Greeting all you rad boom throwers!

The 21st Annual Gateway Classic Boomerang Tournament will be held next
weekend in the lovely town of Waterloo, Illinois. Waterloo is a sleepy
little town about 25 minutes from downtown St. Louis. The tournament site
is Konarcik Park, the same as last year, where we have a pavilion, large
soccer field, and smaller football field reserved for our use. There is
also a nice new playground adjacent to the field for the kiddies. New
bathrooms right on the field should add a touch of class to the event!

Since this year marks twenty years of chucking in St. Louis, 1988 - 2008, we
are going to display a little history of boomeranging in St. Louis, as well
as in general. If you are a veteran thrower, you will probably see yourself
in some photos looking much younger. If you're a rookie, you'll enjoy
learning some of the history of the sport and seeing the legends of the
sport back when they were young punks!

On Saturday, May 24th, I’ll be out at the field in the morning painting the
circles and getting in some much needed practice. Usually the competitors
show up later to practice and hang out as well. Around 6:00 pm, we’ll head
back to my house across town for a pre-tournament BBQ where we’ll enjoy some
food and bevvies and socializing. Bring your favorite beer along, or take
your chances with what I have! Non-competitors are asked to toss in a few
bucks for food and drink.

The Gateway Classic Boomerang Tournament will be held Sunday, May 25th.
Registration starts at 8:30 am, and we will start the first event at 9:30
am. I’m expecting a pretty good turnout of 20+ throwers, so we are going to
try to stick to this starting time so we’re not out there all day!
Tournament entry fee is $20, and includes the Saturday evening BBQ, the
tournament, and the Sunday evening awards dinner at my place.

We will have two classes of throwers: Open (a.k.a. Intermediate) and Sport
(a.k.a. Advanced). I have very unique and cool trophies for the events (1st
- 3rd Open and 1st-3rd Sport), and a trophy for every overall place in Open
and Sport.

The order of events will be as follows:
Trick Catch/Doubling
Accuracy
Australian Round
MTA
Fast Catch
Endurance
Fun Stuff like GLORP if nobody wimps out!

We’ll have a lunch break, and there are plenty of food options in town. Our
local sub shop, Obee's, will be open on Sunday for the first time this year,
and we have a new Quiznos set to open any day now. Of course, all the
healthy options such as McDonalds, Hardees, Taco Bell, etc are here as well.
After the tourney, we’ll head back to my house again. There just aren’t a
lot of group-dining options in Waterloo, so you’re stuck at my place both
nights! We'll come up with some good food and brew and give out the
trophies and hang out the rest of the evening.

Monday is Memorial Day, and often times there are impromptu events planned
the evening before. Sometimes we’ll throw under the Arch, or go mountain
biking, or whatever.

If you want to stay in town at a motel, Waterloo has two of them. There is
a nice Super 8 Motel and the local Sunset Motel. The Sunset is a throwback
to a bygone era and only has about eight or ten rooms, but is reportedly
pretty decent. The Sunset is also close to the field and closer to my
house. If you need more info on motels, let me know.

I hope to see everyone here in Waterloo this weekend! This tourney is a
nice, laid-back affair and is always very enjoyable. You can reach me at
the numbers and email address below. Directions are provided below that.
See you guys soon!

Chicago Bob
(618) 939-9023 Home
(618) 420-3273 Cell
chibob@...

Waterloo is in Illinois, southeast of St. Louis. Grab a map and find the
best way to get into the general vicinity, which is Columbia, IL (I-255 &
Route 3). When you exit I-255 at Route 3 (Columbia, IL), you’ll just stay
on Route 3 all the way through Columbia and a few miles further into
Waterloo.

To get to the field: As you come into Waterloo, hang a left at the first
stoplight, which is Country Club Lane (Dennys is on the opposite corner).
Follow this about ½ mile and it ends at a stop sign. Turn right onto Rogers
St. Follow Rogers Street a couple of miles past the schools and athletic
fields (where last year’s tourney was!) until it
ends at Fourth St. Hang a left onto Fourth Street and follow it about a
mile and you will see Konarcik Park on the left at the top of a hill. As
soon as you turn into the park, hang a quick right and follow the gravel
road around the fields to the pavilion. You’re here!

To get to Chicago Bob’s House: When you come into Waterloo, just stay on
Route 3 and go all the way through Waterloo and head back out into the
sticks. There are four stoplights on Route 3, and the last one is a
left-only in the middle of corn fields (South Market St.). Go straight
through the light, and take the first right turn, which is just over a
little hill, onto Vandebrook Drive. Follow Vandebrook to the fourth street
on the right, which is Stonefield Drive, and turn right. My house is the
first house on the right that faces Stonefield, 1346 Stonefield Drive

To get to Chicago Bob’s House from the field: Turn right out of the park
onto Fourth Street and follow it back into town. You’ll come to a
stoplight, which is South Market Street. Turn left at the light and go a
couple of miles as you head into the country. You’ll come to a stoplight at
Route 3, where you’ll turn left. Once you turn left, take the first right
turn, which is just over a little hill, onto Vandebrook Drive. Follow
Vandebrook to the fourth street on the right, which is Stonefield Drive, and
turn right. My house is the first house on the right that faces Stonefield,
1346 Stonefield Drive.