Big thanks to the D.C. crew for pulling this together. If you attended the Polo Camp in 2011, you’re already aware of the courts for this one.

A good time is brewing in the east…..

Several prototypes of varying formulas were sent out to clubs for testing and feedback. The hot weather ball was praised across the board. The ball was able to withstand high temperatures and remain hard without ice. And, unlike many other hot weather balls which are a darker red, the bright orange color improved play in dim environments.

When the results came back, we were excited and decide to move forward. As of today, the Fixcraft Hot Ball is available for pre-order through their online store. For this week only, through Sunday, March 11th, Fixcraft is offering a discounted introductory rate. Singles are $2.99 and a set of three is $6.99. Standard MSRP will be $3.99 for the single and $9.99 for a 3 pack. Expected delivery date is March 30th. (View the press release HERE). Fixcraft is also taking low-minimum wholesale orders to clubs. Clubs can concact Fixcraft for further info and pricing here.

Whether or not you decide to order one of these balls, you’ll definitely being playing with them as the season gets underway. The South Central NAH Qualifier will be the tournament debut of the Hot Ball, and all subsequent qualifiers will be using the ball. Also, watch for the Hot Ball at Ladies Army in Lexington and the ESPI – Eastern Conference Championship, bench-format tourney in NYC.

Thanks to all who helped make this possible, especially the field testers!

The North American Hardcourt (NAH) organization is pleased to announce that the 2012 Championship will be presented by Milwaukee Bicycle Co. and held at Washington Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 6th-8th, 2012.

Milwaukee is excited to welcome the teams, fans, and families to enjoy our city and all it has to offer while cheering on North America’s best bicycle polo players. 56 teams that qualify through 7 regional tournaments held in advance of event will be competing for an opportunity to represent the continent at the World Championships in Geneva Switzerland in August 2012. Check back for updates on registration and eligibility to compete in the NAHBPC 2012.

Pertinent information for tournament:
4 courts of continual action throughout event
A pool, restrooms and bubbler directly adjacent to court
On-site mechanic’s tent provided courtesy of Ben’s Cycle/Milwaukee Bicycle Co.
Various grocery stores,restuarants, convience stores are located within 1 mile of Washington Park.
Spectators are encouraged to attend and there is no fee, plenty of free vehicle parking is available near courts.
Grilling and alcohol consumption is allowed in sanctioned areas adjacent to courts
Registration fee will be determined by the club in the next few days, check back for a confirmation on that.
Housing accommodations will be released as details become available.

**Details and sponsors of the event will be updated regularly. Please check mkebikepolo blog HERE for info updates as well as leagueofbikepolo.com HERE for the tournament listing and forum discussion.

THANK YOU MKE FOR STEPPING UP AND COMING THROUGH FOR THE COMMUNITY! NAH has the greatest in confidence for a successful and fantastically run tournament coming out of the MKE club. Excited for great polo to be played in a great city with great people. July 6-8, 2012, COUNT IT!!!

Media, supplemental sponsors, and general questions please contact:
Jake@mkebikepolo.com

(Qualified for the World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships)

1st – The Guardians (Julian/Seabass/Dustin Seattle)

2nd – Clobber Politics (Joe/Ben/Robbie CHI/OTT)
3rd – Crazy Canucks (Rory/Chris/Alex VAN)
4th – The Outsiders (Martin/Evan/Joker VAN/SEA/LA)

5th – Garçons Castor (Kremin/Brian/Pierre MKE/MAD)
5th – DTGP (Kevin/Ngaihon/Hugo TO/Paris)

7th – My Face (Eric/Chris/Erica ATL/Athens)
7th – The Oddballs (Leon/Drew/Mike SEA)

9th – Wardens (Jake/Zach/Matt MKE)
9th – Smang Gang (Mike/Cody/Forest SEA)
9th – Top Centaurs (Henry/Luke/Ken VIC/VAN)
9th – Portland United (Arlyn/Eric/Jason PDX)

13th – Blistering Barnacles (Lewis/Greg/Clement SYD/Paris/GE)

13th – Bad Fingers (Ruckus/Long/Jeremiah SF)
13th – Purple Starfish (Ian/Alexis/Jonny MAD/OT/RVA)
13th – The Hunky Dories (Shane/Nick/Plaxton TO)

17th – Team Priapism (Jason/Eric/Joey/ SF)
17th – The Full Kenichi’s (Timothy/Tom/Pete PDX)
17th – Never Nudes (Cole, Brook, Gemma Van)
17th – Horse With No Name (Nick/Allan/Kiersten VIC/OT/SEA)
17th – L’Explosif (Rowdy/Andre/Messman SEA)
17th – Cowpunchers (Justin/Mike/Dan CAL)
17th – Poontang Clan (Tiffany/Jill/Will LEX/PITT)
17th – Mitten Polo (Adam/Piet/Jon Ann Arbor)

^^ Worlds Cutoff ^^

25th – Real Talk (Shannon/Paul/Mckenzie SEA/VAN)
25th – The Little Lebowski Urban Acheivers (Will/Neil/Kevin)
25th – Terminally Disabled (Max/Trevor/Blazar VAN/CAL/SEA)
25th – Sac Up and Play On (Mike/Josh/Machine SF)
25th – Hurricones (Eric/Koyo/Tony SEA)
25th – Pink & Bent (Cory/Dylan/Wheatie CAL)
25th – The Breaks (Oleha/Justin/Chris VAN)
25th – Mighty Morphin Polo Rangers (Dave/Fabian/Brad WPG)

CHECK OUT THE BRACKET

1-8 (Qualified for the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships)
1st – Dans Ta Gueule, Puceau (Kev TO / Ngaihon TO / Hugo PAR)
2nd – Rusty Nutz (Adam / John / Piet ANN ARBOR)
3rd – Woadie and the Jets (Chris ATL /Eric ATL /Woadie PDX)
4th – Sure Bud (Ace NY / Maija TO / Charlie BUFF)
5th – Dragon Army (Medic/Henry/Leon SEA/VIC/SEA)
5th – Hand Job Well (Alexis OTT / Johnny Crash OTT / Chris NYC)
7th – The Different Different Strokes (Jb / Mark / Eryn WPG)
7th – Cowpunchers (Justin CAL / Chombo NYC / Treeface CAL)

9-12 (Qualified for the NAHBPC Wild Card Tournament)
9th – Blistering Barnacles (Lewis SYD / Greg PAR / Clement GE)
9th – NAFTA (Chandel / Marco / Baby Joey PHILLY)
9th – Blue Steel (Tiff LEX / Seabass SEA / Jill PGH)
9th – Smooth Criminals (Shane TO / Allan OTT / Coach OTT)

I’m sitting in my now empty living room thinking back on the whole East Side Polo Invitational VI that just happened here in Philadelphia. What a weekend! An empty house that was host to 10 people is a bit lonely after playing general host to 114 players [38 teams] from across North America and even some European visitors.

I can say without a doubt that this was the single most stressful yet gratifying thing I’ve been a part of in my whole life. To spend roughly 5 months planning an event to have it be received with such positivism and to have it be executed as smoothly as possible is something to be proud of, and I am extremely proud.

The planning of a tournament of this level is never easy for the organizer[s] to approach, and the only way this was done was with careful, deliberate, concentrated, and resourceful organization. The Philly Bike Polo Club, the tournament volunteers, the sponsors, and the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Association made this happen with me. I could never have imagined doing this without their help and it would have never gone as well without it.

The facility, Rizzo Rink, was ideal. Before planning this tournament I asked what key points teams considered when evaluating a tournament; hands down, location was the most important element. We were fortunate here to be able to obtain this facility and give everyone the quality courts they deserve to play on. Covered from the rain and sun, all three courts side-by-side, plenty of parking, indoor bathrooms and running water, and lots of space to keep peoples bikes and supplies really gave this an over-the-top satisfaction to location design.

All other elements of a tournament are circumstantial and dependant upon sponsorship support. I have to say a HUGE thank you to FUZE BEVERAGE for hydrating all of our players and contributing not only product but funding to make this happen. I also have to say to all our other sponsors, this was epic and could not have been done without your support. The prizes and everything else we were able to offer to the participants were amazing because you were amazing. To any future organizers, please do not take your sponsors for granted. Give them the exposure they deserve before, during, and after the tournament.

To everyone that came and played, watched, heckled, laughed, cried, danced, sang, was in general just enthusiastic, thank you. This is why we have tournaments; this is what makes it worth it. Congratulations to the Champions, the Beaver Boys II Men, and all of the podium teams! Congrats also to Maija, female MVP, and Nick Kruse, male MVP! Play hard, play clean, play for fun, and play to win! Thanks everyone! See you on the court!

–Chandel

Some players have been rightfully wondering whether there is a purpose to NAH collecting $10 per team at NAH events.  As of now, the purpose of the NAH account is largely to establish a “contingency fund” for NAH tournaments. An example:

About three weeks before ESPI VI Chandel secured a cash sponsorship offer from FUZE Beverages. After negotiating the details and dealing with some tax ID issues, however, it was clear that payment from FUZE wouldn’t come through in time to pay the bills – most importantly the final payment to Rizzo Rink.

At that point, Chandel asked if NAH could accept the FUZE sponsorship and advance the payments to Rizzo Rink and other vendors. NAH got in touch with FUZE and agreed that the arrangement was possible. The FUZE sponsorship was directed to NAH, and NAH wrote checks to cover the ESPI bills. When the FUZE sponsorship comes through to NAH next week, the entire amount borrowed from the NAH account will be recovered, enabling NAH to provide the same type of contingency funds to upcoming tournaments.

To this point, other than the ESPI 6 advance, no NAH funds have been spent whatsoever. All representatives’ and directors’ time is 100 percent volunteered. All initial set-up costs for the non-profit organization were paid by NAH reps out of their own pockets, as were initial operating costs such as NAHardcourt.com hosting and the initial NAH bank deposit.

Moving forward, the organization will have expenses that should properly be paid from the NAH account. For example, there are small expenses associated with NAH projects such as the currently circulating polo census, and operating expenses such as the future costs of NAHardcourt.com. And yes, there will be payment for the use of Podium software by NAH and many non-NAH tournaments over the past year. However, it is worth noting that all of the above expenses can be comfortably covered by the sponsorship funds that NAH has already raised. None of the expenses on NAH’s current radar will cut into the players’ contributions, which are available as the tournament contingency fund.

NAH is a still-new idea and a brand-new organization. There are going to be missteps along the way and not keeping the polo community fully up-to-date was one of them. We’re volunteers, we’re learning as we go, and we depend on your input. PLEASE be in touch with your regional representatives, and feel free to contact NAH generally – NAHardcourt.com/contact

Please visit NAHardcourt.com/non-profit for the nitty-gritty.

NAHardcourt/non-profit will stay updated to remain current with the NAH board of directors.

TOP 8 (Qualified for the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships)

1st: BEAVER BOYS II MEN
2nd: Guinea Pigeons
3rd: Silent Majority
4th: Coco Kiwi
5th: Boston Cremes
5th: Slaughter House Polo
7th: Shut Up Dude
7th: Nice Guys

9-12  (Qualified for the NAHBPC Wild Card Tournament)
9th: Toronto Raptures
9th: Illa-Noise
9th: Cycle Killers
9th: Fur Trappers

Don’t miss the TEAM PHOTOS by demoncats.com!

9 Funk Buddies – Tallahassee (Danny, Bob, Chris)
9 Gub’ment Cheez – Memphis (Adam, Anthony, Brett)
9 Cottonmouth Kings – Mobile (Frazer, Porch, KG)
9 Matthew Robert Lane – Chicago/Milwaukee/Chicago (Greg, Birdie, Joe)