Three years after our first appearance with the Edmonton Riverhawks, Sailor and I returned to RE/MAX Field for another unforgettable afternoon of baseball, frisbee and thousands of cheering fans.
With 8,400 people in attendance, the stadium was packed – and Sailor was ready to put on a show.
Big Throws, Bigger Catches
During our on-field demo, Sailor made several huge catches in the outfield, tracking down throws of approximately 300 feet. Watching him accelerate across the grass, find the flight of the disc and make the catch in front of a full stadium never gets old.
I also brought out an Innova Destroyer to see whether I could clear the left-field fence.
I ended up throwing three frisbee home runs, with all three throws travelling approximately 400 feet and sailing over the wall.
It was a fun way to combine two sports that are built around many of the same things: timing, power, accuracy and the excitement of watching something fly.
Bringing Frisbee into the Stands
The day was about much more than our performance on the field.
During the game, I spent time in the bleachers giving kids an opportunity to try the XDISC. Its unique shape makes it perfect for experimenting with spins, tricks and different ways of throwing and catching.
I also gave away a bunch of mini frisbees. Seeing kids immediately start playing with them and creating their own games was one of my favourite parts of the afternoon.
That is always the bigger goal behind these appearances. The big throws and catches get people’s attention, but putting a frisbee into someone’s hands gives them an opportunity to become part of the experience.
Turning the Outfield into a Frisbee Playground
After the game, we stayed on the field so fans could meet Sailor, pet him and take a closer look at the four-legged athlete they had just watched racing across the outfield.
I threw some shorter passes for Sailor while people gathered around, and I set up a disc golf basket for anyone who wanted to try putting. Before long, people were playing catch, throwing at the basket and spreading throughout the outfield.
For a little while, the baseball field had transformed into a giant frisbee playground.
A huge thank-you to Pam and the entire Edmonton Riverhawks organization for inviting us back and giving fans the opportunity to experience frisbee in so many different ways. The Riverhawks have created something special in Edmonton, and we were proud to be part of it again.
One More Unexpected Performance
The day still wasn’t finished.
After leaving the stadium, I crossed the road and met a group of approximately 100 boys visiting Alberta with Camp Yachad, a travel camp from New Jersey.
Before I had even reached them, they spotted me and started cheering and chanting:
“Frisbee Rob! Frisbee Rob!”
It was an incredible welcome.
I gave the group another demonstration, handed out several Fastback flying discs and brought Sailor out for one more performance. The boys cheered for every throw and catch, giving Sailor another enthusiastic crowd after an already busy afternoon.
Camp Yachad’s travel program takes campers on a wide range of day trips and extended adventures, and it was awesome to become a small part of their Alberta experience.
A huge thank-you to Rabbi Berkowitz for making that final experience possible.
More Than a Performance
From Sailor’s 300-foot catches and three frisbee home runs over the left-field fence to the kids trying the XDISC, families playing disc golf in the outfield and a surprise demonstration for 100 visiting campers, the entire day showed what makes frisbee so special.
It can be a record-breaking athletic performance, a professional stadium show or a simple game of catch.
All it takes is one disc – and someone willing to throw it.
