The 2024 World Footbag Championships concluded yesterday

They pulled it off

When I showed up yesterday morning 15 minutes before the first scheduled match of the finals day, I was kind of baffled to find the Place Valois empty. The carpet wasn't there nor were the tents and umpire chair. Just as I was discussing this fact with singles net finalist Kenny Shults, a car showed up with two big rolls of carpet on top of it. From there on, the setup started and as doubtful as I was, it was completed in an hour and a half. The final setup was really nice and the first match of the day could finally start. I was worried about the timings, as the last games for the day were scheduled for 6:30 pm but, as we'll see later on in this article, everything went well. Well, I guess it was another example of footbag time 😁

Marilyn Demuy starting her splendid day in the women singles finals

Marilyn's day

I was chatting about the possibility of a Triple Crown for Maude Landreville or Marilyn Demuy in my previous blog post, consisting of wins in Women singles and doubles + mixed doubles. Well, the first match of the day would tell us everything about who would still get the chance to baffle the World with this rare accomplishment. As Marilyn took the singles title, Maude had to drop her expectations for the triple and focus on helping her partner (in Women's doubles) to achieve the dreamy conclusion. I'll come back to that in an instant as I want to keep the chronological order of the contest.

Walt Houston adds to his legend

The following match, the Open singles net final, opposed the title holder to the almost ghostly presence of footbag legend Ken Shults. Walt overpowered Kenny with hard serves and big spikes but Shults nonetheless offered a fierce opposition, taking a game of the champion, which is no small feat for a 57 year old man. Much honor to these two greats, that was entertaining. For Walt it meant a 7th World Championships title, en route to the Hall of Fame for sure.

Shults entered the match with a large hematoma to his support leg, footbag net is hard on the body.

Marilyn continues her journey towards the triple crown

There was a break for the net players for a while when some of the freestyle finals went on, I'll discuss that part in another article later.
The sun was still shining hard when Women's doubles started. Geneviève Bousquet and Lena Mlakar Jereb had the difficult task to try to stop the reigning champions, Maude and Marilyn, from grabbing yet another title.

They had their moments, especially at the beginning of the second game, but, overall, the champs were just too strong and consistent in their controlled game. A clear win in two games for the 2024 Women doubles champions. 

Maude, Marilyn, Lena and Geneviève

Yves, Marilyn, Maude and Luka in the Mixed doubles finals

One last step en route to footbag net glory

Marilyn had one more obstacle on her way to footbag net nirvana. Of course, she would have to face Maude once again, this time supported by German phenom Yves Kreil. Maude, on her side, was teamed up with fellow organizer Luka Weyler Lavallée. After a strong start from Maude and Luka, the match began to lean in favor of Marilyn and Yves all the way to the conclusion. Marilyn achieved the dream goal of any Footbag player with this title. I will definitely support her candidacy to the Hall of Fame of Footbag next year where she could rejoin the two other members of the Montreal women big three, Geneviève and Maude.

Finals day at the 2024 World Footbag Championships

Maude and Marilyn shoot for the triple crown

After 4 days of grueling efforts in the muggy weather that Montreal offered them, it's time for the last sprint to the finish line for the players still in the run. This morning, I want to attract your attention to a possible rare phenomenon that two of the best women in the sport of footbag could achieve: The footbag net triple crown. 

The triple crown consists in winning the singles, doubles and mixed titles, and it is very rarely achieved by any player, women or men.

This year, we have two contenders for this sweetest of the achievements that are possible for a net player. Indeed, Maude Landreville and Marilyn Demuy are still in the race for the ultimate achievement. Of course, for this to happen they have to be fighting each other in the women singles finals first, after which only one of them will remain with this possibility. This is scheduled for 11:00 as the first event of the day.

One of them will have to regroup for their next event, the Women doubles in which they will play together facing Lena Mlakar Jereb and Geneviève Bousquet. This should be a hell of a match, scheduled for 15:20. There will be no rest for our fierce warriors, 'cause although wrapped in love, they will face each other again in the mixed doubles contest. Marilyn will play with german phenom Yves Kreil and Maude will team up with Luka Weyler Lavallée, another Aki Quebec representative. These two teams were scheduled to meet at last year's Worlds in Colombia but, unfortunately, the spectators were deprived of an excellent confrontation due to Yves injury. This should be exciting, especially if our two contestants are still alive for the Triple dose of glory.

Kenny Shults' fairy tale is not over in the 2024 World Footbag Championships

21 years ago, Kenny Shults participated in his last singles net finals. That was at the 2004 Worlds, held in Montreal. What an inspiring story to see this master coming back to the game and getting to the finals again. Shults beat François Depatie-Pelletier in 5 sets to advance, I'm tempted to say, against all odds. 

Will his unique style and mastery be enough to dethrone Walt Houston, who's been the dominant singles player in recent years as well as the reigning World Champion. Walt cleaned up the competition last year in Medellin, Colombia. If you wish to see these results, click on this link.
On his side of the bracket, Walt took care of the 4th semi-finalist, Guillaume Degat currently residing at l'Ile de la Réunion, pretty much at the other end of the World.
Kenny Shults will be in action today in the Open Doubles event with his last minute partner Bob Lavigne.

Kenny Shults and François Depatie-Pelletier before the start of the match

The Women singles finals, all Montreal, all the way

In the Women singles, Marilyn Demuy and Maude Landreville asserted their domination with utter strength. This will be a repeat from their contest at the most recent Akisphere, where Marilyn

2024 World Footbag Championships update

 Hello fellow footbag enthusiasts!

The 2024 World Footbag Championships saw their 3rd day action cancelled today due to adverse weather, namely lots of rain. 

I've been watching some of the Footbag net (Kick Volley) competition on Monday and Tuesday and, already, saw some very good matches. I'll be attending the 3 remaining days non stop and filming lots. 

Links

Just a few links to start you up if you don't know where to go for the best info:
The official website, in french and english is at: https://akiquebec.org
The Facebook page of the event can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555965686460
The net competitions results are displayed on the tournament software at:
https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draws.aspx?id=BD8C8961-10FF-4442-8BD7-B8688E1203F1

First Impressions and pictures

It is the fifth time that the World Footbag Championships land in Montreal after the 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2013 editions. The current one is produced with minimal means but the spirit is intact. It's so much fun to see the enthusiasm of the players on and off the courts, makes me a little bit emotional to see all my old and newer friends flock to our beloved city for the annual footbag pilgrimage.

Our local club, Aki Québec, is doing very well with established top players as well as new sensations. 

Portland, Oregon is back at it

So far, one of the best stories I've heard originates from the cradle of the sport. Indeed, the great Kenny Shults, my first mentor and nemesis, started practicing again at the demand of his son Jasper, who wanted to do well in the tournament.