Ultimate frisbee is taking off in Yichang
2023-08-15 17:08:11
By Ma Yuhan, Yichang International Communication Studio
Last Saturday in Yichang, more than 300 players participated in the 2023 Yichang Frisbee Open, chasing after flying discs on the grass.
Beginner-friendly and socially-engaging, ultimate frisbee has emerged as a popular sport among Yichang’s youth.
In April of this year, the Yichang Frisbee Association was officially established and now has more than 2,000 members.
Wang Zhong, president of the association, recalled that it was about 10 years ago when he first began the sport. It was not until April of last year that he began seriously studying the sport.
This was also the time when he saw that ultimate frisbee was growing in popularity as a sport.
Local frisbee fans take a group photo after a 3x3 competition. Wang Zhong wears a hat and stands in the second row next to the woman in pink. Photo by For Real.
Last Saturday in Yichang, more than 300 players participated in the 2023 Yichang Frisbee Open, chasing after flying discs on the grass.
Beginner-friendly and socially-engaging, ultimate frisbee has emerged as a popular sport among Yichang’s youth.
In April of this year, the Yichang Frisbee Association was officially established and now has more than 2,000 members.
Wang Zhong, president of the association, recalled that it was about 10 years ago when he first began the sport. It was not until April of last year that he began seriously studying the sport.
This was also the time when he saw that ultimate frisbee was growing in popularity as a sport.
Local frisbee fans take a group photo after a 3x3 competition. Wang Zhong wears a hat and stands in the second row next to the woman in pink. Photo by For Real.
Wang, 32, said social media like Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and Xiaohongshu (a mainstream Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform) have helped grow interest in the sport.
Searches related to frisbee grew 17 times in volume from 2021 to 2022 on Xiaohongshu. You can find more than 400 frisbee-related posts if you search the keywords "Yichang frisbee (宜昌飞盘)".
Unlike other trendy outdoor sports, ultimate frisbee has a lower barrier to entry and is more beginner friendly. The cheapest training frisbee is priced at 49 yuan (US$7).
The Yichang Frisbee Association holds three frisbee lessons per week, teaching people how to play and sharing the culture of the sport. About 1,500 people have participated so far.
“Ultimate frisbee is a sport with a strong social component. Its significance is not only to fight for winning, but to commit themselves to a program for love and building friendships," said Wang, whose full time job is an employee of the local state-owned chemical company Xingfa Group.
Now more people in Yichang are picking up the sport and forming their own teams.
A group of Yichang frisbee enthusiasts started the Tails Frisbee Club one year ago.
In March of this year, the club selected 26 outstanding players following tests and reorganized them into the “For Real” team. They trained three times a week to prepare for various competitions.
Yichang For Real team wins the third-place award during a recent eight-city tournament in Hubei. Photo by For Real.
Unlike other trendy outdoor sports, ultimate frisbee has a lower barrier to entry and is more beginner friendly. The cheapest training frisbee is priced at 49 yuan (US$7).
The Yichang Frisbee Association holds three frisbee lessons per week, teaching people how to play and sharing the culture of the sport. About 1,500 people have participated so far.
“Ultimate frisbee is a sport with a strong social component. Its significance is not only to fight for winning, but to commit themselves to a program for love and building friendships," said Wang, whose full time job is an employee of the local state-owned chemical company Xingfa Group.
Now more people in Yichang are picking up the sport and forming their own teams.
A group of Yichang frisbee enthusiasts started the Tails Frisbee Club one year ago.
In March of this year, the club selected 26 outstanding players following tests and reorganized them into the “For Real” team. They trained three times a week to prepare for various competitions.
Yichang For Real team wins the third-place award during a recent eight-city tournament in Hubei. Photo by For Real.
More than 80 percent of the team members are of the post-90s generation. They are engaged in all different types of work and gather together for the love of the sport.
Talking about the origin of the team's name, leader Wang Yahui said: "We hope to show the true spirit of frisbee - never give up as long as the frisbee hasn’t hit the ground.”
The team has participated in several ultimate frisbee competitions and won some honors. They have also invited other teams and organized matches in Yichang.
The recent trend has garnered the attention of the Yichang government. Last Saturday, the first official ultimate frisbee event was held in Yichang, which was encouraging for fans and players. The Yichang government designed cultural products and helped arrange a live broadcast of the competition.
Yichang For Real team competes in the 2023 Yichang Frisbee Open this past Saturday. Photo by For Real.
He Jing, Zheng Jianjie contributed the original Chinese story for this report.
The team has participated in several ultimate frisbee competitions and won some honors. They have also invited other teams and organized matches in Yichang.
The recent trend has garnered the attention of the Yichang government. Last Saturday, the first official ultimate frisbee event was held in Yichang, which was encouraging for fans and players. The Yichang government designed cultural products and helped arrange a live broadcast of the competition.
Yichang For Real team competes in the 2023 Yichang Frisbee Open this past Saturday. Photo by For Real.
He Jing, Zheng Jianjie contributed the original Chinese story for this report.
