Some observations from the past months in the New York ultimate scene and my last weekends at Chowdafest in Rhode Island and Wildwood in New Jersey. The comparisons are to what I know from European ultimate.

The Ultimate scene

• More than one kind of “ultimate”: park games, pickup games, clubs.
• Much larger pickup scene, with all levels of play (casual park dabblers all the way to Nationals material) and different vibes (fun to committed).
• Players seem to feel more responsible for their own progress rather than externalizing responsibility to teams or coaches (small groups working out in the park).

The game

• More athletic.
• More physical.
• More hucks.
• Less handlers – one dump is enough.
• Less inside-out passes, less hammers and knives.
• Less passes to the break side in general.

Tournaments

• No breaks between games at tournaments.
• No real lunch.
• No after-game spirit circle.
• Teams leave tournaments early, not bothering to play the last consolation game.
• Field lines (or end zone lines) not required – just cones.
• More enthusiastic sidelines.

Different but same same

Despite all these differences, it’s still very recognizably the same sport:

• Same guiding spirit of the game.
• Same quirky bunch of people, notably modern-day hippies and CS nerds.
• Same gender dynamics (chauvinist points, guy defending a girl).
• Same apparel fashion style, same brands, same passion for bad-taste clothing.
• Same after-game games (street fighter, look up look down).
• Same quickness in deciding to settle a dispute with a game of roshambo.