Sunbreak 2024
PenPalz & Pal Ball
The Story
Originating from two childhood pen pals, Aaron and Durs, the PenPalz launched in 2018 as a team composed mostly of alumni from UC Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO, and UCLA. After 3 previous Sunbreak appearances and a year off in 2023, we are back with some familiar faces and a number of new friends! This year, in the spirit of the Olympics, we bring a new, highly-competitive sport: Pal Ball.
As PenPalz grew across California and from coast to coast, so did Pal Ball. Now played in over 12 states and 7 countries, its ability to bring friends and strangers together in fun competition is world-renowned. It rose meteorically in popularity after its appearance in the National Anthem of PenPalz — click the Play Button at the bottom right to hear it!
The Rules
- 2 - 4 players per team on each end of a table, each with an empty can in front of them
- Alternating teams, players take turns throwing a ping pong ball trying to knock a can off from the opposing team
- The defending team can play defense by attempting to catch the cans one-handed
- If your can hits the ground, you're out!
- A team wins once all of the opponents' cans have been knocked off
The Spirit Game
We will play a 3v3, shortened version of Pal Ball as our spirit game. 2 spirit winners will be chosen from the opposing team, and they will then pick 2 more teammates each. Each player will have one throw, and the team with the most cans standing at the end wins!
In the event of a tie, each player will be given a ball. After a countdown (“3, 2, 1, Pal Ball!”), all players will throw at the same time. This will be repeated until one team has lost more cans than the other.
Each of the participants from the other team will receive a custom PenPalz ping pong ball and a non-alcoholic beverage of their choosing.
The Tournament
A tournament within a tournament? 🤯
Aside from having Pal Ball as our spirit game, we will organize a Pal Ball tournament on one evening of the tournament open to all! This way, everyone has the opportunity to play even if they did not have the pleasure of playing us 😉.
Games will be mixed 2v2. Sign-ups will be available online and via a sheet at our camp until all spaces are filled.
Teams who place on the podium will win an appropriately-Olympic prize.
The Fit
Given the intense but fun nature of Pal Ball, our uniforms must follow-suit. We hope that the world's first ever ultimate & Pal Ball outfits will make their debut in Snohomish, WA this summer.
- Snazzy jerseys resembling those of a niche sport called "baseball"
- Colorful Pit Vipers? You betcha.
- Custom Pal Ball hats? Find us on Stocker Fields to see them.
We hope that the world's first ever ultimate & Pal Ball outfits will make their debut in Snohomish, WA this summer.
