Author: Jamie Truong

The inaugural WBUCC 2024 has been a year in the making and it’s finally in the books. Whether you’re a fan, player, or someone just passing by watching athletes run around chasing plastic, this final was everything and more anyone could ever ask for. It was a testament to the spirit of the game, dedication to the craft, and enthusiasm for the sport found in Beach Ultimate. All three divisions delivered on the hype and somehow, exceeded any and all expectations. Three World Champions were crowned on Saturday and here’s how it went down.

Open Division

Humiliswag (US) vs. Jetset Open (BE)

This game had it all—a roaring crowd, huge layouts, an emphatic Callahan, a jaw-dropping Greatest, and a hands-on-your-head Universe Point finish. Scriptwriters couldn’t write a better Open final even if they tried.

Humiliswag and Jetset both came into the final with 11-1 records and it was the Americans that came out in full stride with a highly-contested offensive hold and an easy break score. Undeterred in the slightest, the Belgians held and scored with a fantastic sky-high grab by #23 Sofiène Bontemps. Then, just as quickly as Humiliswag took an early lead, Jetset’s #9 Luca Tognetti cleared the lanes for take-off and flew through the runway at a ridiculous pace and grabbed himself a monstrous, momentum-shifting, layout Callahan, igniting his teammates and the crowd.

Regardless of the momentum gained from Tognetti’s heroics, Humiliswag weathered the storm like experts, playing picture-perfect Beach Ultimate and stifling Jetset’s offense for a break score of their own. With disc in hand, Humiliswag sent a huck deep for their striking player and in another flash of brilliance, #89 Alexander Spahlholz put on his cape and went horizontal for an electric shoulder-high layout.

In one of the tournament’s most spectacular plays, Jetset’s #29 Brecht Heymans was thrown a huck in what seemed to be just out of reach. Putting the ‘Jet’ in Jetset, Heymans took off from inside the back of the endzone and attempted one of Beach Ultimate’s most difficult plays, the Greatest. In stride and perfectly executed, Heymans grabbed the disc midair and launched it back in bounds to #24 Robin Wouters who also flew across the field with his one-handed layout catch to secure the disc. The grandstand erupted as Ulti.TV Lead Commentator, Stefan Rappazo, summed up the moment: “My brains are melting out of my ears!”

If all that excitement wasn’t enough, Humiliswag answered the call with an offensive hold of their own, and fans and players were treated to an unbelievable climax: Universe Point at the inaugural WBUCC 2024 championship final. With fans on their feet, Jetset moved the disc patiently with Tognetti finding #21 Arthur Moyersoen for the championship-winning score, 11-10. Jetset’s triumph over Humiliswag capped off an unforgettable Open Division final, securing their place in Beach Ultimate history.

Open Division Final Standings

Gold: Jetset Open (BE)

Silver: Humiliswag (US)

Bronze: Salaspils Wild Things (LV)

Spirit of the Game: Ol’Berndad (US)

Mixed Division

Freezgo (FR) vs. Margarita Mix’d (IR)

Freezgo and Margarita Mix’d faced off against each other on the very first day of WBUCC 2024 with the French taking the win in a four-point victory. Throughout the week, both teams have been finding their stride, improving, and building on their chemistry with each passing point. It was only right that these two powerhouses would meet each other again, this time in the Mixed Division final.

Without a hint of wind, both teams wasted no time, throwing deep and often to spread out the field. Neither team found any cushion in the early game as both teams would trade breaks off errant hucks. That was until Freezgo mistakenly overthrew their cutters and gave Margarita a quick turnover from back-to-back layout saves from #28 Martina Kmecová and #58 Sinéad Dunne. With Margarita amping up their defensive intensity, a huge block by #8 Sebastian Rossi over #5 Simon Ruelle and a streaking layout from #32 Carmen La Gala gave the Irish team a 7-5 lead heading into halftime.

While the French fought back valiantly and mounted a near comeback as they did against Guayota in their semi-final thriller, it was Margarita Mix’d that continued to apply pressure with players like Rossi and La Gala seeming unstoppable. With a duo players and fans were familiar with, a pinpoint throw up the line from La Gala to a one-handed catch from Rossi closed out the Mixed Division final 11-9, sealing the championship and proving Margarita Mix’d was the stronger team when it mattered most.

Mixed Division Final Standings

Gold: Margarita Mix’d (IR)

Silver: Freezgo (FR)

Bronze: Boracay Ultimate (PH)

Spirit of the Game: Fu Fighters (SG)

Women’s Division:

Valkyria (SE) vs. E6 (SE)

In an epic showdown of Sweden’s top Beach Ultimate athletes, the ladies from Valkyria and E6 went head-to-head for the Women’s Division crown. In our key player matchups of the final, we had our eyes on E6’s #19 Maja Lindroth and Valkyria’s #7 Sarah Eklund and they delivered in brilliant fashion. While Lindroth secured 4 goals for herself and treated the audience to a full-effort, crowd-pleasing cross-field layout, it wasn’t enough to stop the Valkyria’s full frontal assault with Eklund leading the way. Eklund played the handler space with patience and hit the open space downfield cuts with authority. In an MVP-worthy performance, Eklund racked up 4 goals and 3 assists, with incredible contributions from all her teammates, including #14 Oda Homlong’s 4 goals and 1 assist, and #9 Vendela Viktorsson’s 2 goals and 2 assists.

In dominating fashion, Valkyria won the Women’s Division final matchup against E6, 12-8, and was crowned the WBUCC 2024 champions. In a post-game interview with Ulti.TV commentator, Liam Grant, Homlong was asked how she coached and managed the game against E6. “I had Maja Lindroth the whole way and she had me, and we know exactly what we want to do and what we’re strongest at. That was a challenge, but it was a mental game… and today, we were a little bit stronger.” The win not only solidified Valkyria’s dominance on the world stage but also marked the beginning of what could be an enduring rivalry between two of Sweden’s best.

Women’s Division Final Standings

Gold: Valkyria (SE)

Silver: E6 (SE)

Bronze: Cassalletes (ES)

Spirit of the Game: Black Widows (US)

In Closing

As the sun sets on an unforgettable week of Beach Ultimate, WBUCC 2024 has delivered the kind of drama, skill, and spirit that will be talked about for years to come. From heart-stopping Universe Points to dazzling athletic plays, the competition in each division exceeded all expectations. With Jetset Open, Margarita Mix’d, and Valkyria claiming the first-ever WBUCC crowns, these teams have etched their names in Beach Ultimate history. But beyond the wins and losses, this tournament showcased the best of what the sport has to offer: camaraderie, resilience, and a true love for the game.

Until the next WBUCC, we bid farewell to WBUCC 2024, knowing that the legacy of this inaugural event will only grow stronger.

To see the final standings, results, and stats of every game, head to https://live.wbucc.org. For replays of every streamed game, check out Ulti.TV’s coverage of WBUCC 2024 on their YouTube channel HERE.

#gotadisctothrow