🤝 The hardest working man in disc golf

Manufacturer Shuffle, Play Free, and Dark Times

December 21, 2022

Hello and welcome, this is The Players Meeting. The only newsletter where disc-shaped gifts are littered beneath the tree.Email Read Time: 5 Minutes & 01 Seconds

If you missed last week, then I got you: Disc Golf Disneyland

Let’s get into it.

Uli & The Power DGA

Paul Ulibarri announced his latest venture - Power Disc Golf Academy. Partnering with David Bibiano & his company (Take 17), they promise the most in-depth online teaching experience with high-quality videos and community.

Having never heard of Bibiano, I did some research. In Uli’s video, he claims to be an e-course creator who coaches thousands of entrepreneurs around the world.

Currently, his Take 17 website is not working, and the company hasn’t been active on social media since 2020. But digging further, it appears his focus has been on “The Real Deal Video Strategist Club” e-course.

It’s described as “an international community of Corporate Video Production professionals who are always striving to take their business to the next level.” Translation: They teach videographers how to earn more money making videos for clients (e.g. Instagram Reels).

This e-course seems rather successful with glowing reviews and +2,500 “club” members. If we take their holiday price of $499 for lifetime access, then they’ve potentially pulled in >$1M.

Now, if this info gives you the warm and fuzzies to fork over $50 for Uli’s course, then that’s your call. Take a look at their site and decide if you want to treat yourself this holiday.

Contracts Watch

It’s late December, and players are starting to show their hands. It’s the manufacturer shuffle between the biggest teams:

  • Stacie Rawnsley - leaving Innova after 1 year

  • Lisa Fajkus - leaving Innova after 7 years

  • Maria Oliva - leaving Innova after 5 years

  • Austin Turner - leaving Discraft after 8 years

  • Scott Withers - leaving Discraft after a disappointing and injury-filled year. His relationship with Resistance Discs (Discraft-only retailer) points to DGA

  • James Proctor - leaving Innova after 3 years

  • Anthony Barela - leaving Innova after 9 years

  • Erika Stinchcomb was seemingly dropped by Westside after 5 years. In the comments, Missy Gannon said no warning drops by Team Trilogy are common.

With many smaller brands to choose from, players might want to be a big fish in a small pond. 11 more days until the news drops.

🚨 NEW-ISH 🚨

  • If there’s one thing Drew Gibson loves more than cars and tattoos, it’s stacking up sponsors. He announced a partnership with New Zealand manufacturer RPM, and his signature disc is the White Heron (rebranded Kotuku, 5|5|0|2)

  • On a Finnish podcast, Eveliina Salonen revealed that she has a multi-year contract starting in 2023. This doesn’t feel like a re-signing with Innova, but her future looks promising. With Finland’s new National DG Team, Salonen will focus more on DG and use the program’s coaching staff.

RUMORS

  • Emerson Keith to Lone Star Discs with a 4-year deal

  • Mason Ford leaving DD for Mint Discs (from his home state of TX)

  • At a FL A-Tier, Thomas Gilbert announced he’s leaving Prodigy

Fresh Plastic

Sponsored by Powergrip USA… A PRETTY GOOD disc golf shop.

👉 Powergrip’s Highlight: Nate Perkins Meta Essence - Zen II (8|6|-2|1)Starting today (12/21) at 11AM ET, their most popular mold will be available in the new blend of Meta plastic.

Expect the same blend of grippy, durable, and slightly gummy plastic that the Razor Claw 3 and Midnight Prowl II were released in months ago. With its slight dome, this all-around US fairway will work wonders for your hyzerflip and turnover game.

For those newer to the sport, you’ll know Perkins as an on-course reporter for the Pro Tour. And for those seasoned vets, you’ll remember him as the smooth FH’er from TX.

In the words of Nate Perkins, grab a Zen II for your bag and “play free.”

Random Triples

1️⃣ Learn from Clint Calvin’s mistake and prevent a hip injury. Sponsored by Lat64, Calvin is a 1006-rated pro from San Diego. Months after fixing his overuse injury, he shared this revelation.

Before, he would allow his body’s momentum to push his plant foot through the shot. This led to slower rotation and more pressure on his hip/knee.

Now, he consciously rotates his plant foot on the heel as he pulls through. To him, this creates more momentum and alleviates pressure on his joints.

2️⃣ Months ago, Ultiworld released a fandom survey, and its results are streaming out now. To those 1,503 people surveyed, Kristin Tattar is the most popular player over Simon Lizotte & Nate Sexton.

This doesn’t come as much surprise. On her current trajectory, Tattar has all the right qualities to be a global super star of our sport.

She’s essentially a celebrity in Estonia - congratulated by its president after Worlds, having her Worlds trophy displayed at the Estonian Sports & Olympic Museum, and being nominated for Estonian Female Athlete of the Year.

Read more about the survey’s results here, and see if your favorites align.

3️⃣ Something new popped onto my radar in this off-season. It’s called the Indoor Disc Golf Experience, and they have Nate Sexton, Gannon Buhr, & Drew Gibson giving clinics.

For the past 10 years, these guys have filled an empty niche within our niche sport: entice winter-starved disc golfers with an indoor facility and star power. If you live in Brookfield (WI), Dubuque (IA), or Rockford (IL), then there are still open spots.

Meme of the Week

Thanks for reading today. Get out and throw your new discs this weekend!

- Charlie

What'd you think of this week's edition?