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.

And, if you’re looking to play ultimate frisbee while on holiday in Kota Kinabalu, or if you live in KK, then your chance of catching a game of ultimate frisbee is now even better.

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 is as follows:

• Sunday: 4pm - 6pm
  Tanjung Aru rugby field, next to T2 at KKIA
• Tuesday: 6pm - 7.30pm
  Tanjung Aru beach, in front of First Beach, Tanjung Aru
• Friday: 6pm - 7.30pm
  Tanjung Aru beach again.

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).

Frisbee® is a trademark of Wham-O Inc., and thus the game involving that ever likeable flying disc is called Ultimate.

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.

Ultimate Frisbee Sabah enthusiasts will be playing at the sports field near the Likas Sports Complex every Sunday for the rest of February.

And even though much else in Kota Kinabalu have closed down for the Chinese New Year break, Ultimate Frisbee Sabah is doing business (pleasure, really) as usual and will be on the field as expected for the rest of the month.

As always, if you’re keen to participate, do bring your enthusiastic self and lots of energy and join us for a game of Ultimate Frisbee Sabah. We now charge a small fee of RM5 per person to contribute to the bigger field that we rent, which enables us to have a regulation sized field all to ourselves.

See you on Sunday!

Ultimate Frisbee Sabah is still going strong, so much so that we moved to a new field for Ultimate Frisbee Sabah to expand our game and get that competition feel.

You will remember from previous reports that Frisbee came to Sabah in the shape of Ultimate Frisbee Sabah. Ultimate Frisbee in Sabah used to be played on the rugby field near Terminal 2 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, however, we have moved.

Fighting for space with the footballers were one of the reasons, but needing the space to expand our game, practice game strategy and getting ready for competitions were the main reasons behind the decision to move.

Additionally, the conditions at the Tanjung Aru rugby field were less than ideal, because the field would flood when it rains and usually be soggy on play days. The field was also uneven, making it dangerous for Frisbee, which is often played with eyes in the air.

With the above in mind, Ultimate Frisbee Sabah has moved to the football field near the Likas Sport Complex, immediately adjacent to the hokey field. With the new, bigger and even surface of the sports field comes a small fee. Previously Ultimate Frisbee Sabah had no costs associated with it, but the new field charges a small rental fee of RM50 per session.

Of course, with more than 10 players attending the average Ultimate Frisbee Sabah game, it means less than R5 per person, which for the fun of Ultimate Frisbee Sabah, is a small price to pay.

The game time is as per usual, with warm-ups, skill development and light play starting at 4pm, before moving on to the serious fun associated with a team game, usually consisting of 7 aside, depending on attendance.

Ultimate Frisbee Sabah is a fast paced, action packed team sport that requires speeds, stamina and skill. The Sunday sessions of Ultimate Frisbee Sabah is a fun environment consisting of outgoing people, who are eager to develop these skills.

If you are into non-contact, fast paced team sports, then join us at the football field next to the hockey field at the Likas Sport Complex, every Sunday from 4pm to 6pm for a thrilling game of Ultimate Frisbee Sabah.

Frisbee might not be new to the world, but it’s only been since about two months ago that the popular plastic pie dish has been thrown around the greens of Kota Kinabalu.

It was Ken Kasseem, WWF Employee and Frisbee guru, that sent out an open invitation in September, announcing that Ultimate Frisbee had arrived on Sabah shores and would shortly take off. And so it was then that a group of interested guys and gals gathered on a muddy rugby field in Tanjung Aru to witness the first Frisbee demo in Kota Kinabalu.

Every Sunday since then, the group has gotten together to play the game of Ultimate Frisbee and interest has steadily grown. The group now averages up to 30 Frisbee players per session.

The history of the Frisbee, albeit not as we know it today, dates back as far as the 1940’s. The first permutation of the flying disc was a pie tin, flung about for fun, not unlike what it is today. The first plastic mold that could be recognised as the modern Frisbee, was cast in 1957 and has since sold more than basketballs, baseballs and footballs put together.

The game of Ultimate Frisbee is, however, more than throwing around a plastic disc. The game is played between two opposing teams, each consisting of 7 members, which could be a mix of gender. The playing field measures roughly 70m long by 35m wide, with end-zones either side extending another 20 meters out.

Both teams start out on the edge of their respective end-zones, facing each other. The first team launches the Frisbee towards the other who will be the attackers. The aim of Ultimate Frisbee is to make it into the opposing end-zone, Frisbee in hand.

When the attacker has the Frisbee, they are not allowed to move. Pivoting on one foot is allowed, but no moving away from the spot where the Frisbee was caught. The attacker has to launch the Frisbee within a ten-count, which the guarding defender will count down. Through a series of passes the end-zone is reached and a point is scored.

If the Frisbee goes to ground by being dropped, missed or knocked down by a defender, possession turns around and the defenders become the attackers. Turn-around also takes place if the attacker fails to launch the Frisbee within the ten-count.

Ultimate Frisbee games, even at tournament level, are not marshaled and it’s through the spirit of the game that players call their own fouls, sometimes even on themselves. With this in mind it’s easy to see why the number one rule in Ultimate Frisbee is ‘The Spirit of the Game’.

Due to the lack of suitable playing fields, Ultimate Frisbee in Kota Kinabalu is played on a slightly smaller area, which makes for action packed games. Games take place on Sundays at 4pm, and the average Ultimate Frisbee session will last for about 2 hours. During the game of 7 aside, a rotation system is in place where whoever gets tired is replaced by whoever is eagerly waiting on the sidelines. With fast paced action and lots of energy spilled, swap-outs occur regularly, ensuring everybody gets some playing time.

Currently the venue for Kota Kinabalu’s Ultimate Frisbee games is the rugby field in Tanjung Aru, immediately adjacent Terminal 2 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Every is welcome to come watch or play, regardless of age and gender. If you can run, catch and laugh if you happen to slip, then Ultimate Frisbee will be a fun game to join. The ability to throw is optional, that comes with practice.

Ken is also always the willing teacher and regularly conducts short, mini-clinics on some technical aspects of the game, namely effective strategies and throwing techniques. But there is no replacement for practice.

So rain or shine, she you on the rugby field in Tanjung Aru on Sundays for a game of Ultimate Frisbee in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.