Hu
Pronunciation: 'who'
Function: noun
Meaning: the Chinese abbreviation for Shanghai.

Wa
Pronunciation: 'waah'
Function: noun
Meaning: the Chinese word for Frog, a small amphibian that jumps and catches things that fly

HuWa
Pronunciation: 'who waah'
Function: proper noun
Meaning: The name of Shanghai's Ultimate Frisbee Association (SUPA), whose members are similar to aforementioned small frogs.

You can tell a lot about a person based on how they play ultimate frisbee. There are no referees, and all fouls are called by the players in a spirit of honesty and good faith. A ultimate Frisbee player is an ultimate sportsperson. Cheaters are refreshingly absent.

Under the bright lights of Jingan District's Workers Stadium, the HuWa players run, pass, hurtle and dive as the disc is tossed from player to player across the field as they prepare for the upcoming 7th Annual Shanghai Asian Ultimate Tournament on June 11 and 12. Having played recently in Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, and Manila, the league looks forward to hosting the event on home ground.

If you strike up a conversation with one of the 80 or so members, you will also undoubtedly hear them talking about "spirit" that is, the spirit of the game and the spirit of community. Competitive play is encouraged, but never at the expense of other players.

The abusive tirades and tantrums that are so common in other sports are nowhere to be heard. In fact, you would more likely to find ultimate players in a group-hug, than a vigorous brawl.
"Our spirit is of course on the field when playing, but also in community. Shanghai is a city that is always in flux, people come and go. When new players arrive, we welcome them to our league, help them find jobs or a place to live, and include them in our community," says leaguer treasurer Glenn McCarthy.

In fact, it is this notion of community that turns a 2-hour Frisbee practice into an all day affair. On Saturdays after practice finishes, teammates often stay behind to relax on the grass, grill some burgers, drink a few beers, and bask in the sun.

Though SUPA is currently comprised predominantly of expats, it is always trying to attract more Chinese players. In fact, the league's goal is to introduce ultimate Frisbee into the Shanghai university system and to eventually produce a China national team to send to the yearly World championship tournament.

That said, if you're athletic, dedicated, a party type and looking for a close-knit group of people to hang out and play sports with, drop on by the Workers Stadium on a Monday night. Or check out SUPA's website at www.shanghai-ultimate.com. Read ?beginners are welcome. Huwa!

Contact the author on
shguide@cityweekend.com.cn

Cheer them on at the 7th Annual Shanghai Asian Ultimate Tournament
Location: Shanghai Football Club, Jinqiao, Pudong
June 11, Saturday, 9 am ?4pm
June 12, Sunday, all day
Free Admission