Colorado Cup is rapidly approaching! Players and spectators alike may find the following resources useful as the link contains a map to the Pleasant View fields and local points of interest. The guide was created by Michael “Degs” Degnan in 2008 when Boulder hosted the UPA College Ultimate Championships.
Also, the schedule for this weekend is up on the Colorado Cup page. You will find it under the team preview section.
6 more days until Colorado Cup!
This year’s Colorado Cup showcase game will feature Toronto’s GOAT against the home team, Johnny Bravo. GOAT formed in 2002 as a merger between the top teams in Ottawa and Toronto. (Greater Ottawa And Toronto=GOAT). Today, most of GOAT’s players are from Toronto. They pull young players from the University of Toronto, McMaster University, Queens University, Western and the University of Guelph. Since the team’s inception in 2002, GOAT has qualified for the UPA Championships four times. They had a breakout performance in 2007 when they met Johnny Bravo in the semifinals. Though Bravo beat GOAT 15-11 and advanced to the finals, GOAT’s performance over the past three years has established them as one of the truly elite teams in the sport.
UPA Club Semifinals - 2007
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GOAT will be one of the most exciting teams to watch at Colorado Cup 2010. John Hassell (#38) and Andy Ouchterlony (#43) are two of Canada’s best players, both traveled to Taiwan last year to represent Team Canada at the World Games. Both are excellent receivers and Hassell will stand out of any group with his outstanding deep shots. Many of GOAT’s younger players are picking up international experience in the World Junior Ultimate Championships in Europe this summer; they have 7 players on Canada’s U23 team and 2 players on Canada’s U20 team. In addition, veterans Kirk Nylen and Pat Mooney are coaching Canada’s junior teams. This means GOAT will be fielding a smaller roster of around 16 players for Colorado Cup. If GOAT hopes to turn things around against Bravo, they will have to do so without some of their key players.
Andy Ouchterlony (GOAT) and David Belsheim (Bravo) - 2009
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GOAT and Bravo have met a total of 6 times in the past three years and each match has been an exciting one. While Bravo has never lost, GOAT has held a late lead on several occasions. Two of Bravo’s wins came on double game point. The last meeting at the 2009 UPA Club Championships was arguably the most dramatic match of the tournament. GOAT took half 8-5. Bravo rallied from behind (9-13) to score 5 breaks and win 16-14 in the pre-quarterfinal elimination game. Despite the fierce competition, the two clubs remain friendly, often sitting down together after a game to share drinks and stories. When asked what GOAT enjoys about playing Johnny Bravo, GOAT spokesman Phil Watanabe replied; “Bravo is always a fearless, athletic and talented team and that always makes for a great game.” Johnny Bravo welcomes our Canadian friends and looks forward to playing another exciting match with them.
GOAT v Johnny Bravo - Prequarters 2009
June 21st is the longest day of the year. The sun rises at 5:30 and does not set until 8:30. In Boulder, the sun retreats behind the foothills, but the sky stays daylight blue for another 30 or 45 minutes. There is no finer time to throw and catch a frisbee. The air is warm, the disc is soft and the winds are often calm.
The early spring is an exciting time, filled with anticipation about the coming season. Who are the new tryout prospects? How many of the thirty-somethings will come back for another season? While pondering these questions, the days continue to stretch out, affording us more and more daylight after finishing the work day. We have so much time, and the unknowns of the upcoming season hold great potential.
But before we know it, the days have reached their maximum length, and the team has been selected. The summer is still here, but its days are numbered. July and August will disappear more quickly than they arrived. Unknowns will turn to knowns. Rookies integrate. Veterans work into game shape. New leaders emerge.
The next four months lead to shorter days and practice sessions under lights in the cool and then cold air. Leaves will change and the crispness of autumn will overtake the summer’s gentle warmth. We will sprint and see our breath materialize white against the cold air before this season ends.
We cherish these summer months because they are a symbol of our season, of our time together. They sometimes feel long, but they are limited. They grow shorter with each passing day. These days will flee, and will never be ours again. But they are ours right now.
It is July 7th and we have just five practices before our first test when we invite the ultimate community to Colorado Cup to share with us two of these precious days.
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