Sports and Recreation

Ultimate
 

Like any beach community worth its salt, Wilmington takes disc sports seriously, and Ultimate is particularly popular in the Port City. The game is a seven-versus-seven team sport that places heavy emphasis on sportsmanship and fair play, and combines throwing skill, speed and endurance. Players pass a flying disc (Frisbee) to one another until it is caught in the end zone for a goal. Having no referees, players call fouls and settle disputes themselves. Ultimate is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world. Locally, the sport is coordinated by Cape Fear Ultimate.

Cape Fear Ultimate
Wilmington
www.capefearultimate.org

Cape Fear Ultimate is a non-profit organization that promotes Ultimate in the Wilmington area. They coordinate spring, summer and fall leagues and pick up (co-ed) games, work with local club and college teams, sponsor tournaments and volunteer in the community. Nearly 200 players compete on various corporate-sponsored teams. Games are usually held at Ogden Park off Gordon Road or Castle Hayne Park off Parmalee Road at the end of Old Avenue. Leagues run from April through December.

Each spring, teams from the East Coast and sometimes Canada come to Wilmington for the annual "Co-Egg" co-ed tournament, hosted over Easter weekend. Festivities include a DJ spinning music on the fields and an Easter egg hunt for participants' families.

Club teams in the area currently include the Wahine (women), the Warriors (men) and HOSS (men's masters, older than age 33). In addition, UNCW has both men's (Seamen) and women's (Seaweed) teams that compete at the highest level of collegiate competition. Both the men and women have won national championships, the men one and the women two. Spectators are always welcome. For more information about Ulitmate, visit the website at www.capefearultimate.org.

Wilmington Ultimate Frisbee Federation (WUFF)
(910) 794-1045

More than 100 players participate in Ultimate pick-up games that are open to anyone, and about 200 play in the WUFF Summer League, which is coed, for all ages and skill levels. Games are held at Castle Hayne Park off Parmalee Road at the end of Old Avenue, from June 1 to August 1. 

In February, WUFF sponsors the WUFF Co-ed National Championships at Ogden Park; this is definitely the single most competitive co-ed event of the year in Ultimate Frisbee. Call Mike Gerics for information about the league, local teams and tournaments.