I just got back from Denver, where Sailor and I competed in the Quadruped. After winning last year, this one was a challenge. Warm-ups went well, and we won our heat with a catch of 94 yards.
Heading into the finals, I was feeling good and the wind was perfect. We were up last in the first round since we had the longest catch of the day but we struck out, going catchless on all 3 throws with misses at 94 yards, 105 yards, and 105 yards.
It’s been a while since we finished 4th so not only was it a huge blow to my ego but it was also a big blow to our points. You get 10 points for 1st, 9 for 2nd, 8 for 3rd, and 7 for 4th.
Going into the Quad finals in October, the top 10 teams in the series during the year get points – 2 for the top 5 and 1 for the next 5. With that 4th place finish, we need to have a strong event in Michigan which is in 2 weeks. Winning the Quad Series is possible since the winning team gets 10 points so if we finish top 10 and go into the finals with 1 point, as long as we win and get the longest catch of the Quad finals, we’ll win the Quad Series.
As hard as it was to strikeout and finish 4th, I need to also have some humility and look at where I’m at and where Sailor is at. Although I’ve been throwing frisbees in schools pretty much daily, I haven’t been getting out for long distance training. I was relying on muscle memory and my previous years spent doing distance training. Were my throws good enough in the finals? Not if Sailor cannot catch them. I could have thrown better.
Sailor is turning 11 in August so he’s not as fast as he once was. He’s still super fast but when you’re talking about getting a catch over 100 yards, every step counts. If Sailor is one or two steps slower than he’s been in the past then my throws need to be more precise.
Heading into Michigan, I will continue training with Sailor to build up his speed and endurance. And I’ll be getting out on my own for distance training.
As much as I want to win, I need to remind myself that I’m on my own journey and I’m so grateful to have Sailor join me on this journey. Win, lose, catch, miss – it’s all part of the journey.
As much as the Denver Quad trip was about the competition—it’s also about the infinite game. The 17-hour drive each way gave me time with Sailor—my partner who still loves it, even as he nears 11. I got to see Ashley and Drew, hang out with Randy, talk XDISC with Scott, and lose myself in audiobooks on the road. Getting to see my frisbee friends and compete with them is always one of the best parts. Congrats to Gary and Beep, Chris and Macho, and Jeff and Roman!
That’s the infinite game—the memories, the conversations, the chance to think. The finite game, though, is the Quad itself—those big throws that didn’t quite connect because Sailor and I haven’t been training much, and he only just came back to me.
Ultimately, I do this because I love competing. I’m chasing a legacy—both for myself and to see what Sailor and I can do together. Balancing that hunger to win with the love of the journey is tough. I didn’t perform how I wanted in Denver, but it’s made me hungrier. In less than a week, we’re off on a 50-hour round trip to Michigan. The infinite and finite games continue—and I’m ready for both.
