Eat Fruit Cabrones!

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to a high level Ultimate tournament in the Canary Islands. It was my third time visiting the Canaries and second tournament in the islands. My first visit to the Canaries was while I was studying in Spain and it was more of a touristic visit to the island of Lanzarote with my friend Marina.

Marina and I in Lanzarote

December 2009

The Canaries are gorgeous, a fact especially recognized by Germans and Brits as they frequent the islands for vacation.


My second visit to the islands was to Las Palmas on Gran Canaria for a hat tournament last February.
 







My team at Las Palmas hat tournament (TIBU)
February 2012





The Las Palmas tournament being one of my favourites to date, I was keen to return to the islands for more Ultimate. This third time I was returning to the island of Lanzarote, the fourth largest island. The island's surface is volcanic thanks to Timanfaya, the island's active volcano that is the backdrop to almost any picture taken on the island.

The tournament is called Coman Fruta Cabrones (CFC), which means Eat Fruit You Bastards (still have no idea what the reason is for the name...). The tournament is organized by Mubidisk in a town called Tías, this year was the tournament's 10th anniversary and so what is usually a three day tournament was converted into a four day tournament to celebrate its anniversary on the last day.

Feliz cumple Mubi!








Herm arrived in Madrid the Tuesday before and, along with quite a large Quijotes contingent, we flew to Lanzarote on Wednesday evening. The tournament started on Friday and ended with a day of celebration on Sunday.

Quijotes in attendance; Amán, José, Herm, Bertrand, Justin, Danilo, Ruthie and I
(Photo credit to teammate, Ruthie)

I was playing with Herm's team, Gorila Anaranjado, or Orange Gorilla. Leading up to the tournament Herm, as well as most other teams, had a tough time recruiting and holding on to players. The tournament being four days made it difficult for a lot of people to take the time. Luckily this made it possible for me to join! Having a somewhat relaxed schedule also helped...

Gorila Anaranjado!

Herm, Michiel, Jon, Jakob, Danilo, me, Yvonne and Ruthie. (Not pictured: Ulla)

(Photo credit to teammate, Danilo.)

The Gorillas were quite an international team; 3 Dutch, 1 American, 1 Canadian/American, 1 Canadian, 1 German, 1 Dominican, 1 Argentine/German/...Mexican (?) haha...

Pools were made up of 4 teams. There were 3 games each day, 3 pool games on Thursday to determine upper and lower pools, 3 upper/lower pool games on Friday and quarters, semis and finals on Saturday. The games lasted 45 minutes or until 13 points was reached. After losing some and winning some, and playing a bunch of games to universe point, we finished 8th out of 16 teams. 

Quijotes watching the final, Tropical in hand.

(Photo credit to Discovering Canarii)

 

It was an great tournament as I had the opportunity to play with and against some of Europe's top players.




The tournament fee included accommodation in apartments just a short walk from the beach fields, fruit on the fields, breakfasts and dinners. For lunch there was pasta and cake available to buy at the field tents. The dinners were great, Thursday evening was a chickpea stew and potatoes with mojo picón, a delicious sauce typical of the Canaries.

 Herm enjoying the chickpea stew!

Friday night was a huge dinner at a really posh restaurant up in the mountains.
Saturday night was paella on the beach as well as the fruit-themed costume party.

Gorila Anaranjado as grapes and a strawberry.
Photo credit to teammate, Jon (a fellow Canadian!)

On Sunday a 'surprise' was organized by Mubidisk for the tournament's 10 year anniversary. Word had got around over weekend but they officially informed us on Saturday night that they had chartered a boat for the day.

We're on a boat!
Proper etiquette was of course to wear white...
(Photo credit to José)

A few Quijotes and the boat in the background.

Other highlights of the weekend include...

• The islands' cerveza, Tropical, a nice break from Madrid's, Mahou.
• Refreshing swim in the ocean. 
• Need to wear white? No problem, hotel bed sheets will do.
• Ron miel, another island specialty.

Only downside was a serious case of the Monday's I had when returning to work... Still have sand all over the floor of my room and my mobile has not yet figured out it has left the Canaries...