Despite the Seattle Weekling’s quick win in the first round of Kubb against Team Bumbershoot, we were dealt our first loss of the 2009 summer season. As the games progressed, we realized Kubb was a game of strategy, but weren’t able to tweak our game-plan in time to catch up to those crafty Bumbershooters.

The loss was hard on the team, but thankfully we were able to drown our sorrows in free beer and tasty tamales at Bandits after the game. Since then, we’ve bounced back and are ready to get a W in tonight’s two-hand touch football game!

Last season champions

So far this season, we hadn’t been living up to our potential. We’d lost the first two games and were determined to bounce back. Last season we dominated Kubb. Twice. Trivia and SPUD might not be our thing, but throwing wooden sticks is. We paired up against leaders Venus Zine in a battle to the finish. We quickly knocked down their blocks, but when it was announced we had to knock the king over throwing a stick under our legs, things got a bit challenging. It took us a while to master the technique, but eventually we killed them. In round two, all of a sudden Venus came alive. It’s almost like they let us win the first game. One by one they knocked down all of our blocks. Victory was in the air until they had to knock down the king. There were a couple of close calls, but the king remained standing. This allowed us to make a huge comeback, catch up with them, and then knock the elusive king down. 2-0! Our game ended quicker than XRT’s and Mr. Design who could only play one game due to the difficulty of knocking down that pesky king. With just a couple of games left, we’re still very much in the tournament. Do we smell another victory?

They say that two heads are better than one. UR Chicago proved that two heads were in fact better than four. After an early first game loss to the Venus Zine ladies, UR’s dynamic duo of Jessica and Rannell rallied to take the next two games of Kubb. So much for girl power. Was it the lingering inspiration from watching Michael Phelps win 614 olympic gold medals? Did Rannell’s abundance of testosterone tip the scales in UR’s favor? Did the Venus Zine ladies concentrate too much on hurling verbal abuse and not enough on actually throwing the sticks at the kubbs? It would take a team of experts running scientific tests to ascertain for sure.

What will the last game of the season be? Will it take a keen eye or pure power? Hopefully it will not be another Swedish game. Hopefully it will be inspired by the Japanese. Like this one.

Once more, we continue our path towards glory. Last week’s game against Time Out Chicago marked our third straight victory.

We have it on good authority (from our Swedish pal) that Kubb is played after barbeques all over Sweden, all summer, by blond, blue-eyed Viking descendents mellowed by generations of complacent city dwelling into thinking that lobbing blocks of wood towards other blocks of wood is an electrifying way to spend an hour or so. Okay, we might have added on a bit there.

Garin throws the first toss:

Matt lobbs a stick towards Time Out’s blocks (which isn’t nearly as dirty as it sounds):

Theresa, Colin, Joey, Garin, Hollis and Max share a laugh at the other team’s paltry throwing:

And Alan, free Sparks in hand, shows how to win through creativity, by hiding a block behind the untouchable King:

Okay, so we didn’t keep it there. But we won three straight games anyway.

Matt, Theresa and Hollis demonstrate how the game is won:

You can view all the pictures here.

Threadless, after the drinking session at the Clipper afterwards, we hope you’re on your guard for some heavy competition both on the field and in the bar…

Who knew the express train was so express? Instead of paying attention to the local versus express train, some of our team members (Hanly and Marlina, ahem) hopped onto the D train in prep for a game of Kubb.

Hanly “Isn’t that our stop.”
Marlina “Yeah, I guess we’ll get out at the next one.”
Passing the Natural History Museum…
Hanly “Hmm, I guess we’ll get out at the next one.”
Marlina’s jaw starts to drop open. “Um, how far is this going to take us?:
Hanly “I think we’re going to Harlem.” Hanly jumps up to check the map. “This takes us to 125th st.”
Marlina “Uh, I guess we’ll transfer back downtown.”
The braniac duo head downtown on another D train from 125th street back to Lincoln Center to hop on a B train. The next B turns into an express train and the girls quickly decided against boarding. A half hour late to the field and cameras everywhere filming, wait for it, wait for it, Night at the Museum…2, Kubb begins.

There was a very definite uphill/downhill advantage going on at the field but The FADER still managed to lose to L’Oreal in the dark despite the final game with an uphill advantage. There were several questionable side-swing throws coming from L’Oreal but L’Oreal asked FADER to excuse the throws due to inebriation. One of FADER’s hardcore competitive players began to argue and walked away to avoid confrontation and punches. (She is easily riled.) Fair? I think not.

We did have our moments of brilliance with Matt nailing a Kubb or two and our moments of idiocy with Suzan, get the dog out of your hands and focus moments! Cara proved her athletic prowess as usual. Marlina and Gabe rallied to play soccer to let the true competitive and athletic skills unleash. Kaela glared at struggling teammates and Hanly took off her Sauconys to get a feel for the grass.

We capped off our night outside the museum by watching bugs drawn to the lights sizzle to their death.