Some low-def footage from Tuesday's 5-on-5 game. This could be called a highlight, but really, we had so many pretty plays that the game was like one long highlight reel.
Aug
13
2010
Made in St-John Blogs
Aug
08
2010
Visit from a youth Ultimate champ - August 2
Joining our 5 on 5 game this past Tuesday was Liz Clark, an incoming sophomore at Duke University and member of the Duke Chakra Women's Ultimate team. Here's what she had to say about playing with the Catch 'n' Keep:
Hey! I’m Liz Clark and I had the pleasure of playing Ultimate with the Catch ’n’ Keep last week in Coral Bay. When I knew I was going to visit my Aunt Lani in St. John this summer, one of the first things I did was find out about the Ultimate scene on the island. I’ve played Ultimate all over the place--I’ve been playing for 5 years now in around 15 states. I played for my high school and currently play on the Duke Women’s team, Chakra. I also play elite women’s club for team Phoenix in North Carolina and I went to the World Flying Disc Federation’s World Ultimate and Guts Championship in 2008 on the USA Under 20 National Team. So, in a nutshell, I love Ultimate!
Anyways, my Aunt told me about the pickup games in Coral Bay on Tuesdays, which immediately became the first event placed on the trip itinerary. At home, I play or practice on average seven hours a week, so I knew it was going to be nice to take a break for a week or so, but by the time Tuesday rolled around I couldn’t wait to get my hands on plastic. Though I got a skinned knee within minutes after the first throw, Coral Bay pickup was awesome! Everyone was really nice and the quality of play was not too shabby! It was cool that there were people of all different ages and that I got to be a part of a pickup that has been going on for years and years. Also, I’ve never played on a more beautiful field, nestled in the hills of the island with the bay in sight from the end zone. The tailgate and burgers at Skinny Legs afterwards were not to be missed!
The thing I love the most about Ultimate is the camaraderie between players that coincides with the kind of people the sport attracts wherever it’s played--friendly, athletic, positive people with a flair for healthy competition. The Catch ’n’ Keep were, of course, all of the above and it was really great to meet some new friends on the island. It’s also fun how the island is such a small community; I saw several familiar faces around town the following week. Unfortunately, I was only able to stay one week, but I will certainly come back to Coral Bay on Tuesday night on my next visit!
Other than playing Ultimate, I’ve been busy doing many different things on the island. I’ve been snorkeling several times, gone out to eat all over town, watched the sun set over the ocean, done Pilates and paddle boarding for the first time, and been on two boat rides exploring the area. I’ve had an excellent experience here. St. John is such a beautiful and great place and hopefully I’ll be able to come back soon!
Jul
19
2010
Jul
15
2010
Discovering Ultimate
I discovered Ultimate in June 2004 when I came to
I'd never played in my life, but a game sounded far better than eating teriyaki chicken alone. So without really knowing what to expect, I hopped in and held on and hit the ground running that month. I don’t recall who was driving, but I do remember a couple of the other four-hours who came along. We were warmly received and someone explained to us the rules. The game was actually as many games to five points as we could fit in before it became too dark to see the disc. And to our delight, we also discovered the post-game tailgating ritual. (I still think a cold beer never tastes as good as after Ultimate.) I was hooked; since then, whether I've been on island for a short vacation or extended stay, "Frisbee night" has been the one constant in my ever-changing routine.
