Some much-needed good news came to the Disc Golf community today when Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) made the big announcement that they will return to Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) Elite Series sanctioned play this June. The Tour came to a grinding halt on March 13, 2020, in the middle of the Waco Annual Charity Open in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disc Golf Pro Tour’s announcement came on the same day as the PDGA update that 23 states and 11 countries are now available for PDGA sanctioning. While we’re starting to see sports and other businesses open up again, COVID-19 is still a major concern and both the PDGA and the DGPT have presented detailed plans outlining new policies and best practices to keep players and staff safe during events. 

The Disc Golf Pro Tour will restart in the Midwest in Emporia, KS, with a brand new event — The Dynamic Discs Open on June 26-28. The San Francisco Open and Portland Open have both been canceled in order to stay in alignment with local government guidelines. The Portland Open will be replaced by another new event — the Preserve Championship in Clearwater, MN on July 3-5. The Jonesboro Open has been rescheduled to Oct 1-3. With these changes, the DGPT will continue to have an Elite Series consisting of 11 events, as originally planned. The Tour also plans on keeping 7 of 9 original Silver Series events for a schedule of 18 total events in 2020. 

To protect the safety of players, staff, and volunteers, the DGPT has outlined a detailed three-phased approach to resuming play. When the Tour resumes in June with Phase 1, there will be strict precautions in place. The Phase 1 guidelines include:

• Spectator-free events
• No caddies
• Sanitization of common surfaces and hand sanitizer available during play
• Enforcement of social distancing measures, requiring all players, staff, and media to stay at least 6 feet away from each other at all times 
• Group sizes will be limited to three
• Field sizes will be reduced for speed of play and to allow for better social distancing

The DGPT will also provide optional COVID-19 testing for all players. If any player shows possible symptoms of COVID-19 or has come into contact with someone who has tested positive, testing and a negative result will be required in order to participate in the event. 

Once state and local governments declare that it’s safe for gatherings of 50 or more people, Phase 2 of the DGPT safety procedures will go into effect. During Phase 2, limited spectators will be allowed and players will be grouped into foursomes. Testing, social distancing, and sanitization procedures established in Phase 1 will continue in Phase 2. 

While it will be quite different than what we’ve seen in past years, we’re unbelievably excited to see the Tour return. As a DGPT partner and with several members of our Savage Squad participating, we’re unbelievably excited about this news and for the future of Disc Golf. We can’t wait to follow the coverage and cheer everyone on while social distancing in our homes.

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We're all getting through this quarantine in different ways, and we love hearing updates from all of you on how you're staying healthy despite the circumstances. N.C.-based pro Spikeball player and personal trainer Tori Farlow (who we profiled on the Savage blog back in February) has been keeping us motivated with active and upbeat Instagram posts, so we tapped her to share some of what's gotten her through the past weeks. Take it away, Tori!

Quarantine life has definitely been a huge change for all of us, and not all of it has been positive — but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for good.

Like I say to most people, including my clients, everything is transformed through perspective. Whatever you focus on magnifies.

Here is a glimpse into what my life has been like as of late, and things I have realized for my own positivity and health. No one is the same, so I’m not saying this will work for you, but I do hope that it pushes you in a direction or a realization that does help you!

Three things you can do to come out of this quarantine as a healthier person

 

1. Find a morning and night routine.

For me, this requires waking up without a screen. Whether that means making breakfast, doing yoga, or spending time with my dog, I try to allow my brain to wake up in the morning without screens, especially knowing that I work throughout the day from my computer or phone.

When you think about it, if we are looking through emails or social media right when we wake up, we are training our minds to wake up stressed. We see all of the work that we need to do, immediately compare our lives and bodies to others, exercise FOMO, and hype up our insecurities — all in a matter of seconds once our eyes open. Before we even get out of bed, we possibly have a feeling of less worth and joy without even realizing it. 

I have noticed a difference in my mood and productivity throughout the day when I wake up without these things, even though it’s sadly not easy. It had become such a routine for me to look at my phone as the first and last thing I did in the day, and I never saw it as an issue. I definitely didn’t figure this out on my own. It took me spending time with a very smart, seasoned, and loving human to even realize that’s what I was doing and that it would be in my best interest to make a change.

For me, the most trouble is in the morning, but it might be the night time for you. Allow yourself to be quiet, still, and present. My favorite way to cool down is with some jams, tea, and a lit candle. Find what soothes you the best!

2. Move every day.

I am used to lifting weights 4-6 days out of the week, and lifting pretty heavy most of those days. I’ve been doing this for eight years now and my passion continues to grow. The most strict cardio you’ll find me doing is five minutes on a bike or stairmaster as a warmup because I prefer to get my cardio from playing sports. I coach soccer as well as play in multiple soccer leagues, travel for Spikeball, and play as many sports as I can get my hands on, so I stay pretty busy and active. With the feeling like everything got stripped away from me, this time of quarantine has been a test of my patience, determination, and creativity. I have had to come to grips with the fact that since I cannot change the current reality — there is no sense in being upset over it. The new question is, “what am I going to do to continue to try to be the best version of myself?”

I have done way more bodyweight and strict cardio workouts than I ever have before and I honestly think it has been a healthy break for me. I have been able to give my body rest when it needs, push my body to new and different limits, and show my body that different is okay. Most importantly, I’ve learned how to love my body through those differences. I’ve had to realize what I truly want out of this time and make the choice to be productive even though it’s much easier to sulk. 
Some of my favorite workouts during this time have been…

• Various HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) workouts
• Riding my bike 
• Yoga 
• Banded exercises (glute kickbacks, creative lat pulldown, abductor walks, etc.)
• Jumping to conclusions
• Lots of squats
• Sprints
• Playing Spikeball in my basement

3. Be willing to accept a new norm.

I graduated in 2018 with a degree in exercise science and have been a soccer coach and personal trainer since then. I started to lose steam with my training position because I wasn’t sure of the full value of what I was offering. I wasn’t finding my passion in it anymore. I was going through the motions, and while I felt like I didn’t deserve that, I was realizing more and more that my clients didn’t either. If you can’t show up for yourself, then you also can’t show up for others the way that you want or the way that they deserve. 

So, I redirected my attention to why I do what I do. I thought of the reasons why I was so drawn to coaching and it was because I was able to work with girls who trusted me with more than just their skill training. They trusted me with their home life situations, friendships, breakups, and all the worries under the sun. I felt purpose when I was being a mentor and realized a huge reason of why I even stay in shape myself and why I love exercise — it’s an amazing outlet with incredible mental health benefits.

So how could I bring all of those things together? With the help of some amazing people, I was pushed and encouraged to start my own online wellness business. It’s not just about the workouts anymore. It’s about full-body wellness and health. Most of the time I spend with my clients one-on-one is by working through mental perspectives and how to truly love our mind and body during the journey, not just the destination. It’s always about the big picture.

I’m not saying it is going to be easy, but I am saying it is going to be worth it. Once we can sit down, accept, and embrace life for what it currently is, then we are more able to move forward in a positive manner.

Whatever you focus on magnifies.

If you are interested in the personal program that I have created, you can get in touch with me on Instagram (@torefarlow) or through this link. 

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A lot has happened in the nearly two months since we first posted about the effect of COVID-19 on Savage and XII Brands (which includes partner companies Five Ultimate and ARIA Discs). Like large and small business around the world, our operations have been deeply impacted by the pandemic. Like others, we have been struggling to survive.

There were definitely moments when we didn't know if we could get through this. As sporting events were canceled around the world, we recognized there would not be a need for our services for the foreseeable future. Incoming orders dried up almost immediately, and we were forced to lay off a large portion of our staff. We simply did not have the revenue to pay them anymore. 

Since March, we have been forging ahead with a dramatically reduced number of team members. We implemented new safety and sanitation measures in our production facility to keep our remaining staffers healthy while catching up with remaining orders. Things slowed down, but with our reduced staff, we still struggled to keep up.

We also had to think of new ways to make money in order to pay our bills and our skeleton crew's salaries. We started pushing our Neckies, and prioritizing those orders, knowing that our customers needed face coverings ASAP. Our sewing team started making masks to donate to local healthcare workers. We sorted through old merch stored away at HQ and hosted sales to try to bring in some money. We even started to explore new markets, including making scrubs. 

Still, our money was running out, and we got to the point where we wondered if we'd have to close our doors completely. Then just in time, in late April we received our PPP loan as well as a grant to help us not only keep the lights on, but also bring back many of our team members. 

What's next for Savage and XII Brands?

The future is still uncertain for our industry and the sports that we work with, but we are forging ahead with the hope that things will return to normal in the not-so-distant future. We are thrilled to have so many of our team members back working for Savage and XII Brands, and to finally have the staff we need to be able to catch up on outstanding orders.

To our customers who have been so very patient and understanding as we work through this, we want to extend our deepest gratitude. It's because of you that we have remained functioning, and will hopefully continue to do so as we figure out what life looks like in a post-pandemic world.

For those of you asking where your late orders are, we are happy to report that we can finally give you some answers, thanks to our recently replenished workforce:

• Where's my High Tide back-ordered gear? After High Tide was cancelled halfway through the tournament, we had a huge clearance sale to try to at least break even with all of the leftover merchandise we had. We also made some of the more popular, sold-out gear available as back-ordered merchandise to be made on-demand, noting that those items would take eight weeks to produce and deliver. Well, that deadline is fast approaching and most of these orders won't be ready for shipping. Rest assured that these aren't forgotten, and we're in a much better situation to catch up quickly. Our goal is to have all of these orders to you by June 1, if not sooner.

• Where's my AUDL gear? Savage is proud to be the official apparel partner of the AUDL, and we have continued working on their uniforms and fan gear through the pandemic. However, as the league has been adjusting their season plans, we have adjusted our own production timeline as well, and some other orders have taken priority as a result. Our goal is now to have all AUDL orders shipped by June 15, with the oldest orders taking priority and shipping out within 7-10 days. 

• Where's my Team Marketplace order? Our typical turnaround time for Team Marketplace orders is 4-6 weeks from the closure of each Team Marketplace. We have a handful of TMP orders now that are overdue or approaching their shipping deadline. Our goal is to have all of these orders shipped by the end of May. 

• Other orders: When will I get my stuff? We totally get it. You're anxious to receive the order you paid for, and you're wondering where the heck it is. It's taken longer than we promised, and that is frustrating — for you as well as for us. Please know that we haven't forgotten about you. Our crew is working hard to get back on track, prioritizing any outstanding orders in the order that they were received. Our goal is to have all outstanding orders shipped over the next three weeks.

Again, we thank each and every one of you for your orders, your support, and your patience. Your kind emails and tweets and Instagram messages have added some brightness to this dark time, and served as a much-needed reminder of why we do what we do. We think of you as family, and we're excited to get through this together and move on to the other side.

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We may not know when we'll be able to safely play with our teams again, but we do know one thing: We've got to try to stay in shape in the meantime. It's important for our physical and mental health, and to ensure that we'll be ready to play like a champ when this COVID-19 nightmare is over. 

 

We're working on a series of solo workout posts that we're calling the Savage Training Club, and we're starting with a workout designed by our own Keys Pattie. Besides being a sales and production mastermind on our team, he's also the president of Richmond Ultimate, captain of Revival, Richmond's new mixed team, and the former coach of UMW's Mother of George (he helped them to their first-ever Nationals appearance in 2018). He also played on Floodwall for four years. Keys may not be a personal trainer, but he knows a thing or two about playing Ultimate.

Without further ado, please enjoy the routine Keys put together for us while social distancing in North Myrtle Beach. 

 

1. PULL-UPS & REVERSE GRIP PULL-UPS — Feel free to get creative when looking for a spot for these. Luckily, there's a ledge under the roof of the porch that I'm able to get half of my hand on. Sure, it's got some bird poop on it, I'll just wash my hands afterward. I'm just doing 3 sets of 6 both regular and reverse grip. Don't let your arms extend all the way out and let your elbows lock.  

2. ONE LEGGED STEP-UPS — Find a bench or chair to do this on.  The leg you are stepping up with should be about 90 degrees.  Step up quickly and lower the leg you are not using, slowly back to the ground.  Try to keep your body straight up and down and don't lean to one side. 3 sets of 10 on both legs, why not.

3. WALL SIT — You most likely have a wall you can use for this — unless you live in a tent, in which case you can use a tree. Unless you live in a tent in the desert, in which case you can use a big rock or something. . . Options are pretty endless.  Legs at 90, back against the wall, 3 times at 60 seconds apiece at least.  

4. LEG RAISES — Find a bench or even the ground. If you're super hardcore with your core, then you won’t need to grab on to anything. In this case, I'm grabbing the bench to help stabilize myself. Who would've guessed, 3 sets of 10 once again, although you can probably do much more.

5. TRICEP DIPS — Suspend/elevate yourself in some way. Try using a chair, cooler, table, keg, whatever — just make sure it's stable so you don't fall and bust your butt. I went through multiple deck chairs in this instance. Lower yourself so your arms are at 90 degrees and lift yourself back up. This all sounds silly to type out, but hey, maybe you really have no clue how to do this stuff. Wow, 3 sets of 10, unheard of.  

6. TRACK WORKOUT aka TWERKOUT - "Sandy Checkers" — You'll need 4 cones. You can also use shoes, beer cans, sandcastles or horseshoe crab carcasses (depending on your location). The "agility box" you'll set up is a square with 10 yards in between each item.  

Set 1: 15 suitcase crunches. Then, from bottom left cone, sprint to top right cone.  Turning over your left shoulder, sprint to top left cone. Turning over your left shoulder, sprint to bottom right cone. Turning over right shoulder, sprint to cone you started at. Followed by 10 lunges.

30-60-second break

Set 2: The same sprinting/cutting pattern, but this one starts with 10 pushups and ends with 10 squats.

Do each set once. Then switch your starting cone to the bottom right. So now the pattern is ...

• Bottom right cone to top left cone (right shoulder turn)
• Top left cone to top right cone (right shoulder)
• Top right cone to bottom left (left shoulder)
• Bottom left cone to the cone you started at. 
• Twice from this side of the box as well.

So far, we’ve done....

• 4 box sprints
• 20 pushups
• 30 suitcase crunches
• 20 lunges
• 20 squats

Set 3:  Still starting with 15 suitcases, cutting pattern is bottom left, top right, top left, bottom right and bottom left and ending with 10 lunges. The thing that changes here is the shoulder turn. Now it’s on the outside shoulder. This is unorthodox, but this is to help with footwork and balance. Keep a low center of gravity and keep your feet and shoulders square as you chop step in what is essentially a 250-degree turn and explode out of the stoppage.  

Set 4: Same as set 2.  

30-60-second rest in between.  

Switch to bottom right cone and do the same thing twice. Same cutting pattern, just continuing to cut to outside shoulder.  

 

I'm not a professional — I'm just here trying to keep my mind and body right while living out this clusterfudge of a pandemic.  

I'd also like to take this time to thank Jedi Kneil Place from Tanasi for allowing me to build off of track workouts that he has compiled over many years.  

Love, @Keysopensdoors

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In the span of just a few tumultuous days, the sports world ground to a halt and social distancing became the norm — leaving many of us feeling unmoored. Humans are social beings, and sports are truly about so much more than the game itself. While we love the intensity and fun of playing, the community and social aspects are just as important — and one of the main reasons why we love sports like Ultimate Frisbee, Spikeball, Quidditch, Disc Golf, and Dodgeball so much.

So what happens when high-fives are suddenly forbidden, all social gatherings and games are canceled, local hangouts are temporarily closed, and social distancing becomes a critical part of staying safe and healthy? We get creative and come up with new ways to stay connected to our friends, family, and teammates. Social interaction, bonding, and coming together as a community are probably more important now than ever, which is why we’ve come up with a list of 10 fun and creative ways to help you stay connected. 

Host a Virtual Group Lunch or Coffee — When you’d normally be at practice, do a full-team coffee hour or eat a meal via Skype or Google Hangouts video chat. Having a set time to bring everyone together as a group helps to maintain a routine and stay connected and is a good way to check in on everyone.

Go Outside! — Large social gatherings are off-limits, and maintaining a distance of six feet is encouraged, but unless you’re in a city or state where you’re barred from leaving your house for unnecessary reasons, you should absolutely be going outside and getting some fresh air and a bit of exercise. Take a friend or two and go on a hike or a jog or bike ride (give the handlebars a good wipe with sanitizer before and after). So long as you’re all healthy/asymptomatic, refrain from high-fives, and maintain a safe distance apart, some time outdoors with a couple of friends should be totally okay.

Have a Remote Workout Sesh — Set up a group video chat and have your team captain or another volunteer lead the group in a basic workout or yoga session. Even though you can’t get out and play together, you can still stay in shape and game-ready for when seasons start up again. Group motivation and holding each other accountable is a great way to stay fit and healthy together so you can dominate next season. Stay tuned to the Savage Blog, Facebook, and Instagram for some tips and home exercises to help.

Do a Group Photo Challenge — A photo challenge is a great way to stay busy and have some fun together. Decide on your approach (Googling “photo challenge” will give you plenty of options to choose from, but here’s a good basic one). Every day, you each have to take a photo that fits the theme for that day then share in a group chat or on social with your own hashtag. 

Play Mobile Games — The great thing about mobile games is that everyone has a smartphone, and most of these games are free. Draw Something, Words With Friends, and Drawful are pretty much modern classics at this point. Ever get into a cut-throat game of Draw Something with your grandparents? If not, you have 100% been missing out. 

Host a Virtual Game Night — If you’re more a fan of playing board games and missing your regular Cards Against Humanity throwdown or poker night, there are also plenty of options for playing board and card games online with your mates. Monopoly, UNO, Yahtzee Party, and poker are all solid options for a virtual game night. There’s also a fun Cards Against Humanity clone that includes a very necessary group chat feature since commenting and laughing over the card combos is an essential part of the game. 

Organize a Virtual Book Club — Google Play, Open Library, Free eBooks, and Project Gutenberg offer an extensive array of free eBook options to choose from. If you don’t feel like falling down a black hole of book options, r/freeEBOOKS is a great place to find solid recommendations. Other than entertainment and offering mental escape, plenty of books can also impart valuable lessons in leadership and teamwork. Our friends at Five Ultimate put together this list of great reads that can also sharpen your game. Once everyone decides on a book, set up a reading schedule and video chats to discuss. And yes, it’s totally fair to read Harry Potter again together.

Give Each Other a Little Boost — Sarahah is a site and iOS/Android app that lets you post anonymous messages for your friends. Have everyone on your team sign up and share their links, then go through and leave everyone a nice message telling them something you admire or appreciate about them. It’s totally anonymous, but you can leave your name if you’d like.

Start a D&D Group  There’s a reason why Dungeons & Dragons has been the most popular role-playing game since the 70s — it’s fun! With everything going on right now, this feels like the perfect time to get together with a group of friends and escape into a fantasy world for a few hours. With social distancing, you might not be able to gather around a table to play, but fortunately, there are some really amazing online options. Roll20 is a great way to play D&D together online, either building your own campaign from scratch or using one of their ready-to-play campaigns. Set up a video chat using FaceTime, Skype, or Google Hangouts and get ready to party with rangers and warlocks.

Start Planning for Next Season — It’s a very rough and uncertain time right now, and many of us are mourning our interrupted seasons. Though things can seem pretty grim at the present moment, it’s more important now than ever to keep looking ahead. There will be a light at the end of all this. Sports will come back. Leagues will start up again. Tournaments will be rescheduled. And when they do, it’ll be such an incredibly celebratory moment. The start of next season will likely be the biggest, most exciting start to any season ever. And it’s totally okay to start getting hyped about it now! Skype with your teammates and discuss game strategy and ways to kick more ass than ever next season. Brainstorm ways to introduce new people to your sport and get them excited and involved. Start designing those new uniforms you’ve been talking about for ages. Come up with some cool fundraising ideas. Plan the most epic first-game after-party ever. Because we will all play again. And together, we’ll come back stronger and better than ever.

Photo by Bruno Gomiero for Unsplash

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In the four years I’ve been attending the High Tide Ultimate Tournament as a Savage employee, I’ve seen a lot of crazy things happen — but 2020 is the year I know I’ll always remember. The spread of COVID-19 ended this year’s tournament two weeks early, and most of us also recognized it could mean the end of the college season as well. For many seniors, it was a heartbreaking moment. 

There was a distinct shift at the tournament among players and staff as we all began to process what was about to happen. There was a deep feeling of mourning as news spread that not only was the tournament ending, but schools were closing their doors for the foreseeable future, effectively ending the college Ultimate season.

It’s natural for players to obsess over what didn’t happen, or what could’ve been. I know I’ve struggled with this myself. For some players, it may be the last time they see some of their seniors for a long time. For some seniors, it’s the last time they’ll be playing with some of their teammates. 

But this is what I keep thinking about, and why I’m grateful that I was at High Tide at this moment in time: Witnessing the love players have not only for each other, but also for their opponents at this event, has been life-changing. This truly is a special sport we play. From seeing teams treat a fun Spring Break tournament like it was their last Nationals run, to crying with new players on my old college team, High Tide 2020 was unforgettable. 

It’s painful to think about, but we ought to stay positive, keeping this in mind: Our family of Ultimate players may just be one of the most tight-knit sports communities in the world. I — and the rest of the Savage team — love to come to Myrtle Beach not just to interact with you all and see you play some of the wackiest “games” of ultimate possible, but to be reminded of how much we love this sport ourselves. 

Seniors, addressing you all directly for a moment, we want to offer our sympathy for the abrupt end to some of your seasons. While this is the end of one chapter, we can assure you there’s so much more in store for you. Look forward to joining new teams, new players to befriend, plays to make, and yes, more tears to be shed. 

For now, make sure you leave your teams in a better state than you joined them. Leave a lasting impression for the younger crowd, and continue to be the leaders you wanted when you started playing. While the season’s ending early can lead to questioning of what might’ve been, it’s pointless to wonder about the unknown. Try not to mourn the fact that this chapter is over. It’s better to focus on the incredible times we had, celebrate the fact that you got to experience it, and that you have so much to look forward to. 

It’s crucial during times like this that we hold our favorite people and memories close to give us comfort. We can and probably will feel sad thinking about it, but remember: This community doesn’t end with college. One of the things I love most about Ultimate is that it’s truly a year-round sport if you want it to be. With almost unlimited access to seasonal leagues, club tryouts, and even just casual pickup, Ultimate has never stopped growing — and this will not stop it. 

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay Savage. 

 

Written by Savage's Production/Order Rockstar, Nick Evans 

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Like the rest of the world, XII Brands and its companies — ARIA Discs, Five Ultimate, and Savage Apparel Co. — are closely monitoring the development of COVID-19 in the U.S. and abroad. The sports world is being deeply impacted by event cancellations worldwide, and our hearts go out to our fellow members of this global community as we navigate the weeks ahead. Our priority is always the health and safety of our employees and customers, and we are taking the situation very seriously.

We have been dealing with the effects of COVID-19 in China since the beginning of 2020, when the spread of the disease and resulting factory shut-downs began impacting our supply chain for Five Ultimate products. Unfortunately, this slowed down the production of some of our customers' orders, and we have been working toward remedying these issues. This has also sped up our transition to domestically produced fabrics and gear at XII Brands’ North American production houses. 

At our production headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, we are closely following local, state, and federal guidelines for the health and safety of our workers. For non-production employees in Richmond and Seattle, we are encouraging remote working until further notice.

Many Savage, Five, and ARIA employees have spent the last two weeks on location in North Myrtle Beach for the High Tide Ultimate Tournament. On March 12, tournament director Ed Pulkinen announced that the remainder of the tournament will be cancelled in the interest of the players and the public health. In an effort to clear out our significant remaining stock of High Tide merchandise, Savage will be selling tournament gear at a discounted rate online for players who were unable to attend.

As major sports institution-partners, like USA Ultimate and the American Ultimate Disc League, continue to release announcements regarding cancellations and postponements, all of our brands are working with leaders of these groups to address their apparel needs for the future.

What does this mean for you? 

As a loyal customer of any of the XII Brands, you can feel confident that we’re working diligently to ensure that gear is produced and delivered as expected. Because health and safety are top priorities at this important juncture, limited staffing and supply chain issues could impact our production processes in the future, however we are all being proactive about producing solutions, substitutions, and solving any unforeseen problems as quickly as possible. 

Because colleges and universities are taking precautionary measures to ensure everyone’s health and safety, we recognize that shipping addresses and schedules may change, events may be delayed, or players may end up scattered to different geographies. Please be sure to email sales@savageultimate.com with your order # and address as soon as you can so that your gear ends up in the right place at the right time. 

Everyone at our production facility is being vigilant about washing their hands frequently, sanitizing working areas with disinfectant, and monitoring their health. Though we are doing our part, commerce and transit is a multi-step process. We encourage all of our customers to wash their hands and dispose of (recycle!) packaging immediately after receipt of any gear. 

The entire sports world is being affected by COVID-19, but ARIA Discs, Five Ultimate, and Savage Apparel Co. will continue working hard as a team to ensure that you have what you need to be ready to hit the fields when it is safe to do so once again. Stay healthy, look out for each other, and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help in any way.

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For the past five years, college Ultimate teams have descended upon North Myrtle Beach, S.C. for a week of Spring Break hangs, parties, and games. Of course, High Tide is all about the Ultimate, but there’s also a whole lot to see, eat, and do off the fields, too. 

North Myrtle Beach is a cute, kitschy beach town with plenty of unique local flavor, and the Savage crew has attended every year that High Tide has been hosted in NMB, carefully honing our list of must-dos in town. Here are some of our tried and true NMB favorites you should absolutely check out while at High Tide. 

Southern Sunrise Pancake House

Photo: Lauren DeLuca for Savage

NMB is practically exploding with pancake houses. We’re not sure where they all came from or why this area seems to have such an unprecedented passion for round breakfast foods, but we sure do appreciate it. You could easily spend the entire week eating your way through the Grand Strand’s 40-plus pancake options, but just in case you don’t want to have such an extremely pancakey High Tide, you could skip the taste test and go straight for our fave: Southern Sunrise Pancake House. We’ve tried many of NMB’s pancake offerings over the years, but we always come back to Southern Sunrise. Their pancakes are the way pancakes ought to be: light, fluffy, golden-brown discs of heaven, brimming with tasty toppings of your choosing. If you’re not in a pancake mood (wait, is this actually a thing that happens?) their menu is full of delicious non-pancake options including a variety of creative benedicts, omelettes, and biscuits. 3407 Hwy. 17 S., (843) 361-4080

Nacho Hippo 

Photo courtesy of Nacho Hippo

After a long day at the fields, we often want to kick back and have some fun — and Nacho Hippo is the perfect spot to do that. The creative nachos and tacos are usually what draw us in, and then the all-day $3 margs are what keep us there chatting, sipping and munching away. In addition to margaritas, they also have 32-ounce bucket-sized tropical cocktails for $15 that are perfect for sharing. While the drinks are cheap and delicious, the food really is the star here. Nacho Hippo isn’t your traditional Mexican cuisine; the menu is all about the über-creative Tex-Mex fusion, blissfully marrying dishes like tacos, nachos, and quesadillas with Chinese, Japanese, Caribbean, and Southern influences. Order a platter of the signature Hipponachomus — crispy house-made chips topped with chili, taco beef, shredded chicken, queso, lettuce, cheese, and pico — to share with your squad and then take your pick of their unique taco options. We recommend the Bangin’ Shrimp, Ka-Ka-Ka-Kia, and Kahuna. 850 N. Beach Blvd., (843) 663-9393

Duffy Street Seafood Shack 

Photo courtesy of Duffy St Seafood Shack

If you spend a week on the beach and don’t eat some local seafood, you’re doing it wrong. We firmly believe the best seafood comes from divey beachside shacks, and Duffy Street is a perfect example of this. No need to shower or dress up; this place welcomes the sandy, the sweaty, and the sunburnt with open arms and fluffy hushpuppies. Head to Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. and leave happy and stuffed full of 75 cent oysters and clams, 45 cent shrimp, $7.99/half-pound crab legs, and of course a signature rum punch fishbowl to wash it all down. Happy Hour or not, the Duffy Street menu is full of tasty made-to-order seafood options. Their Pig Skin Shrimp, Crab Cakes, Duffy Street Steam Pot, and Volcano Chocolate Cake are all solid choices. For the indecisive or exceptionally hungry, they also offer combo platters or the mega Pirate’s Plate — a massive offering of broiled fish, Old Bay shrimp, Alaskan snow crab, and broiled scallops. 319 Sea Mountain Hwy., (843) 249-7902 

The Shack 

Photo courtesy of The Shack

It’s pretty rare to find a solid restaurant that serves a truly outstanding breakfast and lunch and dinner. The Shack is one of those rare gems, slinging top-notch Southern food from morning ‘til night. Go early for huge fluffy slices of Texas-style French Toast, homemade biscuits smothered in sausage gravy, or, for the truly famished, try the Shack Attack — a platter piled high with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and home fries. The Shack’s breakfast options are sure to provide plenty of fuel for a grueling day on the fields, and their dinners are the perfect way to satiate that end-of-day Ultimate hunger. Refuel with their huge portions (at great prices) of Fried Catfish, Beach House Burgers, Fried Chicken, and Shrimp ‘n’ Grits that rival any Southern grandma’s. Their “meat-and-three” specials are also a big favorite — pick one meat and any three of their plentiful side options for under 10 bucks. 1128 Sea Mountain Hwy., 843-663-3636 

Hoskins Restaurant 

Photo courtesy of Hoskins Restaurant

Cherry Grove has been a popular tourist destination since the ‘50s, and Hoskins Restaurant has been there feeding those hungry beachgoers since the very beginning. One of the very first restaurants in the Grand Strand, Hoskins first opened its doors in 1948 and quickly became a NMB icon and institution. This family-owned and operated joint is chock full of classic Americana vibes, old-school charm, and the best fried chicken in the area. Their menu is loaded with killer Southern options including ridiculously fresh fried-to-order seafood, smoked chopped barbecue, and pork chops, and you really can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but once you try their famous fried chicken, you’ll probably have a hard time even considering eating anything other than that hot juicy Hoskins fried chicken ever again. 405 Main St, (843) 249-2014

Krave Bagel Bistro 

Photo courtesy of Krave Bagel Bistro

If you need to grab a quick bite on the way to the fields, Krave has you covered. Their convenient location on Hwy. 17 combined with their drive-up window makes this the perfect grab-and-go High Tide breakfast option. They tout “the only true Northern-style bagel in the area,” and Savage’s NYC-born-and-bred staffers give them their enthusiastic stamp of approval. Krave’s bagels are made fresh daily and come in all the classic varieties as well as a few unique ones like Marble Rye and French Toast. Get one toasted and topped with the schmear of your choosing or go for a baconeggandcheese breakfast sammy. (Important note for my Tristate friends: They. Have. Taylor. Ham.) 1434 Hwy. 17 S., (843) 427-7310

Sweet Molly’s Creamery

Photo courtesy of Sweet Molly's Creamery

We’ve covered a lot of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, but, of course, we couldn’t neglect the most important meal of the day — dessert! No trip to the beach is complete without a nice frosty cone, and Sweet Molly’s in Barefoot Landing is definitely the place to satisfy your sweet tooth. Their MO is similar to another popular ice cream chain: pick a flavor and get your choice of syrups and toppings mixed directly in, creating a custom frozen treat. Choose from any of their 20 daily flavor options, which range from classics like chocolate and mint to the more inventive like piña colada, salted caramel, watermelon taffy, and pumpkin spice. They make all their ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sorbet in-house daily and with so many options to choose from, we totally wouldn’t judge you for making multiple trips to work your way through as many combos of scoops, toppings, syrups, shakes, and sundaes as possible while in town. 4728-F Hwy. 17 S., (843) 663-4373

Old South BBQ Co.

Photo by Patricia F/Yelp

There’s just no way we could let you spend a week in one of the South’s best beach towns without having some traditional Southern barbecue. As you drive up to Old South BBQ, you can’t miss the giant sign outside boasting “BEST BUTTS ON THE BEACH,” and they sure ain’t lying. Eating is believing, though, and their barbecue-chopped pork sandwich is an absolute must. Round it off with some smoked chicken wings, spicy BBQ beans, hushpuppies, and a half-and-half sweet tea. Eat at one of the picnic tables outside or grab one of their family packs to-go on your way back to the house. 1020 Sea Mountain Hwy., (843) 663-1056

Main Photo by Andy Wang for Unsplash

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We're so stoked to be back in Myrtle Beach for week 2 of High Tide! Week 1 was such a blast. We brought in Dani from Aria Discs to help out and show off this year's Aria custom High Tide discs. We built and stocked our Savage High Tide Store with tons of great merch, played Spikeball, had cookouts on the beach, threw our first VIIIP Pizza Party, cheered on all our teams, celebrated our new merger, and, of course, played plenty of Ultimate.

The Savage staff crushed it on the field during the weekly Hat Tournament and the entire crew – including Savage/XII CEO Todd! – teamed up with Cedarville and the High Tide Staff for one truly epic and very rainy game on Wednesday. Scroll down to check out more photo highlights from the first week of High Tide 2020!

 High Tide 2020 Week 1 Hat Tournament

High Tide 2020 Week 1 Hat Tournament

Savage Founder and CEO Todd Curran with High Tide Founder and Tournament Director Ed Pulkinen

 Savage and High Tide Staffers play some Spikeball by the tent

 Former Mary Washington Ultimate Coach and current Savage Sales Coordinator, Keys, played some points with the Mary Wash crew who— despite not wearing their Savage gear — were still some of the best-dressed on the field this week

 Savage Events & Web Store Manager, Austyn, bringing the heat despite the freezing rain

 The rainy Savage/High Tide/Cedarville vs. Valparaiso game on Wednesday 

Don't let the jeans fool you. Savage CEO Todd showed he's still got it when he played a few points during the rainy staff game on Wednesday.

 High Tide Founder & TD, Ed Pulkinen, took a break from directing and helped lead the rest of the staff/Cedarville team to victory

 Playing in the rain on Wednesday

 We cheered on Grand Valley & Loyola's Flying Pagodas – two Savage teams – during Week 1's championship game. 

 The very wet and very intense Week 1 Championship game on Thursday

The High Tide Week 1 Champions! Grand Valley & Kenyon

All photos by Lauren DeLuca for Savage

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The Savage crew has taken up its annual residence in North Myrtle Beach for the High Tide Ultimate Tournament 2020, and as usual we’re pinching ourselves for being lucky enough to partner with such an incredible event. This hugely popular Spring Break tournament, now in its 24th year, brings together college teams from all over the country, and Savage is proud to be the event’s official apparel partner. We love seeing all of your smiling faces, sharing our gear, and enjoying time in the sun and sand at the end of every day. 

So what’s new for High Tide in 2020? Here are five things we’re excited about:

1. The High Tide 2020 “Poolside” Theme — The Savage design team put in some long hours creating a brand-new High Tide collection, and we have to say it’s one of our favorites yet. The theme is “Poolside,” and you’ll find everything from Miami Vice-style pastel full-subs to Hamptons/Gatsby-inspired shorts. Really, there’s something for everyone. Keep an eye on the Savage social media accounts for details about when High Tide gear will be available in our online store.
   
   
2. Spreading the GreenLine Gospel — This is a great opportunity for everyone to get up close and personal to our GreenLine, which, if you haven’t heard, is our new fabric made from 100% recycled bottles. All of the fully sublimated merch in our High Tide shop is made from the GreenLine fabric, so check it out and be prepared to be converted. We hope you love it as much as we do, and that you’ll consider going Green for your next team order.
   
   
3. Bringing ARIA into the Fold — We’re working with ARIA Discs to create the official High Tide discs for the first time ever. This is huge not only because ARIA discs were specially formulated for Ultimate players — and we want everyone to give them a try — but also because ARIA is now Savage’s official partner as part of XII Brands. XII Brands is the new parent company of Savage, ARIA, and Five Ultimate. You’ll be seeing a lot more collaboration between these brands in the future as we work together to strengthen the Ultimate community and beyond. Keep an eye out for ARIA and Five Ultimate reps in the Savage tent throughout High Tide. We’ll also have some special promotions and giveaways going with ARIA, so be sure to follow them on social media for updates. 
   
   
4. VIIP Pizza Party — We always love seeing Savage teams sporting their gear IRL, and once again this year we’re inviting all Savage teams to a special VIIP Party in a tent beside the High Tide shop on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. We’ll have pizza and drinks for our Savage teams, and we hope you’ll take a moment to chat with Todd and the Savage crew about your experience working with us and how we can partner in the future. Not a Savage team? We’ll be ready to sign new teams with some special High Tide team deals, and you’ll get some free pizza in the bargain. Win, win.
   
   
5. More High Tide Shenanigans to Come — We’ve got plans for lots of fun promotions over the next few weeks, including a golden egg hunt, disc-throwing competitions, swag bags, and a pretty major raffle that involves a free set of team fully sublimated jerseys. Follow Savage’s Instagram account for all the latest updates on High Tide-related promos.

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