Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Meet the "Team Team" for Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64, and Westside Discs


If you've paid attention to Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64, or Westside Discs' social media channels, post-produced disc golf channels like JomezPro, Central Coast Disc Golf, or any other media outlets, you're probably familiar with some of the sponsored players from our companies. However, with some recent changes in our organization, we'd like to shine the spotlight on the new people behind our sponsored teams. Let's take a moment to meet our "Team Team."

Our new Dynamic Discs Team Manager is no stranger to disc golf's largest stage, so he can relate to players at all levels. Eric McCabe, 2010 World Champion, is taking over the management of Team Dynamic Discs. Eric has primarily focused on course design over the last several years, and while he'll continue to design courses all over the world, he looks forward to a new responsibility with familiar teammates. When asked what he likes most about his new role, Eric said, "Feeling more connected to them throughout the year. This is the perfect position for me - I’ve been there and know exactly what they expect, want and deserve from my 10+ years on the tour." If you're familiar with Eric from his work on Disc Golf Answer Man, tournament coverage, or you simply know his name because of the EMAC Truth, you know that he has a decorated career in disc golf, but not everyone knows that he's actually a two-time Major Championship winner. "Looking over my career, there are a lot of things I’ve accomplished that I’m proud of. I was honored to be Team Captain for USA during the Presidents Cup, I've designed and installed multiple courses across the country, and I won my first Major Championship victory at the 2008 Players Cup, but winning the World Championships is by far at the top of the list," McCabe said. We are excited about the passion and knowledge that Eric will bring to the table!

The new Latitude 64 and Westside Discs Team Manager has been working with sponsored players from all three companies for the past year-and-a-half, but Brian Shintaku will now focus most of his time on those two teams as McCabe manages Team DD. Brian and his family moved to Emporia in January of 2018, and he began working on the warehouse floor at the Dynamic Discs Distribution Center. Shintaku, or as he is known by his friends and team members, "Tako," was quickly moved into a position with the sponsored teams as he continually showed his undying work ethic and willingness to do any job that needed to be done. It's no surprise that he enjoys working hard for our team members, as he shared that his favorite things about managing the team are "... building and establishing relationships, seeing the positive influence and impact our team members make, and doing my best to help." Tako will continue to compete in some disc golf tournaments throughout the year, but you may have seen him at some bigger events driving the Dynamic Discs RV, caddying for players, and taking Instagram story videos. If you know Brian, you know he has some legendary stories, and his disc golf career highlight is no exception. "My disc golf career highlight might be throwing a sidearm so hard it snapped a PVC pole. It was filmed, and it's on my Instagram (@brianshintalkindiscgolf). Make sure you turn the sound on!" Shintaku says. We look forward to seeing Team Latitude 64 and Westside's continued growth with Brian taking the lead.

After a hiatus from team-related work tasks, we'd like to welcome back Denise Cameron into the role of Team Support Specialist! Denise has served as Latitude 64's Team Manager in previous years while juggling the role of Apparel Buyer for Dynamic Discs. Denise began working at Dynamic Discs in 2014 and was picked up by Latitude 64 as a sponsored player shortly thereafter. As she settles back into a similar role, Denise says she enjoys "...keeping up with team members and hearing about highs and lows as they grow as players." Even having amassed 42 wins since she began playing disc golf tournaments in 2009, Cameron says that a local impact has been her personal disc golf highlight: "After 10 years of competition, I have wins that I am proud of, but overall, the highlight of my disc golf career has been growing the sport through my women's league. Our league grows each year, and seeing the players engage in the community and embrace the sport as they improve and learn is so rewarding." Denise will provide support to Eric and Brian for all things team-related and will be able to take care of team members' questions or needs if Eric or Brian are unavailable. Welcome back, Denise!

You may be thinking to yourself, "That all sounds great for those team members, but how do I become a team member?" If so, you're in luck - each member of our "Team Team" has shared some advice for you. McCabe says, "There is so much that goes into becoming a team member. At DD, it’s not just about how you perform, but how you carry yourself, your social media presence, and if you run clinics, tournaments, or other events. One big part of the decision for me is seeing what you’re doing now - if you're currently pushing our products and throwing our discs." Cameron added, "I look for a combination of a good attitude, adeptness in playing and/or growing the sport, and ability to evolve as a player and/or ambassador. I especially look for people that want to use their sponsorship to give back to the community." Shintaku summed it up nicely, saying, "When looking for potential team members, I look for people who are great ambassadors, approachable, sport influencers, brand influencers, and who stand out amongst their peers. Individuals who run events to support their local scene, improve community awareness, and grow disc golf are good candidates."

We look forward to the future with our Team Team at the helm of all things player sponsorship-related, and we thank you for the support you've already shown them! The future is bright at Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64, and Westside Discs!
Monday, September 23, 2019

Battling Burnout Toward The End Of The Season


It’s been a hot-button topic in recent years, as more and more studies are conducted around workplace dissatisfaction. While a number of issues could be at play, one of the main reasons that people tend to hate their jobs comes from burnout - that feeling that you’re just spinning your wheels, not getting anywhere, and knowing that you’ve done too much with too little progress to show for it. This condition can make a major impact on your career, but what about when you experience burnout around the things you love to do in your free time?

Many of us may not want to admit it, but despite how much we love the sport of disc golf, burnout happens here too. When an activity that you love and participate in, oftentimes to reduce stress and boost your mood, actually ends up being the source of burnout, is there anything that you can do?

Take A Break

Even disc golf’s top-level professionals have sat out a tournament or two in their career in order to regroup and spend some time recharging their batteries away from the course. If you’re heavily involved in your local disc golf community and find that you’re enjoying it less and less, it might be time to take a step back. Ask for help from others if you’re responsible for specific tasks within a club, or simply take a weekend off to put your feet up instead of throwing a few rounds.

Change Your Scenery

One of the reasons that nearly any activity can lead to burnout is that it becomes too routine and doesn’t provide any sort of challenge or excitement. If you’re guilty of visiting the same two or three courses over and over again and you’ve stuck to a pretty regular routine, try changing things up a bit.

Drive a little farther and explore the new 18-hole layout that you’ve never played before, or try challenging yourself with a putter only round. Instead of playing a full game, spend some time doing fieldwork or dialing in your putt around a practice basket - anything that will break up the schedule you’ve dug yourself into.

Adjust Your Attitude

We all have a passion for disc golf, but sometimes that can translate into taking the sport, and ourselves, a little too seriously. Instead of getting down on yourself for not playing well or treating disc golf as your full-time job, assuming it’s not, infuse some fun into your next round. After all, didn’t we just see a well-known player competing with just six discs in a shopping bag?

Rather than stepping away from disc golf permanently or even taking a longer than necessary hiatus, think about the ways in which you would approach burnout at your workplace and apply it to the sport. Whether you need something new to excite you, extra help with specific tasks, or simply should take the time to reassess your feelings, there’s nothing wrong with some reflection around our hobbies.

Have you ever experienced disc golf burnout? What steps did you take to refresh your love of the sport? Share with us below!
Friday, September 20, 2019

Introducing The Last Disc Golf Product You'll Ever Need To Buy - The Transit Cart

Perhaps you’ve been playing disc golf for a while and your shoulders are begging for a much-needed break from wearing your bag or you’re just starting the sport but want to enjoy the low-impact nature that a round can bring, but one thing is for sure - a disc golf cart sounds like the best thing since sliced bread. A quick search online could potentially dash all of your hopes, however, as you find out that you not only have to buy the cart frame, but need a backpack to put your discs in, and should probably even buy a few extra tires while you’re at it.

Suddenly, the thing that seemed like the answer to your prayers suddenly got really expensive, and you wonder if #cartlife is for you. It’s been a long time coming but we’ve finally given disc golfers what they’ve been looking for with our brand new Transit Cart. You don’t have to give up the idea of using a cart, especially if finances are tight, with this beauty!

Our First Independent Cart

The crew at Dynamic Discs have long been fans of using carts during a round - they save your back, they often offer a built-in seat, and are functional enough to use for both casual and competitive play. It was only a matter of time before something like the Transit Cart came into fruition, but what exactly makes it so special?

The Transit Cart offers a ZÜCA frame that supports up to 300 pounds along with a bag built right in. It can hold up to 25 discs with ease, plus the extra storage space on the bottom can act as another section for plastic if you need to bring tons with you. The bag is made from water-resistant polyester and removes easily if you need to hand wash it and includes a large zippered front pocket to store your keys, phone, scorecards, and more.

Built To Last

A huge issue that people often have with disc golf carts, aside from having to purchase a bag if they don’t already have one, is the fact that tires can go flat at the least convenient of times. The Transit Cart solves that problem with all-season tubeless foam performance tires that roll right over rocks, through the snow, and over the roughest terrain you can imagine. If needed, the wheels remove very easily for storage purposes but keep in mind that the cart doesn’t currently meet FAA specifications for carry-on baggage.

If you’ve been on the fence about transitioning from a bag to a cart and aren’t sure if you want to make the investment, the Transit Cart is by far the best bang for your buck. Everything you need retails for one price of $249 and is designed to last you for years. This item has just been released as of September 18th, so make sure you head over to the Dynamic Discs website and place an order soon.

Want to see the Transit Cart in its full glory? You can watch Anthony do a full unboxing here!
Wednesday, September 11, 2019

New Marketing Director at Dynamic Discs


As you all have heard time and time again, at Dynamic Discs, we are always working on something! Today, that “something” is a shift in personnel and roles. Since the beginning of Dynamic Discs, we have largely handled our marketing by committee - multiple people have completed marketing pieces while simultaneously completing their full-time assigned job responsibilities. I have felt the need to consolidate Dynamic Discs’ marketing efforts for some time so that all employees are able to focus more of their time on their specific roles - Bobby can focus on media, Clay can focus on technology, Kris can focus on product development, Jamie can focus on sales… the list goes on and on. I’m happy to say that Dynamic Discs will be filling this role today.

Moving forward, Robert McCall will be transitioning to a brand new role for Dynamic Discs as the Marketing Director. Robert has loved serving as Team Manager and Team Director for the last two-and-a-half years, but he is thrilled to take on these new responsibilities and new challenges! This new role also gives Robert new availability for media responsibilities such as live and post-produced commentary and some potential new projects.

As Robert moves away from his team role, I am also thrilled to announce a change in Team Management for the sponsored teams of Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64, and Westside Discs along with an exciting new structure. Brian Shintaku will continue in his role as Team Manager, but he will now manage Team Latitude 64 and Team Westside. Brian has worked with the three teams for the last 18 months, and if you know Tako, you know that we’re excited for him to continue with a new focus on Latitude 64 and Westside!

Team Dynamic Discs’ new Team Manager is a familiar face and knows the history of Dynamic Discs as well or better than anyone: Eric McCabe. Eric has been with Dynamic Discs since the beginning and has worked in several different capacities at Dynamic Discs, most recently as World Champion Course Designer. Eric is excited to assist Dynamic Discs’ sponsored players and has firsthand experience performing the tasks and achieving the goals of every level of sponsorship, including the highest level of competition. He is looking forward to working more closely with the team while continuing to install championship-level courses all over the world!

After a brief time away from team-related responsibilities, I’m also excited to welcome Denise Cameron back as Team Support Specialist. Denise has previously worked as Latitude 64’s Team Manager, so she is extremely familiar with team processes and needs. While Eric, Brian, and Denise will have some team-specific responsibilities, we are confident that any of these three will be able to take care of any team member’s needs at any time, regardless of the team they represent.

Dynamic Discs is looking forward to the future of these new roles for our employees. Please join us in welcoming them to their new positions!
Monday, September 9, 2019

School's Back In Session - Are Your Kids Learning Disc Golf?


Many students across the United States are in a school system that incorporates physical education into their curriculum, and that usually takes the form of basketball, running, or for younger kids, some form of dodge ball. While it’s wonderful to get kids active and engaged in the habit of exercise, just how many of our youth are being exposed to disc golf?

Unless a child’s parent happens to be obsessed with the sport, there’s a good chance that many will not even hear about disc golf until their later teen years or even well into adulthood. Driving by a local course to see oddly shaped metal contraptions doesn’t exactly lead to massive amounts of excitement, so how can we, as adult players, encourage more kids to play?

Living Life On The EDGE

Founded by a group of diverse individuals with backgrounds ranging from professional disc golf affiliation to educators, recreational therapists and more, the Educational Disc Golf Experience (EDGE) aims to promote an active lifestyle through disc golf to kids around the nation. Packages of equipment along with an easy to follow curriculum are available at multiple price points, making it easy for schools to integrate disc golf into their classrooms.

EDGE functions as a non-profit and along with promoting disc golf within schools, their team works to install courses around the world. They also have a Tournament Charity Program that has awarded over $100,000 in grants to schools and youth programs across the United States.

Do UPlayDG?

EDGE isn’t the only group working to infuse schools with the disc golf spirit, as Dynamic Discs’ very own team members Zoe AnDyke and Dustin Keegan have also created a non-profit that works to teach kids fundamentals of the game. Universal Play Disc Golf, or UPlayDG, has reached students in over a dozen schools and provides a comprehensive overview of disc golf skills and techniques.

A long-time coach and teacher, Zoe was recently honored with the 2018 EDGE/PDGA Educational Award. She’s put her blood, sweat, and tears into building UPlay DG into an incredible organization and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. During her acceptance speech, Zoe noted that the impact she’s been able to make through UPlayDG wouldn’t have been possible if not for Dustin and her amazing team of supporters.

Taking The First Step

Whether you have school-aged kids or not, the desire to expose the next generation to disc golf is real. If you’re not sure how to approach your local school or even if you want to set up some sort of after school club or clinic, consider reaching out to those who have already paved the way. The team at EDGE as well as those at UPlayDG can offer tips and guidance along with the tools you need to succeed.

Disc golf fans always say that it’s never too late to pick up the sport, and in the same way, it’s also never too early. From kindergarten all the way to the final year of high school, incorporating disc golf into a physical education curriculum can bring nothing but benefits!
Thursday, September 5, 2019

Dynamic Discs Month In Review - August 2019

Dynamic Discs employees and fans are often asked, “Which of your discs are the most popular?” We tend to think that we know the answers, but some of our ideas may or may not be biased depending on our personal favorites. It’s time to put all that speculation to rest with some COLD, HARD FACTS. It’s time for the Dynamic Discs Month In Review.

Some discs may appear twice or more because of different plastic types. Here are August's top sellers:

  1. Retro Keystone
  2. Tournament Gatekeeper
  3. Fuzion Raider
  4. Prime Burst Judge
  5. BioFuzion Raider
  6. Gold Burst Pioneer
  7. VIP King
  8. Lucid Raider
  9. Opto Diamond
  10. Lucid Vandal
  11. Opto River
  12. Lucid Maverick
  13. Lucid EMAC Truth
  14. Opto Explorer
  15. Classic Blend Burst Judge
  16. Prime Judge
  17. Gold Burst River
  18. Prime Burst EMAC Truth
  19. Opto Jade
  20. Lucid Trespass


Trilogy Challenges are alive and well, and the Gatekeeper, Keystone, and Vandal are creeping into players’ bags. Even with Trilogy Challenges driving sales, the Fuzion Raider nearly caught them this month. The Raider may be looking at dethroning those discs in September, and the Lucid Raider's much-anticipated release will likely compete for the throne as well. The Judge closes out another strong month with three appearances, and alongside the Trilogy Challenge Keystone, it’s the only putter on the list. The BioFuzion Raider and Gold Pioneer are bolstered by USAMPC Doubles, and they’re likely to make a splash for competitors and fans alike. Let’s take a moment to talk about the unsung hero here - the River. The River doesn’t get a ton of recognition, but it finds a spot on the Top 20 list more often than you might think. Check one out! The River is joined by fellow easier-to-throw discs, the Diamond and Jade, and two great fairway complements, the Opto Explorer and Lucid Maverick. The VIP King shot up the list in August, and the Lucid Trespass continues its quiet consistency. Last but not least, could it be a Month in Review without at least one version of the EMAC Truth? I think not.

Thanks for joining us in looking at a snapshot of our best sellers. Which discs are you surprised to see off the list? Leave a comment below, and let us know why your favorite disc should make September’s Month in Review!
Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Have You Met Tako? We'll Introduce You To DD Employee Brian Shintaku



Anyone who goes by the nickname of Tako likely has a pretty great personality, but his awesome sense of humor is just a fraction of what makes Brian Shintaku such a great addition to the DD company team. We’re continuing to learn about each of the people who help to spread the disc golf love under the DD roof, so let’s find out more about Brian!

Starting Off On The Right Foot

Brian has lived in several places across the United States, but in 2018 he made the trek from California to Emporia and started working for Dynamic Discs that January. As the Team Manager for DD/Latitude 64/Westside, he’s got his hands full with a variety of tasks each and every day, but finds that the atmosphere and people he’s around is really what sets Dynamic Discs apart from other jobs he’s had:

“The best thing about working for DD is working in and around the sport and activity I love most, disc golf! I initially applied to DD to try to be a part of a exciting, booming, trustworthy company that is at the top of the market in disc golf.”

Tako has been playing disc golf since his teens, so for him, getting to be a part of the industry is a pretty amazing thing.

Making A Difference

One thing that’s so powerful about the employees at Dynamic Discs is that their passion for the sport extends beyond a 40-hour workweek. Shintaku is active throughout Emporia and loves to teach others about the sport:

“When outside of work, I try to grow the sport by volunteering at events to explain basic principles of disc golf. One example would be reaching out to local schools to give presentations during a PE period; during these events, each person/student gets a chance to throw a disc and make a putt in the basket.

The difference I try to make to disc golfers everywhere is to be a positive supporter, teaching others about ways to get involved with their community, helping with social media posts to show what programs and equipment are available, and being a good ambassador for disc golf. Hopefully leading by example is contagious and others will follow suit.”

A Family Event

Tako is clearly immersed within the disc golf world, but how does the rest of his family feel about it? He shared with us a pretty awesome story that goes to show just how amazing it is when the disc golf love extends to others:

“About five years ago my family (me, my wife Carly, and daughter Hayleigh) lived in Colorado. During a ladies' league with five other ladies at Ghostown DGC, I decided to film all the ladies’ drives on the ninth hole. After the first five ladies threw, it was then Carly’s turn and she threw a drive 235’ directly into the basket and it was filmed! On the drive back down the mountain, Carly felt dizzy and uneasy.

She sometimes gets altitude sickness so we thought nothing of it, but the symptoms continued after we arrived home that afternoon. She decided to take a pregnancy test and sure enough, baby number two was in her belly! So on the same day, we had twice the amount of joy for Carly’s second ace and child number two.”

Brian is a true part of the DD family and we couldn’t imagine working without him!