DragonLilli on the FS Scene
This past weekend Lilli FINALLY had her first competition freestyle event at Canis Major #1 in Plant City, FL on Saturday. Jason is the handler for the 5 part competition series – he and Lilli have been gelling really well and he handles pressure and crowds like a pro!
The first date for Canis Major #1 was sometime in September, but it was rained out. Then rained out again the next weekend. Followed by several weeks of finals and worlds freestyle competitions…finally we had a date…AND IT DIDN’T RAIN! It was also close enough to Halloween to make it an extra Spooktacular event with costumes and everything!
We had been working on the routine for over a month with a couple-week-long hiatus in the middle where we did nothing but free play and practicing vaults. Jason kept the routine simple, with staple moves we knew were solid and we added the noodle in the beginning for fun. (Noodle is Lilli’s latest trick – a backwards walking weave) It was a windy day but they all had a ton of time to throw and practice with the wind and our Hero Discs made it easier. Jason got several compliments on his great throws in the D/A round of the event.
The big lesson I learned…check the CD with the routine music. Make sure it plays. 
Of course, ours didn’t so that made for an interesting beginning to the routine and some extra time for Lilli and Jason to connect before starting. I don’t think anyone really got the coolness of the song we picked considering it sounded all crackly from us rigging the iphone to their equipment. After the music drama was over…Jason and Lilli rocked it. Here’s their vid.
Lilli and Jason took first place on Saturday. I am so proud of them, I can’t even express it all. Lilli has won everything she’s ever tried, the first time out. She’s amazing. If she wasn’t our first disc dog, she’d probably already be competing on a National and World level. I guess everyone starts out with an amazing crash dummy dog that they break while trying to figure out how this disc dogging thing works. It started with just wanting a dog to fetch and retrieve a frisbee…and look at her now. Proud Mama. 
Emily
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 at 1:05 pm
I loved it!! The first half of the fs especially was very crisp, it was awesome! The backwards leg weave was great, I dont know if I’ve ever seen that. Nice nice nice! Lilli is such a rockstar!! Jason you have some really nice long throws. The distance throwing is where I really struggle. I can do about 37 yards well, but too much further and I start to lose it. Guess I have something to work on this winter. Lol!
Great stuff, guys! Keep it coming!
Andrea
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 at 2:10 pm
Thanks Emily. As always, we appreciate your feedback.
Try using a heavier disc for distance throws. Hero Super Hero or Hero Super Sonic are what we use. Jaws discs work about the same. You’re really aiming for a max of 40.5 yards for D/A, so you’re not far off, unless you’re in a quadruped – then you need like 75.
Emily
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 at 2:28 pm
I competed in my first Quad in Colorado a couple months ago and it was Ugg-Lee. Lol! Lately we haven’t done too aweful in the D/A’s, but that’s less because of my throwing and more because she gets off the ground to catch and is usually pretty good at correcting my mistakes. We have a long road ahead of us though.
)
I have been having some trouble getting comfortable with the heavier discs. I’m in Minnesota and it’s been cold enough that I’ve had to play just with Jawz because everything else cracks. The heavier ones just don’t agree with me. Lol!
Anyways… You guys rocked! When are you going to get out there, Andrea??
Andrea
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 at 2:42 pm
Yah I have zero experience with snow + frisbees. I suspect you use the Jaws FrostBite? You’re just getting into winter too…must be cold up there.
Canis Major is 5 events long and to compete for the “big prize at the end” the same handler has to work the dog…so I won’t be in competition with her until probably January – or whenever the next FS event comes up.
There is a 3 part D/A starting this Saturday locally but no FS…I’m a little bummed.
Emily
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 at 2:50 pm
Lol! You’re in Florida, right?? Yeah, so probably no snow there.. Lol! Lucky! I used the FrostBites last year and I REALLY like them because they are a good weight, but Frankie barely touches them and she’s got tooth holes poked through them in no time. She’s got a really hard bite so she goes through anything thats not a Jawz the first time she uses them. I have to do a lot of sanding. Lol!
Your blog is fun for me. It’s almost like we get to watch your dogs grow up, so even though I don’t know them, it’s so much fun to watch them grow and succeed!! I love it! Maybe we’ll run into each other sometime next season!!! I just want to squeeze all of your dogs, especially Leila! (Who has Aussie fever?? Lol!)
Em
Jason
Tuesday, 27th October 2009 at 8:28 pm
Thanks for the compliments Emily AND ANDREA
It was a ton of fun to play with Lilli
and Andrea was great all day.
Now that we have our awkward first out of the way, hopefully I can step up my game and let Lilli shine on the field. And I need to find a way to share Lilli with Andrea in competition
I think Kai is coming along and could be in contention very soon.
Ron Watson
Friday, 30th October 2009 at 6:46 pm
Nice job guys!
Love the Kai Attack.
Sure were crowding that line, J.
Give that line some space…
Peace,
Ron
Jason
Monday, 9th November 2009 at 10:34 am
Those are wise words my friend – thank you.