singles net finals

Competitors:
Tuomas Kärki from Helsinki, Finland – Club Footbag Finland  vs
Florian Götze, Frankfurt, Germany – Club Frankfurt Footbag e.v

Format: 3 games to 15 points – side out scoring

Historical moment: This match marked the first Open title in Footbag Finland’s history, in any of the 5 net categories. After Tuomas and Florian split the two first sets we were lucky to witness a real good
third game. Lots of spikes, digs and strenuous rallyes were distributed by the protagonists of one of the best open singles finals in a long time. A bit of controversy zested the whole mix while head judge Ted Fritsch overturned  a few decisions of the line judges, always ruling against Götze. I can tell you that Florian wasn’t too happy about that. On the other hand Tuomas Kärki kept his concentration in all of this and played systematically and aggressively until he bagged the victory. He made the headlines of a newspaper in Helsinki the next day.
Kärki wins in 3  sets 15-9 6-15 15-13

Women doubles net finals

Competitors:
Jody Welch + Julie Symons from  California, USA – Club , Chaos Footbag  vs
Lisa McDaniel from  California, USA – Club , Chaos Footbag  + Geneviève Bousquet from Montreal, Canada – Club Aki Québec, both representing Pro Kicker

Format: 3 games to 15 points- side out scoring

Kind of a roller coaster there. After a great start taking a 3-0 lead Bousquet and McDaniel didn’t score another point in game 1. They had the most spectacular shots but also the most catastrophic errors, of the unforced category.  Game 2 offered a lot more rallyes but still to the same avail. The experience of Welch and Symons served them well while they bent in front of the aggressions of the other team but never breaked.
Symons and Welch earn the gold medal in 2 straight sets 15-3 15-11

Advanced statistics available for this match

Mixed doubles net finals

Competitors:
PT Lovern + Jody Welch from  California, USA – Club: Chaos Footbag  vs
Luc Legault  + Geneviève Bousquet from Montreal, Canada – Club: Aki Québec representing Pro Kicker

Format: 3 games to 15 points- side out scoring (You need the serve to score)

PT Lovern and Jody Wech are no strangers to World titles. It showed in their match against Luc Legault and Geneviève Bousquet. Although the Quebecers played with a lot of energy they were met by an equally dynamic Chaos team. There was a lot of action in that match. Points were not easy to cash in as both teams took their opponent’s serve a few times before some key points were finally registered. Game 2 was tight until 12-12. Overall the Californians showed more organization in the construction of their plays and were probably less nervous.
Chaos Footbag  wins by 15-8 15-12

Open doubles net finals

Competitors:
Florian Götze from Frankfurt, Germany – Club Frankfurt Footbag e.v. + Patrick Schrickel from Germany (lives in California) – Clubs FC Footstar and Chaos vs
François Depatie-Pelletier + Gilles Demers from Montreal, Canada – Club Aki Québec

Format: 3 games to 15 points- side out scoring (You need the serve to score)

This might be the best match I’ve ever recorded. Three action packed sets in a greatly fought meeting between the two best teams of the tournament. There was no surprise this time, these players had to get in each other’s faces. Spikes, digs, rallyes, jousts, blocks and a total of two hours thirthy minutes of drama were showcased by these highly skilled kickers. Unfortunately  a team had to loose the competition and I was sad to see my teammates from Montreal drop it in the very last moments of the match. Florian Götze came up with a key block at the 91st play of game three that kind of turned the momentum. Instead of having a 14-14 game the germans took back the serve at 14-13 and three plays later they were World Champions for the fourth time in five years.

Germany triumphs 12-15 15-11 15-13

2010 World Footbag Championships – Net results

Open Singles Net

1. Tuomas Kärki (Finland)
2. Florian Goetze (Germany)
3. Matti Pohjola (Finland)
4. Kenny Shults (USA)
5. Gilles Demers (Canada)
6. Yves Archambault (Canada)
7. Jeremy Mirken (USA)
8. Christopher Siebert (USA)
9. François Pelletier (Canada)
10. Alexis Deschenes (USA)
11. Luke Legault (Canada)
12. Cory Current (USA)
13. Walt Houston (USA)
14. Philippe Lessard (Canada)
15. Grischa Tellenbach (France)
16. Jack Harris (USA)
17. Victor Lezama (Venezuela)
18. Tuan Vu (USA)
19. Benjamin Alston (USA)
20. Dominic O’Brien (Canada)
21. Sébastien Duchesne (Canada)
22. Samuel Cloutier (Canada)
23. Carlos Márquez (Venezuela)
24. Edwin Veltman (USA)
25. Rob Adams (USA)
26. Tim Vozar (USA)
27. Chris Cleaver (USA)
28. Diego Chavez Diaz (Venezuela)
29. Daniel Greer (USA)
30. Justin Sexton (Finland)
31. Fletcher Funk (USA)
32. Alexander Smirnov (Russia)
33. Greg Neumann (USA)
34. Oscar Loreto (Venezuela)
35. Kevin Fura (USA)
36. Benjamin Kellman (USA)
37. Josh DeClercq (USA)
38. Jake DeClercq (USA)
39. Olivier Berthiaume-Bergé (Canada)
(note: John Leys (USA) , Dan Baron (USA) , Chris Young (USA) scratched)

Open Doubles Net

1. Florian Goetze (Germany) / Patrick Schrickel (USA)
2. Gilles Demers (Canada) / Francois Pelletier (Canada)
3. John Leys (USA) / Tuomas Karki (Finland)
4. PT Lovern (USA) / Emmanuel Bouchard (Canada)
5. Jeremy Mirken (USA) / Jack Harris (USA)
6. Christopher Siebert (USA) / Kenny Shults (USA)
7. Matti Pohjola (Finland) / Janne Uusitalo (Finland)
8. Eric Wulff (USA) / Luc Legault (Canada)
9. Jim Derricott (Canada) / Steve Dusablon (USA)
10. Walt Houston (USA) / Benjamin Alston (USA)
11. Andrew Ronald (Canada) / Alexander Smirnov (Russia)
12. Cory Current (USA) / Scot Hansen (USA)
13. Tuan Vu (USA) / Alexis Deschenes (USA)
14. Yves Archambault (Canada) / Dominic O’Brien (Canada)
15. Grischa Tellenbach (France) / Samuel Cloutier (Canada)
16. Sébastien Duchesne (Canada) / Philippe Lessard (Canada)
17. Victor Lezama (Venezuela) / Diego Chavez Diaz (Venezuela)
18. Carlos Márquez (Venezuela) / Oscar Loreto (Venezuela)
19. Daniel Greer (USA) / Chris Cleaver (USA)
20. Edwin Veltman (USA) / Tim Vozar (USA)
21. Chris Young (USA) / Fletcher Funk (USA)
22. Jim Hankins (USA) / Greg Neumann (USA)
23. E.J. Gammage (USA) / Dan Baron (USA)
24. Justin Sexton (Finland) / Olivier Berthiaume-Bergé (Canada)
25. Josh DeClercq (USA)/ Jake DeClercq (USA)
26. Rob Adams (USA) / Kevin Fura (USA)

Open Mixed Doubles Net

1. Jody Welch (USA) / PT Lovern (USA)
2. Genevieve Bousquet (Canada) / Luc Legault (Canada)
3. Becca English-Ross (USA) / Kenny Shults (USA)
4. Julie Symons (USA) / Alexis Deschenes (USA)
5. Lisa McDaniel (USA) / Janne Uusitalo (Finland)
6. Kerstin Anhuth (Germany) / Florian Goetze (Germany)
7. Lisa Monti (USA) / Dominic O’Brien (Canada)
8. Julia Tikhomirova (Russia) / Alexander Smirnov (Russia)
9. Michelle Chen (Canada) / Steve Dusablon (USA)
(note: Tricia George (USA) / Chris Siebert (USA) , Heather Thomas (USA) /
Edwin Veltman (USA)
scratched)

Open Women’s Singles Net

1. Geneviève Bousquet (Canada)
2. Julia Tikhomirova (Russia)
3. Kerstin Anhuth (Germany)
4. Darlene House (USA)
(note: Jody Welch (USA) scratched)

Open Women’s Doubles Net

1. Julie Symons (USA) / Jody Welch (USA)
2. Lisa McDaniel (USA) / Genevieve Bousquet (Canada)
3. Becca English-Ross (USA) / Tricia George (USA)
4. Julia Tikhomirova (Russia) / Darlene House (USA)
5. Lisa Monti (USA) / Kerstin Anhuth (Germany)

Intermediate Singles Net

1. Jean-Francois Bélanger (Canada)
2. Luka Weyler-Lavallée (Canada)
3. Theodore Fritsch (USA)
4. Jack Lentz (USA)
5. Brett Milliken (USA)
6. Leiner Hevia (Venezuela)
7. Robert Creel (USA)
8. Michelle Chen (Canada)
9. Joey Vu (USA)
10. Jack Lentz (USA)
11. Benjamin Benulis (USA)
(note: Vance Webb (USA) scratched)

Intermediate Doubles Net

1. Jean-Francois Bélanger (Canada) / Luka Weyler-Lavallée (Canada)
2. Chris Hughes (USA) / Brett Armstrong (USA)
3. Theodore Fritsch (USA) / Leiner Hevia (Venezuela)
4. Michelle Chen (Canada) / Brett Milliken (USA)
5. Jack Lentz (USA) / Dillon George (USA)
6. Jasper Shults (USA) / Joey Vu (USA)
7. Robert Creel (USA) / Benjamin Benulis (USA)
(note: Vance Webb (USA) / VJ Webb (USA), Drew Martin (USA) scratched)

Master’s Singles Net

1. Tuan Vu (USA)
2. Rob Adams (USA)
3. Edwin Veltman (USA)
4. Tim Vozar (USA)
5. Dan Baron (USA)
6. Theodore Fritsch (USA)
7. Diego Chavez Diaz (Venezuela)
8. Kevin Fura (USA)
9. Jim Hankins (USA)
10. Emmanuel Bouchard (Canada)

Master’s Doubles Net

1. Jim Derricott (USA) / Tuan Vu (USA)
2. Becca English-Ross (USA) / Steve Dusablon (USA)
3. Rob Adams (USA) / Dan Baron (USA)
4. Edwin Veltman (USA) / Tim Vozar (USA)
5. Diego Chavez Diaz (Venezuela) / Theodore Fritsch (USA)
6. Tricia George (USA) / Lisa Monti (USA)
7. Jim Hankins (USA) / Kevin Fura (USA)

2010 World Footbag Championships – Freestyle results

Open Singles Routines

1. Milan Benda (Czech Republic)
2. David Clavens (USA)
3. Damian Gielnicki (Poland)
4. Jan Weber (Czech Republic)
5. Václav Klouda (Czech Republic)
6. Arkadiusz Dudzinski (Poland)
7. Jim Penske (USA)
8. Nick Landes (USA)
9. Gordon Bevier (USA)
10. Ken Somolinos (USA)
10. Marcin Bujko (Poland)
10. Lon Smith (USA)
13. Jay Boychuk (Canada)
13. Philip Morrison (New Zealand)
13. Anssi Sundberg (Finland)
13. Michal Ostrowski (Poland)
17. Evan Gatesman (USA)
17. Toni Paakkonen (Finland)
17. Wiktor Debski (Poland)
17. Tuukka Antikainen (Finland)
20. Tomasz Ostrowski (Poland)
20. Zeb Jackson (USA)
20. Rafal Kaleta (Poland)
20. Matt Kemmer (USA)
24. Taishi Ishida (Japan)
24. Szymon Kalwak (Poland)
24. Benjamin Kellman (USA)
24. Takumi Ozawa (Japan)
24. Nathan Pipenburg (USA)
24. Dustin Rhodes (USA)
24. Rory Dawson (Canada)
24. Brian Sherrill (USA)
32. Daniel Boyle (Australia)
32. Eric Chang (USA)
32. Alex Dworetzky (USA)
32. Daniel Greer (USA)
32. Drew Martin (USA)
32. John Goode (USA)
32. Reid Strellner (USA)
32. Manna Mpepo (Canada)

Women’s Singles Routines

1. Tina Aeberli (Switzerland)
2. Hanna Mickiewicz (Poland)
3. Tanja Salaaka (Finland)
4. Taylor Chaintreuil (USA)
5. Gosia Debska (Poland)
6. Sunny Freeman Genz (USA)
7. Caroline Birch (Australia)
8. Malgorzata Oledzka (Poland)

Intermediate Singles Routines

1. Hiroaki Wakana (Japan)
2. Nathan Deschamps (Canada)
3. Cory Allen (USA)
4. Kosuke Wakayama (Japan)
5. Robert Creel (USA)

Open Request Contest

1. Milan Benda (Czech Republic)
2. Damian Gielnicki (Poland)
3. Philip Morrison (New Zealand)

Open Circle Contest

1. David Clavens (USA)
2. Damian Gielnicki (Poland)
3. Jim Penske (USA)
4. Philip Morrison (New Zealand)
5. Arkadiusz Dudzinski (Poland)
5. Evan Gatesman (USA)
5. Nick Landes (USA)
5. Marcin Bujko (Poland)
9. Ken Somolinos (USA)
9. Anssi Sundberg (Finland)
9. Lon Smith (USA)
9. Gordon Bevier (USA)
13. Toni Paakkonen (Finland)
13. Milan Benda (Czech Republic)
13. Matt Kemmer (USA)
13. Jay Boychuk (Canada)
17. Takumi Ozawa (Japan)
17. Rafal Kaleta (Poland)
17. Tuukka Antikainen (Finland)
17. Brian Cooper (USA)
17. Reid Strellner (USA)
17. Chris Dean (USA)
17. Zeb Jackson (USA)
17. Michal Ostrowski (Poland)
25. Dustin Rhodes (USA)
25. John Goode (USA)
25. Nathan Deschamps (Canada)
25. Brian Sherrill (USA)
25. Manna Mpepo (Canada)
25. Alex Dworetzky (USA)
25. Wiktor Debski (Poland)
25. Nathan Pipenberg (USA)
33. Drew Martin (USA)
33. Eric Chang (USA)
33. Daniel Greer (USA)
33. Ryan Richardson (Australia)
33. Daniel Boyle (Australia)

Women’s Circle Contest

1. Tina Aeberli (Switzerland)
2. Hanna Mickiewicz (Poland)
3. Tanja Salaaka (Finland)
4. Taylor Chaintreuil (USA)
5. Gosia Debska (Poland)
5. Caroline Birch (Australia)
5. Malgorzata Oledzka (Poland)

Open Best 3-Trick Contest

1. Rafal Kaleta (Poland) – bedwetter > plasma > paradox symposium torque
2. Damian Gielnicki (Poland) – spinning eggbeater > paradon swirl > symposium
torque
3. Marcin Bujko (Poland) – pixie spinning osis > food processor > mobius

Open Doubles Routines

1. Wiktor Debski (Poland) / Gosia Debska (Poland)
2. Arkadiusz Dudzinski (Poland) / Damian Gielnicki (Poland)
3. Tomasz Ostrowski (Poland) / Michal Ostrowski (Poland)

Open Mixed Doubles Routines

1. Tomasz Ostrowski (Poland) / Malgorzata Oledzka (Poland)
2. Wiktor Debski (Poland) / Gosia Debska (Poland)
3. Arkadiusz Dudzinski (Poland) / Tina Aeberli (Switzerland)

Open Shred:30

1. David Clavens (USA) – 274
2. Arkadiusz Dudzinski (Poland) – 255.93
3. Marcin Bujko (Poland) – 253.26
4. Jan Weber (Czech Republic) – 232
5. Philip Morrison (New Zealand) – 230.22
6. Lon Smith (USA) – 218.1
7. Damian Gielnicki (Poland) – 209.54
8. Evan Gatesman (USA) – 203.5
9. Jim Penske (USA) – 201.6
10. Nathan Pipenberg (USA) – 197.6
11. Taishi Ishida (Japan) – 195.93
12. Tuukka Antikainen (Finland) – 166.06
13. Dustin Rhodes (USA) – 152.93
14. Brian Cooper (USA) – 151.93
15. Manna Mpepo (Canada) – 147.87
16. Takumi Ozawa (Japan) – 145.25
17. Evan Lovely (USA) – 133.7
18. Reid Strellner (USA) – 114
19. Daniel Boyle (Australia) – 106.5
20. Daniel Greer (USA) – 84.96
21. Chris Dean (USA) – 66.66
22. Ryan Richardson (Australia) – 56.61

Women’s Shred:30

1. Tina Aeberli (Switzerland) – 142.2
2. Hanna Mickiewicz (Poland) – 107.2
3. Tanja Salaaka (Finland) – 99.3
4. Taylor Chaintreuil (USA) – 90
5. Caroline Birch (Australia) – 32.05

2010 World Footbag Championships – Unnoficial events results

Open 2-Square

1. Wiktor Debski (Poland)
2. Szymon Kalwak (Poland)
3. Ianek Regimbald (Canada)
4. Steve Goldberg (USA)
5. Sebastien Duchesne (Canada)
5. Mathieu Giard-Montpetit (Canada)
5. Tom Kotsakos (USA)
5. Arkadiusz Dudzinski (Poland)
9. Jeff Mudd (USA)
9. Dylan Fry (Canada)
9. Damian Gielnicki (Poland)
9. Reid Strellner (USA)
9. Evan Gatesman (USA)
9. Abram Santana (USA)
9. Greg Raymond (Canada)
9. Jean-François Bélanger (Canada)
17. Manna Mpepo (Canada)

Other references for the 2010 World Footbag Championships

Results on footbag.org