Pat Harris remembers his first national ultimate championship back in 1987 in Ottawa, when the game was young and relatively unknown.
The championship had a few teams in one division, and Harris helped pave the way for a sport breaking out of its stigma as a glorified game of Frisbee. Harris, 48, played for the Calgary Cynics and went on to the world championships more than a few times.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e travelled the world B次元官网网址� Belgium, Hawaii, Madison, Wisc. ItB次元官网网址檚 a worldwide sport,B次元官网网址� Harris says. B次元官网网址淭o represent your country if you win nationals, go to the worlds, itB次元官网网址檚 a special thing.B次元官网网址�
Ultimate is a disc-based field sport with elements of football, soccer and basketball. Players throw the disc to advance up the field toward the endzone, but a player with the disc canB次元官网网址檛 run B次元官网网址� they can pivot and pass, like a basketball player.
For the first time in 15 years, Victoria will host the Canadian national ultimate championships, which expects to draw 1,500 athletes from top teams from Newfoundland to B.C.
Since that first championship, the egalitarian sport that prides itself on fair play, no referees and co-ed squads has found a following of fiercely loyal players.
B次元官网网址�(Ultimate) is co-ed, competitive and self-officiated. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no cheating. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 go on,B次元官网网址� Harris says. B次元官网网址淚 like the community nature of it. You play hard and after go out and enjoy each otherB次元官网网址檚 company. Nobody pays you to play. You have to love this game.B次元官网网址�
HarrisB次元官网网址檚 masterB次元官网网址檚 team, Republic is one of two Victoria-based squads in the nationals. B次元官网网址淭he key word in Republic is B次元官网网址榩ub,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he jokes. B次元官网网址淎s in we are a group that can either hang out at the pub, or choose to play ultimate.B次元官网网址�
The other, the Skysharks, is a mixed team in its second season, and with one national championship tournament under its belt. Clayton Howlett, 27, of Saanich, helped launch the Skysharks after playing competitive ultimate in Vancouver for three years.
B次元官网网址淭his is a young team, about a year old. Last year we went to the nationals in Ottawa seeded 10th and we came out of it 10th,B次元官网网址� says Howlett, one of four team captains on the Skysharks.
B次元官网网址淚 had no idea weB次元官网网址檇 make it to nationals. We expected to get trashed an use it as a learning exercise, but we held our place and showed we could contend.B次元官网网址�
This year the Skysharks came in second in the province behind Vancouver-based 7 Deadly Spins, the former Canadian and world champions. B次元官网网址淲e hope to contend with them, we want to contest the world champs,B次元官网网址� Howlett says.
The tournament is spread through fields at Lansdowne school, St. Michaels University School, Topaz Park and Royal Athletic Park for the finals.
B次元官网网址淰ictoria has great facilities in terms of fields,B次元官网网址� says Danny Saunders, executive director for Ultimate Canada. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 an ideal location in the summer for Canadian players,B次元官网网址�
Tournament director Kevin Bruleigh said organizing a national event for 72 teams with 1,500 players and their families and coaches will help raise the profile of ultimate in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭he instant perception of the sport is people think of the beach and dogs and hippies hanging out. ItB次元官网网址檚 not like that. These are athletes training for competition. It is a huge commitment,B次元官网网址� Bruleigh says. B次元官网网址淭he best of the best in Canada, coming to compete in the capital city.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian ultimate championships run Aug. 16 to 19 on fields in Victoria and Saanich. See www.cuc2012.ca for details.
editor@saanichnews.com
