Flying Circus Tour runs through April
February 17, 2017 by Steve Hill in Sponsored with 0 comments
Disclosure: Ultiworld Disc Golf was compensated for writing this article. Registration is now open for the Flying Circus Tour!
Known for having two of the biggest arms in the game, Simon Lizotte and Eagle McMahon pack enough distance firepower to fuel an RV. So it’s only natural, then, that the two Discmania stars are hitting the road in the company vehicle as part of this spring’s Flying Circus Tour.
The 12-event tour, which begins this weekend in Southern California, finds the pair traversing the country, giving clinics and demonstrations in between their tournament stops. Coordinated by Jan Bäss, the creator of the seminal Frisbee documentary The Invisible String, each stop will give attendees a chance to learn from the two young guns, then take part in various side games, including a radar gun booth, one-minute putting challenge, and distance competition.
And while Lizotte and McMahon are eager to get out and interact with fans, they also know the importance of remaining healthy for the long grind of the disc golf touring season. And with Lizotte having suffered a major knee injury during a similar clinic demonstration overseas last year, his experience is informing the philosophy the two will take into their tour.
“The focus is teach more and do less crazy stuff,” Lizotte said.
With that in mind, Lizotte and McMahon have changed the structure of this year’s Flying Circus. IN past seasons, Lizotte has taught a basic backhand distance clinic. Now, the pair will touch on all elements of the game — including forehands, upshots, and putting – to provide students with a more well-rounded experience.
“Just make it a little more for everyone,” Lizotte said. “We’re gonna give people all the information we have and try to give them tips that helped us, and just have fun on the little side games.”
They will still pull out a couple big drives for the showcase, they said, but with more of an emphasis on control than making jaws drop. Plus, with Lizotte and McMahon possess elite talent, those little side games can still be plenty impressive.
“If Eagle and I throw 90 to 95 percent drives, then I think it’s still pretty entertaining to watch,” Lizotte said. “For the speed gun, even if we don’t try we still throw faster than anyone else.”
Lizotte has entered seasoned veteran status when it comes to teaching clinics. For McMahon, though, this tour marks his first time giving advice on a large scale, and he said it might take him a couple events to find his groove.
“It’s gonna definitely take me awhile to kinda figure out that part of it, because the way I play and the kind of person I am, I’m not great talking in front of people at live times,” McMahon said. “It’s something that I’ll have to work on, for sure.”
Lizotte, though, had no worries about his younger counterpart’s teaching abilities.
“He’s a natural,” Lizotte said. “He knows what he’s doing.”
Even though it is the first time the two have teamed up for a clinic tour, their teaching philosophies are already on the same page. In separate interviews, both Lizotte and McMahon gave near identical answers when asked what they hope attendees will take from the event.
“A great experience, first off,” McMahon said. “But I also want them to take something from it. I want them to find that key little point that helps them get better, so hopefully down the line when they’re a successful disc golfer they’ll credit us for giving them that little boost.”
“If every person can at least have one little thing, whatever it is, that helps them,” Lizotte said, “then our mission is completed.”
Dates for the clinic, which costs $30 and includes a disc and instruction, are as follows:
- Sunday, February 19 – La Mirada Park, La Mirada, California
- Tuesday, February 21 – North Las Vegas Municipal Golf Course DiscGolfPark, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Thursday, March 9 – Mackenzie Park, Lubbock, Texas
- Saturday, March 11 – Disc Nation, Austin, Texas
- Sunday, March 12 – Roy G. Guerrero Park, Austin, Texas
- Saturday, March 25 – TBD, Houston, Texas
- Tuesday, March 28 – North Park, Haltom City, Texas
- Wednesday, April 5 – TBD, Oklahomoa City, Oklahoma
- Friday, April 7 – 7th Annual Vintage Open Flymart, Russellville, Arknasas
- Sunday, April 9 – Old Post Park, Russellville, Arkansas
- Thursday, April 20 – TBD, Springfield, Missouri
- Sunday, April 23 – Blue Valley Disc Golf Course, Kansas City, Missouri
To find exact times, and to register for the events, head to the Discmania Store.
