Remembering World
Ultimate and Guts
Championships 2008
Vancouver changed things
BY BRIAN GISEL
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
VANCOUVER – After two years of planning and winning Silver it’s clear that
meetings and organizing it seems like the 2008 Ultimate will now has a three
Worlds Ultimate and Guts Championships came and horse race for the top prize
went very quickly. Eight days of competition between from here on out.
teams from 20 nations playing over 350 games. The USA, Canada and
When the dust settled I was asked by countless Japan should not just look
people what I thought of the event. My answer came at each other however, the
down to this – “We met our expectations”. And results are pointing to a time
considering how high our expectations were I would when no country can count
say that WUGC 2008 was an unqualified success! on just showing up and
We had expectations in many areas. Of course, picking up some hardware.
any major event run in Vancouver must hold up to The UK for one is focused on
1997, which was seen by some as a turning point in joining the medal hunt. The
terms of the level of organization of World events. Women’s team had a pre-
No longer could Worlds simply be an “Ultimate tournament tour of North
Tournament”, it had to move upwards to be called America, serving notice that
a “Full Service Event”. We managed to raise the bar they were looking to improve,
at World Clubs, so what did we want to accomplish but a heart break loss in the Quarters prevented a like a bit of a letdown after being so close, but I’m
in 2008? chance at a medal. The dedication to improving was sure it felt better than the 8
th
place finish they posted
Aside from the obvious goals of providing clear, and this squad no doubt will be one of the ones in 2004, and the overall team results from the UK
participants with a world class event, something that to beat at WUCC 2010 in Prague. The Open team secured a spot for the country at the 2009 World
I believe we did, I was personally hoping that history also missed the medals, but did accomplish the break Games. If the significant strides that both the Open
would look at WUGC 2008 in Vancouver though they were looking for when the tournament and Women’s teams have made in the past two years
and see it as a turning point in terms started by making it into the Semi Finals, only to run is any indication, then a medal at that event is not out
of the on-field competition. In into the previous World Champions and eventual of the question.
1998 Canada managed to Gold Medalists, and then a very tough Japanese Finally, there was the somewhat surprise showing
break though at WUGC team in the Bronze Medal game. Fourth likely felt of the Colombian teams. Out of seemingly nowhere
and change Worlds from
an event dominated by
the USA into one with two
countries sitting at the top. I
think that 2008 will be seen as
the start of the time when the top of
our sport started to become much
more crowded.
Certainly the results from the
Japanese teams point in that
direction. I’m sure the Buzz
Bullets are disappointed
with the results in Open,
having Gold on their minds
for the better part of two
years, but it was no fluke
that the Women’s team
was in the final. And with
the Jr. Women from that
country taking Gold and
the Mixed team getting
into the final and
Photo by: erik PriCe
20 Ultimate Canada Magazine — www.canadianultimate.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42