EVENTS: The First Annual Cornhole Series

Some of Central Florida’s fiercest Cornhole competitors came out to Wall Street Plaza on Saturday for The First Orlando Cornhole Series (and the free beer, of course).  The event was the first bout of a five-tournament series presented by Coors Light and Victory Tailgate.  The five tournaments will lead up to the Orlando Cornhole Classic that is planned for early February...a Cornhole Superbowl, if you will.

Those of you who’ve never partied in the mid-west or tailgated a college football game may be wondering what exactly “Cornhole” is, and with the rate this game is spreading over Orlando’s bar scene, now’s a great time to find out. Who doesn’t need a new excuse to drink beer in the afternoon and talk competitive smack to friends?

Cornhole or Corn Toss (depending on where you’re from) is similar to Horseshoe, but instead of metal stakes and horseshoes, players use hand-sized bean bags filled with corn and wooden boxes with cut-out holes called cornhole platforms. Players take turns tossing the bean bags to the platform until one of the players/teams reaches 21 points. Three points are earned if the bag makes it through the hole; one point if the bag makes it to the platform.

It sounds easy enough, but the game actually requires considerable skill and practice. Apparently, a few beers don’t hurt either. Quite a few teams I talked to explained that, like darts, beer pong, or any other respectable bar sport, beer is an essential tool used for added focus and skill.  But like any performance-enhancement drug, the liquid courage has its pitfalls. After all, it’s a lot harder to sink one once you start seeing double.

Either way, there was no shortage of beer at the tournament on Saturday. Coors Light kegs were running freely (in every sense of the word) for both players and spectators throughout the event. Jayde from XL 106.7 emceed the event while a DJ spun all the music necessary for a decent street party.

Close to forty teams from all over Central Florida competed in the tournament going head to head in a series of single-elimination rounds leading up to the final, with only Team Shake-N-Bake (Greg Myers and Alana Tuohy) and Team West Coast MC’s (Matt Morrow and Cody Johnson) left standing.  West Coast MC’s took the win claiming a $500 cash prize as well as a $500 gift certificate to Wall Street to ensure a proper celebration.  For their second-place prize, Team Shake-N-Bake nabbed a $500 gift certificate to Wall Street as well. 

Even the losers claimed prizes and bragging rights. Well, sort of. Eliminated teams could opt to compete in the consolation bracket for a chance at redemption. Team Knockers (Jason Vis and Heath Haddix) did just that, ultimately winning the sub-par competition, and claiming their title as the winners of the losers, and a $100 gift certificate to Wall Street.

The next tournament is at 2 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Wall Street Plaza.