Fancy Footwork on the Peninsula - 16th Annual Western Regional Footbag Championships at Stanford

One of the largest events in the up-and-coming sport of footbag is being held at Stanford University, May 26-28. This is a must-see event with incredible athleticism by professional footbag players from around North America.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESENTS THE

WESTERN REGIONAL FOOTBAG CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

The Event Benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 10, 2001 - The 16th annual Western Regional Footbag Championships will be held Memorial Day Weekend (May 26, 27 and 28) at Wilbur Field on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California. The event is one of the largest footbag tournaments in the world and will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Footbag, similar to the popular game played with a Hacky Sack(TM), is a growing sport that is primarily played in North America, and has existed as a competitive sport in several forms since the late 1970's. At this tournament, which is sanctioned by the International Footbag Players' Association, players will compete in Footbag Net and Freestyle Footbag. This event has attracted the top footbag athletes in the world, including 44-time world champion Kenny Shults; the women's overall champion, Tricia George, and more.

"It is important to the Stanford community that we spotlight the healthy and athletic aspects of alternative sports, in a setting that is fun for the whole family, by hosting worthwhile events like the Western Regional Footbag Championships," said Steve Goldberg, a Stanford alumnus and founding member of the Stanford Footbag Club. "Helping grow the sport, while benefiting a valuable organization such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, helps accomplish these goals."

Spectators and novices are welcome to participate in several free events, such as the first-time and novice competitions that offer prizes, and the music of a full-time DJ from On-Site Entertainment, all three days on the tournament site. Admission is free for spectators and novices.

For more information, please access the tournament web site at http://www.footbag.org/calendar/show/979334083, or contact Steve Goldberg directly at 888-340-6983.

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Footbag is a competitive sport, similar to the popular game played with the

Hacky Sack (TM). At this tournament, players will compete in one or more of

the following established games: Footbag Net, a singles or doubles net

game, like tennis or volleyball, where players use only their feet to kick

the footbag over a 5-foot-high net; and Freestyle Footbag, a singles or team

judged competition, where players perform footbag tricks in choreographed

routines set to music.

This event will be attended by most of the best footbag athletes in the

world, including: overall women's world champion Tricia George

(Clackamas, Oregon); previous overall women's world champion Julie Symons

(Santa Clara, Calif.); men's world champion freestyler Ryan Mulroney (Berkeley, Calif.); 44-time world champion Kenny Shults (Pennsylvania),

and many more. Competitors will travel from Canada and all of the western

states for this event. Many of the top-ranked women and men in the sport

live here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Competitors and spectators of all abilities are welcome. There will be

several free events for first-time and novice competitors, with

opportunities to win prizes donated by the sponsors. There will also be a

full-time disc jockey on the tournament site providing music for everyone

to kick to. There is no admission charge for spectators. World-class net

and freestyle finals will begin at 1:00 pm on Monday, May 28 (Memorial

Day).

Sponsored by Stanford University, Whole Foods Market, Sipa Sipa, Flying Clipper Professional Footbags, Revolution Shred Bags, and sanctioned by the International Footbag Players' Association and the World Footbag Association.

Stanford University Footbag Club is a non-profit organization.

For more information, write brat@footbag.org or call 888-340-6983.

For a complete list of FOOTBAG EVENTS WORLD-WIDE see the listing on the

Footbag WorldWide information system at http://www.footbag.org/.

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EVENT OVERVIEW (see http://www.footbag.org/calendar/show/979334083)

Event: The 2001 Western Regional Footbag Championships and Festival

Dates: Saturday, May 26, 8am-7pm

Sunday, May 27, 10am-7:30pm

Monday, May 28, 9am-6pm (FINALS 1-6pm)

Site: Stanford University Campus in Palo Alto, California

Wilbur Field (on Campus Drive East)

(Directions are below)

Offerings:

All-day MUSIC supplied by On-Site Entertainment

FREE novice net competition, one per day

Fun for all kickers -- you don't have to compete to have fun!

World class competitors in freestyle and footbag net

Size: 100 competitors (novice, intermediate, and open men and women)

Hosts: The Stanford University Footbag Club

and the Bay Area Footbag League

Contacts:

Event Coordinator: Julie Symons

Tournament Director: Steve Goldberg

Stanford Club President: Joe Shermetaro

Steve Goldberg (live): 888-340-6983

-> See Footbag WorldWide (http://www.footbag.org/events) for a complete

list of upcoming footbag events.

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END