Thanks to Chris Belaj, the Italian Open will be live streamed. The Freestyle Frisbee community thanks you! The Italian Open will take place in Rome, Italy on June 10-11. Andrea Rimatori and Serge Marconi are the Tournament Directors. Andrea was gracious enough to share more details about the event.
Jake: Rome has huge jam scene but is generally not known for holding competitions. What inspired you to hold this event?
Andrea: For more than 20 years Rome has had a large scene of jammers growing up at the beach, and in the public parks all around the center. They have never participated in major tournaments in the past and they didn’t love to travel for frisbee reunions! 10 years ago, me, Serge and few new jammers started to practice frisbee both at the beach and in a gym with the idea of bringing Rome to the greatness it deserves.
For 10 years we have tried to relaunch Rome as a city with the largest number of players in Italy. We are almost 30 members of the FPR (Frisbee Power Rome Association).
This rebirth was initially passed on through the beaches and gyms of Rome where we tried to promote frisbee with local events and small shows just to give visibility.
In 2014, with the event EFO 2014, the FPR association gained much wider recognition. All the foreign players (almost 60) who came to Rome for the occasion enjoyed a super weekend. This has improved the image of the FPR in the eyes of all European and non-European jammers. We received so much positive feedback that it has inspired us to keep working. We created a documentary on EFO 2014 that was aired on a national satellite TV for the whole year of 2015!!!!
We thought that throwing the Italian Open is yet another opportunity to keep the momentum and to bring Rome to the greatness it deserves.
Jake: What is the venue for your event?
Andrea: We get from the international sport federation, CONI, one of the most beautiful private Stadium: Farnesina Stadium! It is located in the area where the most important sports clubs in Rome are located and where the major national and international tournaments are held – like tennis, soccer, swimming, and athletics.
Jake: What event format, judging system, and divisions do you plan to use?
Andrea: Judging Format will be traditional, because we never had a chance to create a new method of judgement.
Jake: How many players do you expect? Are there any top teams we should be watching out for?
Andrea: Almost 50 competitors from all over Europe! We already have a list of teams, both for open pairs and for co-op that are very competitive. Based on the list, I could guess at the possible finalists but as you know in freestyle Frisbee anything can happen.
Some of the pairs teams: Tom Leitner and Freddy Finner! Marco Prati (Cega) will play with Piccio Antonio Cusma. This team is actually the european champion! Clay with Andrea Dini ,Alessandro Damiano (old school player from Rome) with Dario Giusti, Andrea rimatori and Fabio Nizzo…….
CoOp: Cega, Andrea Dini, and Clay; Andrea rimatori, Fabio Nizzo, and Tom Leitner. We are very fired up after our routine won at Jam Britannia.
Mixed: Andrea Rimatori and Ilka Simon, Freddy Finner and Fabiana Ciciriello, Biko and Marzia (a couple from Rome), Edo Favorini and Giulia Aretano (new jammer from Rome) and …….. a team we’ve missed from the field and carpet for a long time ago ….. Fabio Sanna and Eleonora Imazio !
Jake: Anything you’d like to add?
Andrea: The Roman crew is working hard to make the weekend of 10-11 June indelible and unforgettable for players and for the present audience.
The Jammers 2017 will be Streamed Live. The exact day and time is determined by the weather but we are expecting to start on May 27 at 13:00 UTC-4 (1p Eastern Standard Time). Tune in here.
I had a chance to catch up with Paul Kenny, the tournament director to find out more about the event.
Jake: As the 20th annual this year, The Jammers is the longest running Freestyle Frisbee event that takes place in the same location every year. What motivates you to keep going?
Paul: I think a similar anxiety happens regarding competing. I put routines/tournaments together and always before I do it I ask, why do I put so much effort into it, it would be easier and less stressful to not do it – then when it is going on and soon after, I am reminded why I do it. And that is, there is no better way to be together with the ones I love. Regarding The Jammers, when the weather is excellent and I am on my balcony watching everyone jamming – there is no better feeling I get. It reminds me that ultimately I am bringing happiness to my friends.
Jake: I, and several other players come to The Jammers every year. What do you think makes The Jammers special?
Paul: Warm weather, hardpack, the frizbreeze. When the weather is right, there is no better place to jam. Interestingly I probably do way too much regarding things I can control so maybe that is part of it. One thing I am most proud of is the number of lifelong friendships OTHERS have made with each other because of this gathering. There are a surprising number of folks that get together many times whether I am there or not. They first met here.
Jake: What playing conditions can the players expect this year?
Paul: Same answer as that which makes The Jammers special – when right, the best playing conditions in the world. People can likely expect a day that may not be perfect but The Jammers has turned into a multi-day event with jamming over many days. An interesting side note – they are doing road construction in front of our place and they are re-nourishing our beach dunes so there could be some industrial anarchy that might make a good James/Ryan video 🙂
Jake: Who are some of the people you except to attend? What teams should we be watching to put on big performances?
Paul: I think James and Ryan (underrated?) are starting their point run so that could be ridiculous. Pipo is always a last minute call but he has only missed one event ever. My plan, if he will have me, is to play with him as we competed at the first ever Jammers, so it is important for me to close that historical circle. Expect Larry and Murf to be here. They have embraced the tournament so much, they bought property on the beach a short walk to tournament central :-). The south Florida gang (Berni, Rich, Vic and others), Geoff and Nanette from Orlando. Jeff O’Brien, Jonathein, Lori, Darryl. A couple first timers in Rob Fried along with Lou. So along with Daniel and James, this will have a serious NY vibe. Bethany, Joel, Kim I believe and Dan Yarnell are all slated to be here. Steve Scannell is another regular who will attend. And Gus Emmerson (a blast from the past) will be playing with Carl. There are always people I am forgetting and others that show up unannounced so it should be another great turnout.
Jake: Anything you’d like to add?
Paul’s Mom Pauline, competing with Paul in 2008 (2nd + drop-less)
Paul: My parents attended every year they were physically able. They helped me establish momentum and is a big factor this became something I wanted to continue (so this may be a part of the first answer). That said, when my Father passed (he was Irish), my disc art was centered around a leprechaun spinning a disc. My Mother passed recently (she was French) and the disc art (I made a pin as well) is centered by the Eiffel Tower spinning a disc (incidentally generated by Raphael Legrand from Paris). The complete disc art was generated by Berni Murray (one of the folks who have made this tournament theirs). The disc art includes our gitis guy character (for World Gitis Day Sunday of the event), a dual replica of the disc art used for the 10th Jammers (Roman numeral XX where the X’s are each essentially 4 fingers each spinning a disc) and my slogan Freestyle Reveals Imagination Spirit Beauty and Emotional Expression. Shirts were also made so a lot of schwag basically to honor my Mom.
Lastly I would like to recognize Cheryl and Carl. They have, as Berni has become, been the backbone of the event. Cheryl generating art, coming up with party ideas, treats and allowing me to open up our place to the anarchy. Carl who has generated a lot of the schwag, hosted parties and generally doing all the little things no one would notice but the Tournament Director.
Special thanks to Chris Belaj for streaming this event for us. Chris was also on the winning team. Quite a feat to run the stream and win the event. Way to go, Chris. Note: this is ALL the footage so you may want to skip around. Part 5 has the final battle between Team Cega and Team Meola.
See the team lists here. The semifinals had 2 pools, A and B, each with 3 teams. In a pool, teams played head to head. This made for 3 matches. The winners of each pool advanced to the finals for one last head to head match.
Each match consists of a 3 minute co-op team, 2 person battle format, and a single throw super pro challenge. Read this post for more details.
Pool A: Team Meola, Team Clay, and Team Cega
Match 1: Meola vs Cega, Co-Op: Meola, 2v2: Meola, 1v1: Cega, Result: 2-1 (Meola wins)
Match 2: Clay vs Meola, Co-Op: Meola, 2v2: Clay, 1v1: Clay, Result 1-2 (Clay wins)
Match 3: Cega vs Clay, Co-Op: Cega, 2v2: Cega, 1v1: Cega: Result 3-0 (Cega wins)
Pool A Result: Team Cega advances.
Pool B: Team Gaddoz, Team Nizzo, Team Piccio
Match 1: Gaddoz vs Piccio, Co-Op: Piccio, 2v2: Gaddoz, 1v1: Piccio, Result: 1-2 (Piccio wins)
Match 2: Gaddoz vs Nizzo, Co-Op Nizzo, 2v2: Nizzo, 1v1: Nizzo, Result: 0-3 (Nizzo wins)
Match 3: Piccio vs Nizzo, Co-Op: 6 Piccio, 2v2: Nizzo, 1v1: Piccio, Result: 2-1 (Piccio wins)
Pool B Result: Team Picio advances.
Final Match: Cega vs Piccio, Co-Op: Piccio, 2v2: Cega, 1v1: Cega
Result: Team Cega wins Paganello 2017!! Congratulations to the team:
Marco Prati (Cega), Chris Bellaj, Andrea Rimatori, Filippo Bortot, Francesco Santolin
Teams of 5 were drawn from a hat. For more details, check our interview with Manual:
Team 1: Cega
Marco Prati, Chris Bellaj, Andrea Rimatori, Filippo Bortot, Francesco Santolin
Team 2: Gaddoz
Matteo Gaddoni, Lorenzo Telò, Andrea Piemontese, Maurizio Ranieri, Gloria Alessandrini
Team 3: Clay
Clay Collerà, Mattia Colombari, Edoardo Gargano, Anna Merlo, Andrea Poli
There’s a last minute addition to Heinsville’s live streaming calendar. Thanks to Chris Belaj and Manuel Cesari, Paganello 2017 will be streamed live. The event is part of a Beach Ultimate tournament that takes place in Rimini, Italy on April 15 – 16, 2017. It will use an interesting new competition format called “Team Battle”. Manuel Cesari is the tournament director. I caught up with him over email to find out more:
Jake: First, let’s discuss the competition format. I understand that Paganello will use an experimental format this year. It’s based on team tennis. Players will form teams of 5 by random hat draw. Each team will send “sub teams” to each event. Events include a 3 minute co-op round, a battle format pairs bracket, and a battle format singles bracket.
Manuel: Yes, in Paganello we will try this format. Last December we tried a similar version in Lazzaroni, where we had two events; 3 minute Coop and 2 minute Pairs. We don’t have a final name for 1vs1 format. When I thought about “Battle” with Clay and other Twister Hills jammers, we tried to imagine which kind of round to put on for 1vs1. I remember especially one night last summer, we were in our park in San Lazzaro where we hosted FPAW in 2008, perhaps you remember? We had a good jam all together and after we discussed 1vs1. After one hour of discussion, I was coming back to the car with Mirco Zanchetta when we started to think about Penalties in Soccer. Everybody Loves and Hates this part in a Soccer Game. At that moment, we found the format.
I didn’t play many “Super Pro” events in the past cause I don’t like so much the 1vs1, but I know how much people love that, and I confess to you, sometimes I loved it too. So, maybe my favorite name of 1vs1 is “Super Penalty Pro”, but if somebody wanna suggest something better, they’re welcome.
Jake: I love the team concept because it lends itself well to the Olympic games where each country could send a team. I have so many questions. First off, did I outline the format correctly?
Manuel: Yes, it’s correct. One of reasons I created this format is: How we can engage an audience for 30/45 minute? Another reason is: How we could grow more? Andrea Poli aka Ali and I are very fortunate to have a crew. We founded Twister Hills Bologna one year after getting our first Nails: first nail was at FPAW in Rimini 2004 and THB born in 2005. Now we are really proud to have many good jammers in our city and we hope every single jammer of every city will share with everybody his art, because this is the only way to grow. The third reason was: How to get to the Olympic Games? This format is for the team spirit inside us.
Since this in only the second time this format has been used and no one has teams prepared, the teams of 5 will be formed by random hat draw. At Paga we will have the 3 events, but I can imagine a version with 5 events. It is important to have feedback from every jammer. When we all agree on a final version, obviously we’ll have Crew Battle, City Battle, Open Battle and Nation Battle.
Jake: Will you elaborate on how the judging works for each event?
Manuel: The most important part of this format is to have results immediately. The second thing is to have few judges. I thought about the judging system of Pairs and Coop many times and one night I’ve made a PDF with one sheet. One sheet for each judge, 3 judges with the same sheet. I’ve sent this sheet (linked here) to Edoardo Gargano and Gianluca Giglio (other Bologna’s Jammers and software developers) and they started to work on an Web Application where judges use tablets, judging Difficulty and Execution at the same time. There’s also a place to make notes for AI. At the end of Routine the judges can add an AI score. At first it seemed like too much, but we tried and it was not so hard. In Lazzaroni we had some problem with the App, but those who tried it told me it was not as difficult as they had thought. I think with your help and with some changing, we could find a good balance from this judging system. If this system will work well we could play one battle in every big event or festival around the world. Or we could play a battle in our gym and you with your team in Portland and have three judges around the World watching us on streaming. I’m really curious to look Ryan’s X-Box System cause maybe it could be integrate with ours. For 1vs1 and alternate pairs, judges will use only this standard: General Impression, of course with difficulty. When you have only one shot, you must do your best!
Jake: At the end, will one team be crowned the winner?
Manuel: Yes of course, only one team win, but everybody can reach it with good teammates and good strategy. Jake: What inspired you to create this format?
Manuel: Maybe I’ve already answered your question, but I wanna be a bit provocative. It’s difficult for our sport to attract an audience. We don’t have sponsors to live our passion, and it is difficult for younger players (and sometimes for an older person like me too) to go around the world playing frisbee freestyle. I don’t wanna see hundreds tournament with 20 player, but maybe thousand battle with 10 player could be better. Try to imagine a USA or Europe championship, every week we could fix one battle, this week Bologna vs Milan, next week Portland vs Seattle, then Koln vs Berlin. Or imagine to organize only one Battle into another event. I’m speaking about music festival or other sport tournament, only 10 players, 45 minute, no qualification round, but only high level of sport, show and suspense. I’m sure we could find many events where we could do one battle, but I’m almost sure in 90% of these events it would be impossible put a “Classic Freestyle Tournament”. Jake: Is there a place where readers can find more details about the format?
Manuel: Not yet, cause I prefer test it before and find a good standard. I thought: if I write rules it’s more difficult change it. So, we will try it, we will speak about it and will collectively find the right rules. I’m happy Tom Leitner come to Paganello cause I’m really curious about his thoughts. I’m happy Chris come to Paga and will manage streaming with your channel, cause I want the opinion from those who made this sport great. What can be better than to bring freestyle to the world?
Jake: Paganello combines Beach Ultimate and Freestyle Frisbee. Historically, Freestyle at Paganello has drawn large crowds as the Ultimate players become spectators for Freestyle. What do you expect the crowds to be like this time?
Manuel: Now Paganello are not like 5 or 10 years ago. There are not so many Ultimate teams. There is not the Circus tent or space where we play in front to hundreds people, but there are some young guys and girls with the same passion of frisbee of us. Now is the new point 0, but Paganello cannot die and I’m certain of a future come back the big Paganello of the past.
Jake: Being a Beach event, will you talk about the venue and playing field? Will players be on sand? If not, what is the surface like?
Manuel: Unfortunately there is no sponsor, no indoor space and no red carpet. We’ll play on the beach, on sand, but I’m sure crowds will come to the seashore and will be great share this surface with my jamily.
Jake: Paganello will forever have a place in Freestyle Frisbee history. It was the first event to regularly draw players from the USA to Europe, which inspired a new generation of European players. How many people are you expecting to attend this year? Are there any notable players coming? For example, anyone in the top ten?
Manuel: We’ll have more than 30 jammers. You spoke about story of Paganello and I answer with two names: Clay Collerà and Tom Leitner. But not only them, Marco “Cega” Prati, Matteo Gaddoni, Antonio Cusmà Piccione, Andrea Meola (all Worlds Champions) and some new jammers really on fire.
Jake: Anything else you’d like to add or anyone you want to thank?
Manuel: Maybe I’ve already said thanks to everybody. If I forgot someone, I’m sorry, but you know I love you and thanks for helping me in this dream.
This is a little editing by Mirco Zanchetta of our first Team Battle in Bologna, Enjoy it!
Thanks to Chris Belaj, the Italian Open will be live streamed. The Freestyle Frisbee community thanks you! The Italian Open will take place in Rome, Italy on June 10-11. Andrea Rimatori and Serge Marconi are the Tournament Directors. Andrea was gracious enough to share more details about the event.
Jake: What is the venue for your event?
