Blog
We're a few months into the season and tour is in full swing! Eric and I have been running WhalePants clinics all over the southwest and they've been super successful and rewarding. I am really enjoying our tour so far and am looking forward to the rest of the season running about the same. Tournaments, however, are a whole different breed. We started our first big tournament with Gentleman's Club Challenge, where I took my first cash at a National Tour event. This is a pretty big milestone for me. Although I finished in the last spot that get's paid, it showed me that I do have what it takes. What I did that tournament was played consistent and solid disc golf. I may not be the BEST golfer out there, but I do have a good skill set and if I can play mediocre for every round, I can find myself in the money. Although I still look at that tournament as a great accomplishment, I find myself a few weeks, and a few tournaments later where I haven't been able to play consistent golf. I have played some of my highest rated rounds in the last few weekends but mixed in with those, I've found myself floundering and playing some of the worst golf I've seen myself play in a long time. I've done well to bounce back, often shooting my best golf after, but almost every tournament, if I could have just played mediocre golf that one round, I would have been in the cash again. I'm out here and learning every shot, every round, every tournament and I don't have unrealistic expectations, but I DO know that I have potential if I can just get out of my own way. What I've most recently learned is I throw bad shots when I'm tense. Maybe that seems obvious, but recognizing the actual trigger is really important. I played my first round this weekend at the Open at Temple with Paige Pierce, my fellow team mate on both Whale sacs and Team Dynamic Discs. She has skills well above mine but what I learned in that round is how relaxed her game is. I have come a long way in playing more relaxed rounds but her composure through bad shots and holes is outstanding and something to learn from. My second round was my hardest at the Temple where I opened up well, feeling relaxed and confident, then one par 5 that is particularly tricky, I threw out of bounds twice and took a double OB 9. That pretty much summed up the rest of my round as it seemed I had given up and forgot how to trust my abilities. This is what I want to learn. How to bounce back and keep the confidence no matter what happens. My goal this year does not have numbers or placings or ratings involved. My goal is to play my game, to play with a enjoyable mindset and to not let the bad shots shake me. There is a lot left to the tour this year and I am happy that my game IS advancing and I am shooting 900 rated rounds every tournament, I just need to make that more consistent and I will be happy with where I'm at. Thanks everyone for reading and that you everyone else for supporting us out here on the road! Our impact already is blowing me away, we love growing the sport out here and it's so great meeting fans and fellow disc golf addicts. Keep calm, have FUN and keep loving disc golf. Thanks to my sponsors! Dynamic Discs, Booom, The Nati, Launchpad 2017 is here and it feels drastically different than last year. Last year was the beginning of an amatuer tour on my own with a still small business. This year is the beginning of a full scheduled professional tour in my newish motorhome, with a large inventory, a co-pilot, Eric, and a handful of companies showing amazing support in what I'm doing. Although I felt accomplished last year as I had quit my job and committed my life to disc golf, it's a whole new feeling of success. Not only am I doing it, I'm making progress in my game, in my business, in my relationships with other golfers, and I can't wait to see what else will come this year.
For starters, I have a new bag, new discs and a new outlook on what it means to be a professional disc golfer. I've fell in love with the discs in my bag and I have confidence in my discs that I've been waiting to find for about 6 months since the robbery. Not only did I find confidence in the discs I throw, but I'm able to pick up new discs and really understand what they do, if they'd be useful for me, and what slot they could fill in my bag. There was a long period of time last year that I was so uncomfortable in my form and my self-doubt, that I had lost that feeling. I'm so happy to be back, and better. Last weekend I played my first tournament of the season The Maricopa Meadows Open. The first day was intense wind of which I had never played in with my new discs but I'm happy to say, I had bagged a Defender, Felon and Justice - all overstable discs. Only 1 or two holes we played (out of 27) presented us with a tail wind, so in a headwind, I threw primarily those discs and played as safe as possible with some really bad luck, and ended up carding a 902 rated round. The next day I was on lead card with Catrina and another great prodigy player Vanessa Van Dyken. I know to play safe golf at this course because there is a lot of OB and skinny fairways, but just a few holes in, after some bad shots into the water, I found myself analyzing Catrina's form. If you haven't watched this girl play, you should. She can throw, with very little apparent effort, over 400 ft and I couldn't help watch and try to figure out why. I was aware last year that I was moving up to Open to learn, and although this year, I still have SO much to learn, I also know that if I just play my game and play where I am comfortable, I really do have a shot at cashing and playing well. BUT I let myself down a little bit at this tournament, I tried to apply what I was learning in the middle of a competitive round. I was trying to throw further, when I knew that I just need to get to a safe place, throw an upshot and tap out. The good thing is that I will not let this experience go without benefit. Instead, starting the next afternoon, I began distance training. I have done field work multiple times per week, and played virtually every day, but I started to get lazy in the "form" department. I learned the discs, I have good form, now let's make it better. I know so many women and men that want perfect form, that want to throw further and I assure you, even at a higher level, you're still wanting for more but it won't come without practice. So, I encourage, as usual, to get out into a field, throw over and over and over, and record yourself doing so. Take a friend, or a local pro, or someone that might be better than you, and get some advice. You can learn so much from these sessions, even short ones. I am a resource as well. Although I am learning too, and always will be, don't be afraid to reach out, send me a video of your form. I'd love to help in any way I can. Stay tuned for more videos from me about form, follow-through, footwork, etc. I want to build a library of helpful hints for beginners and anyone trying to get better. Thanks for listening ya'll. This is going to be a HUGE year. And if you haven't yet, go follow Eric and I on the WhalePants Facebook page for free clinics near you! Also, we have fundraiser WhalePants mini's - top right of this page you can find a donation button! Thanks to all of my amazing sponsors! Dynamic Discs, Booom, The Nati, Launchpad!! Frisbees, Rv's, Dreams coming true, Tina Hey Ya'll! Coming to you from Freeport, Maine in a cute little coffee shop, not far from the ocean. This is my job. And boy am I lucky. I'm writing the morning of the last round of Women's Nationals, 2016. My first major (of many) in the Open division and I'm actually holding my own here for the most part. I haven't posted in weeks because road life goes by so incredibly fast. It's absolutely absurd how quickly time flies when you're driving every day and golfing and vending, etc. It is more exhausting than I expected but I also love it. I'm starting to feel "in place" out here. I'm one of the newest member to the FPO tour scene and It certainly has felt like it, mostly because I'm still putting up silly rounds here and there but realistically, for the challenges I'm facing, I'm doing pretty darn good! I wanted to share an experience with you guys in regards to mid-round frustrations. To be really honest, I was a bit of a baby during yesterdays first round, but I was certainly dealt some of the worst luck I've ever seen, but that's DISC GOLF, and I know that. You have to battle and keep pushing and you can't let yourself get defeated. So...I'm playing well, and I come up on a hole that has OB everywhere but if you play smart you're fine. I throw my second shot it hits a tree and shoots forever out of bounds and puts me in a really rough spot, I end up carding a 6. The next hole is fine, then I come up to another par 4 where the slightest turn of my disc causes a kick way into the trees, the next shot was well executed to get back to the fairway, but scoots behind the only tree in the fairway, same with the next and the next, took another 6. My biggest trouble is that I'm executing good shots and ending up in the worst spots and it really is a lot of bad luck...but here's where I went wrong. That whole "poor Tina" attitude, AND losing confidence even though I'm throwing well. Sometimes rounds just go like that and you are nature's target but you can't get defeated, you have to battle through. Disc golf has a tendency to take and then give back. You might have 1 round with the worst luck, but you're going to get a bunch of tree love on your next round, or maybe the one after that...it's "science" ;) After my rough round, I picked apart what happened with my #1 fan Eric and he pointed it out that I played REALLY well for the circumstances I was in, and he's right. SO, it got me thinking about how to keep a good attitude when you're getting beaten down like that. I decided to play a game. Every bad kick or spit out or rollaway, etc. I get a reward, because it isn't under my control when that stuff happens, and it isn't necessarily my bad play that's causing it. I keep a small package of Fruit Smile gummies in my bag most of the time and it's the perfect little thing. They have SMILES on them, of course it's going to help. And it totally does. Disc hit's a tree - "Oh I TOTALLY get a fruit snack for that one!!!" keeps it light and fun. I'm not about to say that it's going to work every time, but it certainly helps. I'm a professional disc golfer. But I'm also a super sensitive emotional person that feels every good and bad throw. Maybe fruit snack rewards sound gimmicky but the way I see it, do what works to make you the best golfer you can be, and let's be real, we're out there throwing frisbees in the woods, I don't WANT to be too serious. It worked well for my second round yesterday, but I did get back some tree love (keeping me IN bounds on that same hole) and I'm actually shooting really good rounds :D In more general news, I'm insanely happy out here. Eric and I are doing wonderfully at road life together, Penelope Luseal Cruise (the RV) is performing whale and is cozy as ever. Our season looks to be a long one still, despite it being mid September already. We are looking to do clinics and vending across the country through the remainder of this year, so if you'd like us to visit you, let us know, we'd love to come through. Smiles, and frisbees. Love you all, Tina I’ve avoided talking about what happened a few weekends ago because I've been struggling with it more than I expected. If you don’t know, my rv was broken into in Eugene while I was in it. Along with some other items, my disc golf bag was stolen. I know this happens to a lot of people and I know it’s devastating to everyone, but I really didn’t expect it would hit me as hard as it has. I have been battling poor play for months now. I started off my year with some wins and playing 880-931 golf, now here I am with more experience and time and my play has plummeted down to 817-860 rated golf. I KNOW that it will improve but it’s been hard just accepting that that is where I’m at right now.
My bank job was over. I had 2 days of freedom and I finally had all the time in the world again to train and practice every day. I was just telling my friend Jeff and Reiley that I know my bag so well and I just couldn’t consider switching frisbees right now, I trusted what was in my bag so much, and I was so excited to get back on tour and start crushing it again. That same evening is when I got robbed. Hopefully as yall know, I’ve been on this huge positivity kick. Everything is sunshine and rainbows and even when things are bad or hard, I still strive to see the good in every single thing. And I was killing it with that attitude. My golf was bad and I was still skipping to my next shot and smiling and letting the bad shots go. I’m proud of that. And it is what made me love golf again. And then I got robbed and frankly, I’m pissed about it. It’s the worst I’ve felt in months and there’s nothing I could do about it now and I’ve been having a really hard time seeing the positive when I’m on the course. Every bad shot hurts because if I didn’t have to learn new discs, I would have executed it better, etc. etc. My form is all messed up because I’m thinking WAY TOO MUCH. There’s just a lot going on on the course that I am having a hard time controlling. I’m sick of battling, I want to feel in control again and I want to just play well again and be in the moment out there but I can’t because poor tina got her bag stolen… So...that’s where I’ve been the last 2+ weeks and I’m done. I’m taking my game back and I’m practicing and learning and I’m kicking this angry attitude that I’ve developed since the robbery and I’m going to be a good player again dammit. Everything in my life right now is SO good and that will be the fuel for my game, the rest must be pushed into the past. End rant. As an update on my everyday life, I’m living the dream harder than I ever have. Realistically I have everything I want in this very moment. I am at a cute RV campsite in my new RV/house in Eugene, heading to Bend, OR, and then Boise, ID, then Twin Falls, ID, then Salt Lake City, UT, then everywhere else, all with the man of my dreams and love of my life, Eric Oakley. We are traveling for the rest of this year's tour together for #whalepantstour2016. Him and I are going to run free clinics across the country for the rest of the year because we love this sport and we want to give back. I have a business that I love, I get to throw frisbees everyday while traveling the states with my friends. Life is beautiful. Things happen. I’m thankful that I have the mental strength to endure hard times and see the good. It may take time sometimes, but I got there after a few weeks and I think that’s pretty good. Thanks for reading and following. If you’d like to support our tour, Eric has fundraiser discs on the Whale Sacs team page, and anything purchased on the Whale Sacs site helps us stay on the road. Stay positive, love life, Tina P.s. We're running a Whalepants tour logo contest! You'll win a #Putterpants D-line FD and a Whale Sac if we pick your design. Send us a cool logo!!!! The last two weeks have been about the busiest I can handle, and in turn quite the struggle. Which I guess is why I haven’t been writing. I’ve barely been keeping up on any of my jobs and I haven’t had a single evening to practice golf in about that long. My game has suffered immensely and I just have to be okay with that for now. My last two tournaments, both in open, have both been a pretty embarrassing showing, though the ratings have shaken out right around where mine is, so that’s a plus…my bad golf is still better than it used to be. You know what though, I kept skipping and I kept smiling. Ask anyone. I did it. I played terribly and I’ve still kept my head high and happy and beaming.
The bank has absorbed virtually all of my free time and I’m overworking myself at Whale Sacs but I really see a good future with that company and I’m excited to do it, I’ve just stretched myself pretty thin as of late. I’m learning a lot of self-patience through all of this. I am aware I don’t have time to practice and although I know I have good golf in me, I’m distracted 95% of the time with all of my other responsibilities and it certainly shows through in my game. But that’s ok. I’m almost done. I’m almost back on the road. I’m almost back to my own schedule with my own rules in my own time; it’s just been a lot to handle the last 3.5 months. Taking the job in Portland was a great decision. It has set me up well like I wanted to, it’s given me GREAT perspective on life and what I need to change when I go back on tour, and best of all it’s built stronger friendships with some of my closest friends here. Mainly my girl Kira. This girl has me more figured out than anyone because we’re so similar and we are soul sisters to the core. I don’t want to consider what these last 3 months would have been like without her. Here’s a great time to make an announcement! In honor of my busy schedule and chaotic life the last few months, I’ve taken on some help in the whaling department. Kira has joined my work team and has been a tremendous help while I’ve been here. I expect that will continue even when my schedule frees up. Thanks so much Kira for keeping me sane while I’ve been 3-jobbing it. I appreciate everything you’ve done so far! If you’re looking for DDx’s since I never stop talking about them, I just got a handful, they’re on my Whale Sacs page! This Frisbee changed my life and my game…I’m not even kidding. Get Them HERE! Other News: I participated in the Chick Flick this weekend and was able to host a handful of clinics. I absolutely love teaching. Every time I teach I love it even more than the last time. I am hoping to get more time to make instructional beginner/advanced videos in the coming months. If you’re looking for something specific, shoot me a message and I’ll see what I can do. I have another clinic at Tiger Discs on Saturday (since I’m not at Worlds...boo) but I’m really looking forward to it. Next up: Twin Falls Classic – Idaho Solitude – Utah Green Mountain Championships – Vermont! Love, Happiness, Patience, Frisbees, Whalesacsforlife Tina I was reminded recently what real life looks like to others that aren't me. This might sound silly because I'm "new" to dream following, and my past is just like any one else's. It's full of struggles, hard work at a job I didn't like and feeling stuck in a particular lifestyle or relationship, etc.... But I have this new perspective from the last 12 months that I wish I could make more obvious to anyone that wants freedom from feeling trapped, or wants to embrace a dream that seems impossible. First thing that I often hear is people saying "but I can't", to which the annoying answer from my end is ALWAYS " of course you can, you can do anything." Other than certain limitations I truly believe that. You aren't stuck. No matter what you are doing that you don't like, a job, a location, a relationship, a habit, it doesn't have to be permanent. The trick is, yes there are obstacles, often a lot of them that seem crippling and impossible, but if you put your mind and soul into it, things can always change. I want to give you my example. If you read back to last years blogs when I began my journey, I outlined what I had to go through to get to where I am today but I want to touch base again. I was in a ton of debt- school, car, credit card, more school, etc. I was managing well but the fact was, to live in Portland, pay my bills and my debt, I had to make around $2000.00 a month just to pay the minimums and rent and such. Now maybe that doesn't seem like a ton to some of you, but to a girl who wants to up and travel the country throwing frisbees, that number isn't manageable. So of course I felt stuck. "I have to work this job that makes me miserable until I don't have debt anymore." But the amount of money we’re talking about at the time was ridiculous! I could have stopped there, "accepted" my fate and stayed where I was for years to come. But I didn't. I was determined and I had a dream and I was going to find a way to do it no matter what. There were obstacles. A lot of them and there are many people with more or different obstacles than I had but the truth remains, if you want something bad enough, and you work hard enough, you can do it. There is some finagling, and some uncomfortable situations and you have to make tough decisions and stand up for yourself and find your independence and put yourself first, and that's a LOT of stuff. But for the happiness you can create for yourself, it’s worth all of it. It will change your life for the better and if something goes wrong or if you find your dream has changed "you can always go back." That phrase did me wonders in the beginning of my journey. It's what I told myself during every scary situation and it helped me make my initial jump. Again, nothing is permanent, it goes both ways. Having a plan is important, having a backup plan is important but don't let that first scary leap keep you from a future you dream about. People always ask if moving into an RV was intimidating. Heck yes it was! But if I didn't like it, I could sell it, and get an apartment again like I was. Problem solved. People ask if it was scary moving away from home to somewhere I didn't know anyone. Oh boy, YEP it was. But I could always go back home if thing got hairy. Generally there are friends and family you can rest on if something goes wrong, but you have to be willing to ask for help. I did at many points along the way and you'd be surprised how much people WANT to help, and are THRILLED to be a part of it. I could talk about this for hours and I enjoy talking about it. I hate seeing friends and loved ones not living life to the fullest when the potential is there for anyone, in any situation. I love you all, even if I haven't met you, and I want you to be happy. If your dream is frisbee life, DO IT, if your dream is getting out of your job or your relationship, do it, if your dream is being a damn circus clown, for the love...just do it! It doesn't matter how ridiculous it is. I throw fricking frisbees for a living because that's what makes me happy, and I'm freaking proud of that, no matter how it looks to anyone. I'll get off my soap box now. My heart is just hurting for my friends who feel as stuck (as I once did) and I want to help.
As for tour updates (if you've made it this far): Minnesota Majestic this weekend! First tourney as an official PRO! Chick Flick 8/6 North Plains, OR (Playing, doing a clinic, and vending with Whale Sacs) Women's Clinic for Tiger Discs 8/13 Salem, OR Twin Falls Classic 8/20 Twin Falls, ID (also vending) happy happy happy happy Happiness, Love, Frisbees Tina Stan p.s. email me. Seriously. [email protected]. My "door" is open. Amateur World Championships, wow… I’ve attended pro worlds but this was the first worlds experience that I’ve been a part of. The whole week blows my mind. From the time I arrived in Madison, WI on Monday, through the last tournament day on Saturday, I managed to play over 200 holes of golf. That seems like a LOT, maybe too much even, but it wasn’t. I could have kept playing and playing and playing and I didn’t want my week in Madison to come to an end, ever.
My game last week was all over the place and I have plenty of speculation as to why but they will work themselves out. I played both strong and incredibly weak golf for my standards and I’m 100% okay with it. I placed 9th out of 40 women after sitting in 14th place the day before semi-finals. My proudest moment of the tournament was battling up to 12th to make semi-finals, allowing me to show my skills on one more 18 hole course. Round by Round: I started the tournament relatively strong. I didn’t feel like I was performing great, but I wasn’t making a ton of mistakes either and kept my head up and attitude solid, just consistent boring golf which tends to put up the best scores for me. I shot even my first round but had given away 2 strokes on the second to last hole. What happened? After discussing with my caddie (shout out to JAY RAY!) that I always miss straddle putts in a certain fashion, I stepped up to can a 10 foot normal par putt, and missed. I had just talked myself into missing the putt and didn’t take time to re-center and whiffed it, then I missed the next one low and carded a double bogey after having a fairly easy putt for 2… That’s where it all started. I wish I could write here that I overcame those missed putts and kept my putting confidence for the rest of the tournament, but I cannot. I DID however keep my chin up, in high, happy spirits, no matter what and for that I am proud. But regardless, the next 3 rounds I played were extremely compromised. Next we had a round at one of the easiest courses that you could be putting for 2 on every hole, and I virtually WAS putting for 2 on every hole, but missed almost every one of them...my putting confidence was nowhere to be found, not once, not one putt felt like the Tina Stan super-aggressive putt that I know and love. But I finished the round, turning in an embarrassing score that shot me down to 9th place. The next day, I couldn’t get off the tee-pad, OR putt! My entire game was missing, and boy did I miss it. But again, (pats self on back) I kept my chin up and had a great time regardless. A little over halfway through the round, I carded a 6 because I missed low on an easy putt and that 6 lit a fire under my butt. I was mad. All of a sudden, I was pissed, but a really good giddy happy kind of pissed, you could say I was a little crazy, but I was done playing like I was. I wasn’t going to putt like I was scared anymore, and I didn’t. From that hole on, I putted aggressively and I still missed but dang it, I gave it a chance every time. One of my card-mates who has seen me putt even said “THERE SHE IS!” after throwing in a decent and intentional putt for the first time all round. I guess that was a turning point but it was a little too late for the round and I moved down to 13th. The next day, more of the same crappy play but this time it was a bunch of silly mistakes, grip locks, disc choice, execution, putting, a little bit of everything. I was so removed from how I actually play, I just couldn’t perform like I know how. But guess what? Had a great time! That ended up being my 3rd round this tournament that was rated around 810...just a whole lot of crappy crappy crappy golf. Aaaannnnnnd down to 14th place. I had one round left and the pressure was completely off. I was positive I was out of semi-finals by sitting in 14th (only 12 move on) so I just showed up to play that day. We played the course I was most worried about, and my sister came and watched and I got to play with all the same wonderful girls from the day before and I had already accepted that I was going to have all of Saturday to do whatever I wanted and watch the lead girls play, and just hang out since I wasn’t going to make the cut. I played my best round there. I shot one of the best scores of everyone, I made barely any mistakes, I missed only a few birdie putts and that’s about it. That round moved me right up to 12th place and boom, I made the semi-finals! For that alone, I am thrilled. I am thankful that I got to play some more golf and had the opportunity to show some of the skills I had gotten back and what happened after, I wasn’t worried about. I couldn’t move DOWN so I played hard on Saturday. I putted well, I threw well and only made a few mistakes, carded one 5 on my last hole (because I decided to “take the fun route”) but otherwise mostly pars and birdies and ended -3, moving me up to 9th place where I finished Am Worlds, my last amateur tournament. I guess that’s the “play by play” of this weekend, sorry it’s so lengthy but here’s the stuff that really matters: I am happy. I am unbelievably happy. I was happy before I went to worlds, and even more so since I left. Life has a funny way of throwing you around for awhile and toughening you up and teaching you gigantic lessons about attitude and focus and suffering and working hard for things that you care about. I am so thankful for the hard times I’ve been through because it makes these kinds of weeks mean so much more. I appreciate the struggle because it allowed me to play my worst golf with my biggest smile. I made great friends, I was inspired and I was inspiring, I learned and grew and I don’t think I’d have been nearly as positive about all of it if I didn’t have my low earlier this year. I want to say I'm so proud of all the people that sacrificed to go to AM Worlds. It's not a cheap tournament and it was amazing to see everyone battling and playing as hard as they could. The women put up some impressive scores that is a really good representation of what us ladies can do! Shout out to Kristy for playing outstanding golf out there and leading the tournament the entire time. You're the winner in my book and I still get goosebumps thinking about the golf you played out there. Thank you for the inspiration. Specifically to the ladies that came, you are also all an inspiration to the women in this sport. Keep it up, we're growing this sport and we are going to make a difference! I’m moving up to open now. It is official. I am playing the Minnesota Majestic in 2 weeks against the top pros and I expect to learn and observe and to place poorly and keep my smile strong regardless. Thank you everyone for your encouragement on my journey this year, I feel like it is just beginning and I can’t wait to start the next chapter. Professional Disc Golfer, Tina Stan
I have 2 events that are 1,000+ miles that I will be able to bring it to during the next few months, so that will be fun, but I think on a day to day basis, I have to mix things up a little. I played 2 new courses this weekend in Washington, Fort Steilacoom and Mount Lake Terrace. I remembered how much I love playing in new places. I really don't enjoy visiting the same thing day after day. League is fun but seeing new courses or playing with new people is one of the main reasons I wanted to go on the road in the first place. So, I have a big ole' moveable house, I think I'm going to try to live more adventurously while I'm here. There are plenty of courses within an hour or two of Portland that I haven't played, and I'm going to play them all, dammit! Who says just because you have a day job that you have to have boring weekdays? That life isn't for me. If I want to camp at Milo on a Tuesday, I'm going to do it! Hopefully this will help my "I feel stuck here" mentality. You only live once, I refuse to only live for the weekends. Also, I guarantee new courses every week will help improve my game too. My new house: PLC is a 2002 with a brand new V10 engine (it can tow my other house!!). It looks like it's barely been used on the inside, it's just a little outdated. I'll be doing a before and after for sure!! I'm crafty, creative and handy so I'm going to make this baby my own. I can't wait to show it off once it's done! There hasn't been a whole lot going on golf wise as I had a weekend off to do projects with my best friend. I'm happy to say I'm shooting lower and lower scores consistently without any work, and even rounds at my home course that feel pretty awful end up putting me at +2 (where I used to shoot +10). Life is good. Simple even. Even though I always have a lot going on, they're all positive and progressive. I wish I had more to share this week but I feel so centered, and at peace with the direction I am headed. Oh, I almost forgot!!!! If you click around the blog a bit, you'll find some tabs with tips and info and some videos I made for beginners and the like. Right now the content is small but there is more to come and they're basics for a lot of people but I've had some of the most amazing teachers in my disc golf life and these are bits and pieces of what made me a good golfer today, I wanted to share. Enjoy :) Next up: -Huk for Independence/first maiden voyage for Penelope Cruise -Then, HOLY CATS AM WORLDS! For the love of frisbees, Tina Hey guys!
I took home 1st in my third event this year! If I really take a step back and look at the last 6 months, they’ve been full of success and many things I had not thought possible yet. I feel like when you’re in the middle of all the craziness, you can forget how many amazing things are actually going on! This week specifically there’s a TON of chaos, but I like it that way. I have about 500 projects I’m in the middle of, but they’re all exciting and wonderful and I feel like I am making a difference in the world (the disc golf one anyhow) and that is what really matters to me. I started a few projects/concepts to give back to my fellow ladies in the sport in hopes to grow it and improve it for everyone’s future here. I’ve tackled a bunch of pieces of my business that have been on my “to do” list for over a year. And most excitingly, I believe I’ve nailed down my future home on the road a fully self-contained motor home. And by future, I may very well mean this week...whale see what happens, fingers crossed. There of course has been a lot of turmoil as well but I feel so incredibly strong pushing the bad from my mind more often than not. My GREAT days hugely outweigh my tough ones and it’s only going to get better. As for golf, I want to talk about a part of my game that I discovered this weekend. Golf has felt amazing recently. My putts have been going in, my drives are further than ever and accurate (thank you DDx) and I’ve been shooting my personal course records in most of my rounds all while feeling easy. I made a post a few weeks ago about my decision to move up to Open next month and I mentioned that watching the pro women’s concentration made me realize how quickly I throw and how little time I take for each shot. I went into this weekend’s tournament thinking about that. “If I take my time on each shot and give it my all, I will play better.” I was wrong. Round one started and I was trying to focus so hard! That was a terrible decision. I played my entire first round feeling very competitive, and trying to focus on each and every shot. Well, I think I just don’t don’t function like that. I’m more of a Cam Todd than a Philo, and that’s okay. Everyone has their own golf style and maybe someday I will be the type that can easily focus and take their time but there is so much crap running around in my brain right now, it’s much better for me to walk up to my lie and think “oh sweet, I totally know how to throw frisbees…*toss*” move on. I walked away from the first round shooting an 813 rated round...yikes...and it certainly felt like it, and I had a bad attitude. I took a few minutes by myself afterwards and tried to figure out what went wrong. I realized that I need to keep playing for the fun, keep playing with a casual mindset, let every missed putt go, forget every OB stroke and move on, smile, skip, and love your frisbees. My second round I approached this way and shot 9 strokes better, had a great time and ended up winning by 3 when I started behind the lead by 8. It’s alllllllll mental! You all probably know I very recently came out of a 2 month slump of bad golf and negative thinking, and now I’m back in love with disc golf, BUT, that is still a new feeling. I need to be careful about how competitive I am being because it’ll suck the fun RIGHT BACK OUT without me even noticing and that is not okay with me. I am in no place to push myself too hard during a tournament. I know there is a tricky balance to still enjoy it while competing and the FUN aspect of disc golf is 9,000 times more important to me than winning. I think we need a reminder of that sometimes. Not everyone is the same, but allow yourself to find what works for you and most importantly, don’t be so damn hard on yourself when you’re struggling! In other news, I picked up a sponsorship from our local Salem, OR disc golf shop - Tiger Discs! Roger has supported Whale Sacs over the last 2 years and asked me to join the team. I have the opportunity to do some clinics for the ladies in the area and have his support for my tour! Thanks again Roger for having me! Next up: -A weekend off?!?!?! -Huk For Independance - North Plains, OR -AM WORLDS/Tina gets to spend her birthday with her family for the first time in 3 years!!!!!!!! -PRO Status! Plug: If you have a moment to check out the Whale Sacs site, I did some construction and just put up a bunch of new inventory, I promise it’s all cute! Life is good, even when it’s hard. Love your frisbees and keep your chins up, Tina Life is in a weird place right now but overall things are going remarkably well, especially compared to 2 months ago. I’m getting out of my slump like I promised I would in my last blog. The positive thoughts and vibes and all around good things are back and I feel like my old self again. I’m not 100% there, but boy am I close.
I am asked often these days what my living situation is like. Most of you know I own a 27 ft travel trailer that I’ve lived in for over a year. Unfortunately, because of the fact that I don’t own a truck and it costs an arm and a leg to move it from Arizona to Oregon, Elizabeth Trailer remains in Arizona. I’m coming up on a strange situation where my Prius just isn’t doing it for me right now. My inventory is growing, my need/want to stay in my car on weekends is also growing but it’s just not working out. I am staying in an apartment in Portland right now, and will be relocating to a friend’s house nearby (thank you Kara for your kind heart and allowing me to stay with you). But there’s this little feeling that won’t go away. Well, not little, it’s there all the time and it’s pesky. I dearly miss RV life. You’d think having laundry and space and a comfy couch and places you can actually do yoga and a full shower you can use for more than 5 minutes would be a luxury (though I do like the occasional hotel). But I don’t love it. There’s something about that small simple space in an RV that my mind/soul craves. That small space and the ability to pick it up and go anywhere while never feeling stuck. That feeling is irreplaceable. I didn’t realize how much of that was so important to my happiness, but it is. Anyhow. I’m looking into road vehicles/trailers,etc. right now, trying to figure out the right scenario and I’m selling my 27 footer when I get back to Arizona anyhow. I have a hell of a long schedule still while I’m Oregon for the next few months and I’d like to be able to travel and work comfortably and hopefully have space for a tour buddy too. Right now, I am almost exactly one month into working at the bank, that means for sure another 2 months left, perhaps 3 depending on the scenario. It’s gone quick, but imagining another 3 months here at this desk when I want to be out playing is a little unbearable to think about so I try to focus on today, and the future tour and not dwell on the middle part. It will work in my favor in the long run, and already is, and in reality it is just a small blip in my career. There’s so much golf to look forward to in the future! Which brings me to the rest of the season! I posted my schedule yesterday on facebook and I have made the decision to play in the open division after AM Worlds - despite the outcome. A handful of things lead to this and it may seem strange after just coming out of an extremely low rated couple of months. -I watched the pro women field at the Lynx and I noticed a few things, a. I can totally throw that far and that accurately (most of the time), b. with confidence like they have, I can make most of those putts, c. I really don’t focus or put nearly as much effort into my shots as they do and that is completely fixable. -Next, I was scrolling through my ratings detail on the PDGA and noticed one large outlying factor. Every time I played open, I’d shoot one of my worst rated rounds simply because of pressure. I’ve overcome so many types of pressure strictly because I did it over and over and over until it was second nature, and I know this is the same thing. If I challenge myself against those girls, I will get better and I will improve and I will handle that pressure with ease. -Ya’ll know Eric, The Eric Oakley, Putterpants, Team Coordinator, etc. He just won his first ever open tournament which was also an A-tier and also against a LOT of really good players (Fort Steilacoom Open). I’ve seen Eric struggle through a lot of the same golf issues as myself and his story is inspirational. He’s trained and he’s fought and he’s shot great rounds followed by bad ones and he never quit. He never let his rating or other people's expectations of his game slow him down and he came up and beat a bunch of thousand rated players - through persistence, and accepting the tough times as a challenge to get better. Seeing that kind of success story has really allowed me to look at my rough time in a different light, a bright hopeful one where determination pays off. -Lastly - just determination. Something happened to me in the last few weeks where I feel I am getting to the edge of the fence where although I may be comfortable in AM, I’m not pushing myself as hard as I want to. I’m here in this sport to someday compete with the BEST (and someday BE the best)! I think it’s important to give yourself time in the right divisions while you’re figuring things out and that only you can decide when it’s time to move up. But for me it is time. I’ve learned what I can from the AM division, I’ve won some things, I’ve lost some things, I’ve shot terrible rounds, and stellar rounds I’ve let myself down, I’ve battled pressure, I’ve overcome huge issues and now I’m ready. I’m ready to be humbled and to observe and absorb and to focus better and to take each stroke/each round in stride, and to tour alongside my heros who are now my friends. This is not the year I had planned, not even a little, but it’s STILL MY YEAR! Next year will be even bigger! Thanks for reading, this is a long one but I’ve come out of my swamp and I’m ready to kick life’s ass! For the love of frisbees, Tina |
WhalePants Mini Judge Fundraiser^ Click Here to Subscribe!!!
Disc golf for life -
|
I am the Whale Sacs girl! |
Author
Tina Stanaitis - Professional Disc Golfer (#68076), Entrepreneur, Full Time RVer, and Dream Follower Extraordinaire!
Tina's Current Location:
Portland, OR
Tina on the Web:
Facebook
Instagram
Whale Sacs on the Web:
Facebook
Webpage
Women's Disc Golf Outreach:
www.Womensdgo.com
Videos
Archives
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
April 2015