I got asked several times this past weekend either why I don't post more or am I on Bowlspace. So I think I better update this blog and keep things up to date. To those that read thanks and sorry I did not keep up.

Pasco Washington
Northwest Region Amarr Garage Doors Open

It has been awhile and since this event but here goes. This was my first event with Elite equipment after I had a chance to practice with them. We bowled on Viper and I used the Viper ball most of the weekend. I qualified 10th and finished 7th and had a chance at a title. Sunday Bob Davidson started to run away with it but I caught him in the 7th game we were bowling 16 so I felt real good. We took a lunch break and I got sick whatever it was it hit me like a ton of bricks. I managed to get thru the next 8 games but with not a lot of enthusiasm, a couple of games I could barely walk to the line. Whatever it was left me the next day as fast as it came on.

I was very happy with my Elite equipment and with my finishing position.

Next event.

Boise Idaho
Northwest/West Regions Westy's Garden Lanes Open

This event was on Scorpion and I used the Scorpion ball from Elite. I qualified 14th with 172 over and finished the event 12th. Once again my Elite balls did not let me down I am still learning what the equipment will do. And am playing it safe with the pattern balls, but each event is getting better.

I flew to this event and other then dealing with the TSA at the airlines everything went great.

Next event.

Seattle Washington
Northwest Region Redhook Open

This event was on Chameleon and in my own area at one of the centers I practice at. Well even though the PBA experience says lefties love this pattern. I had no idea what to do to score I qualified 46th 198 under and well back in the field.

 

Next event.

Hillsboro Oregon
Northwest Region Four Seasons Open

This event was on Scorpion again and on Wood. I qualified 95 over in 14th. But I was tied with my good friend Dean O Buchanan Jr. We bowled a 1 game roll off and tied at 211 then on to 1 frame roll offs X X, 9 9. Then Dean made a small error and got 8 the loosened up my arm swing and I struck for the win. I finished the event in 10th. I rolled the Scorpion ball again most of the day. I did use the Blue Alien a couple of games as a couple of pair played very different.

Next event.

Renton Washington
Northwest Region Skyway Park Heineken Open

This event is truly in my backyard 6 miles from home. And the pattern was Cheetah, I was bowling 2 PBA experience leagues and averaged better than 230 on the pattern in both leagues. Needless to say I was pumped. I was leading after 5 games and fans were telling me I was going to win. Well the lanes transitioned and I made the wrong adjustment. I finished 107 over but out of the cash in 20th. I used the Viper most of the day. Well I was pretty down for a few hours after this event and went home and did some yard work. However I will learn from this event.

Next event.

Milwaukee Oregon
Northwest Region Dave Husted Open

This event was on Shark and in a center I have not had much luck in. So I almost skipped it but I got some work on the pattern at Secoma lanes and decided to give it a go. I used the Shark and one of my Blue Aliens with the pin under to give a little early roll. Well all of us were surprised the left played very well. I qualified 12th with 20 over and Sunday the lanes played better on the left then they did on the right and I ended up 5th.

Next event.

Wenatchee Washington
Northwest Region Eastmont Lanes Open "RPI Qualifier
This event was our most prestigious event of the year, 2 spots would be awarded for the Regional Players Invitational in Reno. I knew I had to finish in the top 4 to earn a spot and I loved the center and felt comfortable there. I had been bowling great all year and felt I had a good chance. Unfortunately the lanes did not play on the left and none of us got a check so a top 4 finish was not in the cards. Making my first RPI team was one of my goals for the year, I will try harder next year.

Next event,

Northwest Region Tumwater Lanes Open

This event I should of bowled better it was on Viper a pattern I had played well on in practice and on my Experience leagues. But I bowled poorly the practice session things looked good I only bowled a short time in the session. I was battling tennis elbow it did not bother my bowling and as I was not bowling in the pro ams at this event. I made an early day of it. Well Saturday I got the same look I had in the practice session but they transitioned fast and I got lost. I ended up 153 under and just never got comfortable. I could get to the pocket but no carry. Then I tried to force a shot and bingo split. The last game I moved out to 2 board and found a shot I could play. But I was too far gone to get into contention, if I would of made that move in game 5 I think I could of made it back into contention.

I think I let the conditions at the prior event and opinions from another bowler get to me. I hope I learned from this event because I should of bowled better.

Next event next blog

Sorry about he delay in getting this done.  I have been very busy. 

I had dropped ALL of my name shirts off at the letterer to add the Logos for Elite 2 weeks prior they told me they needed 2 weeks.  I called them on Weds 25th and they had lost all my shirts.  I told to please try and find them.  I had some old shirts I could use if I had to.  Good news they found the shirts Thursday morning and got most of the work done by 5pm so I could pick them up. 

 4/27 started early at Sea Tac Airport decided to park the RV until gas prices get resonable.  Got the airport 4:30 for my 6:15 flight.  Wife dropped me off at checkin for SW Airlines.  Even though I weighed my bags at home and I was under by at least 2 lbs.  2 of my bags were now overweight and the bad that I planned to use to move weight to if needed just disappeared down the baggage ramp.  I moved my toiletry kit to my carryon that took care of one bag the other the ticket agent let slide.  Off to TSA kingdom it was controlled kaos even at 5 in the morning.  After a couple of tries I got thru the metal detector.  I met a young man obviously trying to overcome his short commings.  He had my carryon's pulled aside.  "Are these your bags" I told him yes again as I had just told him they were mine when he annouced to the crowd "Who's bag's are these"?...  Well the toiletry bag I pulled out of check baggage could not be carried on the plan because they were liquid.  He would be happy to discard them or I could check them.  He escorted me out of the security area back to ticketing.  I went the same ticket agent that forced me to remove the item.  She checked one of my carryons with the offending toiletry kit and said no charge.  I thanked her and back to security.

 The young boy that escorted me out was now giving someone else the treatment.  I told him to have a nice day as I walked by.  Finally got to my gate with 10 minutes to spare.  Boarded the plan and took a nap woke up in Boise.  Got my rental car and all my baggage made it.  Got to the hotel about 9:30.  The hotel appeared full but the young lady at the front desk said yes we are full but your room is ready Mr Riess.  I got checked in and had a great breakfast Strawberry Pancakes.  I go to the bowl for the practice session and was asked to bowl the pro am.  This pro am was great regular scoring no 9 pin no tap scoring and it was on the burn after practice session.  Well I had a lot of fun.

The practice session went well although not the way I had planned.  I had watched the USBC video on how to play the Scorpian pattern and practiced on it a couple of times at Secoma Lanes.  Well Jason Couch says you can't play this outside of 6.  So I and many of the other bowlers are playing between 6-11.  I was not pleased with the look from their so I took a walk and saw a couple or right handers and 1 lefty playing outside of 5.  I went back to the pair my equipment was resting at.  Chris Warren looks over at me and says "Chuck do you want to get a clue"?  I said sure he tossed one up 2 board and crushed the hole.  I tossed one up 2 and crushed the pins.  I liked the Viper and Chameleon and the Blue Alien balls the best during practice.  On Saturday the Blue Alien did not work the way I wanted I switched to the Viper.  I was 4th off of A squad and 11th after qualifying ended.  The semis had about the same look for me.  It was fairly evident a few of the bowlers were heads and shoulders better then the rest this day.  I did not make the cut for the top 8.  But I got a check, one game was the difference I shot 180 instead of 230.  I had the pleasure of bowling Saturdays Pro Am.  My back was alot soar again and it took awhile to get the sleep Saturday night.  Got the bowl Sunday in time to watch the final match's.  I got out of town with no issues went ahead and checked 4 bags and paid the extra $50. 

Chris Warren won the tournie and Cory Husted came in second both were on top of their games.

Next Stop Sunset in Ballard.

Prep for the Amarr Garage Doors Open hosted at Go Bowl in Pasco WA, started Thursday 3/29. Went to Secoma Lanes in Federal Way for some practice on the Viper pattern. My look at Secoma the outside 5 boards were OB and inside gave me over under well 8 games of struggle was enough. I headed off to get some work done.

I hit the road about 9:30pm and pulled into Go Bowl about 2am. I felt a little tickle in my throat but I told myself it was nothing. First thing I found I had no internet service 2 of the 3 Tri Cities has Sprint service Pasco is not one of them. No biggie I went to bed.

Friday morning around 9am I got up and tried to set up the satellite dish could not get a good signal so I gave up and went in for breakfast. I like to support the host center as much as I can. I packed my equipment into the center, messed with the dish again no luck.

I visited with Steve Stevens as he oiled the lanes. He is very precise 19ml per lane we were on volume 1 the old Brunswick synthetics were slick enough. I was very happy because the lower volumes play better on the left. I went outside and messed with my satellite dish again no go.

Practice session was a very pleasant surprise. I found I had a nice look straight up 2 with a board of intentional tug with the Elite Viper. The Shark, Scorpian and one of my Blue Aliens looked good also but the best carry seemed to be with the Viper although the Blue Alien was close. You needed to get the ball started towards the headpin and you were ok. I shot spares for about 30 minutes should have been more as I missed a few Saturday and a few more Sunday. Had I shot my spares better I would have been in the top 5 and perhaps 2nd as my attitude may have been better. I was not asked to participate in the first pro am but I would be bowling the 2nd and on standby for the 3rd. Went outside and called Direct TV to see if they could help after 30 minutes I gave up and had dinner.

Back inside the bowl for the 6:30 Pro Am. We had 4 pairs of eager bowlers about ½ kids and ½ adults. The Pro Ams are usually 9 pin no tap and my goal is to score as much as possible but no matter what the score make sure everyone has fun. Well my scores were ok, bad and pathetic. But from the comments people had fun. At one point one of the spectators hollered out Chuck I am going to bet on you to win the tournament cause you sure can't bowl on the house shot.

Saturday morning I woke at 6 am that tickle in my throat was a growl but after getting some food in me and liquids I was fine. Fortunately I got on a pair with 4 players that would let us pace better and hopefully not have to wait for pairs to clear in front of us. Well the pace was slower in front of us and we ended up with a couple of short breaks but that was fine. I stayed out of trouble the first 4 games got to 39 under at one point but the last four got back to 40 over. I was 4th on A squad after B squad I was 10th and very pleased.

I was very pleased to see an old friend Ron Hoppe arguably one of the best coaches in the world. Many of you have seen a bowler from Russia in all of the PTQ's on the tour. Well that young man Alec is Ron's latest student what a lucky young man. They were just finished with the National Tour and stopped into bowl the regional. I said hello to Alec during warm up session my impression he is a very nice young man, very athletic and with Ron's help will have a future in bowling.

I went out to the Motor home messed with the dish again and found a broken wire and got the TV working. I was more tired than I expected and went to bed at 8. I woke at 6am and the growl in my throat was now a roar. But my head was fine went in to the bowl and had breakfast and got ready for the first 8 of 16 match play games. At the end of 8 games I as 305 pins behind the leader but I was in 2nd place. We took a break had lunch and started bowling again. I got thru the first 3 games fine then what ever bug I had been trying to fight grabbed hold and said sorry sucker you are done. There were a couple of times my balance was so bad I thought I would fall over. I had been passed by 3 bowlers and was now in 5th. The last 3 games were a challenge keeping my lunch down and I dropped to 7th. But this was my best finish in a PBA event so even being sick as a dog I was still pretty happy.

The long drive home is a blur I stopped several times and got home about 9:30pm.

 

My preparation for 7 Feathers event in Roseburg started Tuesday prior to the event. I have been honored by Elite they have allowed me to participate in their staff program. I got a call from my ball driller Corey Gardner at Secoma Lanes. He told me he has boxes of balls and bags for me to get out of there. I told him I would be in later for league. He started drilling he had holes punched in them all when I got there. But his shop was real busy so we got one ball ready to bowl league. After league was over we got the rest done. I threw 4 or 5 shots with each and we were both impressed along with a couple of other bowlers watching. Due to work I did not get to bowl Wed or Thur. But I did get to visit my acupuncturist, I have been getting treatment for back pain. (Massage, Chiropractic, Acupuncture and drugs)

We hit the road Thursday night drove to Woodburn and spent the night at Camping World. Friday morning we woke and went shopping of course. We got to the Bowl about 1:30 and the lights were out the music was loud and there was about 50 kids doing a line dance on the approach's. (What a reception LOL) Steve Stevens was busy oiling the lanes. I brought in my equipment and started taping and working out my new equipment. I got done just in time for the practice session.
I decided to throw a few shots with each ball and hope I was close for Saturday. I found 3 balls that looked good 9 of 10 balls struck figures. With no pro ams at this event we had the evening free. After the practice session Gary was telling stories and Ernie told some stories about his action days. Curtis Woods showed us his monkey dance. Then off to the RV.

I took another pain pill and went to bed about 9pm. About 11:30 the security guard banged on the side of the motor home, I woke up and answered the door. He asked if I was spending the night and if I had permission to be there. I told yes and yes and went back to sleep.
Saturday we got up a 6am for the 7:30 roll call. I felt good no pain the warm up went well, but then transition happened due to the light oil. And we all know you can't correct for bad shot making it took a game and a half to get to the correct ball not one of the ones I guessed I would use. I got plus the third game with a 258 games 4 5 6 I stayed close. Then we sat for 15 minutes waiting for the lanes to clear for game 7. Well my back said you are done and I lost 100 pins in game 7 & 8.

There was young man bowling on the next pair. The kid got 3 splits in a row and was not having a good time. I walked over to him patted him on the back told him shake it off and just have fun. Dam if he didn't fire a 300 the next game.

I can't wait to find out what these new Elite balls do and hope I will be ready for Pasco.
Thank you Elite, Lava Lanes and Gary and Toni Mage.