Monsoon Rally
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Olympians,
We just wrapped up our August event and are looking forward to September's!
Index:
Invite: Badminton IV
Just Finished: Volleyball IV
Honorable Mention: Bring Your Own Gear
What's Next?
Ongoing: Pickleball Tournaments
Invite: Badminton IV: Doubles II
Join us for a doubles badminton tournament on September 9th in Tuba City. We'll start at 6pm and see how much playing we can get in before nightfall. Bring some snacks or drinks for the potluck and meet at the east hospital neighborhood playground at the corner of Honovi Drive and Cypress Court Drive. Feel free to pick your partner ahead of time or show up and find one.
Just Finished: Volleyball IV: Team II
Monsoon storms swirled around Tuba on a hot August evening. Emerging from the thunder and lightning came two teams, with each athlete sorted by their time of arrival. Sam headed up the first team, and Erik the second. When asked if they had come up with their team names, they responded No and Not Yet respectively.
Team Not Yet won the coin flip and chose their side rather than to serve, hoping to take the downwind advantage. Sam walked back to serve first and get the ball volleying. Gus quickly realized that goat heads may get caught in the ball, so before every serve the ball had to be thoroughly inspected for removal of the burs. Sam scored an ace and Gus coined the team dance and Team No Chant on the spot. Not Yet soon had their chance to serve, and the game was rolling. Despite being captain, Erik had never played volleyball before. Felipe had played a bit, but Sarah Rose and him continually found each other misreading the other's moves, causing unique follies. At one point it appeared Sarah Rose was setting up Felipe to vault off her back for a flying spike. Gustave pulled off a long run of serves for Team No, giving them the advantage which held up for a 25-8 win in Game #1. Elena watched from the sidelines and cheered for her mom, Teresa of Team No, as she was held by whomever was rotating out of play from either team.
Lightning struck in Hopi and thunder boomed from Castle Rocks at the start of Game #2. Gus raised concerns, but Katrina reassured that it would pass, being a typical Tuba storm (aka storm that split around the town). Katrina had her first go at serving, but couldn't get the distance, even with the mulligan each server was allowed. Not Yet improved on their coordination and increasingly got more touches on the ball per serve. Teresa's skill carried the second round for Team No, as she nailed her serves and fiercely covered her corner of the court for returns. No matter if Team No couldn't keep tabs on their rotation and serving order. The second game fared a little better for Not Yet, but the end result was still a win for Team No 25-9.
After refueling on melon and continuing to ignore the storm, Game #3 instantly felt different. The wind had picked up and Erik's coin flip move started to pay dividends as Not Yet returned to their original side. Team No had to time their serves to land between gusts, while Not Yet just had to land theirs between Guses. Sarah Rose, Katrina, and Felipe were holding the line to keep it a close game at 11 all. Unlike the prior games, the teams managed a couple volleys where both teams returned the ball twice - a clear sign of improvement. Sam had a good run at serving, taking the lead for No to 16-12. But then Erik Cox arrived. He'd been in the match since the start, but at that minute something clicked in him. Standing behind the service line, he delivered ace after ace. Gus was blinded by the wind at the front of the net and Gustave tried to answer the serves from center court but was constantly fooled by the storm's aeolian english. Teresa, No's star returner, was rotated off at the moment. It seemed there was no end in sight for Erik's powerful serves, but No finally had enough and returned a ball successfully for a point. At 17-24, every serve was game point for Not Yet, but Gustave held on hope while serving. He managed four successes, but couldn't keep the perfect streak alive. Team Not Yet exited Game #3 feeling good about their momentum, and staying alive in this best of five games match with a 25-21 win.
With sunset imminent and rain switching from patchy to picking up, the weather played a hard hand going into the fourth game. Back upwind, Team No were having an easier time of it, but Not Yet was still showing they were refining their strategies. Unfortunately in Our Olympics, there's little time for refinement and the clock doesn't smile on those who don't prepare (which is all of us, every time). Dark clouds obscured the Sun and with rain ever increasing, it was time to call the match for weather. Team No stayed up in this shortened game, leading 10-3 and by default, taking home the gold 2.5 games to 1.
Team Not Yet won the coin flip and chose their side rather than to serve, hoping to take the downwind advantage. Sam walked back to serve first and get the ball volleying. Gus quickly realized that goat heads may get caught in the ball, so before every serve the ball had to be thoroughly inspected for removal of the burs. Sam scored an ace and Gus coined the team dance and Team No Chant on the spot. Not Yet soon had their chance to serve, and the game was rolling. Despite being captain, Erik had never played volleyball before. Felipe had played a bit, but Sarah Rose and him continually found each other misreading the other's moves, causing unique follies. At one point it appeared Sarah Rose was setting up Felipe to vault off her back for a flying spike. Gustave pulled off a long run of serves for Team No, giving them the advantage which held up for a 25-8 win in Game #1. Elena watched from the sidelines and cheered for her mom, Teresa of Team No, as she was held by whomever was rotating out of play from either team.
Lightning struck in Hopi and thunder boomed from Castle Rocks at the start of Game #2. Gus raised concerns, but Katrina reassured that it would pass, being a typical Tuba storm (aka storm that split around the town). Katrina had her first go at serving, but couldn't get the distance, even with the mulligan each server was allowed. Not Yet improved on their coordination and increasingly got more touches on the ball per serve. Teresa's skill carried the second round for Team No, as she nailed her serves and fiercely covered her corner of the court for returns. No matter if Team No couldn't keep tabs on their rotation and serving order. The second game fared a little better for Not Yet, but the end result was still a win for Team No 25-9.
After refueling on melon and continuing to ignore the storm, Game #3 instantly felt different. The wind had picked up and Erik's coin flip move started to pay dividends as Not Yet returned to their original side. Team No had to time their serves to land between gusts, while Not Yet just had to land theirs between Guses. Sarah Rose, Katrina, and Felipe were holding the line to keep it a close game at 11 all. Unlike the prior games, the teams managed a couple volleys where both teams returned the ball twice - a clear sign of improvement. Sam had a good run at serving, taking the lead for No to 16-12. But then Erik Cox arrived. He'd been in the match since the start, but at that minute something clicked in him. Standing behind the service line, he delivered ace after ace. Gus was blinded by the wind at the front of the net and Gustave tried to answer the serves from center court but was constantly fooled by the storm's aeolian english. Teresa, No's star returner, was rotated off at the moment. It seemed there was no end in sight for Erik's powerful serves, but No finally had enough and returned a ball successfully for a point. At 17-24, every serve was game point for Not Yet, but Gustave held on hope while serving. He managed four successes, but couldn't keep the perfect streak alive. Team Not Yet exited Game #3 feeling good about their momentum, and staying alive in this best of five games match with a 25-21 win.
With sunset imminent and rain switching from patchy to picking up, the weather played a hard hand going into the fourth game. Back upwind, Team No were having an easier time of it, but Not Yet was still showing they were refining their strategies. Unfortunately in Our Olympics, there's little time for refinement and the clock doesn't smile on those who don't prepare (which is all of us, every time). Dark clouds obscured the Sun and with rain ever increasing, it was time to call the match for weather. Team No stayed up in this shortened game, leading 10-3 and by default, taking home the gold 2.5 games to 1.
Honorable Mention: "Bring Your Own Gear" by Artski Sexauer
Artski: When I was about 19 I had my motorcycle in the shop for repairs at Bill's Cycle. I needed it back for a TT Scramble race in Black River Falls, Wisconsin that weekend. Bill from the shop called to say the bike was ready, but that he could just bring my 125cc Yamaha to the race for me, since he was also going. When I arrived the morning of the race, it turned out he had forgotten my Yamaha. To make up for it, he said I could use his 360cc Yamaha. I'd never ridden a bike with that big of an engine in my life before, and had no time to get used to it before the race. Off the starting line I sped off to the first corner, but that was the end of the hot streak. The big bike was tough for me to handle and I did not do well and scared myself a bit. The lesson here is to always be responsible for yourself and bring your own gear!
What's Next?
The best events are planned with friends. Reach out if you have an idea! Check out the full list of events we aim to hold competitions in.
Ongoing: Pickleball Singles and Doubles
The pickleball tournaments continue to continue. Tuba ought to have its own group stage!
See you at the next event!
-Gustave
Commissioner, Our Olympics
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