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I, Ashton Freidenberger, would like to personally welcome you to The Paddler.
I've got a simple motto: "Impossible is impossible"
I have taken this simple philosophy and applied it to a party favor I recieved at
my 15th birthday party, the paddleball. It is simple and design, and simple in use,
however as I have discovered in my many years of usage that it is a skill toy to
be treated on par with today's Yoyo, Poi, or the rising Astrojax.
I discovered paddleball at my 15th birthday party, when they were passed out as party
favors. These were the cheap ones that has the string stapled to the paddle. After using them,
I learned that I needed some better quality gear! My first set of good paddles were made in my high
school wood shop class, made a little thicker and with a hole for the string to be threaded through,
rather than a staple. Yet, even after doing a talent show with these, I needed yet better gear!
Thus I encountered a german website, TYM.de. There I saw that they
used a strange plasic paddle with a round spool mechanism inside, the pro paddle. Once I got my hands
on this brand of paddles, new ways to use a paddleball started opening up and I began to really
learn to play some paddleball.
My paddleball adventures began in 2007 when browsing YouTube for other paddlers. The best
video up at the time was fromSteve Langley. His tricks were the best online, and
his coordination with the music was great, so I posted a comment on his video along
the lines of "I like how well you are coordinated with the music, however trickwise
I can do much more". Interpreted as a challenge, Steve demanded proof of my claim,
and thus my first trick compilation video was made. We've been great friends ever
since.
The video produced from accepting Steve's challenge has been viewed by many and
have opened many new doors for me. For the greater entertainment of everyone, I
gladly accept these opportunities.
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