Ultimate is growing worldwide. One of the places where the pure passion has it’s roots is Poland. The love to sport kicks it forward. Our commitment pushed us to create the first real National team in April 2010. Take a look at the tryout process to get familiar with us:

And now take a step back to 2009 and look at the club scene.
In 2009 we had our first Nationals. The best Polish team on this tournament was Grandmaster Flash from Warsaw. This was a big step – earning a spot at Worlds as a first Polish team in history.

The team was created in 2006 by the students of Bednarska High School, and soon they became the fastest developing team on Polish Ultimate scene. From day one as total youngsters, they struggled thru the tournaments step by step, to win the first one in June 2009. Wise man says – the hardest thing is not to get on top, but to stay on top. And Grandmaster Flash stay undefeated till now, by any Polish team, on any Polish outdoor tournament. Thanks to that through the series of tournaments in 2009 they won Polish Cup.
GMF is known for their great Spirit and wicked beach tournament called Sandslash. Third edition of this event will be held in August 2010. They are also coordinating Warsaw League Ultimate and working on a junior program in their High School.

I’m preety objective cause I’m sort of a pickup for Grandmasters. Originally I’m one of the captains of Astro Disco team. I always remember we had some great intense games against GMF, while off the field we are very close. Check the full game video from the last matchup from May 2010:

#00

With kind invitation from the Huddle, I will be contributing thoughts and perspectives on the ongoings of WUCC developments on behalf of Clapham Ultimate.  My name is Ollie Benjamin, and have been a part of the squad since I moved to London in 2002, leaving an infamous Santa Cruz Banana Slugs frisbee team behind. That seems some time ago.  What struck me when I first arrived was CU’s no nonsense, balls out devotion to hard trainings.  Results were a reflection of a refinement of the basics and high fitness.  Years have ticked along and the squad i think holds 3 or 4 of those years, but the ethos is ever the same - bleed for the team and the team bleeds for you (no santa barbara refernce intended here).  The club is a good one. i like it. 

We are the only European club team to travel to America in search of high competition, and though our journeys have not always yielded victories, they have proved seminal to the club’s development.  Younger players realise they can run with the elite and the senior players get to scout new tactics and strategies.  Expensive as the trips may be, they keep us ticking over and provide incentives for new players.  The most recent crop of young players I think is our best. They are keen and full of ethusiasm. they enjoy the game, which is great.  not that i don’t enjoy it, but i am sure you know what i mean.

Anyhow, like other contributors, I am not sure how much insight I will really be bringing to this column. i’ll no doubt give summaries of the games we play, and descriptions of the general scene.  Four days til we fly.  last training tuesday, tabatas and other light sessions to ease us in. Carb loading and the rest of it.  Let’s see what the week brings.

OB

…over the weekend the first team/players from abroad are flogging to the Munich area. The Munich Open team M.U.C. will scrimmage against Colony and Heads of State from Down Under on Monday and Wednesday.
Looking forward to sharing some quality time and some beers with the Aussi blokes.

I am starting to feel the excitment. WUCC is one special event and this year will see the best competition WUCC ever had to offer!!! Bring it on y’all!!!!!

Jens #91 M.U.C.

We woke this morning to bad news; our friends from Venezuela’s Warao cannot attend WUCC this year.

Venezuelan teams have an annual battle in obtaining visas to leave their country, and I expect that this is probably why they won’t be in Prague. This same reason kept them out of ECC ‘09.

We (Sockeye) were lucky enough to be able to play them twice in Medellin’s great TEP tournament, and we know them to be fierce competitors with outrageous athleticism. They have a few terrifying players, but what we were excited about was that their full team has a depth and conviction that would have made them our top pick to rise massively in the WUCC rankings. While we might breathe a little sigh of relief (Warao was scheduled to be in our initial pool, so we might have been their first victim) it would have been really fun to watch, play and party with them.

Here’s hoping that the tournament directors can find a fill in team on short notice to join in the fun. Our thoughts go out to Warao, who must be tremendously disappointed…someday soon we will play again!

blw (Sockeye)

Hi all! Its been great to hear from Huddle founders and the many other contributors ahead of next month’s Worlds tournament. I appreciate the invitation to participate and send back reports about the competition and experience.

First off, my name’s Ben Spears and I live in Atlanta, GA, USA (proud host of the ‘96 Olympics). I learned about competitive ultimate in college in Washington, DC (played for the “g-dub” Hippos) and this is my fifth Chain Lightning season. The city of Atlanta has had a great ultimate culture for several decades – thanks mainly to organizers, lots of talent, and spirited played throughout the area – its no accident that elite teams do well here (including Ozone and others).

Coming off last year’s national championship, expectations and hopes for Chain Lightning 2010 are high. That championship and this Worlds trip are firsts for most of my teammates… and while I expect Chain to be in a good place this Fall to defend the UPA/USAU championship, the Worlds tournament is a rare opportunity for international competition and camaraderie — strong emphasis on both.

What I’m hoping to talk about in short and possibly rambling bursts during Worlds is the following:

1. the feel of international ultimate games, including communication, gift-giving, and general spirit between competing teams on the field
2. the Worlds experience, like having a week-long schedule of ultimate, leisure, tourism, and partying
3. the inter-cultural social scenes we find ourselves in in Prague, such as world cup bars and dance clubs, impromptu singing and storytelling on shuttles, sideline games and more

Since I’m starting my Europe travel tonight, I have already packed, made a list of my goals at the tournament, and printed my boarding pass. I’m excited! Feel free to send along ideas or questions, feedback or encouragement. I’m at benjamin (dot) spears (at) gmail (dot) com.

Looking forward to traveling, playing, and huddle-ing!