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Alpenglow Ultimate grows at Myrtle Philip

For the sixth year Whistler will be hosting the Alpenglow Ultimate tournament, taking place over two days, July 25 and 26. The tournament is limited to eight teams because of field space, but the interest was higher than that.

For the sixth year Whistler will be hosting the Alpenglow Ultimate tournament, taking place over two days, July 25 and 26. The tournament is limited to eight teams because of field space, but the interest was higher than that.

"I announced the dates this year and by the next day I had over 15 teams that wanted to attend," organizer Scott Barr said. He gave preference to the five teams that have participated every year, then let three more teams in on a first come, first served basis.

Once again the level of competition will be high. Last year one of the teams featured several players from the national team that went on to win the world championship title in Vancouver a few weeks after the Whistler tournament. Some of those players are returning to Whistler this year, then heading to China for this year's worlds.

There is no Whistler team this year, which Barr says is disappointing, but he hopes local players will turn out to watch.

"Unfortunately they weren't able to get enough people together to make up a team, but I know they'll be out supporting and watching," he said.

Saturday's round robin gets underway at 8:30 a.m. and runs to 5 p.m., followed by a steak dinner at the Longhorn Saloon. On Sunday the playoffs get underway at 10 a.m. and the final game should commence at 3 p.m.

Ultimate is a sport where two teams of seven make their way up a field throwing a disc, attempting to catch it in the other team's end zone. Other players can block and intercept discs to force a turnover, but can't interfere with the other players in any way. Any dropped or out-of-bounds disc also creates a turnover.

It was the fasting growing sport in Canada for several years, to the point where there are literally hundreds of club teams in Vancouver, and thousands more across Canada.