2009 Archives
Tourneys 2009
Messages Posted to Flyballdogs.com
The following are all the 2009 tournament-related messages we posted to the flyballdogs.com email list.
Note: Since some of our tourney web pages change from year to year, a few of the links below go to pages containing information that might pertain to our upcoming tourneys instead of previous tourneys.
September 22, 2008
Subject: Alaska Tourneys: Happy autumnal equinox!
Today, at 7:44 AM Alaska Time, the sun crossed over the equator -- the midway point along its southward journey from one edge of the tropics to the other. However, the position of the sun isn't the real reason I'm sending this message. The real reason is to plant a seed for those of you who might be thinking about participating in our 4th Annual Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys next June. We're in the process of updating our website and finalizing the dates/contract for our venue, after which point we will submit our sanctioning paperwork to NAFA.
Stay tuned...
Curtis
October 22, 2008
Subject: Dates for Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys
Mark your calendars! We've signed our contract with the Alaska State Fairgrounds (our tourney site) and submitted our sanctioning paperwork to NAFA for the following dates:
Tourney 1: June 24-25 (rain day June 26)
Tourney 2: June 27-28 (rain day June 29)
We're still in the process of updating our website, but don't let that stop you from making your travel arrangements. Much of the information from last year still applies. Here's our website address:
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/
We're offering the Open class; so bring yourself or a whole team. Either way, you'll have an amazing and unforgettable flyball experience.
Curtis
December 21, 2008
Subject: Alaska tourneys: Happy winter solstice!
...You knew I couldn't let such a momentous occasion go by without some sort of a plug for our Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys :)
The sun was directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at exactly 3:04 AM Alaska Time today (December 21), which means it's the official first day of winter for us Northern Hemispherites. In our part of Alaska, we have only 5 hours 28 minutes from sunrise to sunset today. However, six short months from now, it'll never get completely dark with the sun rising at 4:20 AM and barely going below the horizon 19 hours 21 minutes later at 11:41 PM. Alaska is truly the land of extremes, and we would be *extremely* happy if you joined us for our 4th Annual Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys next June for two 2-day tourneys. Please visit our website for additional information:
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/
Happy holidays to all!
Curtis
February 11, 2009
Subject: Flyer for Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys
Here's a link to the participant flyer for our tourneys, which will take place June 24-25 and June 27-28.
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/tourney/docs/flyer-ss09_participants.pdf
Check it out and let me know what we can do to convince you to come.
Curtis
March 5 , 2009
Subject: Numbers from previous Alaska Summer Solstice Tourney
Years taken place: 3
Out-of-state clubs: 7
Out-of-state NAFA Regions: 7
Out-of-state flyballers: 24
Out-of-state dogs: 29
Travel expenses: $<a fair chunk of change>
Memories that last a lifetime: PRICELESS!
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/tourney/
Stand up, come to Alaska, and be counted!
Curtis
March 20 , 2009
Subject: Alaska tourneys: Happy vernal equinox!
Across the equator goes the sun
And all of your dogs want to run
So why not compete
Where the view can't be beat
Head north this next June for some fun!
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/tourney/
Happy vernal equinox!
Curtis...(who can't help but use every major solar event as an excuse to post a reminder about our Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys).
May 27 , 2009
Subject: Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys closing date extended!
Just when you thought you had missed out on yet another opportunity to play flyball in Alaska, we've extended our closing date to June 3 for our Summer Solstice Tourneys. So, you still have time to act on a whim and join the fun!
Don't let the travel distance or the mystique of Alaska intimidate you. Since our first set of tourneys in 2006, numerous other flyballers have made the trip. Our own club has even taken several "long weekends" to attend out-of-state flyball tournaments. As you'll notice on our tourney website, there are gobs of airlines that fly to Anchorage.
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/tourney/airlines.html
Alaska Airlines, in particular, has daily nonstop service between Anchorage and each of the following cities:
Seattle
Portland
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Denver
Chicago
We'll be running the Open class. So, you can bring along some teammates or just you and your dog. Check out our tourney website and contact me right away if even a small part of you would like to come up.
http://flyballdogs.com/alaska/tourney/
You won't regret it!
Curtis
July 6 , 2009
Subject: Summer solsticing in Alaska!
It's hard to believe that another set of Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys has come and gone. Alaska Dogs Gone Wild would like to extend a huge "thank you" to the following adventurous flyballers from Colorado and Wyoming who made the long trek up here to join us this year: Keri Caraher and Ethan Wilhelm (DEO Speedwaggin'), Lindsey and Travis Cooper (RUFF), and Walt Marshall (Hole-In-The-Wall Gang). Definitely some fun-loving folks! In addition to the benefit of having them as new friends, the Region 19ers also provided lots of excitement by breaking numerous Alaska records:
- Fastest time: 18.08 (beating Good2Go's 18.65 from 2006).
- Fastest time by an individual dog: 4.01 run by Arrow from DEO Speedwaggin' (not sure who was the previous fastest dog? Arrow's lightning speed prompted us to create a new Alaska record category).
- Most points earned by an individual dog: 1843 earned by Arrow from DEO Speedwaggin' (surpassing the 1733 points earned by Rush from White Mountain Mayhem in 2007). It was also great to have Alaska's newest flyball club, Northern LightSpeed, run in our tourneys. In true Alaskan style, they had four huskies earn points over the four days of racing.
Once again, we received some great media coverage on TV and in print, which brought quite a few spectators out to join in the excitement. One of our goals was to infect as many people as possible with the flyball bug.
On the weather front, Alaska lived up to it reputation as a land of extremes. The day before racing began, a band of fresh snow appeared at around the 4000'-level on some of the nearby mountains. Then sunshine prevailed throughout most of the competition with temperatures in the 60s F (and yes, despite being way up near the 61st parallel, it's very easy to get sunburned at our tourneys). Then, near the end of the last day of racing, some rain, thunder, lightning, and hail forced us to take an unexpected break for a few hours. Fortunately, since a small tournament has a very flexible schedule, we were able to finish the racing with some of the closest finishes and the fastest times occurring during the last race of the event.
Thanks again to everyone who "summer solsticed" with us this year! If you missed out on the fun, have no fear. Instead, start making plans to come up for our 5th Annual Alaska Summer Solstice Tourneys in June 2010.
Curtis