Ciutat de Valencia Tournament for juniors

Once again, Team Levante had the great ida fo organizing the Ciutat de Valencia tournament for juniors. This time we had 10 players with ages between 4 and 13 years, and coming from Valencia, Castellón (Juan Pendón Jr.) and ALicante (Luis Luna, from San Juan de Alicante Cub).

The format was quite simple: 3 qualification games and the top 3 advanced to the stepladder. The scores were pretty good considering players' age. Juan Pendónn Jr leaded the tournament and Aurora and Luis bowled the first game. Luis was playing his first tournament, and Aurora her first final round.

He was a little bit out of timing and nervous so he couldn't offer his best. She was solid and found herself more relaxed as the game advanced. Her game is powerful. Without hook but with lot of speed (more even that some adults) and we can observe in her the basis of a good swing. Despite it, she was nervous as well.

They tied scratch (112), but her female's handicap (10 pins) made her advance to the final. This last game looked interesting. Juan had won all the previous editions, but Aurora was, for that, motivated. Actually she thought se had no chance against him (older, stronger, and his style is better). so she tried to have fun and give her best. And she did.

Up to the 4th frame they were tied. Both made the same mistakes, but Juan, probably thinking in her handicap, got anxious. She, more relaxed, was able to put trike strikes in a row, a big gap he couldn't cut. Unfortunately, we coulnd't watch the best Juan yesterday.

The score was 150 for Aurora (11 years old) and 114 for Juan. It was a very nice tournament and the younger players had, for the first time for some of them, the chance of tasting the bittersweet feeling of competition. Congratulations to all the participants

Under-23 and Senior Spanish Championship

I have just read in the Spanish Bowling Federation's web site the official circular for the Under-23 and Senior Spanish Championship.

The event will be held in the Tres Aguas bowling center, in Madrid, on January 31th and February the first. I don't want to be so much critic but there is one thing that I have said so many times. Actually, it's not a blog-protest, because no one is forced to read what I write. But I told it to Federation's officials in the past.

Can't this people understand that an Under-23 tournament in January-February is a foolish? Hey there, students have their official examsn, both at high school and college exactly in this dates. It's not that difficult understandint that. And specially when the best prize are for those who are prepairing for College or in their first year.

Moreover, tournament's format ins quite exciting... two 4-games squads for the youngers and two six-games squads for Juveniles, Under-23 and Seniors

And reagarding the prizes... he he, here it comes the better.

5- Trophies

To the first 2 players after qualification in each category.

Senior winner could attend the XVII European Señor Bowling Championships (ESBC), to be held in Prague, and the Spanish Federation will pay the entry fee.

The first male and the first female player in the Juveniles and/or Under-23 categories will be awarded with their presence in the 22end. EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPONSHIPS 2009, to be held in Malmoe (Sweden) in april, or, lacking that, they will participate in a Open Bowling Tournament to determine.

Regarding the Senior event, if "entry fee" still means entrey fee it means that the Federation will not pay for flight, hotel and so on, so it's not a very interesting offer. The tournament field is "open" , but actually it's just open up to 750 players. In the official web site you can find the list of the previous editions participants.

By the way, when you read that 11 Spanish players bowled last year in Nantes.. well, I think that we all know what it means. We don't want more conflict.

But the worse part is, for sure, the next one. Can anybody explain me the meaning of this sentence:
" The first male and the first female player in the Juveniles and/or Under-23 categories will be awarded with their presence in the 22end. EUROPEAN YOUTH CHAMPONSHIPS 2009, to be held in Malmoe (Sweden) in april, or, lacking that, they will participate in a Open Bowling Tournament to determine".

No ironies. I am confused. Did that mean that both the winners of Juveniles (17 and 18 years old) and Under-23 (19-23) will go to the European Champsionship? Just one of them? The Spanish Federation should be so careful about it.

If you go to the European Youth Championship web site it takes 5 seconds finding the rules that say:
6.2 Age limitations6.2.1 Players must not reach the age of 19 years in the season in which the championships takes place. With season is meant 1 September until 31 August the following year.

I guess that the concept "not reach the age of 19" is clear enough even if you don't speak so much English.

So, may the Federation means that (if Catalonia is not attending the event) the best player in the tournament (both male and female) with an age between 17 and 19 (so bowling in different categories) will be the winner and will go to Malmoe? Is it? No other bowler could go, because 16 years old and under players just bowl 8 games, so...

How do you understand it? Anyway, I think that the Circular, once again, is not clear enough

Perhaps it's better we don't talk about the fact that, anyway, the will send only one male and one female to a 10-days-long Championship where doubles and teams events are played.


I still don't know what do you think about it but this Circular let me a bitter taste. It could be a good thing that young bowlers had the chance of attending and European event, but proceeding in this way..

Problems are on the horizon

Steamroller Gomez

Tremendous Jesús Gómez. He had a decent start on Monday. It was great on Tuesday but yesterday he was the first to crack the 1400-bar... and the 1450 .. and the 1460-bar...

His fantastic 1463 (scratch) puts him on the first position, followed by Manuel Martínez Lloria (1349) and Javier "Pink Power" Rosado (1300)

Tremendo Jesús Gómez. No empezó mal el lunes en el X Torneo Ciudad de Valencia. Se salió el martes (1349) y rompió todos los récords el miércoles: 1463 palos scratch!!!


The scores can be checked here.

More information in the tournament's blog

And in youtube, some videos, of the first days of competition

X Torneo Ciudad de Valencia

Our friend superyo has just let a comment on our last post informing us that he has open a special blog for the coverage on the X Torneo Ciudad de Valencia, that started yesterday in Cosmic Bowling,

The blog is this one.

The tournament rules are here

And the firsr scores are here.

We will arrive to Valencia later this week, but it's really great having first-hand info from the very beggining. Thank you so much for your effort, we well know that it' snot easy at all.

By the moment, the leader is Javier Rosado, the only one who scored over 1200 (1242).

Good luck to everyone and let's see how the scores work this week.

It hurts

Yesterday, Reno (Nevada, EEUU) hosted the tv finals of the PBA National Stadium Champinship, the first tournament in all the PBA history with a multiple oil pattern. Including the finals, where two different oil patters were held, on in each lane. On the right one, the Cheetha (26 feet long). On the left one, the Shark (44).

Five bowlers played on the steapladder: Bill O'Neill (on his best season enver), Patrick Allen, Chris Barnes, Wes Mallott and Walter Ray Williams Jt.

The full coverage is not yet online, but I can tell you something already: Patrick Allen bowled agains Walter Ray for the title. It was a closed game. If Walter puts a double on the last frame, he wins. If he puts a strike and 9 spare, it's a tie.

Of course he did a strike in the first one. He had a chance on the second, was ready on the approach and... it's better you to watch it for yourself.

Just pay attention from the 7,34 minute and so on.

Ballmaster's finals

It seems that, even if my keyboard hasn't accents and the connection is not as good as it should be, I can post some news regarding the finals.

The 10 first games are over and theRound of 16 is underway. Actually only 3 games are still unresolved.

The young Dutch lady Nicole Sanderes defeated qulification leaders, Swedish Tobias Karlsson.

Kimmo Lethonen defeated Israel's Or Aviram and Dom Barrett did the same with Australia's Jason Belmonte, who couldn't (literally) put more hook on the ball, throwing his Stom over the letf gutter to board 5.

Finnish Osku Palermaa won his match agains Mads Sandbaekken and Dennis Eklund, after losing his first two games, defetated Jussu Turtianien by just on fin in the final frame.

Right now, Jari Ratia and Jouni Helminen and Robert Andersson and Pasi Uotila, fight agains each other for one place in the Round of 8.

By the way, only Sanders and Barret are not Scandinavians so we should cheer stronger for them

UPDATE

14 hours later (more mor less) Internet is back. We missed the Round of 8 and the semifinals, but this public computer is .... Anyway, Dom Barret and Pasi Uotila are bowling for the victory.

By one side, the young Finnish with two Ballmasters in his career and lokking forward to be the third player in history with 3 victories. In the other Dom Barrett, who want to become the third non-Scandinavian ever who wins in Tali.

We are, of course, supporting Barret, who is bowling unbeliavable well. He defeated Belmonte, Palermaa and a "dirty" Lethonen on the semifinals.

FINAL UPDATE

Great. We must recongnize that Pasi's performance has been amazing great. He nedeed 3 strikes in a row in the last frame after missing a easy 6-10 spare in the 9th. Barret had the chance to shoot him but couldn't put a double so all the eyers were on Pasi.

He was alone, needing 3 strikes for his third Ballmaster. All this big bowling center where only the voice of 200 passionate Finnish did break the silence after strikes.

He shoot the first one. Strike. He was calm.

Como vemos, salvo Sanders y Barrett son todo suecos y finlandeses asi que tendremos que animar a estos dos a ver si vuelve a ganar el torneo, por segunda vez en la historia, un jugador/a no escandinavo!

Second. Strike, not even a face's muscle moved.

The third one, Strike, Victory, one more Ballmaster and the only movement, the only human act was putting up his arms. He is not human, but what a tournament for him. And what achivement. Ole.

Next time...

Well, those of you who had been watching the official web site already know that this time we didn't have a great Desperado.

Pacorro had 198 and I had 188 (not sure). But for one second (another) I thought that.... I started with a four bagger but then left a 4-7-10 and channel-9. Just to be sure that I won't had aby chances in the last frames. Well, actually I had one, but a solid 9 killed it.

Well, shit happens, but the big one was Paco's 154, this old story for our dear commentator (on the Spanish blog). The only thing I regreat is not having a video. We were so many lanes far one from the other, but this +116 in three games playing over the left gutter was impressive.

Having 1285 when only 55 players, out of 382, had 1300 or better is not bad at all.

My best score as 1150, but even it sucks, I was in 216th position. The oil patter was difficult. On my last entry I had no way of having a clean game. Well, actually I started each of the last 4 games with two open frames.

I didn't bowl good. I picked up so may spares, pero left too many open frames. I had to bowl inside, but my release was not good at all. I can't play as inside as others do.

My timing and tempo was Better that in Qatar, but I had so many problems with my hook, It may sounds stupid, but it's true. Last Saturday I bowled in Diversia (Madrid) and, with dry lanes, I had +70 with 160 in my last game.

Two adys ago I bowled my league and the score was +114 in 4 games. But when I come to a place with real pins where it's not enought a poor relase for having a 30-boards hook, I suck. A lot. I developed my game for having a "weak" release, and when I am forced to bowl deep inside with oil on the lanes, I can't repeat my shoots.


I do some good games, sometimes, but after that, 4 bad frames follow. And whe you need 1300, three bad frames and a 170 is a game over. Actually, it's a tricky issue for me and I thonk about it quite often. The are two mail options: more practice and more gammes bowling deep inside and just bowl using the 5th arrow at home or, what i am doing currently: poor release, less revs and more lenght. Less power, but more pins.

It's true that both things are compatible, but it's more useful for a house pattern having less revs and second-hand bowling balls. I don't know, I guess I should work harder. I do better on dry lanes, pero when I need real power, like over here, I have 1150 and thank you.

Patience is the key. We need working harder. There is an abyss between the professionals that are leading this tournament and the European Tour, but this abyss was of only 100 pins in Doha and of 150 here in Helsinki. Just 100 pins in six games against the best players in Europe is not that much, is it?

Some fun things fur finnishing:

- Oli Pakonen, the lane-man in Tali, was the first out of the finals.

- Kimmo Lethonen, the one who choose the patterns, finished second with 1405

- Mikko Pietila, having a 300 and a 265 on the last two games.. didn't make the finals! Unbeliavable but true, 1294 for hi

- There were 382 players and almost 100 bowled the Desesperado

- The official hotel was 32 euros far from the Bowling center

- Food in Tali is quite good

- Amedeo Spada, Italian, was +140 in four games but scored 117 in the last one and won't bowl tomorrow.

- This Finnish guy in my pair spared the 7-10 soooo slowly

- Pirrita Kantola needed a strong finish for going ahead. Ended with 5 strikes but let 3 pins on the last ball and missed the cut by one pin

- I beat PBA's Robert Spigner by 2 pins :P

- I find a way for not having pain in my fingers, but I won't tell you about it

- Nina Flack won't bowl tomorrow. She was close, but couldn't do it.

- Pacorro has his record os entries in a Tournament: only 2!!

- The cut over here was only 1311. In Madrid, en el Circuito de la AECB, was 1346 and the had three 300 games.

- The spelled properly our names. Always.

- They use 2 Authority-22 for dressing the 36 lanes

- The cheaper bowling ball in the pro shop's offers was 190 euros

The final will start at 08.00, but we won't be there at this time. The only problem is that wireless conection is not working in the Bowling Center and the public laptop is not working properly so, perhaps we won't post till night.


We want to thank all the support message we got these days and I apologyze to our critics. Next time we'll do better. Because there will be a next time. So many times. We will bowl abroad as many times as possible.

Later this month Juan Pablo Alonso and Cirilo Álvarez will join Pacorro in Dublin (Ireland). And in our schedule we have marked Barcelona, Poland, Paris, IStambul, San Marino, Vienna etc. The year is so long.

If anybody wann join us you know where to find us. Even for just telling the same old story

News from Finland

Pablo is bowling right now, so he can't post, but he has sent my anyway a text message providing us with some info about the last squad of our only two braves.

Pacorro, after three games, is with +120 and leading the squad. He called me early today and said that he had some pain in his arm so he on the hotel waiting for bowling the last squad.

And, by the moment, it seems it was a good idea.

Pablo, that has bowled the previous squas as well, is not doing bad, but it's only with -10 after three games. It's not enough but keep alive.

We will update as soon as we get more info.

UPDATING

Actually a fuc.. updating. Pacorro had a horrible 154 in his 4th game, and that means that he is "only" +70.

Pablo 182, so -28.

C'mon guys, you can do it!

UPDATING (2)

I am so sorry Pablo but we are going to focus in Pacorro, ok? After this horrible 154 he had a nice 222, so he is +92 and the cut will be around 1315. That means he needs a 220. Or even better, 230. C'mon!!!

UPDATING (3)
No this time. The last game was 195 so they both will try to make the finals in Desesperado. And Pacorro knows a lot about it.

C'mon Pacquito, you can do it!!

Just for a moment I thought that...

Illusions are ephemeral. In my experience here in Finland they stayed for practice time, two games an one frame.

In our first squad here at the Ballmaster Open we had a good start. I have a pretty good reaction and a solid 224 on the first game, with one split.


The second one was one my typical games: 8 strikes for a 186, including a 3 bagger, 7-1 and 3 bagger for ending the game. With one strike instead the split it was a 223. But the third game was the last one: 140.

At the very beginning my reaction, with an Ultrazone playing inside, was good. I had lenght and a very strong reaction on the back end. But, slowly, the lanes got dry and everything become difficult. It was an oil pattern so close to the one we had two years ago over here. You must play inside (and deep inside), but also you need to move quicly and a lot. It seems that the ball reaction is predictable, pero as the games go on everything changes.

That's the reason that only two bowlers cracked the 1400 barrer and that the cut will be around 1310 or so. I had 1040, but without dramas. I had +10 on the second game and -50 after the third. But on the next games, without fighting and even looking for the good line and trying all my equipment, it was hard.

Pacorro started with 188 and 197, but a bad third game killed the squad for him. He has a very good reaction for strike, pero it means throwing the ball over the left gutter through the fifth/sixth arrow. And splits are knocking at his door often.

We will bowl again tomorrow night. The plan is ready, but is not easy. I had a Kinetic sanded to Abralon 500 after noticing the pattern ratios, but there is a lot of hook on the lanes. I will polish it a lot tomorrow for having some weapons on my arsenal, because the Ultrazone and the Rapid Fire could not be enough.

Our impressions of the bowling center are the same it used to be.

You can find the scores here.

Oddly, there only two non-scandinavian bowlers (Barret and Belmoente) on the top-16. Well, perhaps it's not so weird, because only two non-Scandinavian has won this tournament on the past. Do you know who were they?

When you have such a big bowling center it's quite difficult following the squads. Today, Sandbaekken had 299 "close" to my pair and I almopst couldn't watch it. So trying to watch what's going on at the other side of the center is not possible.


By the way, one curiosity that we haven't told you yet. In this tournament, the director like reading the scores, game by game, using the public-adress system. It'r a little bit odd the first time you are going to bowl and this Finnish voice keeps talking loudly in two languages. But that's the way it is.

Tomorrow evening we'll try to improve our scores and 16.00 and 20.00, and Pacorro will do the finals through Desesperado. But, anyway, all luck is welcomed.

Snow?

We are already in Helsinki, stop.

Do you call snow to that you have in Madrid? Stop

Some of you should watch what I can see from window, Stop.

We start bowling at six, stop.

Things to do on Sunday... even if it is Monday

Everybody know that the most important thing in bowling is not about knocking down pins or winning. It's al about rascarla (putting revs). That is Tommy Jones's vital philosophy, but he is a very lucky guy as well and, from time to time, wins some games.

How does he put revs on the ball? This way...




Too fast for noticing it? It doesn't matter, here we have this other.



Do es it seem easy? Well, we have tried it, but our outcome it's... different



For finishing, and becuse we are leaving for Finland later this week, un "cold match" that Zurdita has sent to us. Take a look to Osku's soft loft on the right lanes and how they both are forced to adjust in each lane.
Osku Palermaa vs Petteri Salonen I



Osku Palermaa vs Petteri Salonen II



Thank you so much to Juan Pablo, "professional youtuber" and have a nice day.

Happy New Year!!

There is no way that I can translate what follows.

Just have a happy and good New Year all over the world.

Los Rascadores

A los que la giran y a los que no. A los que rebujean, a los que la estrujan, a los que enrosquillan y a los que la estrellan. A los que la empujan, a los que la abandonan, a los que abren, a los que cruzan, a los bola pobres, a los gamamedias, a los cracks y a los que hacen crack.

A los que me ganan, a los que no. A los que saben, a los que quieren saber, a los que entrenan y a los que pasan. A los finlandeses ya los bolas lentas. A los que lo viven y a los que no. A los que nos leen y a los que no saben leer. A los que comentan y a los que no (pero con reservas). A los que critican, a los demasiado perezosos para hacerlo.

A los que juegan y a los que lo intentan. A los que progresan y a los que no. A los que nos dieron clase y a los que la recibieron. A los que citamos en las crónicas y a los que no (sorry). A los que atacamos y a aquéllos de los que nos defendemos. A los que organizan y a los que la lían. A los que juntan promedio y equipo y a los que sacan listas con retraso.

A los que repiten formatos y a los que innovan. A los que se rinden y a los que perseveran. A los que rematan y a los que fallan, a los que ligan plenos y a los que no ligan ni pagando. A los que triunfan y a los que fracasan, a los que tienen ritmo y a los que parecen patos.

A los que la rascan, y a los que no. A los diestros y (mal que me pese) a los zurdos. A todos ellos...


FELIZ Y PRÓSPERO 2009!

Merry Christmas!!

We know that the season has "just" begun. There are many tournaments, many practice and a hark work to come. But today we can have some rest and relax, and there is not a better way that... dancing!!

Los Rascadores wishes you all a Merry Christmas.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Spanish League venue

You can already find on the Spanish Federation website the venue for the third stage of the Spanish League

The stage is due to be on February 7th and 8th

Do you may miss any place? It must be by a sheer chance....

Para los que no hemos jugado nunca en la PBA (je) hacernos a la idea de cómo es cruzar un país tan inmenso como Estados Unidos semana tras semana, sal

Those who, like myself, haven't played on the PBA ever (he he), it's not easy just to imagine who can be an average day, crossing this amazing big country tournament after tournament. For quiet a long time, before the Internet era, so may rumors and face stories about the PBA where in our bowlers minds. Rumor that passed out from one generation to the next.

The Tour has changed a lot in the last few years, but still arouse so much interest worldwide. On the European Tour events, local bowlers, Asian, American, Europeans... everybody use the internet conection and the free time between squads for checking the weekly results of the Tour.

A well known bowler in Spain, Missi Bellinder, posted in her PBA blog an interesting text about an average week on the tour. She is currently bowling the female tour and working for the PBA and tv making some interviews and posting, so she know what she is talking about.

Take a look and enjoy.

The weirdest tournament ever

One sometimes think that have seen everything in bowling. Fortunately, reality is always richer than fiction and from time to time stories like the next one come to us.

What's the bigger prize you have ever seen in bowling? In Spain it could be around 4.000 euros or so for the Florentino. Or even close to 10.000 if we consider the European Tour events at Barcelona.

In Qatar in 2008 the prize was 30.000 euros, and 50.000 $ last year. On the PBA, some years ago, you could earn around 200.000$ for winning the bigger Major. All that is not bad, for sue, but... what about a tournament where the winner can get some properties valued at 850.000$? Or 350.000 $ if you prefer cash...

It sounds weird, but tempting. I know. And... what will you think if I tell you that players will bowl ONLY with house bowling balls? More strange even.

But... if I add that players will just bowl one 20-frames game? That's so weird that perhaps it's better that you don't know that the pin 1 won't be placed. Never!

This mix of nonsense rules and surrealism will take shape nex May 19th in Florida, USA.

I am not pretty sure if this is a great or bad idea.

You can read all the detais at the official web site. Good luck to all the participant. I guess I won't be on of them.

Bad news: the Brunswick Tournament is cancelled

Bad news for bowling. You can read on the AECB website that the Brunswick Tournament, part of the AECB' Tour, has been cancelled.

You can read on the PDF that the AECB will try to organize a new tournament on the same days. It will be a smaller event and no 10-euros-fare will be charged, but it will count for the Masters and Gala

What a pity. it's a big loss for the season.