Freestyle Frisbee

The Doctor of Freestyle

by Ann Clingerman

Publication Date: June 1996

The bare field is a sturdy wave of green grass, inviting one to jump in and run, catch a football, kick a footbag, or throw a Frisbee.

Today, dank, watery clouds loom overhead. The skies look as they might have in 1974, when the great tornado sliced through Louisville gutting the groves of vegetation in Cherokee and Seneca Park. Raw moisture has lured most sports enthusiasts inside to do laundry, read a book or take a nap.

Not Rik Downs. The threat of wet weather merely means he'll have to pack an umbrella and remember the risks of rain. Freestyle Frisbee on a wet field is like Ballet on a Slip N' Slide. You have to keep moving or you'll chill easily. Moisture on grass makes it easy to fall, slip and twist ankles, obliging the use of coordination and balance. Yet a wet, slick disk facilitates greater movement, and for Downs, one of the greatest joys of practice is to take the challenge.

A black umbrella shields the boom box playing the Psychedelic Warlords. Downs sucks chunky banana creme gel from a foil pouch for supplemental energy. He calls it fast food. With arms outstretched and legs apart, his sturdy 6' 3" frame twists to the left and then to the right. There's rain on the disk and he squints his eyes, turns up the music and begins his solo Frisbee ballet on the green field.

"Freestyle takes lots and lots and lots of time; it takes time and effort, and it usually pays off," Downs, a 39 year-old dentist, said. "This is not Frisbee throwing at this level; this is flying disc freestyle."

The idea of freestyle disc is to keep the disc aloft and spinning continuously while performing a series of non-stop, nearly impossible moves; catching it underneath your legs...kicking it...rolling it across your shoulders.

Freestyle, like Frisbee, is generally done with two or more people, even though moves can be executed alone. With a snap of the wrist, the disc is sent soaring, slicing through the horizon like an album set at 78 on a turntable. This spin is called Z by aficiandos. It is important because it gives each move speed and makes it easier for Downs to weave it through limbs; volley it back and forth between hands. Then zing it back in the air before positioning his body to resemble the fat belly of a skating ramp. The disk glides gently across his veiny biceps and onto the purple and blue cotton T-shirt covering his back.

Downs is successful because he knows what is necessary to be a good freestyler: practice, devotion, silicone spray (or substitutes) and acrylic nails. Downs uses silicone spray on his discs and colorful acrylic nails to help in cutting down friction between the finger and the disc. Acrylic nails pull the disk away from the skin, making each move smoother. Most freestylers wear them, making them out of toothbrushes or drugstore press-on nails. Acrylic is cut with scissors or a fingernail file and then super-glued onto the natural nail. Silicone spray, or a substitute such as Pledge, Clean n' Shine and Armor-All Protectant, is then sprayed on the disc to aid in cutting down friction.

"Silicone and artificial nails are nothing more than aides - something to take you farther," said Downs. "Friction and gravity are enemies when it comes to freestyle."

Each series of slaps, pushes, kicks and catches is a move. The Flamingo, Bad Attitude, Twisted Turkey are a few moves that have been discovered by other freestylers.

"You only discover moves. You never invent them," Downs said.

Downs discovered his niche for throwing the first time he picked up a disk when he was 14.

"I was fascinated with the height. I love to watch a disk fly. I get a certain satisfaction from it," Downs said. "And I got better at it faster than anyone else."

Downs' commitment to Frisbee has lasted 25 years. With so much practice and effort put into freestyle, he doesn't plan on taking up golf or basketball anytime soon. He and his girlfriend hope to be in New York City September to participate in the Freestyle Players Association 1996 World Championships in Central Park. Freestylers will be judged for presentation, difficulty and completion. While there, he plans on hanging out and jamming with the world's best.

"I don't want to be a more competitive thrower, just a happier one."

To help your throwing pleasure:

The first and most obvious item to have is a quality flying disc. You can't go wrong with a wide diameter Frisbee by Whamo. The wider diameter helps its stability and weight.

Also, too many people seem to stand too far apart to throw well. Your 'comfort zone' is that distance apart where you can consistently reach your partner with fairly accurate throws. No one will want to play if you run them all over the field, with little hope of catching anything. An increase in throwing distance will aggravate any problems you have with your throwing technique.

If you want to learn trick catches and throws, practice them! Make every catch a trick catch. Experiment with tips, rollers and different throws. Watch others to get new ideas, but most of all, HAVE FUN!!