ESPI VI: Presented by FUZE®

The Tournament in Hindsight...

2011-06-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

Well the weekend has come to its end.
On behalf Philly Bike Polo, thanks to everyone involved with the East Side Polo Invitational 6, Presented by FUZE!!!!!!

After 6 months of planning, a two day Regional Qualifying Tournament changed the polo minds across the nation, and the world, about the city of Philadelphia! I'm very proud of the success of this tournament and the players that were here and all of the people that made this possible!
The games were exciting, the weather pretty much cooperated all weekend, the facility, Rizzo Rink, was perfect, the locals hosting teams were amazing, the sponsors were well received and so much appreciated!!! A total of 136 games were played over both Saturday and Sunday!

Congratulations are owed to THE BEAVER BOYS II MEN for taking home the championship cup! Now on their way back to Milwaukee, I'm sure Eric Kremin, Brian Dillman, and Joe Burge are reliving different details of the game and discussing a way to take the next one home...which I believe for them is the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships this coming August. After Saturday you were sitting in 8th place, Sunday you played well and made it all the way through UNDEFEATED!!!
Congrats guys! Enjoy the glory!

So I want to post the results, with a caution that the number to the right of the team name is the goals scored throughout the day, but teams, even though tied, may not have played the same amount of games...so when you view the results it does not assign a rank based on goals scored, I just thought you might want to see your total.

Qualified for NAHBPC:

Champions: BEAVER BOYS II MEN -24

2nd: Guinea Pigeons - 18
3rd: Silent Majority - 26
4th: Coco Kiwi - 18
5th: Boston Cremes - 16
5th: Slaughter House Polo - 23
7th: Shut Up Dude - 11
7th: Nice Guys - 15

Qualified for the Wild Card Tournament leading up to NAHBPC:
9th: Toronto Raptures - 17
9th: Illa-Noise - 17
9th: Cycle Killers 18
9th: Fur Trappers 8

And these are the remaining 12 placements:
13th: The Coven - 7
13th: The Leper Colony - 6
13th: Smoking Babes Smoking Weed - 14
13th: DC Shattered Glass - 11
17th: Banned from the Children's Museum - 5
17th: Philthy Couriers - 6
17th: Empathic Silicone - 3
17th: Bad Boy Things - 6
17th: Total Chaos - 5
17th: God Dammit Bruce - 3
17th: Shit Squad - 4
DFL: Team Butt Stuff - 2

female MVP: Maija [custom mvp trash bag with stuff inside]
male MVP: Nick Kruse aka Rookie Nick....[won a Joust as well as the mvp pack and stuff inside]
I also feel bad that I didn't mention this, forgot/didn't see it on my pad of paper...but White Industries gave each mvp a 21 tooth freewheel.

The sponsors for this tournament were amazing! Thank you all once again! The prizes, and everything else your donations made possible, were very well received and appreciated!!!! In the end we had a total of 31 sponsors that donated!!!! The boards were covered with your logos and you deserved every single bit of that exposure! thank you!!!

There are always so many people to thank as an organizer. First I have to thank the Philly Bike Polo club for putting up with my 'meetings', questions, harassment, and general stressy attitude. Next I have to thank the volunteers from Saturday and Sunday. You all came out of the woodwork and did what needed to be done to keep things going and to lighten my load. Tournaments will always need volunteers and we can't have them without you. Way to be there. And the players! Thank you all for coming. Some of you came from a great distance...ahem Sydney and Copenhagen...and some of you just came in for the days...but either way it was amazing to see all of you again and to have you in Philly to share this tournament with. The caliber of play that hardcourt bike polo is at now is astounding and you all played it out on our fabulous courts with dignity and with respect. There was not a single major or even minor injury this weekend beyond scrapes and a few small cuts. Such a great thing to be able to say after the fact.
I have to just say a few names off the bat. You know why I'm saying thanks to you....you did a lot for me and for this tournament...Steve Breese, Marco, Baby Joey, Chuck, Cris GT, Lauren, Goast, Paul R., Steve Starwars, Santana, Brendan mchugh, Ian, Jess, Brooke, Emily, Brian, Tara, Scotty, Mark, Mabry, Dan, Eric Ransom, Ben Schultz, Jake, Ryan Sauls, Zach and Jake, and Kevin Dillard...I know I'm probably forgetting someone significant...THANK YOU ALL!

Since it took 5 years for it to come back to Philadelphia, I can safely say that I look forward to attending all the other cities hosting tournaments in the next coming years!!!!!

Weekend Schedule

2011-06-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

Schedule for the East Side Polo Invitational 6, Presented by FUZE, in Philadelphia, PA:

Friday, June 10
-Court board/wood loading 9am-11am at Marco's house [1226 S.27th Street]
-Court assembly 11am-2/3pm at Rizzo Rink [100 Washington Ave, at Front Street]
-Pick-up noon-8pm at Rizzo
-Polo-cat Race, presented by WeSC, registration at 6pm at Bob n Barbaras [1509 South Street, home of the $3 pbr and jim beam special]
-Polo-cat finish 8pm at Rizzo
-Group ride to Registration party at 9pm at Tattooed Mom's [530 South Street]. We are on the main street level, there is also the art show going on upstairs [Yet to be Named Art Show]
-Party goes until 2am or whenever you want to head out

Saturday, June 11
AM
-Organizers and early birds arrive to set up 7-8am
-Official welcoming at 9am
-Swiss rounds, AM bracket, begin immediately following
-Finish AM bracket no later than 2pm, hoping for 1pm
PM
-PM bracket teams arrive at 1pm
-Following completion of the AM bracket, PM bracket official welcoming, estimated 1-2pm
-Swiss rounds, PM bracket, begin immediately following
-Completion of PM brackets estimated to be from 5-6pm

Saturday night:
There are no official plans for this evening. This is a large group and I'm more than positive that we can communicate amongst each other and find things to do that will suit everyone, should they feel like going out or doing anything.

Sunday, June 12
The top 12 teams from both brackets will advance to the double ellmination play on this day, making it 24 teams in total
-Organizers and early birds arrive at 7-8am to set up
-All teams arrive at the courts at 9am
-Announcements if any
-Begin double elimination rounds immediately following
-Around noon-1pm we will take a lunch break
-Continuation of play after lunch
-Estimated finishing time no later than 7pm
-Awards Ceremony
-pack it up

Sunday Evening:
For anyone still here for Sunday and want to go out, celebrate, have fun, be in some air conditioning, there is a karaoke night at Bob n Barbaras, start of the polo-cat. There's other things to do...again it's up to you.

NOTES
Housing- I have sent out emails to all those that have requested housing connecting you with your host. If they do not reply to an email please send them a text and let them know when you're coming. They'll help you find your way to their houses, but not everyone drives or will be off work when you arrive. Please work this out for yourselves. Worst case scenario you come to the courts and we deal with it then.

Parking- There is lots of parking around the facility. There is parking at the front, closest to Washington Ave, as well as to the south of the courts under the same freeway, I-95, that we'll be playing under, as well as street parking, although we encourage lot usage as we're trying to keep the neighbors on our side. Thanks.

Transportation from the Airport- Depending on the time you arrive in Philly depends on how good the cabbie rates are, but since it's friday expect it will cost at least $25. Off the meter flat rate to south philly is $28, be wary. You can reserve a super shuttle online, www.supershuttle.com, and it's not that bad, but they do usually have many stops, it might take a bit more time to get to your destination. The best way into the city, without a ride of course, is on the SEPTA transit line. http://www.septa.org/index.html plan your trip to end at 30th Street Station and it's about a 40-55min train ride to just west of center city. It'll either cost $3 or $3.50 depending on when you get in. It leaves every half an hour. You will see signs in the airport when heading towards baggage claim. This brings you in close enough to put bikes together and ride, or get on the subway system, or cab it from there...

Registration Party- This is not mandatory, but I'd rather not have to lug more stuff to the courts the following day

If anyone is in a jam or really needs to contact me you can directly at 215 779 9293, please only do this if you are lost, confused, injured, or simply cannot deal with Philadelphia in any way. If it is something a normal adult should be able to figure out please do that first. [And I'm not trying to be mean, but I am still very busy. thx]
See you all today/Friday/Saturday!

Thank you
Chandel

AM/PM BRACKETS

2011-06-08T07:46:00.001-07:00

SATURDAY JUNE 11 WILL BE SPLIT INTO AM/PM BRACKETS!
THESE ARE THE TEAM NAMES AND THE BRACKETS!

AM
Guinea Pigeons
The Fur Trappers
Bad Boy Things
Boston Cremes
Empathic Silicone
God Damn It Bruce
Philthy Couriers
Shit Squad
Toronto Raptures
Total Chaos
Fingerbang
Immaculate Contraption
Polo Bears
Road Apples
The Lizzies
The Coven
Welcome to Planet Motherfucker
Team Butt Stuff

PM
Leave it to Beaver Boys II Men
Silent Majority
Shut Up Dude
Bipolar Bears
DC Shattered Glass Farm
Illah-noise
Nice Guys
Cycle Killers
Slaughterhouse Polo
Smoking Babes Smoking Weed
The Leper Colony
DeHart Park Polo
Banned From the Children's Museum
CoCo Kiwi
I drank DE water and turned out just fine
Maple Syrup Urinators
RVA TBD
Swoop the Dang Dang
The Lone Gunmen
Winter Hill Gang
I am emailing all of the team contacts this information as well.
if there is some reason I don't know already about what bracket you need to be in for a good reason then please have your team leader reply back to my email and we'll go from there.
This list is not official until the morning of, but will most likely stay this way.
schedule info to come.

OFFICIALLY FUZE® IS OUR TITLE SPONSOR!!!!

2011-05-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

In what seems to be a sport unlike any other in the "underground" or "renegade" or "evolving" sport categories, hardcourt bike polo is now at a point where corporate identities, such as FUZE®, are taking a more serious look at how to get involved before it's too late.

Like skateboarding in it's infancy, hardcourt bike polo gets it's fair share of raised eye brows and questionable looks. Lately though, the media, company adaptation/creation, and level of play have propelled the sport to the brink of the general populous' attention. So, the next step in this evolution is support and funding.

ESPI VI is proud to announce the help of FUZE® as our title sponsor!!!! The caliber of our event just increased because of their involvement! We will be able to provide all participants and spectators with refreshing drinks all day long, both days!!!! This is essential when considering the heat of summer and the active play everyone will be engaged in.

You can check out everything FUZE® here:
www.drinkfuze.com
http://www.facebook.com/FuzeBeverage
Follow twitter here: @FUZEBeverage

A special thanks to Jim at FUZE® for helping out with this and making it come true for Philly Bike Polo!!!

Vendor/Organizers area

2011-04-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

So far we have a demo planned in this space, a couple of clothing designers, reload bags, reanimator coffee, and [hopefully] a mechanics tent. We are also hoping to have A-Frame stands so we can keep the bikes hanging to prevent the chaos that crowds the ground at many a tournament.
Mornings will have coffee and some kind of breakfast stuff...for everyone to enjoy. Looking into hot food but we'll see. Lunch is on you, but we have arranged for a local food truck to stop by and hang out for both days. They pretty much have everything, and are affordable. See a forthcoming map with other nearby options...
Demon Cats Photography, www.demoncats.com, will be on site to take TEAM PHOTOS! after which they will be posted on their site to share...

www.demoncats.com

More to come for this area.

If you know someone/something that would be interested in showing, selling, or renting for any other reasonable purpose a space at our event, please let me know or have them email me directly at chandel.espi6@gmail.com

nets

2011-04-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

hey so we have this really awesome friend of friend to polo making us nets for ESPI!
here is a preview photo of one net, without the netting ironically.

I believe the sizes are the length of a bike and the height of the average top tube...angled corners...piping so as not to be a severe danger to the body should you plow into one while playing!

the date is getting closer! can't wait people!

Registration!!!

2011-04-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

REGISTRATION IS APRIL 12, 2011 AT 11PM EDT.

Teams may not submit registration prior to this date and time. If they do they will not be considered as registered.
Registration for ESPI 6 can be found following this link:
http://tinyurl.com/eastside-2011-register

Teams must COMPLETE the registration form in full to be considered entered. The team members may change between now and the tournament, so yes a placeholder name can be used, but this cannot change your in or out of region status as a team. Teams will have one week to make payment and be considered entered in the tournament. Should a team fail to pay on time they will be removed from registration and the next team on the waiting list will be notified. Waiting lists will be in and out of region based.
The fee for this tournament is $60 PER TEAM.

All registered teams can be found by following this link:
http://tinyurl.com/eastside-2011-teams
The top 36 teams in region and the top 12 teams out of region will be notified immediately.

Should the spots not fill up with regional teams, ANYONE can enter the tournament as a full team after APRIL 26th.

Good luck registering everyone!!!!

Sponsors!

2011-03-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

A tournament wouldn't be a proper tournament if we didn't have prizes to hand out to the winners, the losers, and some of you in between! Currently, potential sponsors are being contacted and confirmed. Once confirmed they will be listed here with websites/other info if applicable.

To all of the sponsors, Philadelphia Bike Polo, as well as all participants, are grateful for your generosity in helping make this the best tournament we can possibly throw! Great prizes means superb attendance by the best teams out there. Thank you for helping us draw the top players from around the continent in their desire to win what you've given us!

Also, if you know of a company that is up and coming, or would fit the bill for this tournament, please have them contact me via email at chandel.espi6@gmail.com for the sponsor proposal. No company is too small to get their name and brand out there! If you are a local company or have local distribution and would like information on our Vendor Application please contact me directly. We will have a limited number of tables/spaces available at the tournament for very affordable prices to promote companies, artists, and artisans getting their products out there.

This list is growing....

www.fixcraft.net


www.seagullbags.com

Neva Safe

www.squarebuilt.com

www.fyxation.com

www.lacarrera-cycles.com


www.laekhouse.com

www.whiteind.com

www.velocityusa.com

www.trashmessengerbags.com

www.spokepunchers.com

www.benscycle.net


www.reanimatorcoffee.com

www.awesomedudesprinting.com

www.bicyclerevolutions.com

www.profileracing.com

www.fabrichorse.com

www.stcagopoloworks.bigcartel.com

www.bananaboat.com

wesc.com

StuartLeon@verizon.net

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
We welcome any and all support for this tournament! Keep it coming!

Tournament Rules

2011-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

ESPI 6 will be honoring the usage of the official rules set by the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Organization. A full set of the rules can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/3lehgmh

As a participant or volunteer it is your responsibility to know and understand the rules as they are currently structured. Please diligently read through the rules. If you have any questions or concerns you will be given opportunity to voice them at the start of the tournament, Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 9am.

Safety equipment is mandatory at this event. Helmets are required. All other personal safety gear is up to each individual participant, as long as it is in compliance with general safety protocol for everyone playing. It is required that your bike and mallet is safe as well. Bar-ends must be capped in some fashion, and mallet ends must also be capped/closed off. The mallet heads must also be in 'safe' condition for use. Each team will be inspected before being allowed to play. Make sure you're aware of the condition of your equipment before the tournament begins! This is already a slightly more dangerous sport than others, let's all do our part to keep it as safe as it can be!

Thank you!

Poster

2011-03-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

Presenting the artwork for ESPI 6!
A huge thank you to Alexis Mabry for doing the drawing for the poster! She is such a talent! Go check out her website if you have some time and see what I'm talking about...
alexismabry.webs.com
A second thank you goes out to Adam Smith for helping me get it from a drawing into a graphic format. Couldn't have done it without him! Also an amazing local artist, check his stuff out here...
http://www.dearadamsmith.com/

Without further adieu...

Note* this poster does not have any sponsors listed as they are unconfirmed as of right now, they will be added as they are confirmed.

What is Hardcourt Bike Polo?

2011-03-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you out there that are finding the blog through friends, family, facebook, emails, etc and don't have a clue about hardcourt bike polo here is a very short lesson and video!

Basic rules:
There are 3 players to a team. Teams start at opposite ends of the court behind the goal line/touching the wall with their back wheels. The "joust" starts the game with the ball in the center of the court. Game is called out, two players rush for possession to start it all off. Goals are scored into nets if available or through cones/whatever you can use to make goal posts. Possession changes after each goal scored. Touching the ground with any part of the body is a "dab out" and takes the player out of play until the touch a designated spot, usually center court on the wall, with their mallet. Games go until 5 goals wins, or until time is called. These are the basics.

Check this video out for an example of some bike polo being played here in Philadelphia this winter!
A huge thank you to Zach Cooper, Fun Zach Films, for shooting this on a really cold night and putting this little diddy together.
Participants to ESPI VI! Please note this is the built-in hockey court we will be using in the tournament, consider this a preview to the surface and size. Also note there will be a separate post regarding the official rules for ESPI VI.

Philly Bike Polo Club Winter 2011 from Fun Zach Films on Vimeo.

Here is another one with more active playing and is a bit less 'introduction to polo' then the first! Enjoy!

Bike Polo from Fun Zach Films on Vimeo.

Check back for the poster later today!

Court Diagram

2011-03-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Rob Biddle in our club for this super professional diagram of how the courts will look from a birds-eye view.
Keep in mind that courts 2 and 3 are being built up Friday, June 10, 2011 sometime after 7pm. We will be looking for volunteers to help with this. The incentive is that pick-up can be played on Court 1 and when you're not playing you can be helping us screw the boards in place. =]

Rizzo Rink Official Location for ESPI

2011-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Rizzo Rink is our club's local spot to play every Wednesday evening from 7pm-10pm. A great facility for us, with a built in floor hockey rink outdoor but covered, amenities inside the rink facility and in the surrounding community, and central access in the city.

I am very excited to announce that they have agreed wholeheartedly to be the host location for ESPI 6 in conjunction with the Philly Bike Polo Club on June 11 and 12, 2011. The outdoor rink will be used as our court 1, with two additional courts built in the concrete playing areas to the south of that rink in the same facility grounds. This will give us three great courts, side-by-side, covered from the summer sun, with ample room to keep the participant belongings as well as organization station and product promotion booths in a conjoining area. The indoor rink is for ice-hockey and will not be used in our event, however we will have all access to the restrooms and warm-up areas inside the building for the entire tournament.
Here are some photos of the location:
Rizzo Rink from Front Street

This is a view of the Organization and Holding area to the left, and Court 1 to the right, from Front Street again

This is Court 2 and Court 3 from Front Street

Here is Court 1 from the corner [my apologies for this photo it's difficult to shoot the whole rink with my camera]. Court 1 is exactly 136' long and 60' wide, hockey-walled, with 5 entry points along the boards.

Court 2, we will be removing the pole that you can see to the right, this court will be built up to be 120' long and 52' wide.

Court 3 will also be 120' long and 52' wide, we will be using most of the concrete wall to the left as part of the court and constructing the boards on three sides of this surface. You can see a friend on my polo bike closer to Front Street, gives you an idea of the size of the courts in relativity to people.

We are really excited about this location as it provides us with an ideal space for the courts to be used and made!

A huge thank you goes out to Tony from Rizzo Rink for helping make this happen with our club. We are confident that all participants will feel these courts can provide a high caliber environment to play high grade bike polo, something that is the most important factor in any tournament.
Bring your A-games people, you will have Grade A courts to play on!

Court layout to come. Thanks!

Philly Bike Polo Welcomes the 6th Annual East Side Polo Invitational!

2011-03-08T11:51:00.000-08:00

This blog is here to provide a concise and easy way of finding all necessary information regarding the ESPI's for participants, organizers, sponsors, bicycle advocates, and anyone else curious about the event here in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is proud to be the host for ESPI 6!
The East Side Polo Invitational was previously hosted in Philadelphia back in 2006. We welcome the chance to show the Hardcourt Bike Polo community how Philadelphia has changed and how we as club have grown and improved.

Hosting the ESPI's this year also means hosting the regional qualifying tournament for the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Tour in the East Coast region. 48 teams in total will compete over 2 days in a 3-court environment to determine who from our region will advance to the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships, or NAHBPC, in Calgary, AB in August 2011. Of these 48 teams, 36 teams must have 2 or more players from within our region, the remaining 12 teams are composed of 2 or more players from outside our region. There will be a full roster at this event, meaning we will host 144 players total for this event.

What is our region? Currently the East Side Region consists of all clubs in New York City and Albany, Virginia, New Jersey, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The competition is fierce in our region, being that we have multiple teams with multiple Championships under their belts. This will be a tournament to be a part of, and the teams to beat exceptionally hard to do so.

Stay tuned for court information, photos, and layouts in the next day or two.