A few weeks ago I took a foray into professional ultimate in this space.
At the time I noted there were two professional leagues, so this week I want to highlight the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL).
The league was launched only in 2012 with eight teams, and now boasts 26 teams, including Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver in Canada.
The Vancouver entry is the Riptide, and player Myles Sinclair was good enough to consent to answering a few questions on the sport, league and franchise.
So what attracted Sinclair to ultimate in the first place?
“Ultimate had two main attractions for me; I started playing in Grade 8 at St. Georges School, at the time my sister was playing in Grade 10 and like many younger children I wanted to play and throw the disc around with her and her friends,” he noted.
“Secondly since my school was an all-boys school, the ability to play and be social with York house (an all-girls school) was another big draw.”
But school is past and Sinclair remains an avid ultimate player and promoter.
“Ultimate is extremely social, meeting with a team whether it is a club, pro, or rec team is awesome,” he said. “Not only do you get to hang out and play, but also you get to see and socialize with a pretty amazing ultimate community in Vancouver. Tournament trips are absolutely insane, playing 5-9 games in a weekend in another city where you eat, sleep, play, and hangout with a great group of guys is unbeatable. Often these trips are in other countries- US, South America, or Europe is a great way to travel and meet new people.”
Unlike other sports, Sinclair said Ultimate is playable by most at some level.
“There are not key attributes unlike other sports, per se,” he offered. “There are definitely things that make it easy but I feel ultimate is a one of a kind sport that no matter what your athletic build if you craft your game properly you can play. If I had to name a few, being fast, tall and being able to see the field are definitely helpful.
“But if you can throw really well or if you can jump high, you can be super effective. I think the key to making an ultimate team is balance: having people that can throw really well, people that can elevate and catch, as well as those that are hungry for defensive blocks.
“Finally something that is super important is dedication and interest in ultimate. Since it does not involve common movements and playing style you need to adapt and learn how to play the ‘right way’.”
So taking it to the next level with the AUDL was a simple decision.
“Pro was an easy choice, the possibility to play and travel for free while actually getting paid to do it,” said Sinclair.
“Also since the pro season is before the club season, it is a great way to tune up and stay on top of your game.”
But there are two pro ultimate leagues, so why AUDL?
“The main draw for the captains and players of Furious George was twofold. First was the elite level of competition, it seems the all the best club teams in Canada and the US join and play in the AUDL. Our club wanted to get better and get tough games week in and week out, so it was a no brainer,” said Sinclair.
“Secondly, was the owner of the Riptide, Jim Lloyd. He extended his interest in having our team part of the Riptide and that was a huge part of it. Jim was very accommodating to many of the needs of our team and allowed us to build the team into what it is becoming today.
“Furthermore we loved the future that he wanted for ultimate. We all want to see Ultimate in the Olympics and on the big stage with other pro sports, and Jim and the AUDL are making huge strides for all players.”
That said Sinclair was not always a member of the Riptide.
“I first started playing in the other pro league, MLU (Major League Ultimate), with the Vancouver Nighthawks,” he said. “After playing there for a year, many members of Furious George decided that it was best for us to move to the AUDL. I am now in my second season with the Riptide. Each year that I have played pro regardless of the league, the competition [both on the team and in the league] has increased. With more great players joining the elite scene the league is only getting better.”
Sinclair said the future for the AUDL could include more Canadian teams.
“AUDL is expanding every year,” he said. “I think that teams in Calgary, Winnipeg, and Edmonton are possible it just depends on their ultimate community.”
But there is a caveat.
“With the expensive travel that all Canadian teams face it is extremely important that people support the teams,” said Sinclair.
Beyond AUDL Sinclair sees ultimate growing as a sport in general, and in its stature as a pro sport.
“I think that Ultimate’s future is bright,” he said. “I always make the comparison of ultimate to soccer, all you need is a field and a disc to play. This is one reason that we are seeing an explosion across the world. Ultimate is always surprisingly fun to those trying it for the first time.”
Having pro ultimate certainly helps in terms of attracting new people to the sport.
“I think that if more people actually see ultimate being played at the elite level the sport will grow,” said Sinclair. “During the year many players have made it on the Sportsnet on the top plays of the week with huge layouts and grabs. I think that if the image of Ultimate can be brought away from hippies smoking pot and throwing a frisbee around, and towards the epic games that occur people will begin to get hooked.
“My hope for Ultimate is Olympics and a pro league just below or on the same level as MLS (Major League Soccer).”
As for his own career Sinclair said the specifics of his debut have been lost in terms of memories.
“I honestly do not remember much about the first game expect for the thought how amazing it was that I was playing pro,” he said. “Following my playing career from high school to that first game is quite incredible and I am extremely grateful for everyone that has been a part of it.”
Picking a career highlight to-date was not easier either.
“That is tough,” said Sinclair. “I would say that being part of Furious George in 2011 when the team came back from a deficit to win Canadian Nationals is a good memory.
“Being part of Team Canada this year has already been a huge highlight for me. We are going to Colombia [South America] in May for a tournament and then London [UK] for the World Ultimate Championships. Making this team with the extremely high talent level at tryouts and on the team was and will always be a high point for me.
“Winning the World Championships would definitely be my highlight. Hopefully one day playing in the Olympics will be a highlight of mine.”
As for the Riptide they are off to a slow start in the 2016 AUDL season, dropping their first game; 25-21 to Seattle
Sinclair thinks that will change.
“Our team is extremely deep this year, week to week the game roster is very difficult to make for us to make,” he said. “Fans should expect an ever-changing roster of young explosive players.
“The Riptide I feel is a big play team often coming up with big blocks and highlight reel goals.
“I feel that since our team is fairly young ultimate players in the community can relate and actually dream to play on the team soon. I am hoping that we can give our fans a playoff game this year.”
But that won’t come easily.
“Our division again is very strong, I believe that it really could be anyone’s day game-to-game,” said Sinclair.
“Last year we lost multiple games by one, or two points late in the game.
“I am hoping that this year those games go our way and I would not be surprised to see us in one of those top-three spots of the West.”
To achieve that Sinclair said he sees two keys; “consistency in games and making big plays late in the game. If we achieve these we have a great shot.
“This year we are really trying to develop some emerging young players, it is a common problem for many teams that youth is limited.
“If we play at the level we are capable we should be at the top of the West.”
You can check out the league at www.theaudl.com and both highlight packages, and full game broadcasts can be found via YouTube.
