Though ultimate frisbee might seem like a newer phenomenon, in Santa Barbara it’s been played since the ’70s, when enthusiasts started a league and kickstarted the West Coast scene. On Friday, July 21, the sport returned home for the first-ever American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL) game played in Santa Barbara.
The L.A. Aviators took on the Oakland Spiders at San Marcos High School in a grudge match for the final West league playoff spot. Just a week earlier, the Spiders came back to defeat the Aviators 20-19 in overtime. Their rematch on “home” turf for L.A. gave the Aviators a slight advantage, which they harnessed to eventually beat Oakland 24-23 in a similarly last-minute win.
“Everyone was pretty disappointed last week after losing, and we absorb that and then try to leave it behind, because we knew that [if] we had the rematch we’re gonna win,” Aviators #42 Marcel Osborne said.