The Return of Frisbee Rob at the Silver Skate Festival
On Saturday, February 11 from 10-11am, Rob will attempt to break his Guinness World Records and World Flying Disc Federation World Record for TRC (Throw, Run, and Catch).
The current record of 92.4 metres was set at Silver Skate in 2018.
This year he’s eyeing triple digits, 100 plus metres!
Frisbee Rob on Discovery Channel
There are so many things that are possible on ice skates, especially if you have a frisbee. Make this year all about creating your winter experience. Get out and explore the rinks around Edmonton. My favourite ice surface in Edmonton is Hawrelak Park, where I’ve broken 6 Guinness World Records, and 12 WFDF World Records, multiple times since 2013 during the Silver Skate Festival.
I want to give you an idea of my three favourite things to do with a frisbee on ice skates – and I’d love to have you explore more. Play catch. Invent games.
First though, you will want to have a good disc for throwing & catching. I would recommend the Xtra 235 from Hero Disc USA (buy in my Store). You can buy it in my online store and the reason I recommend this disc is that it’s lightweight, and super durable, so it won’t crack or break from hitting the ice or being exposed to the cold. This is the disc that I use when I teach frisbee in schools, and also when I compete with dogs (it’s actually a dog disc), so you can be sure that it’s durable. Another disc that you might like to use is an ultimate disc. You can buy these at any sporting goods store, or in my online store. They are a bit heavier than the Xtra and less durable, so in extreme cold, or with a high velocity impact on the ice or ground, the potential for these discs to break is a real concern.
Once you have a disc, make sure that you dress warm with layers because skating outdoors will involve a lot of wind – both from the elements and also from skating and moving fast. I would also recommend wearing a pair of gloves, but make sure that they aren’t too thick so you will still be able to throw and catch. The gloves I use are from Layout Ultimate because they still allow me a good grip on the disc, but unfortunately they’re not very warm. Might be a good idea to bring some Hot Ice hand warmers with you!
The first thing I’d recommend starting off with is just playing catch with a partner. This will give you the chance to learn the intricate details of throwing and catching on ice skates. Learning how to brace your body when you throw, learning to read the disc and skating where it’s going to be, gliding so you can more easily control the catch, and also learning how the disc flies in the wind, and the cold air. You can start off with a backhand, and progress to a forehand, and maybe even a hammer throw.
No matter what throw you use, you will want to remember the three parts of a throw:
- Grip – how you hold the disc
- Spin – snap your wrist to make the disc spin, giving it lift and glide
- Power – add power on the throw using your body to get more distance
As you get more comfortable throwing and catching on ice skates, you can try things like skipping the disc off the ice to your partner. Make sure to aim so that the disc will skip off the ice about halfway between you and your partner. You can also work on trick catches – under the legs, behind the back, and behind the head. Have some fun with it!
As you continue to progress, you can then try your hand at Self-Caught Flight. This is my specialty, and the event in which I currently hold all of the World Records. Self-Caught Flight includes two events with the intention of throwing the disc in a high boomerang flight allowing the thrower to then catch it – with one hand!
In Maximum Time Aloft (MTA), a player aims to accumulate a maximum number of seconds between the throw and catch; in Throw, Run and Catch (TRC), the object is to accumulate a maximum number of meters between the throw and catch. To get good results, players must be adept at gauging the wind, “reading” the flight of a disc and employing good catching techniques.
Maximum Time Aloft (MTA)
The intention is to have your disc stay in the air (aloft!) as long as possible and then catch it with one hand before it reaches the ground. The time that the disc remains in the air is measured with a stopwatch. Players get five attempts and the best time counts. For an accurate timing, three stop- watches are used. The median or middle time of the three times is used. At the moment the world record on ice skates is 14.14 seconds.
Throw, Run and Catch (TRC)
The player throws, and then runs to catch the disc with one hand. The distance between the circle where the disc was thrown and where it was caught, is measured. Players get five attempts and the best one counts. At the moment the world record on ice skates is 92.4 metres.
I’d love to hear how it went for you! If you have any questions, want some help with your throwing & catching, or want to share with me a new game that you created!
No matter what, let the wind guide you.