Ultimate Frisbee in Hong Kong

Christopher “Cal” Lee is an Ultimate Frisbee player from the USA. He has been living in Kowloon area of Hong Kong, China, for two and a half years where he works as a Sustainability Consultant. In this interview he talks about his love for Ultimate Frisbee and the Hong Kong Ultimate Players Association (HKUPA).

Hard marking by a Dutch defender on Cal’s backhand at World’s Ultimate & Guts Championships; Sakai Japan, 2012

Voicu Mihnea Simandan: When have you started playing Ultimate Frisbee? 

Christopher “Cal” Lee: I played some ultimate in summer camps and high school, but I started playing seriously when I started college, eight years ago.

VMS: For how long have you been playing ultimate Frisbee in Hong Kong?

CAL: Since the week I landed, over two and a half years ago.

VMS: Where do you play? What format? 

CAL: We have 4 main sets of fields in Hong Kong, all slightly off the beaten path. We play mixed, usually 5/2, with occasional open and women’s mini-leagues.

VMS: What is your opinion about the “ultimate Frisbee movement” in Asia? 

CAL: I really love the ultimate community in Asia. I continue to be amazed by the diverse, interesting and talented people I meet in ultimate events. The community is extremely welcoming, and I’ve both hosted and been hosted by ultimate players whom I only peripherally knew. Teams play hard and with great spirit, and parties here are consistently unbeatable.

Pulling to open play in Shenzhen Hat; Shenzhen, China, 2012

VMS: You’ve played abroad too, including Bangkok Hat and World’s in Japan. How did you enjoy Thailand and Japan? 

CAL: I’ve gone to a few tournaments in different countries: China, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, United States and Ireland. My experience in Thailand is pretty limited, just in Bangkok, but it’s clear to me that the country has so much to offer and the moniker “Land of Smiles” is very appropriate. Bangkok is definitely a unique city which really redefines nightlife.

Japan was a long-awaited and somewhat overwhelming experience. I was inundated with the senses from day one, from a loud carnival-style siren in the morning to grilled pork liver emanating from streetside food stalls. I loved how it was a country with so much indigenous innovation that had shaped a one-of-a-kind society.

VMS: What is the biggest difference between ultimate Frisbee in Hong Kong and ultimate Frisbee in your home country? 

CAL: There are lots of significant differences. Many of them boil down to the size of the community. When I played in DC, there were a handful of pickup options strewn across the city any given weekday, dozens of clubs and college teams, and 4 whole levels of leagues. I rarely ever got to know my competitors and didn’t even know my league teammates very well. My experience there was much more competitive and more serious.

Here we have one community, and I made 60+ friends within a week of my first appearance. There is only one league though, which makes it difficult for beginners to find a comfortable spot to develop. We will occasionally hold beginner clinics to help with this. The international community is also quite different, a lot more friendly with competitors keen to get to know one another.

Laying out for a score; Shenzhen, China 2013

VMS: Is it a physically challenging sport? 

CAL: Of course. It can get more and more challenging depending how hard you try.

VMS: Then, who is Ultimate Frisbee for? Why should anyone start playing Ultimate Frisbee?

CAL: Ultimate is for anyone who has a good attitude about life and is willing to put in something to get a lot out. It’s just different than other sports, I can’t explain it but it somehow encapsulates all that we love about sports – the purity, the movement, the competition, the strategy, the passion.

VMS: Do you have any personal “ultimate Frisbee experiences” you would like to share? 

CAL: Ultimate’s been a big part of my life for so long now, I feel like the last few years have been a steady wave of ultimate experiences. My favorite ultimate memory of all time though is from one of my last tournaments in college, where due to a scheduling conflict and some injuries, my team finished 2nd in Sectionals with only 9 players.

Within Asia, it would have to be seeing a young Chinese player go to her first hat tournament in February, where she was quite overwhelmed, then see her develop and throw a 50-yard huck for a score in July.

Team Hong Kong and Team USA in a post-match Spirit Circle at World’s Ultimate & Guts Championships; Sakai, Japan, 2012

VMS: Where is your club located? How long has the club been operating? 

CAL: My club is located in Hong Kong. It is called Junk, and is the oldest club in Hong Kong, competing since the late 90’s.

VMS: How many members are there in the club? 

CAL: At any given time, somewhere around 20. HKUPA as a whole has somewhere between 100-150 members.

VMS: What are the membership costs? 

CAL: $500 HKD will get you a year long membership into HKUPA. Members get unlimited pickup access, reduced league fees, the opportunity to join the clubs, and to represent Hong Kong in international play. There are also reduced rates for half year and student memberships.

Find out more about HKUPA on their Facebook fan page.