Freestyle Competition to Debut at Inaugural World Urban Games

The first edition of the World Urban Games (WUG) will take place September 13 through 15 in Budapest. The WUG promise is to be the ultimate global showcase for a new generation of urban sports. This multi-sport event is planned to be held every two years and will encompass a wide range of activities and events, from sport competitions to showcases and demonstrations featuring music, dance and urban culture.

One of the competition sports of the WUG program is "Flying Disc Freestyle," which WUG describes as: "a cooperative sport that combines the basic game of throw and catch with aspects of gymnastics, dance, martial arts, and other physical disciplines. It's both a creative art and an athletic challenge."

The World Flying Disc Federation's Freestyle Committee, in consultation with the Freestyle Players Association, selected 12 mixed gender Freestyle teams (pairs) from 9 different countries. They are:
1. Juliana Korver/Ryan Young (USA)

2. Emma Kahle/Daniel O’Neill (USA)

3. Bianca Strunz/Fabian Dinklage (GER)

4. Ilka Simon/Waldemar Wagner (GER)

5. Maxine Mittempergher/Edo Turri (ITA)

6. Anna Bragagnolo/Andrea Rimatori (ITA)

7. Joakim Arveskar/Vendella Arveskar (SWE)

8. Meirav Pinhas/Yuval Reikoren (ISR)

9. Benedicte Audet/Brett Schramek (CAN)

10. Marysia Ryszarda Krajewska/Kuba Radwanska (POL)

11. Sophie Rickers/Gordon Brown (GBR)

12. Paola Andrea Garcia Palaez/Pablo Azul (COL)


Freestyle is sharing the same venue as 3x3 basketball. View the full schedule.

USA Player Stats at 2019 World U24 Ultimate Championships

The U.S.A. Under-24 National Teams went undefeated in Germany at the WFDF 2019 Under-24 Worlds. Below are individual U.S. players stats on their gold-medal teams.

USA U24 Women's Team (10-0); gold medal winners.
+Angela Zhu is the only U.S. player to average at least 1 assist and 1 goal; in 10 games, Zhu threw 13 assists (1.3/game) and caught 11 goals (1.1 goals/game).
+Top assist leaders for women's team: Arielle Nelson, Samiya Ismail (16), Angela Zhu (13)
+Top scorers for women's team: Claire Trop (18), Caitlyn Lee (15), Carly Campana, Dena Elimelech (13), Angela Zhu (11)
+All players on the women's roster recorded at least 1 assist and 1 goal.

USA U24 Mixed Team (10-0); gold medal winners.
+Joe White posted the highest combined total of Assists + Goals of any U.S. player with 30 (21 assists + 9 goals).
+Top assist leaders for mixed team:Joe White (21), Matthew Gouchoe-Hanas (13), Brett Gramann (10)
+Top scorers for mixed team: Anders Olsen (11), Mary Rippe, Anne Worth (10)

USA U24 Men's Team (11-0); gold medal winners.
+Malcolm Hecht led all U.S. players with 26 assists (in 10 games). Tannor Johnson was the leading scorer of all U.S. players with 20 goals (11 games).
+Top assist leaders for men's team: Malcolm Hecht (26), Elijah Long, Eric Sjostom (12)
+Top scorers for men's team: Tannor Johnson (20), Jasper Tom, Alexander Cuizon Tice (12), Nathan Pettyjohn, Christian Boxley (11)

[DATA via WU24UC event site; compiled by SLUDGE]

Congratulations to USA Ultimate National Teams at U24 Worlds 2019

Congratulations to all U.S.A. Ultimate National Team players, coaches and staff involved with winning a combined 3 gold medals at 2019 Worlds in Germany.

Recognition of the 75 athletes from the U.S. teams:

Results at WFDF U24 Worlds 2019

It's over at Under-24 Worlds in Heidelberg, Germany!

USA National Teams swept the 3 divisions at the WFDF World U24 Ultimate Championships - just like in 2013 and in 2018. Collectively, the USA teams were perfect at the international tournament; posting a combined (31-0) record [men (11-0) + mixed (10-0) + women (10-0)].

MEN's DIVISION
GOLD: USA
SILVER: Canada
BRONZE: Italy
FOURTH: Japan
SPIRIT: Demark

MIXED DIVISION
GOLD: USA
SILVER: Japan
BRONZE: Singapore*
*Singapore's first-ever medal at the World Under-24 Ultimate Championship
FOURTH: Latvia
SPIRIT: South Africa

WOMEN's DIVISION
GOLD: USA
SILVER: Japan
BRONZE: Canada
FOURTH: Colombia
SPIRIT: Australia

[data source]

CHART: Top-8 Countries in Each Division at U24 Worlds

WFDF Under-24 Ultimate Championships in Germany finished pool play. Fourteen (14) different countries of the 29 total countries are represented in the top tier of teams. Only Canada, Japan, and the United States have all 3 of their teams in the top-8 in each division.

NOTES: Men's and Mixed top teams were in 8-team bracket; the women's top teams were placed in a  4-team championship bracket.

Chart: Country Participation at WFDF 2019 Under-24 Ultimate Championships

There are fifty-one (51) National ultimate teams from 29 countries are scheduled to compete in the upcoming WFDF World Under-24 Ultimate Championships. There will be 21 mixed teams, 18 teams in the men's division and 12 teams in the women's division at U24 Worlds.

Nine (9) countries will be competing in all 3 divisions (men's, women's and mixed) -- Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The majority of countries (16) are sending one (1) team to this international event.

[Data source: https://wu24heidelberg.com/team-registration; Chart by SLUDGE]

College Representation on USA National Team Rosters at World Under-24 Championships

WFDF's 2019 World Under-24 Ultimate Championships (WU24) starts this weekend in Germany. USA National Teams will be represented in the men's, mixed and women's divisions. A total of seventy-five (75) players were selected to represent the US on the active rosters; 24 on men's, 26 on mixed, and 25 on the US women's roster.

Carleton College leads with the most players with 10, followed by UNC (6), Oregon (5) and Dartmouth (4). A total of forty-one (41) of colleges are represented on the USA Ultimate National teams at 2019 U24 Worlds.

NOTES: Unaffiliated player = Clea Poklemba (mixed) is from Portland, Oregon.
Stacy Gaskill representing Colorado, will be freshman in fall 2019.
Abby Hecko representing Washington, will be freshman in fall 2019.

[Updated from original chart with final rostering; data via USA Ultimate]

WFDF 2019 World Under-24 Ultimate Championships (Heidelberg, Germany)

The World Flying Disc Federation 2019 World Under-24 Ultimate Championships (WU24) will be hosted in the city of Heidelberg, Germany, from July 13th to July 20th. The event will feature national Ultimate teams in the following divisions: Men's U24 (18 teams), Women's U24 (12 teams) and Mixed U24 (21 teams). Located about 78 km (48 mi) south of Frankfurt, Heidelberg is the fifth-largest city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

There are 51 teams from 29 countries scheduled to compete in the event.

MKBHD Schools Joe Rogan on Ultimate Frisbee

MKBHD, wearing a black WFDF hoodie, gives a primer on Ultimate (Frisbee) to Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience episode #1186. While MLU highlights roll, MKBHD coolly explains the ins-and-outs of the game, history of the sport, and the (semi-)pro league.

WATCH: Marques Brownlee Explains Ultimate Frisby

Joe Rogan: Do you play, like, that Frisbee...disc golf?

Joe Rogan: "I did not know this was even a thing."

Joe Rogan: If you asked 'When was ultimate Frisbee invented?' I would have said: "A couple of months ago."

Joe Rogan: "This actually looks really fun."

WJUC 2018 Results

WFDF's World Junior (Under-20) Ultimate Championships finished on Saturday, August 25. Thirty-one (31) teams from 18 different countries played in the men's (boys) and women's (girls) WJUC divisions. USA National Teams combined for a (22-0) record at the international ultimate event and two gold medals. There have been 3 sweeps in the history of WJUC; twice by USA (2006, 2018) and once by Canada in 2002.

Men's WJUC 2018
USA National Team won 15-10 over Team Canada. USA's win is their 8th WJUC gold -- the most by any country in this WJUC division. Also, this is USA's 7th gold medal in the past 8 WJUC events.  Bronze was won by France - their first-ever WJUC medal.

Women's WJUC 2018
USA National Team won 15-8 over Colombia. USA's win is their 4th WJUC gold, which is the most by any country in the WJUC women's/girls division. Canada won bronze. WJUC 2018 marked the 5th consecutive WJUC where Canada, Colombia, and USA have been the top-3 teams in the women's division.

Chart: WJUC Medal Count

The 2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships is moving to the playoff stage. WJUC events began in 1983 for the men's division and in the year 2000 for the women's division. USA leads with the most earned medals with a total of 21. Canada has won the second most medals with 18, followed by Sweden with 12 total medals (10 of which are gold).

12 = # of different countries that have medaled at WJUC.
10 = # of different countries that have won WJUC bronze (men's or women's)
9 = # of different countries that have won WJUC silver (men's or women's)
7 = # of different countries that have won WJUC gold (men's or women's)
2 = # of countries that have won both WJUC gold in men's AND women's divisions; Canada (5), USA (10)

WJUC Medal Count | Men (1983- 2016) Women (2000-2016) 

NOTES: USA did not participate in the 1983, 1984, 1986, 1992, and 2002 WJUC events; other countries non-participation was not researched.

There was a tie for bronze at 2006 WJUC Women's division.

2018 WFDF World Junior Ultimate Championships

The 2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships begin in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada on August 18 and conclude on August 25. Thirty-one (31)  teams from 18 different countries are scheduled - in the men's and women's division - to complete at WJUC 2018. As a comparison, WJUC 2016 had 49 teams.

18 = # of WJUC 2018 teams in the men's division

13 = # of WJUC 2018 teams in the women's division

13 = # of countries represented by two teams at WJUC 2018 teams. (Australia, Canada, Peoples Republic of China, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, and USA)

5 = # of countries represented by one team at WJUC 2018. (Belgium, Dominican Republic, Finland, Hong Kong, and Sweden)

Results: WFDF World Masters Ultimate Club Championships 2018

Club ultimate teams from the US swept gold at WFDF 2018 World Masters Ultimate Club Championships - just like at 2018 WUCC.  Of the 23 teams representing the USA, ten (10) teams medaled.

Masters Men Division
Gold: Raleigh Boneyard
Silver: New York All Bashed Out
Bronze: Denver Johnny Encore

Masters Mixed Division
Gold: Boston Molasses Disaster
Silver: Austin 512
Bronze: San Francisco Bridge Club

Masters Women Division
Gold: Seattle iRot
Silver: Japan Mu-Syozoku
Bronze: North Carolina Ripe

Grandmasters Men Division
Gold: Minnesota Surly (GM)
Silver: Denver Johnny Walker
Bronze: Toronto Tombstone

Medal	Qty	Team(s)
Gold	4	Boneyard, iRot, Molasses Disaster, Surly
Silver	3	512, All Bashed Out, Johnny Walker
Bronze	3	Bridge Club, Johnny Encore, Ripe

4 = # of WMUCC gold medals won by US club ultimate teams [Boneyard, iRot, Molasses Disaster, Surly (GM)]

10 = total # of 2018 WMUCC medals won by US club ultimate teams

WMUCC 2018 Finals

The 2018 WFDF World Masters Ultimate Club Championship games are set. All club ultimate teams from the United States except for Japan's Mu-Syozoku in the women's division.

Masters Men Division
Raleigh-Durham Boneyard (10) vs New York All Bashed Out (4)

Masters Mixed Division
Boston Molasses Disaster (11) vs Austin 512 (3)

Masters Women Division
Seattle iRot (5) vs Japan Mu-Syozoku (3)

Grandmasters Men Division
Denver/Boulder Johnny Walker (3) vs Minneapolis Surly GM (1)

The Grandmasters final will be played on Friday, August 3rd @ 7:00p CDT. The other division will be playe don Saturday, August 4th; Master Men @ 09:30a CDT, Masters Women @ 12:00p CDT, and Masters Mixed @ 2:30p CDT.

WMUCC 2018 Semi-Finalists

Day 5 is done and 4 club ultimate teams in each division have advanced. USA is represented the most with 13 club ultimate teams; Canada (GM, MW) has 2 teams and Japan (W) has 1 club ultimate team in the semis at the WFDF World Masters Ultimate Club Championships.

Canada, Japan, and USA combined for 52 (72%) of the 72 teams competing at WMUCC.

Masters Men Division
New York All Bashed Out (USA) vs Denver Johnny Encore (USA)
Raleigh-Durham Boneyard (USA) vs Baltimore Rest Stop (USA)

Masters Mixed Division
Boston Molasses Disaster (USA) vs San Francisco Bridge Club (USA)
Austin 512 (USA) vs Southern California Members Only (USA)

Masters Women Division
Calgary Dyna (Canada) vs Seattle iRot (USA)
Mu-Syozoku (Japan) vs North Carolina  Ripe (USA)

Grandmasters Men Division
Minneapolis Surly (USA) vs Toronto Tombstone (Canada)
Denver/Boulder Johnny Walker (USA) vs Oakland Shadows (USA)

WFDF Overdelivered on WUCC 2018 Coverage

Back in 2014, we yearned for more video coverage of WUCC 2014 when there was a fraction of broadcasted games.

#WUCC2014 was a major opportunity to showcase the sport of #ultimate. Wished there was more video of more games. http://t.co/GrcUm7s6G9

— Sludge Ultimate (@sludgebrown) August 12, 2014

We opined:

"proper resources must be dedicated to video capture our sport. Ultimate deserves it. The players deserve it. And, the fans deserve it."

In 2014, 22 total WUCC games - including masters division - were broadcasted. In 2018, 70 more ultimate games than 2014 were streamed for a total of 92* games which calculates to coverage of ~15% of all (628) played games.

Breakdown of Live Streams at WUCC 2018

Each division saw a major increase in coverage. Men's division had 21 more broadcasted games at WUCC 2018 compared to 2014. The mixed division had 25 more broadcasted games in 2018 compared to the 2014 WUCC event. Women's division had 26 more broadcasted games in 2018 compared to WUCC 2014.

The technology for streaming live games has improved since 2014 and the location of the 2018 event - Cincinnati (USA) - certainly boosted the ability to offer so many more ultimate games to viewers than in 2014 (Lecco, Italy). WFDF announced more event coverage in March 2018 and overdelivered on its promise with knowledgeable on-air personalities plus a variety of online media portals via the Olympic Channel, Ultiworld, Fanseat, WFDF's YouTube channel, and WFDF Facebook.

The World Flying Disc Federation's World Ultimate Club Championships was a massive event. Players seemed to review positively about the tournament. WUCC 2018 felt like WFDF finally embraced the opportunity of engaging ultimate fans from around the world seeking to follow the action remotely. Hoping the 2018 live streaming model continues for WFDF's next ultimate championship events.

*The continuation of nighttime indoor semifinals streams were not double counted.

WFDF World Masters Ultimate Club Championship 2018

Seventy-two teams from 13 different countries are scheduled to compete at  WFDF's 2018 World Masters Ultimate Club Championship (WMUCC) in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Competition begins on July 29 and ends August 4.

The host country, Canada, will be represented with the most masters division ultimate teams - 24. USA is second with 23 total teams across the 4 divisions. The Masters Men and Masters Mixed Divsions both have a total of 21 teams, while the Masters Women and Grand Masters Divisions have 15 teams each.

# of Total WMUCC 2018 Teams by Country
Canada = 24
USA = 23
Japan = 5
Colombia, Great Britain = 3 ea
Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore = 2 ea
India, Mexico = 1 ea

Comparison: WUCC 2018 Seed vs Finish for US Club Teams

Club ultimate teams from the US swept gold at WFDF 2018 World Ultimate Club Championships - similar to past WUCC events hosted in the United States. All U.S. club teams advanced to their division's quarterfinals at WUCC 2018. All US-based club teams combined for an impressive (109-13) win-loss record at WUCC 2018.

Overall, 9 medals were won by U.S. club teams. U.S. mixed teams won a record 4 competition medals, U.S. women's teams won 3 medals, and U.S. men's teams won 2 medals. More bronze medals were won at WUCC 2018 than previous WUCC events due to inclement weather preventing placement games in the final rounds.


US teams in WUCC Men's Division

Team	Seed	Finish	Change
San Francisco Revolver	1	1	NC
Austin Doublewide	2	3T	-1
Raleigh Ring of Fire	3	5	-2

US teams in WUCC Women's Division

Team	Seed	Finish	Change
Seattle Riot*	7	1	+6
Boston Brute Squad	2	3T	-1
Denver Molly Brown	3	3T	NC
San Francisco Fury	1	5T	-4
Atlanta Ozone	4	7T	-3

US teams in WUCC Mixed Division

Team	Seed	Finish	Change
Seattle BFG	3	1	+2
Boston Slow White*	9	2	+7
Philadelphia AMP	2	3T	-1
Boston Wild Card*	12	3T	+9
Seattle Mixtape	1	5T	-4

*did not originally qualify for WUCC.

(27-1): combined record of U.S. club teams that previously did not qualify for WUCC 2018, including 3 medals - a gold, a silver, and a bronze.

Medal	Qty	Team(s)
Gold	3	BFG, Revolver, Riot
Silver	1	Slow White
Bronze	5	AMP, Brute Squad, Doublewide, Molly Brown, Wild Card

The US has won 9 medals at WUCC before - just not ever in this combination.

3 = # of WUCC gold medals won by US club ultimate teams; Revolver, Riot, BFG

9 = total # of 2018 WUCC medals won by US club ultimate teams

Results: WFDF World Ultimate Club Championships 2018

The WFDF World Ultimate Club championships concluded on Saturday and US-based club teams swept gold in every division (again). Over 120 club ultimate teams competed at this international tournament.


Women's Division
Seattle Riot (7) won 15-8 [8-4 half] over Medellin Revolution (5) to win back-to-back Club Worlds titles. Riot did not originally qualify for this tournament based on their finish at 2017 USA Ultimate Club Nationals.

Men's Division
San Francisco Revolver (1) won their 3rd consecutive WUCC title with a 15-13 win [8-7 half] over Sydney Colony (4). Previous championships by Revolver were won in 2010 and 2014.

Mixed Division
Seattle BFG (3) won 15-11 [8-6 half] over Boston Slow White (9) to win their 1st Club Worlds title. BFG went (5-0) in pool play with a +46 goal differential, and would win 5 more games in the elimination brackets to win the championship.

The next World Ultimate Club Championship will occur in 2022, though the location has yet to be determined.

RECAP: WUCC 2018 Finalists

After an elongated-yet-shortened semifinals due to inclement weather, the championships for each division are set.

Men's Division 

San Francisco Revolver (1) vs Sydney Colony (4)

Women's Division
Seattle Riot (7) vs Medellin Revolution (5)

Mixed Division
Boston Slow White (9) vs Seattle BFG (3)

Watch the livestream of the division finals today (Saturday) at 8:30AM (Men), 2:30PM (Women), and 4:30PM (Mixed).