From 2009 in Wilmington, NC
Username: Lynn
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Joined: Wednesday, February 22, 2006Last here: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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Yes, we have 2 outdoor courts in Southern Pines, NC. They have just been given a re-birth by a local Scout for his Eagle project. They are short wall (15') and play great. Fenced so no chasing balls all day. We're putting together a fun day of outdoor racquetball this Saturday the 22nd from 10am to whenever (they're also lighted)and anyone is invited. Grilling (in NC barbeque is pulled pork) hot dogs and hamburgers and enjoying the beautiful Carolina weather this time of year. If you're interested go to tmtevents for all the details, map, and contact information. Let me know if you're playing so we can make plans for enough food. We'd love to have you!
I am completely new to Outdoor having only played about 3 times before playing the tournament in Vegas last weekend. I love the outdoor game though and would like to attend tournaments whenever I can. I know that many other indoor players are coming to Outdoor, and I think that's great, but here's my question. I am normally just a B player indoors, so I played in the C doubles division Outdoors for my first time. But there were many Elite players in the C division also. We were crushed in the first round by a couple of Elite players in our division. Now I don't mind getting beat, but I like to think that I am beaten fairly, and I want to be competitive. So the question is, if Elite players drop to C in Outdoors, where do the B and C players go to get a fair match? B and C players make up a huge amount of the people playing indoor, and if we are to get these people interested in the Outdoor game, how do we address this?
I've recently got into outdoor after 24 years playing indoor. I've got 2 outdoor courts where I live, so I have been getting some practice with the outdoor game, but have never played an actual event. I'm booked for Vegas and am looking for doubles partners. I won indoor National Doubles in the Mixed B division this year. I'm looking for partners in either Men's B or C, Mixed B, or 100+ doubles. Contact me at racqetball@gmail.com or call me at 910-628-8008 if you're looking for a partner.
The Racquetball Blog has posted that there is no USA Team being sent to the Pan Ams this year. That was very surprising to me, and I hope it's not a money issue, but what else could it be? How do you feel about this?
Following the US Open the WPRO will be in Wilmington, NC at the Wilmington Athletic Club, for a Tier 1 event on Nov. 6-8. Rock 'N' Racquetball at the Coast will be a top notch tournament. Tournament Director Charlie Hauser always does a great job with tournaments and he is pulling out all the stops on this one. His tournaments have been theme based for a few years now (since he came to the Aloha Open) and this tournament theme will be 60's rock. Tye dye shirts for the players, Lava lamps for awards, the BEST hospitality around with free beer and wine, and an awesome party Saturday night with Britishmania, one of the top Beatles tribute bands out there. Charlie always has a few surprises up his sleeve too, so you can expect this to be one of the best events you have ever attended. The club is beautiful, and the beaches are close by. The draw will be limited to 150, and 2 events, so if you can make it this way, sign up early. The link for the online entry is Rock N Racquetball
I have posted the draw for the ladies for this weekend. Click on LADIES PRO DRAW to view it. Time to make your predictions!!
There are many people on this forum that don't know anything about Bo Champagne. Those that do will understand why I am posting this. Bo was a great player in his time that suffered a terrible accident that left him walking with a cane. He's been a coach, a mentor, and a teacher for many, and is the ultimate hobo, still traveling the country and living the free life. He was a coach for John Ellis for years and also taught at the Rumble camp for juniors. He is one of the most interesting and intelligent people that I have ever met. He loves the sport and can tell endless stories about it and the old time players.
I had seen Bo at National tournaments for years but never met and talked to him until 5 years or so ago at National Singles. The man is a wealth of racquetball and life knowledge and stories, and we shared a lot of time discussing racquetball, life, and other things. I don't know of anyone I've ever enjoyed talking to more. After 2 years of not seeing Bo at any national tournament, he showed up at this year's National Singles. It was great to see him again and we were able to catch up some with the last 2 years.
The point of this post is to expose the ones of you that don't know him to let you in to his world in a limited way. A good friend of his created a web site for him and there's some great stuff there. I encourage you to take the time to visit it and browse the entire site. You may learn to think in a different way, that may help your game. At the least, you will be entertained by the stories.
Just click BO KNOWS RACQUETBALL for his site.
ENJOY!
I had seen Bo at National tournaments for years but never met and talked to him until 5 years or so ago at National Singles. The man is a wealth of racquetball and life knowledge and stories, and we shared a lot of time discussing racquetball, life, and other things. I don't know of anyone I've ever enjoyed talking to more. After 2 years of not seeing Bo at any national tournament, he showed up at this year's National Singles. It was great to see him again and we were able to catch up some with the last 2 years.
The point of this post is to expose the ones of you that don't know him to let you in to his world in a limited way. A good friend of his created a web site for him and there's some great stuff there. I encourage you to take the time to visit it and browse the entire site. You may learn to think in a different way, that may help your game. At the least, you will be entertained by the stories.
Just click BO KNOWS RACQUETBALL for his site.
ENJOY!
All the information for the upcoming Outback Steakhouse Blast It! Pro/Am in Fayetteville, NC on Sept. 14-16 is available by going to the NCRA WEB SITE. Online entry and a printable entry form can be accessed there. This is Tier 1 event and is the first of the season for the ladies. The Sports Center has a great exhibition court with stadium seating, which will make for great viewing on Racquetball Online.TV. All of the other 7 courts also have full balcony viewing and partial glass. We have a live DJ (as opposed to a dead one) doing the music and announcements from quarters on, that really adds to the excitement of the matches. This tournament always draws a great turnout in the amateur divisions too. And you just can't beat our Outback Steakhouse steak/chicken dinner grilled on site on Saturday night. So if you're anywhere close to NC (or even if you're not), this is a super event to start the season off with.
All my contact info is on the entry form if you have any questions. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the new faces on the tour bring their games up a notch and challenge the veterans. This is going to be a GREAT event!!
All my contact info is on the entry form if you have any questions. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the new faces on the tour bring their games up a notch and challenge the veterans. This is going to be a GREAT event!!
The crew from racquetballonline.tv think they have the network issues figured out at the club so make sure to tune in today at 12pm for the finals between Rhonda and Cheryl.
Lynn
Lynn
This is a great tournament being held in Wilmington, NC on October 20-22. The club is located only 15 minutes from the wide, clean beaches of NC. The club features 6 courts, with 2 being glass back wall with stadium seating. The tournament is run by a very experienced group of rball players. They have awesome hospitality, door prizes and always unique awards. The Men's Open has $1000 first place
prize money and the division pays through quarters. The club is beautiful, having gone through a 2.5 million dollar renovation 3 years ago.
This is one of my favorite events in NC and one I never miss. For information on the event, including entry form and online entry go to the
NCRA WEB SITE
Lynn
prize money and the division pays through quarters. The club is beautiful, having gone through a 2.5 million dollar renovation 3 years ago.
This is one of my favorite events in NC and one I never miss. For information on the event, including entry form and online entry go to the
NCRA WEB SITE
Lynn
Fayetteville Observer Online
by Dan Wiederer
Shannon Feaster wasn’t surprised to see Rhonda Rajsich persevering through the pain, ignoring her swelling right elbow as if it were nothing more than a tickle in her nose.
Feaster, the commissioner of the Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization, knows Rajsich’s personality is more Lucy Lawless than Lucy Arnaz. So to watch the 27-year-old Rajsich diving all over the floor to win the Great Balls of Fire Tournament in Miami last March was just par for the course.
“Her elbow had swollen to the point where it looked like two golf balls coming out of it,” Feaster said. “Yet there was no way she was going to forfeit.”
Instead Rajsich played on, iced her arm afterward, won two more matches over the next 28 hours, then flew back home to find out her elbow was broken.
Told by doctors her elbow had chipped and that she might need surgery that would end her season, Rajsich simply laughed then sneaked out of the hospital as nurses went to retrieve the plaster for her cast.
Pretty tough, right?
“Maybe the craziest thing about all that,” Feaster said, “is that she played in three more events in the next month and a half afterward.”
Rajisch won the final event in that span — the U.S. National Singles Championship — to help her secure the WPRO’s No. 1 ranking.
“That’s just Rhonda,” Feaster said. “She’ll play through bloody knuckles and cracked ribs and everything else. In most matches, she’s on the floor more than she’s vertical.”
This weekend Rajsich will bring her kamikaze act to Fayetteville, the headliner of a 23-player tournament as the WPRO opens its 2006-07 season with the Outback Steakhouse Blast It Tournament at The Sports Center on Cliffdale Road.
The event, which will also feature a free clinic Saturday and amateur tournaments at six other experience levels, features one of the WPRO’s more talented fields in recent memory.
Rajsich plans on bringing the ruckus to the party, showcasing the tenacity that has made her a warrior of sorts on tour.
Fittingly, her unofficial theme song is “Bodies” by Drowning Pool.
“The chorus of the song is, ‘Let the bodies hit the floor,’” Rajsich said. “I think that’s dead on. It’s just instinctive. If a ball is ever anywhere in my vicinity, I’m going to go get it.”
This shouldn’t come as a surprise for a girl who in high school used to pass time between classes with an unusual hobby.
“I would try to spit directly in the crack of every sidewalk square I walked over,” Rajsich said. “Just to see if I could. Any contest or challenge I can impose upon myself, I’ll do it. That becomes the ingredients of my motivation for everything I do.”
Rajsich’s next challenge is winning this weekend’s Blast It tournament. If seeding holds true, Sunday’s championship match will feature No. 1 Rajsich against 39-year-old Cheryl Gudinas in a title bout that would feature a contrast in styles.
Rajsich’s reckless nature may wow fans, but Gudinas credits her more measured and cerebral approach for helping to secure six national titles.
“I’ve played this sport for 25 years with relatively few issues or ailments,” Gudinas said. “I think that’s because I’ve worked on my mental game and fine-tuned my change of direction and efficiency of movement.”
Gudinas may not mimic Rajsich’s breakneck style, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t marvel at it.
“Rhonda will dive into the wall and hit the ball off the back wall and it’ll somehow make it to the front wall,” Gudinas said. “It’s a lot of spectacular, low-percentage shots that most people could never hope to pull off. But for whatever reason, she makes it work.
“It can be frustrating as her opponent because a lot of times her shots are so low percentage that there’s never a way to predict what she’s going to do.”
The biggest thing Rajsich is trying to do now, she admits, is take racquetball mainstream, a cause that tour events like this weekend’s stop through Fayetteville only help.
“I want to do for racquetball what Tony Hawk did for skateboarding,” Rajsich said. “I know people think racquetball is middle-aged executives playing on their lunch hour as they’re talking about the deals they’re trying to close. That’s not it. It’s nothing like you think. It’s fast, it’s exciting, it’s split-second decision making. That, to me, is invigorating.”
Staff writer Dan Wiederer can be reached at wiedererd@fayettevillenc.com or 486-3536.
ARTICLE LINK
by Dan Wiederer
Shannon Feaster wasn’t surprised to see Rhonda Rajsich persevering through the pain, ignoring her swelling right elbow as if it were nothing more than a tickle in her nose.
Feaster, the commissioner of the Women’s Professional Racquetball Organization, knows Rajsich’s personality is more Lucy Lawless than Lucy Arnaz. So to watch the 27-year-old Rajsich diving all over the floor to win the Great Balls of Fire Tournament in Miami last March was just par for the course.
“Her elbow had swollen to the point where it looked like two golf balls coming out of it,” Feaster said. “Yet there was no way she was going to forfeit.”
Instead Rajsich played on, iced her arm afterward, won two more matches over the next 28 hours, then flew back home to find out her elbow was broken.
Told by doctors her elbow had chipped and that she might need surgery that would end her season, Rajsich simply laughed then sneaked out of the hospital as nurses went to retrieve the plaster for her cast.
Pretty tough, right?
“Maybe the craziest thing about all that,” Feaster said, “is that she played in three more events in the next month and a half afterward.”
Rajisch won the final event in that span — the U.S. National Singles Championship — to help her secure the WPRO’s No. 1 ranking.
“That’s just Rhonda,” Feaster said. “She’ll play through bloody knuckles and cracked ribs and everything else. In most matches, she’s on the floor more than she’s vertical.”
This weekend Rajsich will bring her kamikaze act to Fayetteville, the headliner of a 23-player tournament as the WPRO opens its 2006-07 season with the Outback Steakhouse Blast It Tournament at The Sports Center on Cliffdale Road.
The event, which will also feature a free clinic Saturday and amateur tournaments at six other experience levels, features one of the WPRO’s more talented fields in recent memory.
Rajsich plans on bringing the ruckus to the party, showcasing the tenacity that has made her a warrior of sorts on tour.
Fittingly, her unofficial theme song is “Bodies” by Drowning Pool.
“The chorus of the song is, ‘Let the bodies hit the floor,’” Rajsich said. “I think that’s dead on. It’s just instinctive. If a ball is ever anywhere in my vicinity, I’m going to go get it.”
This shouldn’t come as a surprise for a girl who in high school used to pass time between classes with an unusual hobby.
“I would try to spit directly in the crack of every sidewalk square I walked over,” Rajsich said. “Just to see if I could. Any contest or challenge I can impose upon myself, I’ll do it. That becomes the ingredients of my motivation for everything I do.”
Rajsich’s next challenge is winning this weekend’s Blast It tournament. If seeding holds true, Sunday’s championship match will feature No. 1 Rajsich against 39-year-old Cheryl Gudinas in a title bout that would feature a contrast in styles.
Rajsich’s reckless nature may wow fans, but Gudinas credits her more measured and cerebral approach for helping to secure six national titles.
“I’ve played this sport for 25 years with relatively few issues or ailments,” Gudinas said. “I think that’s because I’ve worked on my mental game and fine-tuned my change of direction and efficiency of movement.”
Gudinas may not mimic Rajsich’s breakneck style, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t marvel at it.
“Rhonda will dive into the wall and hit the ball off the back wall and it’ll somehow make it to the front wall,” Gudinas said. “It’s a lot of spectacular, low-percentage shots that most people could never hope to pull off. But for whatever reason, she makes it work.
“It can be frustrating as her opponent because a lot of times her shots are so low percentage that there’s never a way to predict what she’s going to do.”
The biggest thing Rajsich is trying to do now, she admits, is take racquetball mainstream, a cause that tour events like this weekend’s stop through Fayetteville only help.
“I want to do for racquetball what Tony Hawk did for skateboarding,” Rajsich said. “I know people think racquetball is middle-aged executives playing on their lunch hour as they’re talking about the deals they’re trying to close. That’s not it. It’s nothing like you think. It’s fast, it’s exciting, it’s split-second decision making. That, to me, is invigorating.”
Staff writer Dan Wiederer can be reached at wiedererd@fayettevillenc.com or 486-3536.
ARTICLE LINK
We've got a great draw for the Outback Steakhouse Blast It! Pro-Am this coming weekend (Sept. 15-17) The women's Pro has 23 players entered, women's Open singles looks like a mini Pro draw with 16 entries, and there's 14 teams in the Pro Mixed doubles division. Our men's Open is also strong with 20 players entered there. Top men's seeds in the Open are (1) Dan Fowler, (2)Agustin Tristan, and (3)Jimmy Lowe. We have 147 players entered in the tournament. There's going to be a ton of great rball going on all weekend so if you are anywhere close to Fayetteville, NC you have to stop by and see this!
We have the women's Pro draw posted so you can check it out at OUTBACK BLAST IT PRO DRAW
Lynn
We have the women's Pro draw posted so you can check it out at OUTBACK BLAST IT PRO DRAW
Lynn
The deadline is quickly approaching for the Outback Blast It! Pro-Am being held at The Sports Center in Fayetteville, NC Sept. 15-17. The deadline for entries is Friday, Sept. 8. You can print out an entry form or access the links for the online entry and the tournament web site (for the list of players already entered) from the NCRA Web Site.
We already have 18 of the Pro women entered with a week still to go so it's looking like a great draw at this event. This is the first event of the 2006/2007 season and we plan to kick it off with a BANG! We have a Mixed Pro doubles division that already has 10 teams entered. The tournament will include a free clinic on Saturday afternoon given by the #1 women's player in the world, Rhonda Rajsich. We'll also have a DJ providing music for introductions and timeouts from the quarters on. This club has a great exhibition court with stadium seating so the viewing will be excellent. Outback Steakhouse provides an awesome steak/chicken dinner with all the fixins' on Saturday night that they grill on site. And there's free beer for all the players for the weekend too. So make your plans now to come and and see the best of the best take the court for some exciting rball!
We're also working on having live video streaming of the tournament so cross your fingers that it works out.
I'd also like to thank our sponsors for their contributions to making this WPRO event happen: Outback Steakhouse, Carl and Marcia Wallace, Steve Loehr, RL Stephens Electric Co., The Sports Center, Primo Pizza and Italian Restaurant, Sammio's Italian Restaurant, Healy Wholesale (Miller beer), Wilson Racquetball, Syntech Signs, Eric Nobles CFP, Andreas Winston, School Tools, Splathead, and Comfort Inn and Suites. Also all the event staff members who will work many hours that weekend: Mzz. Moffitt, Bush Hog, Spazz, Big Daddy, and the Fridge.
Lynn
We already have 18 of the Pro women entered with a week still to go so it's looking like a great draw at this event. This is the first event of the 2006/2007 season and we plan to kick it off with a BANG! We have a Mixed Pro doubles division that already has 10 teams entered. The tournament will include a free clinic on Saturday afternoon given by the #1 women's player in the world, Rhonda Rajsich. We'll also have a DJ providing music for introductions and timeouts from the quarters on. This club has a great exhibition court with stadium seating so the viewing will be excellent. Outback Steakhouse provides an awesome steak/chicken dinner with all the fixins' on Saturday night that they grill on site. And there's free beer for all the players for the weekend too. So make your plans now to come and and see the best of the best take the court for some exciting rball!
We're also working on having live video streaming of the tournament so cross your fingers that it works out.
I'd also like to thank our sponsors for their contributions to making this WPRO event happen: Outback Steakhouse, Carl and Marcia Wallace, Steve Loehr, RL Stephens Electric Co., The Sports Center, Primo Pizza and Italian Restaurant, Sammio's Italian Restaurant, Healy Wholesale (Miller beer), Wilson Racquetball, Syntech Signs, Eric Nobles CFP, Andreas Winston, School Tools, Splathead, and Comfort Inn and Suites. Also all the event staff members who will work many hours that weekend: Mzz. Moffitt, Bush Hog, Spazz, Big Daddy, and the Fridge.
Lynn
This is from the monthly newletter sent out to all state presidents (and others). I waited a few days to see if someone else would post it, but alas, no takers. If you know me, you know I feel the National orgs. should be more open with their members and others. To me, when you hide things you just create mis-trust. It also allows the rumor mills to thrive. That doesn't mean I think everything all the time should be made public. But I do believe in an open line of communication to all the members and rball enthusiasts. I thought that was going to happen with the introduction of the USAR rball forum on MNP. It worked for awhile, but I haven't seen anything recently on there coming from the head office. Maybe it's because of the staff cuts, and no one has time. I don't know. I would like to see someone appointed to the task though. Anyway, here's their statement. I agree it's not very detailed, but it's something.
Lynn
Player Suspension
USA Racquetball had been notified that Kane Waselenchuk tested positive for
two banned substances during the recent Canadian National Championships. As
a national sports governing body under the auspices of the USOC, USA
Racquetball abides by the rules and regulations of the USOC regarding drug
testing and penalties. The penalty set forth by the Canadian Center for
Ethics in Sport, and recognized by the USOC, is suspension from
participating in all USA Racquetball sanctioned events for two years.
Lynn
The results are in from the recent USAR Board of Directors elections. The winners were Lance Gilliam and Cheryl Kirk. Congratulations to them, and I hope this means we will see many new ideas and inititives coming from them in order to bring this great sport back to where it belongs.
No election numbers have been released yet, but as soon as they are, I will post them.
Thanks to all the people that cast their vote my way. I really appreciate your support.
Lynn
No election numbers have been released yet, but as soon as they are, I will post them.
Thanks to all the people that cast their vote my way. I really appreciate your support.
Lynn