American Wallball legend Timbo Gonzalez takes a trip to Eton College to learn about the game of Eton Fives and take on two of the country's highest rated players
Olaf Pignataro
Timbo Gonzales practices during Red Bull Eton Fives shoot in London, UK
Follow legendary court hero from New York, Timbo Gonzalez, on his trip to Eton College as he immerses himself in a world full of traditional British heritage by trying out one of the oldest organised sports in the UK, Eton Fives.
Timbo sets out to explore the culture and practice of Eton Fives to improve in his own discipline of Wallball. Both sports require speed, stamina and excellent hand-eye coordination, but with different rules and a complex court structure, will Timbo be able to keep up the pace?
A Wallball World Champion, Timbo has been crowned ‘King of the Courts’ three times at the biggest singles tournament of professional handball competitions around. He is famous in the Wallball community worldwide for his outstanding skills and his contribution to youth involvement in the sport.
Traditionally played in the streets of New York, Wallball is a fast-paced sport that involves two, three or four players and a rubber ball. The rules are simple — don’t let the ball hit the ground twice. Eton Fives is of a similar nature, with the biggest difference being that the court is modelled on the chapel walls at Eton College, where the sport began way back in the 19th century.
Timbo visits the courtyard of Eton College, founded by Henry VI in 1440, where he learns about the history of the sport before experts show him the fundamentals of the game at the modern Eton Fives courts in London.
After watching the Eton Fives World Finals, Timbo’s friend and trainer Safe Stadick joins him for an intense exhibition game against professional Eton Fives players. With ball speeds of up to 90mph, the pair face quick rallies, creative shot making, and Timbo’s fast footwork helps them to keep up with the pros.
On the experience, Timbo says “Playing these guys and learning the skill set for Eton fives was very helpful. I’m going to transition it into my game, using the quick reflex, the wrap arounds and creating different shots. When I get to the States, I’m going to sharpen that up and hopefully win more titles. It’s going to be wild!”
- You can learn more about Timbo and other Red Bull sponsored athletes like him at redbull.com, or on social media @RedBullUK. To view the original article on Timbo's trip to Eton as it appeared on the Red Bull website click here
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