What’s the Borneo Headhunters Hat? I’m glad you asked. Come on in and I’ll tell you all about it.
But Ultimate players don’t use Frisbees, because that’s the trademarked name for a toy. Ultimate players don’t play with toys; they play with Ultimate discs, usually made by Discraft.
On a playing field, which is roughly the size of a football field, you have 2 teams with 7 players a side. Off the field teams can be as big us up to 30 players a side.
The field is divided into 3 parts. There’s the playing field proper which is a 64m long central playing area, and on each side of this area there’s an 18m end zone, which is where opposing teams score their points.
To score a point, a player of an opposing team has to catch the disc in the other team’s end zone. And that’s the basics. For more detail, read about Ultimate on sabahultimate.com.
Borneo Headhunters Hat
Back to the Borneo Headhunters Hat: it’s an Ultimate tournament, and the Borneo Headhunters Hat 2011 consists of 5 team of 15 players each.
It’s called a Hat, because traditionally individual players would put their name in a hat, which would then be drawn to form new, random teams with.
The principle remains the same, but we have to adjust the teams based on how players rated themselves to ensure a more even balance. It’s not perfect, but usually the teams come out reasonably balance, which makes for great play.
The Borneo Headhunters Hat 2011 takes place this year on 26 February and everybody is invited to come and watch this exciting game.
Check ou the event’s page for more details.
Climb as much as you like is an attractive offer, especially when it only costs RM12. But SabahBah.com discovers that at the Sabah Indoor Climbing Centre as much as you like might be more than as much as you can.
Face The Challenge
Then I read about Sabah Indoor Climbing Centre’s ‘climbing as much as you like‘ offer. So I made plans and imagined the entire day spent just climbing up and down the various grades of wall. Possible, I thought, because I do running-type sports 3 times a week and I’m fairly fit.
Turns out though, wall climbing is not about running, in fact, it’s not even about cardio. Nope, wall climbing is about strength. Strength in your upper body, strength in your arms, and strength in your legs. I might be able to run, but apparently I’m not that strong.
Preparation is the Key
After getting a pair of hard, gum-soled shoes that fit my big feet from the Sabah Indoor Climbing Centre guys, I was up on a medium grade part of the wall strutting my stuff. It all went well too, until I got up to about 4m, 1m short of the top of the wall. My fingers started cramping.
Now there’s not a lot of muscle in fingers, so it didn’t hurt that much, but it cramped so hard I couldn’t release my grip from the wall. There I was, stuck; legs and arms in precarious positions, tiring quickly.
After a few failed attempts I eventually managed to pry my cramped fingers from the hold, but in the process also lost my balance and, hanging by the right hand, which was still cramped shut around the wall, proceeded to lose my footing.
Like Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible 2 I hang there, back to the wall, gasps coming from below where other climbers had been watching. Tom, unlike me, didn’t have a safety rope that would prevent him falling to the ground below though, so I knew I was safe.
I managed to swing myself around, regain my footing and pry my hand loose. But I was exhausted and couldn’t make it to the top. My belayer gently lowered me to the ground where I recovered.
Although I felt very energetic, my legs and arms felt weak and I realised my climbing session won’t be as long as I hand intended. Although I managed to shake the cramps from my fingers, I only managed 2 more climbs up easier parts of the wall.
Easy? It is and isn’t
“3 or 4 climbs are about standard”, said my belayer. “When you do it often then you can do more”, he continued, “but it takes some practice.”
Sabah Indoor Climbing Centre hasn’t been open that long, but they’ve already gained a loyal following of climbers who are at the wall quite frequently. At RM10 per session during the week and RM12 over the weekends, it’s a very affordable sport.
You can rent all the equipment you need at the the centre itself, although basic essentials are just shoes and a harness. Ropes, chalk and even a climbing buddy / belayer, are provided and the walls cater to beginners and more experienced climbers.
For more information, visit our Sabah Indoor Climbing Centre page.
Ultimate Frisbee in Kota Kinabalu has moved back to the place where it all started; the rugby field in Tanjung Aru next to Kota Kinabalu International Airport’s Terminal 2.
Until at least the 26th of the month, Sabah ultimate frisbee will be played 3 times a week as we shake things up a bit and also play twice a week at the Tanjung Aru beach.
So, if you can and want to run after a day at the office or hard day of tours and exploring KK, and can jump and catch a flying disc at the same time, then join the ultimate frisbee players of Kota Kinabalu.
Don’t be shy, we don’t bite… unless you pretend to give us beer and then quickly whip it away before we can take it.
The ultimate frisbee schedule can be found on the main page, which is linked in the box above.
Did we mention there’s no charge? Well, it’s true, there’s no charge – you can play ultimate frisbee for free.
See you there.
For the first time ever Sabah will be represented in an Ultimate Tournament in Kuala Lumpur when a sponsored team is taking on the rest of Malaysia at the Malaysian Ultimate Open (MUO).
Since September 2007 the Flying Disc in question has made several appearances around KK as more and more local enthusiasts have picked up the game. Under the guidance of Flying Disc Guru Ken Kassem, an Ultimate team has formed.
And that team is about to go to the MUO held in Kuala Lumur on 12 and 13 April.
Last week the team, named Borneo Bristleheads, received happy news as three sponsors committed to help them out with team t-shirts. This generous assistance will alliviate some of the expenses the unofficial Sabah Ultimate team is incurring to represent Ultimate enthusiasts from Sabah at the MUO.
Breeze Magazine, the main sponsor is a new Sabah magazine dedicated to publishing tourist and general information about Sabah. So excited are Breeze about representatives from this Land Below the Wind heading to a national tournament in a new and exciting sport, that they have agreed to generously assist the Borneo Bristleheads.
Co-sponsors Borneo Beach House, a backpackers lodge with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in Tanjung Aru, and Sabahbah.com, have made smaller, but equally valuable contributions to the Borneo Bristleheads campaign.
As a team made up of almost only novice players, the Borneo Bristleheads head to the MUO as definite underdogs.
Captain Ken Kassem has however emphisised the number 1 rule of Ultimate since the start of Ultimate in Sabah: Spirit of the Game; and has reminded team members that above all the Borneo Bristleheads will have fun.
He further underscored the value of the MUO by adding that win or lose, the Borneo Bristleheads will return to Sabah infinitely richer for having experienced their first Ultimate tournament at the Malaysian Ultimate Open.
The next Ultimate Tournament is scheduled for Singapore in August, and anybody interested is encouraged to come see what Ultimate is all about.
There’s Ultimate practice every Sunday from 4pm to 6pm on the fields behind the hostel at the Likas Sports Complex.
Located a mere 24 km from the town centre, about 35 minutes by car, the park is easily accessible. A shuttle bus services all major hotels in the city and provides a convenient way for tourists to visit the park.
Run by Bryan Wade, a 5 times British Motorcross Champion, you know safety is a priority, which shows in the full range of safety kit available to all participants at KK Adventure Park.
The park is located next to the beach and is surrounded by Sabah jungle, which lends itself to many exciting and entertaining activities, briefly outlined below.
Quad Bikes
Easy to handle quad-bikes are at the ready to be enjoyed on either the 2km jungle track or on the stretch of beach fronting KK Adventure Park. Either way, prepare for speed with a bit of mud for effect and rough terrain to make the quad-bike earn it’s keep and for your to prove your mettle.
Beach Buggies
Small but sturdy, the beach buggies cater for two. Capable of reasonable speed, the proximity to the ground makes for a thrilling ride. The buggie is equipped with bucket seats and secure safety belts to ensure you stay in place while you zoom across the beach.
Bungee Trampolines
Said to be the only Bungee Trampolines in Sabah, these contraptions free you from the constraints of gravity. Strap in and bounce your way to sky while you’re propelled by the bungee cords. Don’t be afraid to try a few tricks or somersaults as the bungee cords will keep you on track.
High Rope Challenge
If you’re afraid of heights… then it’s all the more reason to try the High Rope Challenges! Suspended above the ground by a mere 25-feet (a little more than 7.5m), 7 challenges await you to take up the challenge to complete them; if you like a taste of adrenaline that is.
Kayaks
One of the more sedate activities at the park, you can paddle towards the Kawang River and head up stream to discover some of Sabah’s wildlife along the river banks.
Climbing Wall
Kota Kinabalu’s only publicly accessible climbing wall, it towers 30 feet (approximately 9 meters) above KK Adventure Park. The wall consists of 3 faces, providing a challenge to climbers trying it out for the first time and those who know their way around a wall already.
Low Ropes Course
For little ones, or perhaps those with not enough courage for the high ropes, a lower obstacle course provides the thrill and excitement in a more contained environment.
Flying Fox
Once you’ve scampered to the top of a 40 foot (about 12 meters) tower the zip-line to the bottom points the way you’re heading. You are then securely strapped into a harness before you zoom down the 480 foot (146 meters) cable at a blistering pace.
Giant Chess | Miniature Golf | Ken’s Hidden Treasures
For younger participants or those not too keen on over dosing on adrenaline, a range of more sedate activities will provide entertainment. Ken’s Hidden Treasures is a sandbox filled with prizes, which needs to be unearthed in a limited time. Or try your hand at the Miniature Golf where the greens are the rough. Or take it easy with a game of Giant Chess.
KK Adventure Park caters to groups, birthday parties, team building and corporate events and can even accommodate camping. Contact KK Adventure Park for more information.
For thrilling alternative activities when you’re in Kota Kinabalu, get your heartbeat up and your blood rushing at KK Adventure Park.
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