Kubb on a Stick 2021 Recap

MINNEAPOLIS — The second (sort of, thanks to 2020) annual Kubb on a Stick tournament got underway on Saturday, Aug. 28 with field of 40 teams. From the start, there was a threat of inclement weather, but everyone was in good spirits and just wanted to play some kubb.

The day kicked off with six rounds of the Klassic System. By the third round, there wasn’t an undefeated team, which speaks to the quality of competition present. After the qualification rounds, the tournament broke for an hour lunch with nearby breweries and a brat food truck being the popular destinations.

Once bracket play started, the top 16 teams were slotted into the Championship Bracket, the next 16 in the Silver Bracket, and the remaining teams in the Bronze Bracket. At this point, the wind had really picked up and on a few pitches, it was advantageous to pick sides over the opening sticks. Over time the gusts would ebb and flow, but the solid kubb playing was a constant.

The semi-finals saw some familiar Kubb on a Stick faces. The 2019 third place team Flux Capacitors (Nick Brill, Joe Dekan, John Ellingsen) took on A Tad bit of Pickles & Waffles on a Stick (Ethan Forney, Adam Holtz, Christopher Jones), of which two members were part of the 2019 second place team. On the other side of the bracket, returning team and number one seed Dr. Düblay and the Pronto Pups (Steve Dolan, Brad Larson, Demian Moore) matched up against Brandyland (Andy Lancette, Andy Long, Bridget Long).

The Flux Capacitors versus A Tad Bit of Pickles & Waffles on a Stick was a solid match with many kubbs being exchanged. Pickles & Waffles took the first two games, punching their ticket to the finals.

In the other semi-finals match, things were a bit more drawn out. Brandyland took game one, but Dr. Düblay and the Pronto Pups answered with a game two win. The entire match seemed like either team could do it, but the deciding third game was eventually claimed by Dr. Düblay and the Pronto Pups.

At this point, it had been raining on and off, usually in two minute downpours, and the occasional gust of wind. There were murmurs of thunder in the far-off distance, but no visible lightning so the kubb went on.

The finals match played through the questionable weather, but it didn’t seem to affect the teams much. Both sides were making good plays and adding kubbs. A Tad Bit of Pickles & Waffles were a little more consistent on the back row though, and that helped them win the first game. The second game was much of the same, random rain, good kubb, and solid 8 meter play leading Forney, Holtz, and Jones to take game two and with it, the top prize at the tournament.

Final Results

Championship Bracket

1. A Tad bit of Pickles & Waffles on a Stick (Ethan Forney, Adam Holtz, Christopher Jones)
2. Dr. Düblay and the Pronto Pups (Steve Dolan, Brad Larson, Demian Moore)
3. Brandyland (Andy Lancette, Andy Long, Bridget Long)

Silver Bracket

1. The Von Trapp Family Slingers
2. Zucchini Overlords
3. Kubb Your Enthusiasm

Bronze Bracket

1. Newbies
2. Qubbed
3. Some high quality H2O!