EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. — Teams kicked off their socks and shoes to play some indoor sand kubb on Saturday, March 12. A mixture of veteran and newer kubb players mixed it up through seven rounds of single game matches, using the Klassic system.
The top eight teams moved into the gold bracket, where matches became best-of-three game affairs. The top seeds did not fare too well in the quarter-finals, with all four losing to their lower-ranked opponents.
Both semi-final matches only took two games to decide a winner. The finals match would be a showdown between eighth-seeded Splash Hogs (Andy Lancette, Brad Larson, Brian Ramsey) and the sixth-seeded Flux Capacitors (Nick Brill, Joe Dekan, John Ellingsen).
In the first game of the finals, things seemed to be pretty even. There was a good back-and-forth of plus one or two kubbs per turn. With eight kubbs in play, Splash Hogs failed to clear, leaving a juicy line. Flux Capacitors made quick work of the field kubbs, took down their last 8 meter, and had two batons left for the king. John Ellingsen lined up, took a shot and it hit the king, but not enough to topple. His next shot didn’t hit, and the Splash Hogs sighed in relief as they drilled on their unexpected bonus turn. Unfortunately, the pile of nine kubbs ate up batons, leaving Larson with just two to hit a baseline and the king. The 8 meter took two, so there wouldn’t be a king shot, and Flux would get another chance. A pile of 10 kubbs is never easy, and Flux Capacitors needed five batons to clear. Ellingsen once again stepped up for a king shot, noticeably nervous after his last turn, but this time slayed it with a very solid hit.
In game two, it seemed Splash Hogs were ice cold on 8 meters. Within a few turns, Flux Capacitors had cleared all but one of their baseline kubbs before Splash Hogs finally broke the seal. Now with five kubbs in play, both teams seemed to struggle clearing in the sand. That last 8 meter kubb took quite a few batons, but Flux finally got it. Splash Hogs made some progress, getting nine kubbs into play, but it was just a little too late. Flux Capacitors cleared the nine kubbs with four batons, and this time Ellingsen confidently toppled the king with his first shot to win the game, and the match.
Final Results
Gold Bracket
- Flux Capacitors (Nick Brill, Joe Dekan, John Ellingsen)
- Splash Hogs (Andy Lancette, Brad Larson, Brian Ramsey)
- Kubboom (Gina Klages, Max Klages, Pat Klages)
- Sciencefellas (Christopher Jones, Demain Moore, Chad Stute)
Finals Match Video
Watch the finals match on YouTube courtesy of John Oman
