Eric Anderson | from a single Kubb set to US National Kubb Championship organizer

00:00.00

klahro

So it's recording. Okay, okay so let let's go here's the Happy Cool Podcast my name is Klaus and.

00:06.15

Eric

Um, yeah, let's go yes.

00:16.39

klahro

This is the first english and international episode with a very very special guest Eric Anderson from us national cup championships hey Eric.

00:30.13

Eric

Um, hey thank you so much for having me on I'm a big fan of happy who love it. Let's go love it.

00:32.98

klahro

Ah, thank you, thank you? Nice to have you here? Um, what time is it at your place now I yeah very good and yeah I'm on further venura in Spain at the moment here is.

00:42.13

Eric

Um, it is just after three p m so yeah

00:52.80

klahro

Nine P M and so hopefully the kids sleep. Well so we can talk a lot. Yeah, my first question always is um when did you um play cup last.

00:56.67

Eric

Um, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

01:07.55

Eric

The last time I played yep that was on Sunday I played in the oaulair Kube league. So my team isn't playing this year in the winter league. We're taking the winter off because we're busy with some other things but my friend and neighbor pat.

01:10.40

klahro

The last time. Yeah.

01:27.55

Eric

Wanted me to play with his team. They needed somebody to fill in for them. So I played at the oaklair Kube league and we play in ah in a dome that has 3 sand volleyball courts. So there are 22 teams in the winter leagues we played winter and sand you know about that.

01:43.90

klahro

yeah yeah I know it but not so much about the winter coup and I think there's a lot of winter coup now in the Us.

01:46.15

Eric

You know about San Kub yeah

01:54.46

Eric

Yeah, we had a big tournament last was past weekend in Minneapolis 64 teams I think that might been minimum of 3 people on a team and that's outside I think that's the largest outdoor winter tournament in the world I would guess.

02:12.57

klahro

Um, yeah, whoa.

02:12.88

Eric

The week the week yeah the week before that up in Superior Wisconsin on Lake Superior They played on lake superior I forgot how many teams they had for that maybe 15 or 20 and then this next weekend down by Milwaukee there's tournament. An outdoor tournament on a pond down there as well. So I think it's three weeks in a row in Wisconsin and Minnesota there's outdoor tournaments.

02:33.48

klahro

Um, yeah.

02:40.50

klahro

Yeah, very great. So it's not um, such as ah, off off season anymore. Um.

02:47.40

Eric

Though no I think the only offseason in in the us is actually maybe I would say from middle of October maybe to um, early February but then there's some leagues that.

02:59.94

klahro

Um, yeah.

03:03.81

Eric

Ah, Claire has a league and Minneapolis St Paul has a league and I think there's a couple other leagues as well. So there's some other things happening.

03:12.33

klahro

And is is there. Um, also some indo action now because in Europe I see a lot of indoor tournaments for beach um halls or ah like a little bar or something.

03:17.88

Eric

Local.

03:24.80

Eric

Yeah, so our our olair Kube League is indoor on the sand in that in that dome. So it's I don't know maybe ° maybe fahrenheits maybe °C and then that league also hosts a couple indoor tournaments.

03:37.59

klahro

Um, yeah.

03:43.98

Eric

And the sand as well. So they have those as options here here. No clatter. So yeah.

03:50.30

klahro

Yeah, okay, very good. So we want to talk today a little bit about ko in the us about you about co in general and growing our loft sport. Um, first of all. In Germany I say always Coe you say I guess coop or do.

04:09.10

Eric

Um, co co yeah, but I think it's I think it's ah I think it should be shorter Kube a pretty quick I think like how you say it. But I think we say things a little bit longer here. So we you throw in the cobe a little bit longer I think so.

04:21.74

klahro

Um, I okay.

04:27.00

klahro

Ah, yeah, okay, so don't get me wrong if I say cop good and and maybe can you start? maybe for the listeners from Europe maybe or.

04:28.23

Eric

Yeah, no, that's great. Yep.

04:44.26

klahro

Who is not so much into Ko I think most of our listeners um know who you are and but can you start maybe introduce yourself a little bit. What are you doing and when did you start to play co.

04:55.86

Eric

Um, yeah, yep, so ah, the first time I played Kub was I think it was in two thousand and summer of 2002 we went to so my wife and I went to Sweden to visit some friends. My grandparents are from Sweden so it meant a lot to me to go to Sweden and we played Kube with with some of our friends didn't play it again until 2005 my wife and I and my oldest daughter lived in. Carls corona Sweden in the South Coast for 1 year and so some people that we met there introduces the game again. We played it a lot just fell in love with the game and that's how I I learned the game and then moved back to the Us. Ah, dad found a place here in America that sold coop sets and he had a coop set waiting for us when we moved back to the us in the summer of 2006 and took that coup set to we moved to Helena montana took the coop set there played with a bunch of friends. We only out we were out there for less than a year and then we moved to o claire in two thousand january of 2007 it's about sixteen years ago and moved to a claire with with one coop set. It's all we had and then.

06:22.22

Eric

Had his passion to start a tournament and to do a fundraiser for atrocities that were wrappping and in Darur Sudan at the time and just had that first tournament in 2007 it was only there was the first open coop tournament ever in the us and.

06:40.75

klahro

Have you played have you played on a tournament before or was it just ah your own idea to organize one.

06:40.80

Eric

15 teams.

06:46.96

Eric

Um, yeah, cause my it was my own idea I had never played in a tournament before ever. Yeah and at that time I had heard about the world championship but I didn't know anything about it. Nothing about it and so we started that first tournament here here. No claire.

06:53.14

klahro

Um, whoa.

07:04.62

Eric

That was the first tournament in in the us and then from there it just grew more and more and more and I could talk for an hour just on that. But yeah, so and then I started another tournament in a small town called Dallas Wisconsin that's an hour north of here.

07:14.89

klahro

Um.

07:23.79

Eric

Their October fest and then I started a tournament in Rockford Illinois which was my hope which is my hometown that termurment doesn't exist anymore but we started that one and did that 1 for like three or four years organize that 1 did Ku Nation Magazine I him playing in tournaments.

07:36.18

klahro

Um, yeah.

07:43.74

Eric

2008 and just been amazing. Amazing ride I've met so many amazing people over the past sixteen years is crazy.

07:50.29

klahro

Um, yeah I and of course I googled a lot of Eric Anderson the last days and it's so incredible. How. Much cup content you created and how much impact you had on the group community and of course we could speak days now I think and about organizing about the rules about fair play about community building anything. Um. And it's really really impressive. Um, and I just want wanted to ask you. This fact you said you came to olaire with these one cup said. So um, your whole community or your friendship and everything in olaire is actually. Build on this one cupset or can can I say that.

08:45.40

Eric

A lot of it. Yeah for for sure until our kids got to school you know it's tough. It's tough to meet people I think especially in ah in a new town until your kids get into school I think my oldest daughter was.

08:50.49

klahro

Um, yeah.

08:59.28

Eric

2 or 3 when we moved here and so it was another. You know, two or three years until she got into school and and I would just go to the farmer's market and try to introduce people to coove and um, you know, just try to get the word out and if there is an event.

09:16.34

klahro

Ah, how how can I imagine this Farmer's market and there's a place where you can build the field and just play cob or.

09:24.71

Eric

Yeah, so it's it's downtown o claire so the different farmers come down there and they have their market and sell their stuff and right next and that's along the one of the rivers in Oau Claire and there's a big, a big grass area and I would just go down there and. Have a coup set set up and I would just ask people when they would walk by. Hey. Do you want to? do you want to play this game and I I had that passion I had to try maybe I was a little little crazy. Um, and actually one of the people. Um.

09:44.54

klahro

Are.

10:01.93

Eric

Of the people that I went and played in Sweden with in 2000 and the second time which is 2014 he was one of the first people that that you know that found the game after I moved here and I introduced it to him and I haven't met somebody yet that had played cove in Oau Claire before I moved here. So it's just a crazy.

10:19.40

klahro

Yeah, so and as I read you started with 15 teams your first tournament and then now in the last years. It's usually 128 teams and.

10:19.80

Eric

Crazy story. So.

10:27.69

Eric

Um, yeah, yep.

10:31.52

Eric

Um, yeah, we've yep yep, we've maxed out at 128 teams the year after covid I think we were like one 22 but for the most part we've we've maxed out at 128 teams

10:46.45

klahro

Um, yeah, did you have some vision like this when you started or.

10:56.29

Eric

You know, not the the first tournament we had you know like I had a couple 3 sets and then the people that came had ah had a couple sets. The sets weren't all the same. They were all different and and i. And I didn't really have ah a vision and but then everybody had a great time and I was like we have to do this again next year and it you know doubled in size and that's when I started learning a little bit more about the world championship I think there was maybe another tournament in Europe at that time that was happening that I was able to see on the internet. Um.

11:14.47

klahro

There.

11:29.42

Eric

Got in touch with one of my coup mentors Sorein Wallen from goatland and Stockholm and stumbled upon him with a guy named Youngs who had played with him in 2011 at the world championship and start talking about rules. Um, and.

11:36.47

klahro

Um, is.

11:47.58

Eric

Saw more about the world championship and then it just got bigger and bigger and ah I I loved it and it just brought so many people together and then I started you know playing competing in different tournaments and then as.

12:03.20

klahro

It? yeah.

12:06.33

Eric

Players and clubs would come to a claire. They would start their own tournaments in their town. So then I would go and play with my team in those in those towns. So.

12:14.37

klahro

Um, and um, would you now if you introduce you to somebody would you now introduce you as a Kuop organizer or a co player or what would you say.

12:29.82

Eric

Um, ah first and first and foremost I think I'm an organizer um you know, let's put the championship There's a lot of work. We have a board. We're a nonprofit. We have a board we all, you know we meet. Um. Do a lot of things but I think first and foremost right now I'm an organizer but I play a Neil Claire kubli a lot.

12:45.65

klahro

Yeah, yeah, that yeah, let's um, speak a little bit about the us national cup championships. Um, it's as. To see from Europe. It's the biggest event and these ones in the year main event. Um, where everybody is going and of course the name already give it gives it um but is it. Also.

13:21.99

klahro

Completely how to say um, accepted in the us or are there some movements to say how why only this is a national cook championships because ah, the background in Europe whereas we have the european championships. Um, now which is organized by the associations. But before there was another um, what was organized by one person. So of course there could something like this in the Us. Um.

13:42.20

Eric

Are.

13:56.51

klahro

How's the situation there.

13:57.62

Eric

Um, um I mean I guess the way that I look at it. The Us championship is the Us championship. There's a lot of other great tournaments out there. Um, but I there's only one I mean.

14:07.68

klahro

Um, yeah.

14:14.70

Eric

We get teams come from Coast to Coast and I think from what people tell me and this is just what people tell me maybe maybe other people have other opinions I'm not sure. But um, this is the big one and I've I've seen people cry because they win and I've seen people cry because they lose and.

14:33.45

klahro

Um, yeah.

14:34.32

Eric

To me. it's it's it's the big one and we work hard I mean we try to put out an event you know I I get inspired by what's happening in Europe with your tournaments over there and seeing it's not like as an outsider looking in It's not just a tournament It's an event and I think you know the the. New european you know championship is does just that it's just like it's an event and I see these tournaments in Switzerland and Germany and Belgium and it's like took a big party and what we've wanted to do is we've always wanted to create an event that is open for for all levels of players and.

14:54.88

klahro

Um, yeah.

15:11.69

klahro

Um.

15:13.60

Eric

We have different brackets. You know as teams play and the playoffs and lose they go down to a different bracket. Um, but I think to answer a question I think the US championship is there's it's it's the one. So yeah.

15:16.62

klahro

Um, yeah.

15:23.17

klahro

Yeah, that was also my view here from Europe and but beside that is there in how to say and us association of cop or is there something? no.

15:38.18

Eric

Um, you know so that's something that some people of us talked about many years ago and we just never went down that route our our tourment directors like we just actually I I invited all the. Tournament and league directors that we can find in the us just have like a face time Facebook talk or whatever and we actually met on Sunday night just to kind of meet each other because then we have people posting tournaments in like ah Los Angeles and Maryland and Pennsylvania and North Carolina and all over the place.

16:01.68

klahro

Um.

16:14.82

Eric

And so it's good for us just to talk and see what's working and see how we can help each other but there is no official mech American Cob association or federation right now.

16:30.38

klahro

And is there. Maybe you can give little overview overview of coup in us. Maybe um, is there something like a U league or or only regional leaks.

16:44.65

Eric

Um, um for for like for the leagues. All the leagues are like local. So if if teams play in a like a summer league or a fall league or a spring league. It's it's all locals like the oaklare Kub league this past fall I think they had.

16:51.18

klahro

Yeah, yeah.

17:03.53

Eric

Almost forty maybe not 40 but maybe like 35 or 36 teams um but some of those players come from 2 hours away to play because the competition level is is so high and they do a really good job at just you know, having people having fun but at being competitive as well.

17:14.40

klahro

Um.

17:23.54

Eric

Um, so that's what we have for leagues and then all the tournaments are run by by individuals or teams of people. You know so friends.

17:33.22

klahro

Yeah, and I don't know if you know the exact number but about how many tournaments are in the year in in the Us.

17:45.80

Eric

Um, I think this year I think we might be like around 30 maybe or so um, maybe about thirty thirty tournaments I think so yeah.

17:51.58

klahro

Um, okay.

17:54.00

klahro

And do you have do you have any like organization that know 2 big tournaments are on the same weekend or something.

18:02.69

Eric

Um, what what tournament organizers have I think tried to do and they'll get It's tougher when there's years if there's more tournaments but um, they try to have it so that the tournaments are not on the same weekend so in even coast to coast. So like if somebody hosts the. Ah, termur on the East Coast they would love to have somebody from Wisconsin or Minnesota you know' one of the top teams come and travel there so they're gonna try to have their their tournament on a different weekend that can make it tough sometimes but it does make it that almost every weekend in the summer

18:30.33

klahro

Um.

18:41.22

Eric

There is a tournament for people to go to. So.

18:45.17

klahro

So how is it for you. Um, how far have you to travel if you go to the next tournament which is not in oklaire. Maybe yeah.

18:54.61

Eric

For for me myself, um the closest location for me would probably be like Minneapolis state St Paul it's like the twin cities and that's that's 2 hours away um but I've traveled in the past.

19:10.46

Eric

Founded by Milwaukee or Rockford or des moines another place in Iowa called decorra've been different places in in the twin cities over by Appleton and Green Bay so I've traveled I want to I want to take my team tiers tray I want to take them to the.

19:23.30

klahro

Um, yeah.

19:28.47

Eric

West coast championship I want to go to the East Coast championship so hopefully the next year or two we can. We can do that. But um I think it's like going to goatline. Yeah, it's not easy if you're on mainland Europe you have to take ah you have to. It's a long drive and you're flight or ferry. So.

19:38.84

klahro

Um, yeah.

19:45.99

Eric

Even for us. It's it's tough to um to get to some places because it is It is a it is a far trip. So.

19:49.60

klahro

Um, yeah.

19:54.70

klahro

Can you can you tell me again, Please How is your team. Um, called I always have problems how to pronounce it.

20:03.11

Eric

Yeah, ah tier t y r tier ti stray so tier was a norse. Yeah yep, so tier was a um Norse god um, and so and then tray is 3 in in swedish. So it's.

20:07.91

klahro

Um, tears tray. Okay.

20:16.38

klahro

I.

20:19.33

Eric

Tears tray. So his his 3 so we're were like his three warriors. Yeah.

20:24.80

klahro

Ah, yeah, great. Great. So and um, how much do you play in the moment or for the next year how much do you plan.

20:34.88

Eric

Um, um, right now I right now I'm not playing much at all I I've been busy right? Both with my family and my daughters played volleyball in the winter and it's just time and I think sometimes it's good for me to take kind of ah a little break too from it.

20:46.00

klahro

Yeah. Um, yeah.

20:54.32

Eric

But this spring will our team will play in the in the spring kubli here in noclaire will play in the pre pre championship. So that's two weeks before the us championship who.

21:04.52

klahro

Are they there are you playing at the at the pre you are playing because I I read you never will play at the Us not this. So yeah.

21:11.76

Eric

Um, yeah at the preach championship ye know, no too much work Maybe someday if if somebody takes over the operations for that day I might be able to play. But um.

21:28.27

klahro

Yeah, you you should speak with Christa Fiser ah because he he already and you mentioned there or managed it to play at the casey way cup now at at the ten years anniversary so maybe

21:33.20

Eric

Um.

21:37.94

Eric

Um, did he? Okay, yeah yeah, yeah for sure. No I should talk to him about that I um I just for now for us. It's we have kid Kub on.

21:44.98

klahro

Can have with some tips for you.

21:50.29

klahro

It.

21:56.35

Eric

Friday and we do that it's all day Saturday and then Sunday it's the and then on Sunday I'm a rough so it's there's a lot going on. but but yeah

21:57.99

klahro

Ah, yeah, yeah.

22:08.64

klahro

Like maybe maybe can you give us ah just a small overview again of the us national co championships. What is ah the schedule and what and who's the team because I read. The first tournaments you did everything like alone even at the barbecue. Um, and and and who's the team now.

22:25.67

Eric

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so um, I take the whole week off of work. So it the whole week. So. It's all the things that you do you know? Monday through wednesday. Thursday morning we go out there and we spray paint the the 6 corners for the pitch the 4 corners in the mid-pitch and then on Friday we have kid Kub so that's open to all kids that are going into eighth graded younger. So that's like I think about 13 here. Um, so we have that and then usually teams start showing up and they're out there practicing or or playing in the past we had a chests the kuless a 1 v one tournaments we had that a couple years but now it's just kind of ah a big party out there. They come out there and they moold the grass again.

23:01.96

klahro

Um.

23:20.38

Eric

On on Friday night and then Saturday all all 128 teams play in groups of 4 so you play around robdin in your group of 4 and we have I think hour and 10 or our 15 minute time limits so best out of 3 and then all like all the teams.

23:31.64

klahro

Um, who.

23:39.71

Eric

Play in the same playoff bracket. So that's one hundred and twenty Eight teams the teams that lose those 64 teams that lose that first round go to a bronze bracket. So that's a 64 team gu out of 1 bracket whoever a top 4 teams on that stand in the podium get get medals get up. Team a fun bag 64 teams that advance the teams that lose that 32 teams that lose that go the silver bracket and then the final 16 teams they they come back on Sunday they get thrown into four four groups of 4.

24:00.62

klahro

Um, here.

24:18.48

Eric

And then they play a round robin within their group as well and then the winner of each of those groups goes to the semifinals and plays so that's that's the setup and then right now myself we got like 4 or 5 amazing volunteers that come out meet me up. Be out there early in the morning we have an organization called girls on the run and it's a girl empowerment program and they come out and help set up all the pitches. So we we take all the cubes all of the tods everything they go out there. They set up all the pitches.

24:42.30

klahro

Um.

24:55.74

Eric

Give one some money for that and then also so that's sixty four pitches and then they also sell food out there and get the money from that and some of the money we get goes to them then we have a bunch of volunteers that help out selling merchandise.

25:06.45

klahro

Um, yeah.

25:15.37

Eric

Taking the scores you know doing the 3 brackets doing everything so it's amazing. Amazing volunteers in the the in the yeah, yeah, yeah for sure. But it's worth it. It's worth it. Yeah.

25:21.53

klahro

Yeah, sounds sounds really good and a lot of work. Yeah, and as you mentioned the best 16 teams are coming back on Sunday in Europe it's. I don't know any tournament which is organized like that. Um some are even play at midnight um to get the winner and maybe what are you think about these differences.

25:48.38

Eric

Um, yeah, yeah, um.

26:00.42

Eric

Um I guess I like both approaches one one thing that we do lose at the us championship is in Europe you know when you watch him and you know when I went to the little championship twice and we were fortunate enough to play in the final in 14 there's just so many people that write and it goes so late and all the teams are there. It's it's more of a feeling of a party. It's at the end of the day people might be having a beer or 2 so. It's a little bit little bit more of a party atmosphere and that's awesome like that is um, that's something that you know every year we're trying to find ways to add something like that on.

26:28.60

klahro

Um, that.

26:37.89

Eric

Sunday as well. Even though we do have usually like 2 300 people watching the final but it's not late at night it doesn't have that vibe or that feel on Saturday night for our silver bracket championship. It's it's a little bit more I guess what we would call here european.

26:40.47

klahro

Who.

26:55.60

klahro

Um, here.

26:55.11

Eric

Regards that it's little bit more of a party atmosphere. The sun's going down so that's that's 1 thing. Um, we just I know there are a lot of times you guys have those time limits for you know for some of those games and that's something that traditionally in the past people haven't wanted to stop playing if it's. You know the game hasn't finished and so that's 1 thing where we kind of wait both and we thought okay where because in 2011 we we went to dark and we actually had to bring cars out to put the lights on the fields. Um, and so we kind of just.

27:16.80

klahro

Um, yeah.

27:28.16

klahro

Um, yeah.

27:34.44

Eric

Looked at both both scenarios and we changed it so that teams would come back on on on Sunday and now we have it set up where to come back on Sunday you are guaranteed at least at least 3 matches best out of 3 against some of the top teams not just in the country but you know the world.

27:47.72

klahro

Um, yeah.

27:53.92

Eric

So it's it's worth them to come. So.

27:56.76

klahro

Yeah I really like that model with the Sunday games and I always yeah, questioned or asked myself. Um, are there many players coming back on sunday. If they lose on Saturday or how's the situation with players at the field.

28:20.85

Eric

Yeah, that's a good question. Um, that is I think you know we all want more people to come right? We we all want more players to come and stay. Let's say it's a final in in Europe and it's late. You don't want people to leave you want them to stay and.

28:31.81

klahro

Um, yeah.

28:37.14

Eric

You want people from the public to come just to watch because you know if they kind of watch it. They're gonna fall in love with it like like you have like I have um so we um, we try to promote it in regards to you know I don't it starts at 8 There's not many people out there to watch.

28:53.37

klahro

Um.

28:55.87

Eric

Spectators at 8 but they might show up at like 9 or 10 and they just start watching or they have some friends playing usually about half the teams or maybe from oauclaire. So their friends can come and watch easily to to watch that as well. So that's something that.

28:59.43

klahro

It.

29:14.55

Eric

That's something that our board talks about as well. It's like how do we get more people out there. Do we need to have a raffle do we need to find something to entice people to come out briefly Just let it happen. You know more organically and just see if people come out or not but that's that's why and then we have it start early.

29:26.43

klahro

Now.

29:33.54

Eric

We know people have a long drive at the end of the day home if they're not from allclares. We started at 8 which we realize is a little bit early but traditionally that's what the players have won is.

29:44.31

klahro

Yeah, yeah, and of course if you want to win or play at the best 16 you? Ah nevertheless have to book your flight for Sunday evening or Monday so.

29:54.72

Eric

Yes, or Monday exactly right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

30:01.19

klahro

But okay, um, and I say oh I I read you're playing with a group in the beginning on Saturday Saturday right in groups could you imagine to change this system to the swiss model the shock what is the.

30:12.40

Eric

Yep yep.

30:20.57

klahro

Very popular now in Europe.

30:23.10

Eric

Yeah, no I don't I don't think so I think with there's nothing wrong with that and most most tourmates here in the us use that use that system as well now. So but um, with 128 teams um with.

30:31.69

klahro

It.

30:39.87

Eric

64 pitches going at 1 time um, trying to have people understand what pitch they're going to go to and move to I just think it would be um I think the way that we have it set up is is. Kind of how it will probably go in the future. But I I mean I've played I've played in that system a ton and it's fun. Have nothing against it. But um, this also allows and you know with that system too. I think you know the the intent is to play against people that are similar skill level as you. Um.

30:56.81

klahro

Um, yeah.

31:13.15

klahro

Um, yeah.

31:16.17

Eric

But with 128 teams you know with it being random, you might be the best team in the country and you might play 6 rounds. You might not be playing against anybody. That's even close to you in that in that way too. So it's you know it's a wide spectrum of of skill and talent. So which and the thing that we like too is that.

31:23.25

klahro

Um, yeah.

31:29.61

klahro

That.

31:35.85

Eric

Um, we we hear a lot of stories from people that are new to the game are new to the championship and maybe you and I think that these people don't want to play against a national champion. They don't want to play against somebody. That's really really good.

31:47.91

klahro

Are.

31:52.78

Eric

What we have found is that they enjoy that they go to their friends and they say that and they find out that that person is actually really nice and helps them with the game and introduces them to some secrets or some tips and we hear that story all the time. So we'd like that mention of teams as well. So.

31:54.66

klahro

Um, yeah.

32:03.32

klahro

Um, yeah.

32:09.84

klahro

Um I I Um, always like if there's still a mix of these tournament systems and it's great that not everybody is changing to this shock or Swiss model. Yeah. So maybe about you and cope. Ah can you maybe? um, tell me what what is your inspiration at the moment to organize this or or to keep going because of course you did so much and. Um I I think you said at once that now it's not related to your person. So The community is playing kupai itself. So It's it's growing and growing and um, what is you.? What is your motivation to keep going.

33:05.65

Eric

Um, yeah, um I guess as ah as a organizer. Um I I like I think I just enjoy it I Love it. You know it's it's it's it is a lot of work but with the.

33:16.63

klahro

Um, met.

33:21.83

Eric

Team that we have and our board and our volunteers. It's become a lot more manageable. You know it's like I'm tired when it's over. Don't get me wrong like it's it's it's awful. It's It's just a grind you know, but at the same time just seeing all those people out there.

33:33.26

klahro

Um, yeah.

33:40.10

Eric

I get to see all the people I just love the game. You know back in the early years like I would apologize or kind of make fun of myself for loving the game I'm like well you know and like now like I don't apologize like I'm proud like I like I refuse to apologize that I love this game. It's a beautiful game. It's changed my life i. Hear from people all the time that's changed their lives and I I'll preach that from a mountaintop. It's just it's an amazing game and I just I love doing that and I I believe in our mission for the us championship. You know we have that coop set program where we give out free coop sets. And it's just we. It's just a great part of our of our community and I just love it for for me as a player for my team. Um I mean like I want to win ah and another o claire league championship like and I want to do that with my team out.

34:26.19

klahro

Um.

34:37.37

klahro

Um, yeah.

34:37.75

Eric

I was on a really good team and we um, you know I went I wanted to play with my kids and I wanted to play with my friend Kristen and I told my buddy to go to go play with ah you know another top player you know, just just go do that. And I wanted to like I knew I wasn't gonna start at the bottom but I wanted another challenge I I didn't want to be at the top anymore we would be got first for a second almost every year every season I was like I wanted to start back down the middle and see if we can climb our way up but I wanted to be the first team with more women than men to. Win a tournament or league and we did that last year at the Derby Doau claire cob league derby and early city of oauclaire you know Derby and and I just want to keep keep going with that I I just love playing with my daughters I love playing with my friend Kristen. It's just so much fun and.

35:22.57

klahro

Um.

35:31.25

Eric

Find a good balance So it's my competitive juices are are still flowing and I want to travel more with my team. Um, so I just I love the game. You know I Just what like why stop doing something you love and really enjoy you know that's kind of it.

35:44.82

klahro

Um, yeah, what? what are or where are places you want to go and play coop.

35:51.16

Eric

Look along.

35:57.10

Eric

um um I would like I said before I would I would love to travel here more in America and and do that um, nothing against any of their tournaments but I would like I'd love to go to the west coast championship and be out there and. Be part of that and see the dick hollywood sign and it's you know it's it's la you know I mean I want to do that I've never been there before um I want to go to the tournaments on the East Coast the East Coast championship they do an amazing job out there doing what they do and having it be ah, kind of that.

36:19.71

klahro

Um.

36:33.83

Eric

Culture out there and god moves around to different states and I it. Ah I I would love I would love to um I seen these tournaments in in in Europe.

36:38.43

klahro

Um, and will will we see you on a Europe tour or something the next years

36:53.13

Eric

And I I would love to be over there like three weeks and hit you know a tournament each each week and you know back to the day I think Belgium used to have tournaments on it like every Saturday and Sunday in the summer if I remember writing it's crazy. Um I would I would love to do that. You know i.

37:05.43

klahro

Um, yeah.

37:12.92

Eric

I I Love to go back to the world championships again and play with my my team and my family so it's I've been I used to play a tount I used to travel a lot I used to practice all crazy amount of time. But since my kids got into high school I've been more busy with them and.

37:29.57

klahro

Yeah.

37:32.48

Eric

Doing things with them. So I haven't been able to put as much time into it but I still have that passion to play and just ah, it's it's It's the perfect game of you know I'm I'm preaching to you I'm tail I everybody listening to this knows exactly what I'm saying but it's a perfect.

37:47.77

klahro

Um, yeah.

37:52.30

Eric

Perfect mental and physical and teamwork and you know having 3 or more people on a team I just love that like I 1 on 1 is fine 2 on 2 I guess is fine. But for me I want I want 3 or more people on my team I want it to be a strategy I want to be thinking I want to be contemplating different.

38:06.63

klahro

Um.

38:10.78

Eric

Different times of when to throw and when not to throw and what's most advantageous it just process that and I love that I love the the thing about Kube is perfection is possible if you're in the if you're wearing the one hundred yard dash if you're playing baseball if you're playing so is perfection.

38:23.79

klahro

Um, yeah.

38:30.23

Eric

Isn't possible like somebody's going to run faster than the same bolt sometime like it's It's not but a coup it is possible for perfection. That's that golf right? like you could always birdie every hole and co perfection is there. It's there. It's and we've all felt it a lot of us top players.

38:38.54

klahro

Who.

38:47.17

Eric

We've we've gone 5 or 5 and hit the king or we've played in a game and never missed like it's there and that that journey to to get there again and again and again and get there more often I love it. I love it it's I love it it's just so much fun. It's it's so enjoyable.

39:05.11

klahro

So would you say you because for me, um, it's always interesting to speak about the game of course but also about the and surroundings the organization sponsorship everything when What do you say you? you prefer to play and speak about the game or to speak about growing Kube as a sport or um, speak about organization things like systems and everything.

39:38.89

Eric

Um I say I see both I think the biggest enjoyment I get is when I go to an event and I'm promoting the game. And introducing people to the game more and and in in our organization. The Us championship and maybe it's not even as much the Us championship but just introducing the game to people We do a lot of outreach on town and different events and organizations and groups and.

39:56.23

klahro

Um.

40:10.16

klahro

Um, yeah.

40:12.39

Eric

Just going out there and introducing people to game and just seeing them and they ask you a question you know what would you do here? Why do you do that and you can see them. You can see them. Oh this is this is this is interesting. This is viking chess you know there is strategy here. Um.

40:19.89

klahro

Yeah.

40:26.27

klahro

Are.

40:32.81

Eric

I I really do like like that part of it and it's become such a big part of our of our town. Um, and I can't and I'm not exaggerating I mean it like so many people know about it. Um that it becomes kind of proud that. That's kind of what we do here as well. Like I remember going to goatlan the first time and I remember thinking to myself man like like this is I remember asking one of the moms of one of the teams we played in Sweden on 2014 I said I said how long is just can we we just played them like in the round of 16 or 8 or a. I said how long is he been playing and she goes to me she goes he was playing when he was in my stomach. That's what she said right? I thought that I like that like that's that's that's what I want to help build in Oau Claire and I think I think we're we're we're well in our way for that because when I go out and introduce it to people.

41:21.69

klahro

Um, yeah.

41:28.81

Eric

Most people have heard about it and quite honestly a lot of people have already played it. So it's a lot of fun.

41:35.83

klahro

Do you have ah in the us also some I to say um ku couplets that come together during kuop tournaments or something because in Europe I see so more and more koop couples and. They getting babies. So yeah.

41:55.68

Eric

Oh ku couples. Yeah yeah for sure. Um, we're we're seeing more of that and um, actually we're we're seeing more of that here. Ah here in o claire and it's with times things like in the o Claire Kube league you're starting to see more.

42:11.59

Eric

More families playing or more you know more husband and wives playing or um, boyfriend and girlfriends and they're playing and next you know they get married and next thing you know they have a ah little cooper on the way. So and that's and that's the thing too that I think is really important is that.

42:20.83

klahro

Um, yeah, nice. Nice.

42:30.62

Eric

Think we should all strive to you know, get get more women playing the game. They are half our population and um Cuba is a perfect game where it's it's for everybody and it doesn't matter your your size your height or your strength you have to be a big strong. You know, tryath lead to player. Whatever it is. The game. The game is for everybody and I think as you get to a certain threshold into a tournament or a league where there's a certain number of women playing then more and more women will feel comfortable in that environment and we.

42:49.46

klahro

Yep.

43:04.91

Eric

We did that article of Ku Nation Magazine about it I think in like 2017 or something we interviewed I forgot how many female players both in Europe and here in America and then it just what I've noticed is that for a lot of people. It's just starting to become what their family does nets.

43:22.40

klahro

Yeah, you you mentioned it the Kub Nation magazine um you you was a what what is the the name for the the host or how to say the the publisher.

43:23.47

Eric

That's awesome.

43:35.87

Eric

Um, yeah, yeah, yeah.

43:38.95

klahro

And did a lot of effort into this magazine and was great every every year and to see it and now you stopped to publish it. Ah I'm not sure if everybody noticed ever already.

43:50.58

Eric

Um, yeah.

43:57.48

Eric

Um, yeah.

43:58.38

klahro

But can you tell me? maybe again how how or why? um you stopped it or will it be ah, republished someday or.

44:09.10

Eric

Um, ah I could see it being republished maybe started up again in a couple of three years but what I found was that um the internet social media facebook Instagram was allowing people to see. What was out there I would love this is what I this is what I love about hat to ku and I and I love about 2 or 3 other platforms that are out there. Um is that we need more social media presence about Kube on the internet. We. We do I mean if. We want to grow the game if we introduce more people to it. We have to do it. That's why big businesses. Do it right? I mean if it's good enough for whatever big business then it's it should be good enough for for us. So my my thought was I knew I knew a lot of people read it I I knew it added value i. I knew that every year I would find 2 or 3 just crazy things that nobody knew about like that tournament way up in Northern Sweden they had like couple hundred teams I mean it's just you know I you know wanted to get in touch with the people in Japan and in Spain and all these places just learn these things.

45:19.47

klahro

Um, that.

45:21.95

Eric

Um, but I felt like social media was kind of replacing it a little bit and I think I was wrong actually to be honest with you I I think um I I feel like maybe it was going to get replaced by a couple other platforms and and it was social media and and I don't see that happening. So. I can see it coming back I Just I'd like to see more people put more stuff out for for their own teams.

45:45.23

klahro

I I understand what you are meaning and but I also think the magazine was like this was a little bit for forever. The search media is fast and it's like you forgot what. Happening the last three months ago and the magazine I can find now I can read the articles again I can start from 0 gan or somebody who is new can read all the magazines and is probably not searching all the.

46:08.51

Eric

Um, right.

46:18.23

Eric

Um.

46:24.33

klahro

Facebook post of cobon or cup media or happycoop maybe and so I would love to see it again because was really good.

46:27.44

Eric

Um, yeah.

46:35.27

Eric

That's a that's a good point. Yeah that's ah, that's a good that's ah, that's a really good comment and that's that's 1 thing that I thought about when I when I got done with it and I and I you know I have a new website for tears tray and I I moved everything from ku nation there. Um. And thought wow this is as long as there's this website this stuff is kind of like in a library for if somebody found Kub today. They can read all these things and some of these things aren't happening anymore and that's that's okay, um.

46:55.33

klahro

Um, yeah, yeah.

47:06.44

klahro

Yeah, absolutely and when we speak about it. Did you because sometimes there were like sponsors or something and it did you um earn.

47:06.74

Eric

But that's ah, that's a really good point. So maybe you've talked me into doing it again next year

47:23.40

klahro

Any money with it or how was it. How was a model of the nation magazine.

47:24.52

Eric

Um, yeah, like yeah so in the beginning. Um I didn't really have any sponsors right? because nobody thought it would be you know whatever Adam' ' maybe the first year there was a couple ads in there and then and then tournaments would put an ad in there for.

47:39.60

klahro

Um, yeah.

47:44.13

Eric

I don't know how much it it was just to kind of make my time worthwhile and then I would get a couple coup kubesat sponsors like jpbackyard games he would he would be in there and um, you might my hope my my actually my thought was that Kub was actually going to probably grow more than it actually.

47:51.85

klahro

Um, yeah.

48:04.10

Eric

Has when you think of the exponential growth that occurred here in the first five or six years I like I would have thought that Cu have been more tournaments bigger tournaments than it is now. Um, which makes me think it's not as easy to do to host a tournament do these things that we have done.

48:05.21

klahro

Um.

48:13.87

klahro

Um, yeah.

48:23.75

Eric

But then at the end it was It was tough to get sponsors you know and I just and you know you make a little bit of money but the time involved in putting into it. It was kind of ah there was a lot of time like when I did the player cards we have the player cards.

48:38.10

klahro

Um, yeah.

48:42.34

Eric

That took that was the first time I did it I had it. It was backwards rights like this person's card was here and accidentally had the back of somebody else's card behind him right? So I had to move him around and that I had to.

48:50.46

klahro

Um.

48:58.45

Eric

Find all this information about people behind their back I was contacting their you know wives or their kids or whatever it was to get this information. Um, but the same time it was so much fun I mean I had so much fun learning about you know people playing Kub on a train with.

49:04.69

klahro

Crazy. Yeah.

49:15.97

Eric

Kube sets that were made in the three D machines and you know you go on on and on about all these random random things and the interviews I Just I love like I I Love asking people questions I love trying to learn more about the game or what people's different thoughts are.

49:25.90

klahro

Um, yeah.

49:33.83

Eric

And those interviews sometimes I go back and I read them and I just love it.

49:38.93

klahro

What was your? um how to think craziest or or funniest place where you played Kobe like i.

49:47.56

Eric

Um, yeah.

49:49.54

klahro

For for my own example I often when we travel have 1 button. How do you say button um one button and the king to to the travel. So I can just have a ah travel um throw at the king maybe.

49:55.14

Eric

Um, the time. Yeah yeah.

50:05.64

Eric

Right? Brett.

50:08.53

klahro

As we as we did for example in the in the medicine square garden no no, no, no sorry sorry not medicine square garden um houses park in New York sorry

50:16.68

Eric

Um, manage the Square garden.

50:23.67

Eric

Okay, yeah, it's okay, it's okay, um, yeah, ah, Central park. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's still impressive. Central park is I thought Wow he kind of nice this quick. Um.

50:26.83

klahro

Um, what was ah the the park in New York the central park sorry not the medicine square on.

50:40.55

klahro

Um.

50:41.14

Eric

I would I don't I don't know the craziest place I've played I can tell you one of the craziest stories so a long long long time ago. This is probably in 2009 or ten or eleven I don't know my buddy Aaron Elring or Knight we would meet before work.

50:49.10

klahro

Um, yeah, um.

51:00.29

Eric

Early in the morning and we would go play um and just talk you know it's it's kind of like therapy right? you just play and you talk and it's so healthy and that's another beautiful thing about the game and we were playing at ah at the park actually the park where we hosted the 2009 in 2010 championship and we were playing and we're just it's like I don't know six o'clock in the morning maybe five thirty in the morning and next you know 3 3 police cars show up and somebody called because they thought they had heard somebody breaking glass but it was actually you know from a distance.

51:20.92

klahro

Are.

51:34.44

klahro

Are.

51:36.53

Eric

But it was us playing Kub and you never really think about the noise that would make but it does make you know some noise. So next thing all the police officers show up and ask you know hey you know making sure we're not vandalizing anything. And next thing you know we're we're playing cob with the police officers at like six o'clock in the morning at the park at the so that was kind of a fun a fun ah fun story so yeah I

52:02.72

klahro

Who who won great. Yeah I would say my my craziest place where I.

52:07.95

Eric

And we let the police officers win I think but.

52:17.55

klahro

Hit down the king was um at the chinese wall. Yeah yeah, always I if we travel I even have here now on we four months on further venur and of course I have a guopset with me and all.

52:20.61

Eric

Wow You do travel with your Baton and King don't you? yeah.

52:32.94

Eric

Um, right.

52:36.89

klahro

Some someday we were just one weekend in Barcelona and I have had a whole whole kuset in my um, my hand luggage and of course you're at the airport you need to have the security check in and.

52:45.47

Eric

Are who.

52:53.94

klahro

They scanned it and he was asked me what I have you? what have you in your luggage. What is this and and I tried to explain him and then he said. Ah, yeah yeah I saw it once it was in Hamburg and I saw it as he played as he played and.

52:57.77

Eric

Um, right.

53:13.42

klahro

We were through the security check-in and I saw later that he explained all the colleagues the other security stuff. Yeah, it's this game were you throwing and because everybody was asking What has he in his luggage.

53:19.62

Eric

Are. Right.

53:31.37

Eric

Ah, looks like a weapon. Yeah.

53:32.44

klahro

Yeah, okay, um, you you mentioned at the at the growing of Kube that you sort. Um it would be grow more or exponential or um, what do you see as the biggest challenges. Facing maybe growing cook as a spot or as a business or event or something.

53:52.46

Eric

Um, yeah, um.

54:00.83

Eric

Um I think for a sport or an event I think it took me a while to realize this but most people don't have any desire to play in a tournament right? They they just don't like.

54:13.26

klahro

Um, who.

54:14.50

Eric

And there's things I'm sure you have hobbies and I have hobbies and the people watching this have hobbies and we have no interest in doing it competitively like I like board games but I'm not going to go play in a us championship you know souths of contain championship right? So I mean it's It's all these types of things where.

54:25.44

klahro

Um.

54:33.53

Eric

Have to realize that um at the same time. Um, one of the best things we ever did was we you know it the US championship right? But when you call something the us championship so many times we hear from somebody. Oh I'm not good enough to play in the US championship

54:49.41

klahro

Who who.

54:53.23

Eric

Like oh trust me, you're you're good enough. We have people that play one time a year they come out they play with their family. They have a great time. They're done at like 2 or 2 30 or 3 and then they go home and it's been a great day. So I think sometimes the fact that it's called a tournament. You know that it is like the.

55:06.83

klahro

Um, yeah.

55:13.50

Eric

You know the but championship or you know those types of things I think that kind of scares scares people away and I think a lot of communities are starting from 0 I mean we I guess as you live on goat line like everybody started from zero in a way right in regards to nobody knew the game. Somebody got introduced the game and you and you try to build it. Um I it's just I'm not I'm not sure I've I've I've thought about it a lot and I've you know I I saw like I remember remember when the belgian championship had like 200 and some teams.

55:32.21

klahro

Um.

55:51.94

Eric

6 person teams that was huge like I think at 1 year there was bigger than the world championship and you know I I follow what's happening and the termnaments every weekend and this and that now you know it seems like their numbers are down and but you look at these pictures you look at these videos that everybody had an amazing time. No.

56:09.80

klahro

Um, yeah.

56:09.57

Eric

Ah, guarantee no nobody left the Belgian championship not in a good mood that was a party right? And those videos are still amazing and but yet everything kind of people do things in cycles and I and I don't know if we need to get more people introduce the game somehow.

56:13.68

klahro

Um, yeah, yeah.

56:30.14

Eric

I'm not sure what it is I've I've thought about it a lot. But I think it's this this we need to continually introduce. New people to the game and new generations to the game and I think the kids and not just 20 and thirty year old guys. But.

56:39.17

klahro

Um, yeah.

56:47.33

Eric

People that are older or women or kids and that and that I think that's that's that's very important. So.

56:54.77

klahro

But when you see um I don't know how popular darts is in um, in the us in Europe it's really it grow nearly last years so to such a big event every year and

57:12.50

klahro

Um, when we see ah this there are also a lot of people to play dot in the bar maybe or not have any intention to play at the tournament. Um, they also managed it to grow What maybe what can we.

57:22.17

Eric

Um.

57:31.11

klahro

Can we learn from them.

57:33.91

Eric

I don't know I obvious I've I've thought about this a lot and again I I remember 1 of my first thoughts so when we moved here and we were trying to start it up and I try to get sponsors in this and that and people have no idea what it was but if I would have said I want to host a boomerang tournament.

57:51.75

klahro

Um, what is a boom. No I Yeah of course. Okay, the typical Boomer ring. Okay, yeah.

57:53.56

Eric

Everybody knows what boomerang is boomerang is when you throw it and it comes back is that? Yep yep, yep Yep! So like people know when a boomerang is like people know what darts are people know what pool is people knows what these things are and I just.

58:11.32

klahro

Um, yeah.

58:12.69

Eric

It's still that kind of and it looks it looks it looks Kub looks more challenging and difficult to understand than it really is if you if you can teach somebody how to play in 10 minutes it's just sometimes in their mind. They.

58:23.33

klahro

Um, yeah, yeah.

58:31.36

Eric

They think I'm not going to be able to understand this. Um and you know Kube isn't set up to play in a bar or um, it's just it's tough. You know I think it's just if people have passion for it and they want to grow in the game.

58:44.13

klahro

Yeah.

58:51.25

Eric

Have to get outside outside of their friends. They have to find ways to get outside of their group and they have to try to find ways to introduce it to it to more people and they have to volunteer their time they have to hustle they have to grind have to go out and and really try to do it and.

58:57.61

klahro

Um, yeah.

59:07.22

Eric

So many people and I'm sure it's the same way in Europe maybe in some these places but you know in know Claire in the us a lot of times I think in the past people have given up because they didn't get close or after two or three years of a tournament or something. Maybe they still only had like. 12 teams or 14 teams and they they compare themselves with with the bigger tournaments and we have to realize that if you have a 20 team tournament or a 25 team tournament or 15 team tournament or if it's year two for you and you have 12 teams that's still okay, like that's. That's that's got to happen it because you're starting from 0 um, and so that's that's okay, but I'd be curious for you because I don't get to talk to people you have conversations like this with people in in Europe about european coup. But like for you like.

59:44.91

klahro

Um.

01:00:04.38

Eric

What do you think has happened in regards to Kub tournaments or size that you don't think like Belgium or Switzerland or some of these countries like to me when I look at it like it seems like some of these countries. There's fewer tournaments now um like why like why is that? do you think.

01:00:18.74

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:00:23.32

klahro

Yeah I ought to think it's um, as we said how how did you call it. They like a cycles or a lifetime um cycle and um in some regions or our countries Kubas already.

01:00:29.88

Eric

We get over.

01:00:40.74

klahro

Um, yeah, like in a little limit and the the whole or the first wave is over now and if there's not the new generation. Um growing the sport again or keep going so.

01:00:46.74

Eric

To a.

01:00:58.91

klahro

Falling down. Um I can't remember in in rostog in Germany it's it's called that it came from Sweden over with a ferry to rostog and then to most of Europe and.

01:01:13.53

Eric

Are who.

01:01:17.15

klahro

There was like ah the first wave of Kube in the beginning of 4003 for something like that. What was not my time I started to play in 2012 and after that I think it was also a little bit down. And now it's growing again because of these associations of the more clubs and everything. Um I don't know why exactly? but it's growing again in Europe and I think this this.

01:01:50.62

Eric

1 of them.

01:01:54.69

klahro

Structured way and this um United way to build it now is helping but it's helping in the in the sport way not in the overall way that everybody is playing and knowing what is called.

01:02:11.37

Eric

Um, right.

01:02:12.92

klahro

But for the competitive and for the tournaments. It's really good I'm not sure if that is the way for a long term um to grow the sport but at the moment it feels good to grow the tournaments have. Better quality. Better. Um, how to say work together between the countries. Yeah.

01:02:37.37

Eric

Um, right right? 1 thing that we're we're blown away with here. Is you guys have like almost 200 people signed up for the singles tournament at the european championship like that's all that's amazing.

01:02:50.56

klahro

Um, yeah in in in all in I think in one or two hours

01:02:57.62

Eric

Um, that is crazy that is awesome. So do do you think? do you think and I hope it's okay if I ask you a question but or 2 I guess now. But for some people have signed up and let's just be honest.

01:03:00.54

klahro

Yeah, so.

01:03:09.73

klahro

Yep.

01:03:16.80

Eric

They're not like the best coup player but they still want to play in that singles tournament. What is are they just they just want to be a part of that party right.

01:03:23.68

klahro

Yeah, so you you go anyway because you play in the and the team tournament. So of course you want don't want to sit around the day before and why not trying to.

01:03:32.11

Eric

Um, yeah.

01:03:41.43

klahro

Play against the best um and also have these party you said that? um you want to learn you want to improve you want to um, take part in these big events and maybe challenging or facing the the last year's champion.

01:04:00.91

Eric

Um, yeah.

01:04:01.34

klahro

Or or even just get a um, a big lose against him and but learn something Maybe and yeah I don't know why it's so popular. But for me, it's the same I don't have a a fixed team I'm like.

01:04:07.89

Eric

Are who are.

01:04:21.30

klahro

But to say a freer m a free agent. Ah, and I usually just signing for the single tournament first and then looking who's else in and search for for a team. So.

01:04:21.65

Eric

Um, yeah for each end. Yep yep.

01:04:35.78

Eric

Um, okay, yeah yeah I I just that I I think one of the best things that has happened to Kube um in the past five or six years is that. Formation of the european coup championship and seeing the innovation and the you know the technology that they're using to to do things I I love it and it inspires me you know I I see those things and I'm like you know why can't we be doing something you know. More here. Um, even though I think you know I'll speak for our tournament and I think we do a really good job but at the same time It's always. It's always great to see what other people are doing and to add new things to to those events. So.

01:05:15.50

klahro

Yeah.

01:05:27.41

klahro

Yeah I think I think it's um, inspirational in both ways. So if I look at your tournament. It's always a great inspiration and if I now look at all your.

01:05:28.47

Eric

I think it's awesome and and going to Stockholm this year. That's awesome.

01:05:40.81

Eric

Are.

01:05:44.88

klahro

Activities around Koop it's yeah, such an inspiration to do more? Yeah, so that um, okay, let's.

01:05:53.83

Eric

Um I appreciate respect for my.

01:06:03.32

klahro

See I think we have a 1 hour at the clock. Um I have always some some fast term questions at the end. So um, so that the the term first of all.

01:06:12.72

Eric

Um, okay yeah.

01:06:19.54

klahro

Can you imagine to play this shoesh shot at the Us National of championships. Do you? You know what? the shoeshot is yes yeah.

01:06:24.68

Eric

No oh yeah, yeah, we actually used it at at a tournament here about five or six years ago for for 2 years but I don't see it coming to the us championship now.

01:06:37.57

klahro

Um, yeah, or in us in general some some tournaments.

01:06:43.51

Eric

Um, ah I can see a tournament doing it for fun just to be different and I think that'd be cool. You know, but um, yeah, that's just a Switzerland thing right? is that.

01:06:56.68

klahro

Ah, yeah, and I'm playing it ahoi beach cope also, but yeah, it's Switzerland typical. Um, okay.

01:07:03.60

Eric

Um, okay, okay, yep, yep.

01:07:07.14

Eric

Um I Love Swiss Cob by the way. So I'm not I'm not trying to be mean about the sure shot I Love Swiss coup but I just so yeah.

01:07:12.40

klahro

Yeah, it's great. They have a great community. Okay, so what do you think it's for you Better Coop on grass or at the beach or send dress.

01:07:28.38

Eric

Ah, dress dress.

01:07:31.80

klahro

Okay, what do you like more incasting coops or throwing on them hitting them.

01:07:38.69

Eric

Incasting.

01:07:39.92

klahro

By the way you have in the us national cup championships like 1 guy is incasting all rounds or whether you have the rotating system.

01:07:51.42

Eric

Um, you you can rotate but most people just do one by the Dallas the tournament that I do in Dallas north of here. It's six six people on a team and we require at least 2 people to throw. So.

01:08:01.49

klahro

Um.

01:08:05.94

klahro

Okay, so that's all that's all in the us that only one is usually in casting. Okay.

01:08:08.42

Eric

I Like that.

01:08:15.44

Eric

Um, yeah, yeah, most I think all all tournaments in the us except for maybe for 1 maybe 2 you you can just have 1 person in cast.

01:08:20.19

klahro

Okay, okay now I think in Europe it's like typical to have a rotating system that everybody has to incast some sometimes. Okay, you already said it but say again single player or team player. Yeah, yeah, yeah, one day we need. Okay, um.

01:08:46.92

Eric

Ah, team big teams I love big teams 3 4 5 6 Let's go let's go clause let's do this.

01:08:58.70

klahro

Toned with a sure shot but maybe with a golden throw like the last golden throw that you have only 1 throw at the king doesn't matter how much buttons you have left. There's is that a option.

01:09:15.50

Eric

Um, I not at the us championship but I would love but I would love to see that at a tournament here in America I think that would be fun just to try it for sure. Yeah.

01:09:16.12

klahro

Are.

01:09:24.58

klahro

Ah, okay, and in the in a tight game focus or trash talk.

01:09:32.92

Eric

Focus Focus focus.

01:09:37.20

klahro

And and if your opponent is having trash talk What? what does it? What does that make to you or or is is it you but is it in in the Us typical that somebody is doing a little bit.

01:09:49.44

Eric

Um, ah.

01:09:56.90

klahro

Twist talk or nervous tri talk or.

01:09:57.82

Eric

Um I I would say not not not really like I If you're playing for fun I Think there's a lot of trash talk at least it O claire like people are talking all the time.

01:10:10.70

klahro

Um.

01:10:12.19

Eric

But if you're playing in the league or you're playing you're playing competitively. There's there's very little if any sometimes the team if it's if it's on Sunday at the us championship that the teams aren't really talking to each other at all.

01:10:25.13

klahro

Um.

01:10:29.74

klahro

And if you and if you play in your own team. Um, how's the there. Yeah more focused talk or there's some fun and fun. Talk just talk to have the trust. The.

01:10:29.77

Eric

So.

01:10:43.72

Eric

Um, yeah for my team. Yeah from from my team I would say that's that's the 1 thing I love about big teams is because everybody needs something different and so like I'm kind of the captain of my team. So I know.

01:10:44.26

klahro

The vibe a little bit relaxed. Yeah.

01:11:01.53

Eric

1 of my players might need this and one of my other players might need might need that you know 1 might need a little bit of a joke or for me to make fun of myself and the other one I might have to say that'sricking go like let's do this, you know so that's the part I love about it is that you can't um.

01:11:08.24

klahro

Um.

01:11:18.47

Eric

My step dad gave me some great advice. 1 time he goes you can't parent each kid the same way right? and I fought that for both my daughters I'm like no I have to parent my youngest daughter just like I parented my older daughter nope it took me a long time but I realized it stopped the case and teammates are the same way. You can't be this.

01:11:23.85

klahro

Um.

01:11:30.76

klahro

Um, nope.

01:11:33.14

klahro

Yeah.

01:11:36.51

Eric

You can't be the same type of teammate to all your teammates because each teammate needs something different to perform at his or her top level. So so I would say it depends and that's why I love big teams because that's so much complexity into it. So that's that's I would say it depends on.

01:11:49.52

klahro

Um, yes.

01:11:53.56

Eric

Situation and what teammate um I'm interacting with.

01:11:57.80

klahro

Yeah, that's a ah big learning here. Thanks for this? Yeah um, beginning at the at the game 2 4 6 or 6 at the beginning. Yeah.

01:11:59.60

Eric

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:12:11.80

Eric

Um, ah, 2 4 6 yeah yeah I think we were the first one to do that. Actually I think we first one? yeah.

01:12:13.38

klahro

Also at the nationals. Yeah, oh okay, okay, great. Um dress code sporty or need stylish.

01:12:29.85

Eric

I'm going to say sporty I guess but I remember seeing it was in New Zealand or Australia I think we did it a new Kube H magazine and it was this tournament and everybody was all dressed up and like ties and everything and I thought it would be fun to have a coup party.

01:12:39.44

klahro

Um, yes, yeah, it's in New Zealand yeah Yeah um bare food or shoes.

01:12:45.96

Eric

But you had to dress kind of formal new Zealand Yeah I was like I would like that that would be fun. So yeah.

01:12:58.40

Eric

Um I I love barefoot but I but I have to wear shoes. Yeah.

01:13:03.66

klahro

I can remember that you played like a little bit soccer outfit right? and in in goldland.

01:13:12.51

Eric

I I had well not not me a couple of the teammates did so Eric and Cole. Yep, they had their their shoes on their spikes. So that's that's kind of their their team here in America that's that's what they wear. So.

01:13:19.60

klahro

Um, ah sorry yeah.

01:13:26.56

klahro

Um, yeah, okay yeah, um, during the play beer or water.

01:13:30.80

Eric

But yeah.

01:13:38.24

Eric

Um, ah it used to be beer but now I'm if I'm playing competitive. It's it's water and um, quite honestly I'm seeing more teams here in olaire drinking water with.

01:13:52.64

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:13:52.68

Eric

When they play and then they'll have a beer after so it's kind of changed a little bit so for me right now. It's it's water if I'm in my backyard at a party then it's a beer. So yeah.

01:14:01.85

klahro

Of course and how is it at the nationals.

01:14:07.82

Eric

Um, but it's kind of by. There's a lot of beer. A lot of beer. Um, but if you're a top team I would guess the vast majority of the top teams aren't aren't drinking anymore on on.

01:14:13.22

klahro

Um.

01:14:24.73

Eric

You know what happened here quick story for you right? So back in the early twenty ten s um, it goes it was more party right? and everything and then a young team high school team. They were like 16 17 years old kubsicles and actually won the us championship again this year

01:14:28.70

klahro

Um, is it.

01:14:40.34

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:14:44.28

Eric

But ah on on Saturday night. They would go home. They would eat you know pizza and they would go to sleep and drink gatorade. They're all athletes in high school and so they get to Sunday and they'd be pretty fresh. You know they'd be hydrated and we. A lot of the other teams were hurting from the night before and I think what happened is a lot of people and it wasn't like they were it was intentional that they weren't going out on party. They just were too young to go out and party and I think some people realized man if if we want to you know, be competitive. We can't show up in the morning. Ah.

01:15:21.60

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:15:21.22

Eric

You know with a hangover dehydrated or not be in your prime form so that kind of started changing it a little bit and then over time as people get more competitive. Um, they're they're not drinking as much when they when they play so but.

01:15:37.37

klahro

yeah yeah I can imagine if you have the the night between your games. Um, it's hard and how is it for the server bracket. They they play their finals at the Saturday right? Yeah and and how is it there.

01:15:43.90

Eric

Um, who yeah.

01:15:48.13

Eric

Um, yeah Saturday night. Yep yep, ah those those teams are probably drinking at least a little bit come that time and and and bronze bracket. sometimes sometimes it's

01:15:58.78

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:16:06.58

Eric

Sometimes those games are very long because they're in a tough tough spot. But um, so Silver bracket is kind of a once they get towards the end I would say it's kind of a mix because like we have a nice trophy to give out for the Silver bracket.

01:16:18.67

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:16:24.38

Eric

And a lot of those teams that are playing for the silver bracket they wanted to play on Sunday um, they're really good teams and then you know if you're if you're a local team and a team you're playing against is from out of town. It's you kind of some pride you don't want to lose either. So it's.

01:16:29.24

klahro

Um.

01:16:41.42

Eric

So it's kind of a mix. So.

01:16:42.89

klahro

Yeah, okay, so 1 or 2 last questions. Um, when when you now reflect on your on your coop history or your kuop story. Um, what topic did you not covered. And cobiette.

01:17:02.91

Eric

Um, like for just in general for for today.

01:17:04.29

klahro

Um, yeah, yeah, do you think there's some blind spot in.

01:17:11.50

Eric

Um, that's a good question. Um I I don't think so I you know I organized championship I played I got a silver medal in Sweden I got a world championships i. Organize a lot tournaments I've done these videos. You know these these help these tips videos for people have tips I I kind of work with a few people behind the scenes to you know, help them out just with stuff in regards to stuff to read and books and stuff to think about and tips and stuff and.

01:17:43.91

klahro

That.

01:17:49.83

Eric

Magazine. So if there's something else. Um I'll be very interested in seeing what it is but right now I'm kind of I think that might be everything so I don't know.

01:18:02.14

klahro

Yeah, okay, um, and when you see now the this your own history of Kube um, what or who impressed you the most.

01:18:16.74

Eric

Um, um, as a player. One of my first this is why perfection is possible but it's yoakkem I could live right? So um, unbelievable those those videos of when you know those videos are really old now. But.

01:18:25.49

klahro

Are.

01:18:33.35

Eric

You know, seeing that and then watching him in person when I went to 2011 I was like wow it's possible like perfection is possible and I just love the fact that he's still out there playing and grinding. Um, that's that's an inspiration for sure. Um.

01:18:46.25

klahro

That.

01:18:50.22

Eric

Locally Greg you know he was just there at the world championships this past year and I and I and I honestly think he's he's he's he's the best player in America just seeing what he does I find that very inspirational and I know both of them have put in a ton of time ton of practice. Both.

01:19:06.94

klahro

Um.

01:19:08.46

Eric

You know, physically and and mentally so those are 2 people that I really look at as being like just top mobile and I'm sure there's others but those are just 2 that I I've seen um and then as yeah.

01:19:17.86

klahro

Of course. Yeah, yeah, big and big shout to your ki um, last year he played that the the european co championships and also very good again. He was a second.

01:19:24.52

Eric

Um, yeah.

01:19:33.33

Eric

Um, who do.

01:19:34.87

klahro

At the at the single and also in the final with the with the team and after the after the Saturday main event it was I think after midnight and it was like a party and but we had.

01:19:51.28

Eric

Um, yeah.

01:19:54.80

klahro

To build ah rebuild the arena right? after the final was over and he just hey how can I have you and he just put everything down and it was so great. He was really nice.

01:19:59.57

Eric

Um, right? Oh yeah yeah, yeah and I and i. And I remember emailing him long time ago and I just asked him some questions you know and and he was so nice to get back to me and um I just I've we played him in 2014 we played team mc to be in our group play and on set. Yeah Saturday's the second day at the world's right? Yes, we play on that and. Just awesome to play against him. It was just so much fun. Um I haven I got a coup mentor at Sorein and I just I just can't say enough by him I was able to meet him again this past summer we were in in Sweden just randomly just by chance and.

01:20:32.40

klahro

That.

01:20:37.65

klahro

Are.

01:20:50.25

Eric

Him and I back in day would talk a lot about strategy and theory and um yeah I Just I think he's just a bright mind in the game and I was so happy when he won a world championship and he's just just a great person to talk to. So um.

01:21:09.22

Eric

Yeah, those are some of those those individuals there and then I get but quite honestly like I get inspired by organizations and events outside of Kube like I see people putting on amazing events and stuff and I'm like man like that's awesome and we have a big ski race north of here. It's part of the world boatpit.

01:21:18.90

klahro

Um.

01:21:27.24

Eric

Challenge thing and my kids you know would do the youth one once and i'dkeed it up a few times and I skied in at once and just observing that and seeing that and building that culture. Um I get inspired by people really trying to build culture and.

01:21:28.45

klahro

Um, is it.

01:21:44.62

Eric

To add add to culture and do do something special and so I look at those types of things that it's awesome and last but at least I'm not just saying this because I'm talking to you but people that really step outside the box and try to do new things with Coo like I love it and that's why I I ask you to.

01:21:45.77

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:22:02.64

Eric

More in english because I want to know what's going on and and and it's just like I really admire what you're doing I admire what this guy named Bob out in the northeast here is doing and promoting tournaments and try and get out there doing these types of things and it's just.

01:22:04.56

klahro

Ah.

01:22:19.75

Eric

Kub is so amazing and so beautiful and and it's not a mainstream sport I mean there's crazier sports out there that red bull puts in tons of money and and we we don't have that and it's just people do it for the love of the game and I just I admire that and quite honestly what you're doing.

01:22:23.82

klahro

Um, it.

01:22:26.91

klahro

Of course. Yeah.

01:22:38.65

Eric

It inspires me to keep good. Keep going it puts gas in my tank um gets me more fired up to to do to do more. So.

01:22:45.56

klahro

Yeah, yeah, I really appreciate it and thank you for motivating me doing the podcast in english because if nobody would say it to a why are you don't do it in english probably i. I would stuck in the in the german cup culture. So thank you for that. They are more coming. Yeah and 1 last question the you you um.

01:23:09.74

Eric

Um, yep, yep to love it I Love it.

01:23:23.60

klahro

Say you get the city of olaire to the coup. How how you do you say the main capital of Cobe in North America yeah and I I read that you had something like a little pitch about it.

01:23:32.65

Eric

Um, yeah, yeah, oh yeah.

01:23:40.39

Eric

Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:23:42.50

klahro

And you only you only wanted to have the for the Us. But the who was the city representative said no why? Why? only the us really we name it for north america do you have these. Pitch is there wasn't there a presentation or was it just a torque or ah, can we see this pitch.

01:24:05.70

Eric

Um, yeah, so I this is what happened and I this is why it's what what has happened in oclaire has taken a lot of work I'm not I'm not. We've we've been going to school since 2008 we've been doing outreach. We've been doing a ton of stuff. But. You know our town is about eighty sixty Thousand people 60000 people if we were a real small town. It wouldn't be it. But if we're in a big town. We get lost. This has been just a perfect story and I went to the city manager 2000 and.

01:24:27.68

klahro

Um.

01:24:42.81

Eric

13 was it I think Eleven two thousand and Eleven and I asked him his name was Mike Mike Huggins at the time and I said Mike and the fact that he the fact that he would let me come talk to him blew me away because where I'm from I wouldn't have been able to do that right? and he's like yeah come on in.

01:24:53.48

klahro

Um.

01:24:59.29

Eric

So I said hey Mike I got a thing for it like I'd love to be the koop capital of the us because you know like like all these cities are the capital of this capital of that. There's all these same you know jump rope capital I don't know all these things and he looks at me and he goes no I'm like oh man, he goes. How about how about the Kub Capital of North America that you have got to be kidding me, you have got to be kidding me. He goes I would love to do that and so um I went to the city council meeting and they had the you know the official sheet of paper that said you know.

01:25:36.97

Eric

Claire this donclaire that and now we proc we proclaim that oclaires the Kub capital of North America and a couple of the city council members. You know, asked me some questions about the game and this is early this is like twelve years ago and um.

01:25:38.84

klahro

Are.

01:25:53.52

Eric

I answer them and they talked about teams coming and I think I had a couple like some some information of how many teams come from other places to come here and stuff and they passed it unanimously everybody voted in favor of it and we walked out of there with that sheet of paper that said we were the. Coop capital of North America so that's crazy. It's crazy sometimes all you have do is just ask right? I don't know so.

01:26:12.97

klahro

Nice, nice. Yeah yeah, really good advice. Really good advice. So okay I have so much we could do. Ah, speak hours and hours. Um, but why not have ah maybe a second part one day and so first ah now thank you thank you thank you very much um it's really nice. Um.

01:26:36.50

Eric

Um, yeah, let's do it.

01:26:49.39

klahro

Yeah to speak with you to write with you all the time you is such an inspiring person in the Kuop community. And yeah, thank you for being in the heavy Coop podcast. Um, when I when I start now more international.

01:27:00.65

Eric

I appreciate it. Thanks for the invite.

01:27:09.33

klahro

Um, cool podcast who would you nominate to be 1 1 guest here.

01:27:17.18

Eric

Right? Um I I would I would like to have somebody from blue orange on on there I think that would be fun. Um, maybe you ask yo? Okay anyway, mate you Joquien Maybe I don't know but somebody on there from Blue orange.

01:27:26.67

klahro

Um, yeah.

01:27:34.81

Eric

Um I um.

01:27:36.22

klahro

Yeah, that's ah, that's um, not how to say it's yeah, really manageable because they also organizers of the next European group championships and so.

01:27:49.63

Eric

Um, yeah, yeah I think yeah I think that would be that would be a lot of fun I would I would love to to hear that I would I'd love to I.

01:27:53.66

klahro

Yeah, that would be a good fits here.

01:28:05.59

Eric

A fan I would I would love to hear somebody from and I don't know if you do this in Germany or not but I know like in Belgium and Switzerland they have the season like the season rankings. Um I'd love to get on from somebody from one of those countries to learn more about how they do that I think that's awesome I think I would love to have us do something like that.

01:28:13.37

klahro

Um, yes.

01:28:25.10

Eric

We used to do something like that here, but it's just too tough because we're such a big country. Um, but I would love to learn a little bit more about about that as well. So.

01:28:35.96

klahro

Yeah, great I will try my best. Um, so that we have ah next great episodes here. Okay yeah.

01:28:44.72

Eric

They can't they can't say no to happy cob. They can't say no to happy Kub.

01:28:51.61

klahro

And they're nominated by you. So.

01:28:55.50

Eric

Um, yeah, right.

01:28:58.50

klahro

Okay, Eric thank you very much. Um I hope we see someday at the cup tournament see you soon bye.

01:29:01.72

Eric

Thank you so much.

01:29:10.21

Eric

Um, absolutely absolutely Absolutely Thank you Bye bye.