Yesterday, I rediscovered on my hard drive two old videos that show the final in men’s alternating doubles at the 2011 German Ringtennis Championships. Christian Kämpfer and Sebastian Weber of RTG Weidenau—who won their semi-final against Timo & Rainer Hufnagel—played against Alexej Ermak and me (TSV Neubiberg), after winning our semi-final against Tobias Höfelmayr and Julian Sauck. It was the first time alternating doubles were an official competition at German championships and Alexej and me ultimately became the first to ever win that title.
In Ringtennis, two different kinds of doubles are played. The traditional way—or “free style” doubles—is played like in tennis, i.e., every player can catch and throw the ring at any time. Alternating doubles—also called “WTF1 style”—are played internationally, e.g., at world championships, and have been introduced in Germany in 2011. In alternating doubles, players have to catch and throw the ring—you already guessed it—alternately, like in table tennis.
By the way, the day after the alternating doubles final, Alexej and I also made it to the final in free style doubles. Unfortunately, we lost against Timo & Rainer Hufnagel at extra time, which was the second time in a row for me. In 2010, I lost against the same opponents, also at extra time. However, I played with ex–national coach Peter Meyer then, who had been my Ringtennis coach since 1998. Side note: It was actually the first time Peter made it to a final in the highest category at German championships.
P.S.: Thanks a lot to Roland Funk for filming the final!
1 I know, I know … But in fact, this means World Tenniquoits2 Federation, not What The Fuck 😉
2 Tenniquoits is a different word for Ringtennis.
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