ONLY six months after picking up her first competition Frisbee, Dianella resident Jess Emery was chosen to represent Australia in the sport.
The Mt Lawley Senior High School Year 11 student was selected for the under-20 Australian women’s team, the Southern Terra, which will compete at the World Flying Disc Federation Junior Ultimate Championships in Poland in August.
Jess said she enjoyed playing the “strange sport” at school, so she joined Yokine club Primal Ultimate last August.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“My coach said there was a trial in Melbourne in January for the under-20s Australian women’s team, a four-day camp,” she said.
“Then I got a letter saying I got in.”
Three other WA players will join Jess to take on international teams in Polish city Wroclaw.
Jess and twin brother Nathan have also been selected to play for the WA state team in Sydney in June.
Jess said she enjoyed ultimate Frisbee because of the friendly players and travel opportunities.
“When people ask you what sport you play and you say ‘Frisbee’, they’re like ‘what?’ – it’s a conversation starter,” she said.
“Watching someone go for a sky or a dive looks really impressive.”
Training sessions include drills, improving throwing techniques, moving through different winds, offence and defence techniques and practice matches.
The trip will cost $6000, so Jess has started a Go Fund Me page for people to donate to – www.gofundme.com/jesswithafrisbee – and has placed a tip jar at her workplace in Innaloo.