BBQ Review: Berlin Jugger Pokal 20-21 April 2013

Review by Haz

Walking across the great expanse of Templehof, the sound of a double beat can be heard from a distance, slowly merging to a single palpitation as one nears the mass of crazed people shouting and running about.

Photo: Uhu

The first day of the tournament was a sunny but windy affair, which left many shivering between matches and with patches of sunburn at the end of the day.

Having not seen a German rules match in over six months, the game play looked a little odd and deformed at first. Additionally the use of shouting to convey tactical information rather than simply swearing, was a notable abnormality. Directed to some of the more skillful and balanced matches, these differences were even more evident but eventually resolved themselves to show a game style equally worthy of being one with the church of the true dog skull.

In the contagious style of jugger, where a direct line of sight is enough for it to spread, officials wandered around speaking to spectators and inviting them to a rookie/newbie day the following weekend. Likewise, spectators would approach those closest to the fields to enquire about the name of the game and the rules.

Having teams from a variety of locales, used to slight variations in gameplay and rules, there were some impassioned instances of yelling, with arguments at times about what was and was not legal. Such an example was the Spanish qwik repeatedly yelling 'impossible' in response to being pinned by a German opponent.

Haz and Kwijibo, 'crossing the hawks'

Photo: Wendy

With the sun disappeared Juggers and cohorts shambled off to feed/wash and procure supplies before congregating on the Scube park. Beer was consumed, sausages were cooked, fire was twirled and thrown, with the crowd eventually moving indoors and upstairs to loud loud music where Juggers attempted to injury each other through the art of "dance".

The following day saw less wind chill and more sunscreen, plus a few late arrivals after late nights. A slight disturbance broke out on the second afternoon in the form of hooting, chanting and whistle blowing which began off to one side of the tournament fields and worked its way across. As placards came into view the cause was revealed as a protest against the use of dog skulls. To appease these protesters, one Rigor

As placards came into view the cause was revealed
as a protest against the use of dog skulls
Photo: Uhu

team replaced the traditional mound with a dog's bed to give comfort to and show respect for the dog skull. Having now identified Rigor as easy targets who would bow down to the pressures and demands of a protest, the militant crowd zeroed in on the next closest Rigor team. Assembled on the baseline of the next field the protesters ramped the noise up to a crescendo at which point they did a hasty about turn on their signs, revealing birthday greetings for two players from Rigor.

The final was a thoroughly enjoyable match, with a good sizable crowd packed around the sidelines. Much chanting and support was forth coming from the sidelines, particularly in support of those banana loving Zonenkinder. The Rigor support put up some resistance but had neither the volume nor melody to match. With Zonnenkinder showing dominance early, Rigor pushed themselves and clawed back some momentum but eventually the team, like the supporters, were overcome.

2013 Berlin Jugger Pokal – A BBQ review

Review by Wendy

Jugger Cake, Never a lie

Photo: Uhu

As with every tournament in Germany, I seem to sneak into town unnoticed, a waif of Australia drifting into town on a cloud of maybes ...

…maybe I will have a team

…maybe it will be a good tournament

…maybe there will be some fun.

This time I arrived at Casa GAG with no idea  about the tournament except that I was in town and it was on that weekend. After spending the previous 2 weeks in 4 different countries with 4 different languages, I was still a little dazed and so I set about preparing myself to face the weekend:

Step 1: drop stuff, grab some people and meet the interstate Juggers at the Scube* Park where people were staying.

Step 2: Seek out the pre-tournament gatherings. We are greeted by a roaring fire, the people gathered around it partially hidden by smoke. A group of people (Juggermeisters from Spain) bound up to me and start shouting indecipherably – This reminds me, I should learn Spanish! Another group sits a little way away from the fire laughing uproariously, obviously having been drinking for a few hours already. It is clear that most of these people know each other and are renewing acquaintances. There is also a small group in the corner discussing tactics quietly, almost seriously, until someone jumps into the conversation and starts them laughing. This is what Juggers are like, the tournament reflects this too. The Jugger pokal is considered by many to be a friendly tournament. That may explain the protest, during the tournament, against the use of dog skulls ... which turned out to be a unique way to say happy birthday to a jugger on the field.

Jugger Qwiks, an endangered and excited breed of human
Photo: Uhu

The tournament itself was played a little differently to others that I have seen The use of Power Groups and the games played as the best of three with each half (or third) consisting of first to 5 skulls/points. This was at times both a bonus and a hardship. Games lasted longer if the teams were matched - as they were in the Power Groups – where teams high up on the ladder were matched into groups so they never had the opportunity to slaughter a new team in battle and get an easy win. They had to fight for their points against proven opponents before being challenged by the winners of other groups. I think the organisers did this to mess with everyone’s heads – including their own. Many organisers suffer from “pudding brain” after tournaments, be kind to them for they suffer much on our behalf!

As this is the BBQ review I feel I should include a description of, well... the BBQ: Saturday night’s BBQ was excellent! With a large open grill, where people clamoured to cook their food competing to eat first after a massive day of sports. A bar, reasonably stocked helped to wash down dinner before people migrated either to bed or to the small disco being held at the Scube Park. Many people were sitting around drinking until someone let the Spanish get a hold of the playlist, it didn’t take long until the enthusiasm of the crazy Spaniards had most people in the room up and dancing, then it was like a playoff of Germany vs Spain for music control for a while before the Spanish eventually won (I am pretty sure it was by perseverance alone). Some people even returned from their sleeping places to join in on the  night of revelry. I do wonder if anyone regretted that decision in the bright morning sun? :D

Day two was a massive day for most, fighting harder and harder to gain rungs on the championship ladder. At the end of it, after fighting their way through every stage, winning against some very strong challengers, Zonenkinder and Rigor Mortis 1 once again matched up for the finals, with the fans of the banana, and the red and blacks cheering on their teams loudly and proudly. Alas for Rigor, the Zonies stole their prized first position on the podium (well.... grass) this time around – which means the Jena tournament in May will be all the more strongly contested. I can’t wait!!

*SCUBE – Name of the building which is essentially a big wooden box with a door with beds inside. Like a caravan without wheels. http://scube-parks.de/BERLIN/home.html

PS Thank you to Ann Marie (Ireland) who gave me the opportunity to discover what it is like to be pounced on by very excited Rigor girls. Ann Marie drew an awesome picture starring them and they were understandably excited about it and showing it to everyone.

PPS Thank you to Haz and Kwijibo from Skull! (real name unknown) who showed what happens when you cross the ‘hawks.


Meanwhile, on Facebook and in tournaments:

A new Jugger group has surfaced this week in Brazil, head over and say Hello.

Liga Brasileira De Jugger

The next two weeks also bring several tournaments in Germany:
31 May - Hallesche Stadbalgerei (Halle Saale)
1 June - Respect Gaymes 2013 (Berlin)

8 June - School's Out der OGS (Notorf)

For more details head to the Jugger Projekt