Category: Shootin The FrizBreeze

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Joey explains how frisbee represents something much deeper to him. He was originally inspired by the band, Hot Tuna, admiring how they followed their own artistic path.  It was the OCTAD Jersey Jam tournament in the mid 70’s that spurred Joey’s interest in competing.  He shares his strategies on pushing the limits of his skills.  He also talks about the creation of many of the moves that continue to make freestyle exciting. Joey shares some sound advice for young players as well as his approach to balancing choreography and spontaneity.  Will we ever see the lost routine between Joey and Richie Smits?  Do you have a lost routine that you pine over? Let us know know the comments.

Jake talks about what your generous donations are used for.

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In this episode Randy takes an opportunity to share some of his old stories. It sounds like Randy’s road to the Rose Bowl in 1980 was a crazy one.

• First there was getting to the NAS Tournament in Boulder, hear how Randy used his frisbee prowess during a hitchhiking adventure to avoid going to jail; a great example of how Frisbee can be such a connector.
• At only 16 years old, Randy worked hard to prepare for his solo routine at the Rose Bowl that never came to fruition, but not all was lost. The routine is linked below.
• Jake and Randy talk about choreographing solo vs. with others and they discuss the pros and cons.

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In this episode we talk to Dexter Strunz, one of the original tournament directors for the Famed Frisbeer Competition.

• Hear how Dexter, who started as a foot bagger and event organizer, added freestyle to his repertoire in 2004.
• He shares the origins of the popular Frisbeer Tournament and the sudden interest from others in Prague.
• How did 15+ great players suddenly appear?
• Dexter shares tips on the best way to learn the sport.
• Jake asks Dexter to share some of his favorite memories from Frisbeer, which he has so successfully organized over the years.
• Dexter gives a personal thanks his freestyle family in the states for hosting him while he and Lucie traveled the world, something he highly recommends!

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Photo by Char Powell

As we practiced to start our podcast, we interviewed Steve Hayes “The Beast”. He has so many deep thoughts about Freestyle Frisbee that we found ourselves fascinated. This is one of those early interviews.

• Randy starts off with a burning question for Jake.
• The Beast goes deep on what he considers a good throw.  Who knew he was so philosophical and thoughtful?
• He talks about the heartbeat of the jam, which is not just about making the hard moves, but about the connection with another person and making them look good. 
• Jake talks about the hoop factory.
• Randy, Jake, and Beast discuss flow, and a what that means now and how that evolved over the years.

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• Deaton Mitchell discusses his hardest moves and which ones he was responsible for inventing.
• He reminisces about playing with Gina Sample and winning the Mixed division in Fort Collins in 1986.
• Later on, he just attached himself to the “Gina Sample Express.”
• He also praises the Velasquez brothers on their remarkable sportsmanship, and they weren’t too bad looking either.
• Jake and Randy share their hardest moves they’ve ever done and the hardest they do on a regular basis.
• Can you believe this is the 35th Episode of Shootin’ the Frizbreeze, and there have been over 10,000 downloads?!  Hear Jake and Randy’s observations and key learnings from doing the podcast.

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• Carolyn and Stacy talk about the high expectations when they started playing and how the thought of playing professionally was always on their minds.
• Although early competitions didn’t necessarily lend themselves to connecting with other women that were playing, they recall some memorable female players and their routines.
• Stacy talks about playing with Amy Schiller, “The California Girls.”
• Carolyn shares that as early female pioneers of the sport, they would sometimes feel isolated, and she and Stacy share some interesting thoughts on why that was and offer ideas on how to engage women so they’ll stick with it.
• Is Mixed Pairs a strategy?
• There is no question that people want to see women play!
• Randy recommends a new and easy way to judge…Do you remember the Gong Show?

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Photo by Ann Shubitz Velasquez

• Jake asks the brothers the age old question…is freestyle a sport or an art?
• Jens shares his thoughts about the difficulties of judging routines when they are so incredibly different.
• Erwin talks about whether he thinks they were judged unfairly at times because people may not have seen them as technical players.
• Although it could be tough at times and they didn’t always like the results, they always felt good about remaining true to themselves and doing the routine they set out to do.
• Find out if there was any behind the scenes brother rivalry and when and why they stopped playing.
• Hear about the strange and mysterious rubber-band routine that Erwin Velasquez, Ted Oberhaus, and Randy put together. Read the tournament results and see some great photos on http://freestyle-frisbee.com.
• Jake asks the brothers what their favorite lost trick was. Have you ever done the pinwheel? Video Below

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Hear how Hall of Famer, Joey Hudoklin, discovered Freestyle. As a kid growing up in Greenwich Village, he mostly concentrated on mainstream sports like baseball & basketball. Then one summer day in 1975, he ventured to Washington Square with some friends and a frisbee appeared. Seeing the overhand wrist flip caught his eye and got him hooked. Later trips to the Bandshell in Central Park allowed him to witness the inception of some of the moves we have all come to use and love. Find out who truly inspired Joey in the beginning. Also hear Joey’s thoughts on playing in high people-traffic areas. Jake shares his thoughts as well, which are a little different. 

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Mehrdad shares how he first discovered Frisbee in 2001. He was attracted to the disc for several years before discovering Freestyle, but those years had a big influence on his current game. As a spectator in 2005 at the German Championships, he felt somewhat intimidated, but decided to compete in 2006. It was his first trip to the USA however, for the 2013 FPA World Championships in Santa Cruz, that turned a corner for him. Not only did he see some of the Freestyle legends in person and get some memorable advice, but it was afterwards that Paul Kenny asked him to play pairs at the 2015 Worlds, in Karlsruhe, Germany, which, by the way, they won. He credits Paul and his first experience at building a routine  as having a big impact on his confidence and dedication. Find out how Mehrdad learned to throw the Chicken Wing, or learn it from his teacher here. Also, Mehrdad shares some of his underlying wisdom about listening & learning from others. Randy recalls meeting Mehrdad and Harold for the first time in Berlin and speaking the international language of the mob-op jam. Do you speak that language?