Gender
Blender
The tourney with spirit!
BY CHRIS WELSH
Whether you’ve been every year or it’s your first time ever, Gender Blender is an Ultimate tournament like no other and is always full of surprises. With up to 45 Mixed teams and players traveling from all over the world, Gender Blender has become one of the biggest and most recognizable tournaments in the history of Canadian Ultimate.
HISTORY
Gender Blender, held in Fergus, Ontario,
is the creation of Mark Evans and Dan Ber- man from inception to a 40 team carnival throughout the opening seven years. Starting in 1997 as an early development in competi- tive mixed Ultimate, Gender Blender quickly developed a reputation as the essential start to a summer of Ultimate in the Great Lakes area. Teams were attracted from as far afield as Denver, New York and Cincinnati. Mark and Dan put in a great effort over their
tenure and decided to hand over the reins to Karen Hood, Dilhan Kuru and Giles Deshon in 2004. They continued the legacy of Gender Blender for 4 years until 2008, when the tournament came under the direction of The Ultimate Experience. With teams and players coming from as
far afield as England, Mexico, Australia, Ger- many and beyond, Gender Blender is gaining ground as a must-see event in the global Ul- timate community.
THE EXPERIENCE
If you’ve ever spoken to someone who has been to Gender Blender in the past, it’s likely that they have not been able to find the words to completely describe it. With a minimum of 7 games to be played over the weekend teams of all experience, ranging from top 8 Canadian touring teams to recrea-
tional league teams, soak up the great June sun and weather to kick off their summer. Along with camping facilities, an indoor
pool, hot tub, and a selection of quality food throughout the weekend each team is pro- vided with a power supply at each team campsite; the essential element for the epic Friday Night Party. With each team creating unique campsites, games, costumes, and drinks the Friday Night at Gender Blender has become legendary. Last year’s Campsite winners ‘Bad Medicine’ provided the night’s hottest spot, which in- cluded a 50ft pirate ship and accompanying laser light show, foam machine and full on DJ set. Teams are already setting their sights on topping that this coming year! Not only is there a lot of Ultimate to be
played, Gender Blender provides all Hecklers ample opportunity during the annual Satur- day evening All-Star game, which includes a half-time show of fastest man, fastest woman, and a throw run catch competition, and a Cups Tournament to be competed for. The festivities continue Saturday night inside the Gender Blender tent where live bands, tournament slideshows, talent shows, pres- entation of awards, and finished off with a dance party of 800 strong.
CHARITY
Over the years Gender Blender has been a
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key contributor to the local Fergus commun- ity and beyond through charitable donations. In Fergus, Gender Blender is one of the Food Bank’s biggest events of the year. Profits have also gone towards the Fergus United Way agency, the CRC, and Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. On top of monetary donations, most recently, Gender Blender donated discs and team shirts to a community in Africa.
THE KIT FARAGHER SPIRIT AWARD
Kit Faragher was a player who traveled from
Colorado in 2000 and 2001 with her team Lickety Split to participate in Gender Blender, one of her favourite tournaments. Kit passed away in 2001 and in January 2002, Kit’s sister Beth, another Gender Blender regular, was chosen to run with the Olympic torch in Boulder, Colorado, and did so in Kit’s honor. This torch reads, “Light the Fire Within,” to an Ultimate player, this means ignite the Spirit of the Game within you and use it to play this game and live your life by those principles. Kit’s family presented Gender Blender with
that same Olympic torch, and are honoured to have it as part of the tournament’s Spirit Award. Gender Blender takes great pride in sharing Kit’s memory and enthusiasm year after year.
SIGNED UP YET?
Gender Blender, back for it’s 14th year, is
looking to be bigger and better than ever! To register go to
www.genderblender.org and get yourself ready for a tournament you’ll tell your grandchildren about!
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