blog

Chicks With Sticks (and new shirts)

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:07:22 +0100

(New shirt? You'll find out in a month or two)

What an experience the 2013 U.S. Midwest Kubb Championship was for Chicks with Sticks, and it wasn't all necessarily good. In all honestly, we had high hopes coming into the tournament. We had been practicing for weeks, individually, in groups and as a team. We thought we had a good strategy and felt fairly confident we had all of the areas covered from king toss to 8 meter to drilling to short game. One of our team members was not able to attend, so we went with a five-person team.

We started out the day on a high note playing King Kung (the Reallygoods folks). We were full of energy and played fairly well, losing after a long first game. Then King Kung had the first toss in the second game, hit two or three baselines, and we were done, 2-0. Our second and third matches of the day went fairly similar, though we did win one game against Skelekubbers.

The highlight of the day was playing Wolfpack. Joe, Nate and Doug are awesome, and we walked away with new friends -- at least Nate and Melissa are after we swapped a boot for a shoe.

Our afternoon play was even more inconsistent. We had several opportunities to win but would fall apart for one reason or another. In all, our king tosses were great - we won every single one, I believe - but then we couldn't hit an 8-meter shot, which was frustrating because we had all done fairly well in practice.

(Evan from the Goofy Kubbers said we "Finished 1st in Fun")

The Chicks are a much better team than we were last year at Nationals; now, we just have to prove it. We've got a lot of practice to do between now and July, and look forward to playing with our new sixth, Katie Scott, wife of Grant Scott (Team Knockerheads). If anything, our new shirts will give us the strength we need to be competitive come July 13th.

Kubb Sets to Afghanistan

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:58:40 +0100

To honor and to thank our Iowa servicemen and women and to spread the game of kubb, Des Moines Kubb members decided to donate and send two kubb sets to our troops who are currently serving overseas. We wanted to give our troops a chance to learn the game and hopefully, to provide them with a fun, new activity to do during some of their down time.

(The kick-off crew. Photo taken by DMK member Rose Field)

DMK members and their children painted the sets during our season kick-off April 21st. We thought the kids would have a lot of fun painting the sets, but I think the adults had more fun. From handprints to team names and colors to "DM Kubb," the sets have been painted and shipped to troops stationed in Afghanistan. Along with the sets, we included instructions, photos of our kids and club members painting the sets, and kubb drink koozies.

(Photo courtesy of Blind Photography)

(Kubb Kare Packages for our Servicemen and Women)

All of this would not be possible without JP's Backyard Games, MW Media Consultants, and Vibrant Pet Art. And thanks to DMK members Steve Feathers and Sandy Heidemann for helping offset the shipping costs. And thank you to Jaime Feathers for thinking of the idea of a Kick-off Celebration.

We hope to hear back from the troops and will share their thoughts about the game.

SKAL!!! Week 6 Results

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:07:06 +0100

fire the weather forecasters. Today was scheduled to be a 70% chance of thunderstorms and it turned out to be sunny, high 70's, and windy as heck. This made for some longer than normal games, and some less than tight groups in the field. A day where choosing side over throwing first came up in most games. We had great turnout with 7 players, and afterward our own Steve Feathers taught all the Girl Scouts who reserved the shelter near us how to play!

Week 5 Results:

1. Dobbie : 11
2. Grant: 10
3. Sandy: 9
4. Steve: 8
5. John: 7
6. Melissa: 6
7. Jaime: 7

Standings After Week 5:

1. Grant: 50
2. Doug: 44
3. Steve: 40
4. Dobbie: 29
5. Chris : 25
6. Jaime : 24
7. Melissa: 21
8. Mary : 16
9. Sandy: 15
10. Tony : 11
11. Johnny W. : 9
12. Dana : 7
12. John: 7
14. Ross : 6
15. Abbey : 5

Kubb in Des Moines turns 5

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:57:50 +0100

This past weekend we hosted a big party at my house. It’s the birthday party we host every year for my wife Becca, her brother Josh, and one of our oldest friends Doug (Doug couldn’t make it this year, but we still thought of it as the Triple Birthday Bash.) This annual party is the reason we found Kubb, as I was looking for something all of the guests could play in the back yard and stumbled across instructions for building a set and how to play. That was back in 2008, and while a lot of things have changed in the 5 years since it’s certain that our love of this game hasn’t.

Now, I’d had a few drinks, and as I tend to do once I tie one on, I got philosophical (and a little emotional) and thought about this game and what is so special about it that keeps us coming back for more.

The simple truth is that Kubb will give you whatever you want from it.

Do you want a pleasant afternoon, relaxing in the backyard with your family and playing a game with kid-friendly variants? Play with stacking or fudge the throwing lines for the kiddos - Kubb’s got you covered.

Prefer a raucous and rowdy, well-pickled crowd of a dozen (plus spectators) tossing insults as often as wood, laughing through triumphs and groaning over defeats? Kubb has that too!

Or you could slow it down, and play with one good friend and teammate, analyzing situations, discussing strategy, and deconstructing this deceptively complex machine. That’s Kubb for sure.

How about edge-of-your-seat intensity at multi-state tournaments, testing your nerves and your skill against some of the fiercest competitors in the country? No DOUBT Kubb has this for you!

Maybe you’re just looking for a great day in a park with a couple-hundred like-minded souls, sharing a passion for a unique game, making new friends and visiting old ones? Definitely this – always, always this.

I know I get a little “kubb-by-yah” sometimes, but I’m a true believer in “Kubb unites people and creates peace on Earth.” I know that this is what it can be, because time and time again I’ve seen that Kubb is whatever you want it to be.

I know this too – however you’re playing Kubb, you’re doing it the right way. Keep it up, and I’ll see you on the pitch!

SKAL!!! Week 5 Results

Tue, 14 May 2013 02:01:38 +0100

Not our best turnout (windy day on private property) but a fun day of Kubb nonetheless!

Week 5 Results:

1. Dobbie : 8
2. Doug : 7
3. Grant : 6
4. Chris : 5

Standings After Week 5:

1. Doug : 44
2. Grant : 40
3. Steve : 32
4. Chris : 25
5. Jaime : 19
6. Dobbie : 18
7. Mary : 16
8. Melissa : 15
9. Tony : 11
10. John : 9
11. Dana : 7
12. Sandy : 6
12. Ross : 6
14. Abbey : 5

SKAL!!! (Week 4 Results)

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:02:12 +0100

What a beautiful day to play some Kubb in the park! The nice weather brought out quite a few passers-by that were interested in learning about the game. We love sharing the game!

We're halfway through the season, and it's really starting to look like a three horse race with Doug, Grant, and Steve within 5 points of each other and a dozen points ahead of the pack...

Week 4 Results:

1. Grant : 10
2. Doug : 9
3. Chris : 8
4. Steve : 7
5. Mary : 6
6. Jaime : 5

Standings After Week 4:

1. Doug : 37
2. Grant : 34
3. Steve : 32
4. Chris : 20
5. Jaime : 19
6. Mary : 16
7. Melissa : 15
8. Tony : 11
9. Dobbie : 10
10. John : 9
11. Dana : 7
12. Sandy : 6
12. Ross : 6
14. Abbey : 5

SKAL!!! (Week 3 Results)

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:42:25 +0100

Beautiful day for some Kubb in the park - let's hope the weather holds for the season kick-off pot-luck tomorrow!

Week 3 Results:

1. Dobbie : 10
2. Steve : 9
3. Doug : 8
4. Jaime : 7
5. Melissa : 6
6. Mary : 5

Standings After Week 3:

1. Doug : 28
2. Steve : 25
3. Grant : 24
4. Melissa : 15
5. Jaime : 14
6. Chris : 12
7. Tony : 11
8. Dobbie : 10
8. Mary : 10
10. John : 9
11. Dana : 7
12. Sandy : 6
12. Ross : 6
14. Abbey : 5

SKAL!!! (Week 2 Results)

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:15:21 +0100

A very gusty day in the park didn't keep us from another successful week of SKAL! With 9 players we play the largest schedule allowed by rule (9 rounds), as if we hit 10 players we split into two schedules with a playoff. 9 twenty minute rounds is a three-hour play time, and it felt a little long towards the end! The wind was brutal, changing speed and direction without notice, and everybody struggled to string together 8m hits. All-in-all, an afternoon of Kubb in the park is nothing to complain about, and we are all looking forward to week three games on Saturday the 20th!

Week 2 Results:

1. Grant : 13
2. Chris : 12
3. Tony : 11
4. Doug : 10
5. John : 9
6. Steve : 8
7. Dana : 7
8. Sandy : 6
9. Mary : 5

*Special shout-out to Grant for going a perfect 8-0 today - no losses, no games called due to time. A SKAL first!

Standings After Week 2:

1. Grant : 24
2. Doug : 20
3. Steve : 16
4. Chris : 12
5. Tony : 11
6. John : 9
6. Melissa : 9
8. Dana : 7
8. Jaime : 7
10. Sandy : 6
10. Ross : 6
12. Mary : 5
12. Abbey : 5

Knotted up at 9 points apiece, will it be an uncomfortable week at the Walker household???

SKAL!!! (Week 1 Results)

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 03:11:09 +0100

The season kicked off at Tower park on a warm (if somewhat overcast and breezy) Spring day. Grant and Doug both entered the fourth round undefeated, giving up only a single base kubb apiece in the first three rounds. They continued a shootout for the rest of the afternoon, facing off in the 7th and final round with a half of a game separating them. In the end Grant showed why he carries the #1 tag, but we've got to hand it to Doug - he hasn't thrown a baton in months but he showed up and played some great games today! We also saw how important every throw in a Scrambler is, because Steve, Jaime, and Ross all finished with three game wins and margin of only TWO base kubbs across 7 games separated 4th place from 6th!

Great start to the season everybody - I look forward to seeing you all again next week!

Standings after week 1:

1. Grant : 11
2. Doug : 10
3. Melissa : 9
4. Steve: 8
5. Jaime : 7
6. Ross : 6
7. Abbey : 5

Des Moines Kubb Team Restructure Changes Finalized

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 02:31:48 +0100

After 2 long months of deliberation between team captains, and the Des Moines Kubb Board Members, the 2013 teams have been renamed and restructured to accomodate the changing landscape of Kubb Country, USA.

Here is a breakdown of the restructure:

Team Knockerheads will adopt the team name: The Wringers
The Beers will now be Wolfpact
Pitch Slap will play as Kubb Sickles
Los Padres will now be known as Sweden Suns
Head Slap will be Thad Kubbler
Chicks with Sticks is now Kingpen
Kubb'd will now be the Team Formerly Known as Kubb'd
Kubbacca will now be R2Kubb2, and R2 will rotate between King3PO, Obi-Wan Kubbnobi, and Count Dookubb
Team Madhouse will adopt the name: Kubbchuggs
4,5,6 Pick Up Sticks will be the Cast Spinner Kings

"We feel the team restructure will better represent the city of Des Moines as they travel and compete in all of this years' tournaments" said Dana Oredson, of the team formerly known as Kubb'd.

"I wasn't really excited about the changes at first" said Grant Scott of the new team The Wringers, "but I knew this would be best for the entire club."

"We are completely confident that our names represent the whole of Des Moines Kubb, and we are also sure that our name changes will not offend or rub other clubs the wrong way" said Tony Hansen, winner of the 2012 "nicest guy" in Iowa award.

"There were some hard decisions in the war-room during deliberation, and it took all the captains working about 50% to get through this in twice the time" said Melissa Walker, who in her role as club Vice President was allowed to use the DMK "Gavel" and yell "YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER!!!".

Look for our teams in the near future, coming to a tournament near you!