TFL 4…Flair in the City

The Toronto Flair League’s biggest competition to date was clearly TFL#3 as competitors from across the world got together to take part in the event.

Following TFL#3, the promoters got together and decided that there needed to be some changes to the direction that the league was headed in.

There have been many different up-start flair bartending groups or organizations over the years, and they all had one thing in common. The FBA, or Flair Bartending Association, which is the governing body in the world of flair bartending. This meant that each organization could host competitions, and could ask the FBA to judge, as they are currently the standard for how all of the major flair bartending competitions are judged.

TFL#3 was also an FBA comp, which meant that all of the bartenders who competed, would earn points that would place them in the overall world rankings.

However, the TFL promoters were hearing rumblings about how dissatisfied the competitors were with the way the FBA judged, and the structure behind the rules.

So against the better judgment of the FBA, the TFL decided to create their own rules, and judging format for all future Toronto Flair League events.

This was a very bold move and had the possibility of ruining everything that has been built thus far.

Nevertheless the new rules were posted and the TFL was gearing up for what was to be their biggest event to date.

Billed as “Halloween Havoc”, TFL 4 was to be held on October 25^th 2010.

The promoters brought the competition back to the Loose Moose where it all began.

The venue looked like a haunted house as the event kicked off at 7:30 pm with a full roster of 12 Amateur competitors and 13 Advanced level bartenders.

All of the bartenders were dressed in costume as well as the Loose Moose staff and more than half of the capacity crowd of well over 200!

It was by far the most entertaining event that the Toronto Flair League has put on to date.

After the final bartender of the evening performed, it was time for the judges to render their decision.

In the amateur division, taking home $30 and third place was Vadim Podosyan. Finishing in second place and taking $40 was Jay Patience. The new TFL Amateur champion taking the $50 prize was the birthday girl, Shay Court!

It was time to announce the winners from the Advanced division.

Taking third place and $50 was (DJ Pauly D) Kris Perez.

Then the judges made an announcement. For the first time ever, there was a tie between Zack Prohaska and David Jennings for first place!

The judges ruled that there would be an overtime round, in which each competitor would have one minute to showcase their “big ass move”. This meant that they could use the entire minute to successfully complete their hardest flair move.

David Jennings went first and took only 30 seconds to complete a difficult bottle/tin move. Then it was up to the home crowd favorite Zack Prohaska to top it. Zack didn’t disappoint as he landed a four tin/bottle move that secured his place as the new TFL champion and the $100 prize.

With some doubts going into TFL#4 about the new scoring system, the TFL promoters didn’t know what to expect. What they got was undoubtedly the biggest, most entertaining show they have ever put together.

For the up to date Toronto Flair League standings, visit http://torontoflairleague.com/tflstandings.htm

Until next time, keep flipping.