Welcome to the Emerald City Classic!

On behalf of the players, teams and fans of Ultimate in the Pacific Northwest, I want to thank you for joining us in Burlington for what promises to be an excellent weekend of Ultimate.

For myself, this tournament has been my dream for more than a year, and I’ve put countless hours into details I never thought possible. With some really excellent assistance from way too many people to list here, we’ve put together a tournament that we hope you forget. Seriously. I hope you are able to fall asleep on Sunday night, whether in your own bed or on a red-eye or thousands of miles from home, thinking only about one thing; the amazing games that you played in. If we did our job right, the idea of ECC will fade into your memory while your layout near-misses and silky throws on great fields against amazing opponents are etched, permanently, into your brain.

I’d like to thank our sponsors for their support; without them ECC would not exist. I would especially like to thank George Plomarity and Patagonia for supporting ECC when it was simply a local tournament with big dreams. Patagonia has been with us all the way, and they really care about creating the best possible environment for the players.

I’ve been lucky enough to play Ultimate at the highest level, across the globe and in many unique environments. I can tell you, unequivocably, that the Spirit of the Game is more alive now than it ever has been. In my opinion, Spirit gets better as you play at higher levels. I’m not talking about hugs and cheers, I mean the real thing: two teams giving their all to crush their opponent’s game while demanding from themselves an ironclad adherence to the rules. If you are playing in ECC, your team has been able to do this in the past, and I expect this to continue. Help your teammates and your opponents. Let them help you. This thing that we do….it’s honorable, and it is worth it, but it isn’t easy.

Our dream is to bring the best players together in an environment that allows them to concentrate solely on the game. If we can help you do that, please let us know. Otherwise, I hope this letter finds you ready to tie your cleats, say your prayers, and give every point your most complete effort. From all of us, thank you for joining us in this dream.

Sincerely,
Ben Wiggins
Sockeye #8