VENTURA : Turnout Low for Disc Championship

Stacy Anderson is not sure whether throwing Frisbees is a hobby or a career. “It’s a hobby, but it’s a hard-core hobby,” said Anderson of Del Mar. “For a lot of players, it can add a nice supplement to your income.”

Anderson was one of several professional Frisbee freestylers in Ventura this weekend for the Fall Flying Disc Championships. Some came from as far as Sacramento, Santa Cruz and San Diego for the competition.

Turnout among participants was lower than expected. Tournament officials had anticipated about 75 Frisbee freestylers, but only 35 registered. Spectators on Saturday were also scarce, numbering only about 100.

The freestylers toss the Frisbee into the air and run, dance or tumble under it. They catch it on their fingers, keep it spinning and never--or almost never--let it hit the ground.

They perform to music and are judged by a nine-member panel on difficulty, presentation and execution. To help in the disc-spinning process, the hard-core freestylers glue artificial nails on their forefingers.

Anderson was one of several professional freestylers who performed double duty as competitors and judges. Besides competing in tournaments such as the Ventura event, she works as a performer on Frisbee demonstrations. She has toured Japan, Australia and Mexico.

Jay Hinkle, who owns a landscaping and gardening business in Santa Barbara, does it strictly for fun.

“Freestyling is dancing with a Frisbee,” Hinkle said. “(I enjoy) being able to control the disc and knowing where it’s going to go.”

Brian White of Sacramento said he came to Ventura just to compete. White, a restaurant equipment salesman, did not expect to win any of the $2,000 in prize money, but considers freestyling a form of self-expression.

“I went to a freestyle tournament about 13 years ago,” White said. “I thought, ‘I gotta learn how to do that.’ ”

The Flying Disc tournament is scheduled to continue today west of the Ventura Pier.