Team Canada World Games
the drivers seat, taking the game by a few.
VY’s control and experience was felt much
Experience: Part 1
more, and her old chemistry with Kirk
Savage and John Hassel punched in some
tense offensive points. We followed this
by nick menzies
the alternates with some Vancouver game up with some zone work in some
rockstars — and got down to business. Our pretty gnarly conditions. This was my first
Following a tumultuous season fundraising party at the “Main Street Manor” time really having some time to handle
last year, capturing Gold at Worlds in went off, with close to 200 people showing with our youngest player, Anne Mercier
Vancouver followed by not qualifying for up and winning awesome prizes. The top (2009 Callahan award runner-up), who
UPA Nationals several months later, the prize of a sponge bath from Alex Hughes is impressingly calm against a livid Kirk
idea of mounting up again for the biggest is still unaccounted for, but I am pretty Savage mark. A flurry of screaming blades
challenge in Ultimate seemed tiring and sure Andrew Lugsdin bought it off the and hammers fired at Val Dion and Alex
I was unsure if I had the energy to do winner for $200, although Ron Kubalanza, Hughes helped the D-line crush the O-line,
it again. Hitting the weights and hills in (Amercian Frisbee legend), seemed pretty which had “who was making dinner and
December to peak for August was trying keen as well. During the party the team serving beers” on the line, but in all honesty
on my body and personal life. But who are began the process of coming together as with Oscar, Kira, Mercier back handling, we
we kidding. I had a pretty good idea of a there are some righteous partiers with Sam couldn’t be stopped by any o-liners out
number of the players that would make Kennedy and Allison Walker shutting the there.
up the team, some of whom are my best place down after 4am. Following the long day of dodging
friends, others I have really wanted to play A full out game the next day of the lightning bolts and twoonie sized
with for years. When I received the call that core vs alternates and guests was close, hailstorms we were off to the TUF
I had been selected as an tournament party which featured Sam
alternate — meaning I go to
I forgot how fun co-ed can be, especially
Kennedy and Anatoly Vasilyev (Goat and
Taiwan if a regular member
when you have Val Dion, Jeff Cruikshank
member of 2008 Canadian Open team)
of my position gets injured —
and Link ripping it to you all day long.
entertaining women-folk. At the bar much
I was a bit disappointed, but of the team stayed up late listening to a
you never know how things will go, and I but Genevive Dufresne must have scored wonderfully animated Alex Hughes, and
was a bit taken aback when I was asked if I 8 goals, while alternate Kate Crump stories of d-line mantra’s of the past mixed
would accept. Are you kidding me? could maybe only score 7. Those French in with some far too personal stories of
Our first training camp in April in Canadians are damn good, and the power Allison Walker. Perhaps we should have
Vancouver started a little quiet after a of Kira Frew, Alex Snyder and John Hassel considered we had another full day of
massive breakfast at Alex Snyder’s parents’ was felt. With the game over, the mad flurry playing the next day starting at 9am. Ah
place. We went over a few gems that Jeff of rides to the airport ended the weekend. well.
Cruikshank, the coach, had cooked up A great start indeed. The final day of the Toronto experience
with captains Kirk Savage and Vicki “VY” By the time the team met again in featured another game of the core
Chow and then hit the field. We were given Toronto in May, everyone was more vs. alternates and supposedly some
throwing partners, to practice throwing to relaxed, and well on our way to getting reinforcements, but they did not show
the opposite gender, and while most of the into game shape. Sam Kennedy’s parents until late in the game. With Jeff Cruikshank
members of the team don’t play a ton of put up the non-Toronto members and this suiting up, the alternates took on TC
co-ed these days, it’s where we all began, weekend was filled with heaps of bonding savage. The alternates were hungry and
and we got into the groove pretty quick. time, rain, lightning and enigma Derek came out of the gates firing. The playing
Our main obstacle for this weekend was Alexander, who was unable to attend conditions were still a little windy, but
getting to know everyone, relax, and try Vancouver. I really can’t say enough of it was a great “throwing wind” which
to keep paying attention to the detailed what a unique talent, and pure champion opened up pin-point hucks from just about
strategy talks throughout the weekend. Derek is. A windy game of the whole everyone. I forgot how fun co-ed can be,
Speaking from experience, it is much more Canadian team against some of the stars especially when you have Val Dion, Jeff
interesting to talk about strategy than to of Goat and Lotus at TUF was super tight Cruikshank and Link ripping it to you all day
listen. early on, with the Toronto group getting long. Kate Crump and Jenn Kwok are some
By the Saturday night the team had an early break or two. Some incredible of the easiest receivers to find, as they
enjoyed two full days of training, played defense and a few sailing hucks from Oscar relentlessly set themselves up for strikes
some decent Ultimate — the core vs. Pottinger put the national team back in and can run down just about anything. The
24 Ultimate Canada magazine — www.canadianultimate.com
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