On April 26th 2002, Sweden's Christian Sandstrom smashed the world distance record, throwing an incredible 250m. The throw took place at a distance event in the USA - Big D In The Desert IV. OBmegazine contacted Christian hoping to gain some kind of insight into what makes the man tick and how the hell he gets a disc to go that far. We were absolutely delighted to hear back from him. This is what he had to say: About 5-6 years ago I threw about 180 metres for the first time, it was with a whippet. This throw filled me with happiness and a joyful feeling went threw my heart. I had at last reached my goal for that moment. I decided to train hard and put all my energy together to experience the same feeling I felt that day when I had broke 180m.

photos: Peter Henriksson Area 46

For the last 3 years I have trained really hard and I have increased my knowledge of distance, discs and techniques. All kinds of training over different periods of the season have helped me - weightlifting, all round training, gymnastics, medicine balls. I have also studied throwing techniqes using both physics and computer systems for throwing-sports. A lot of my training has been at a hi-tech sports centre in Stockholm-Sweden.

My first breakthrough was in WFDF 1999 when I was second in the distance competition. I then won the world championships distance title in San Diego 2001. I threw 208 meters in San Diego and I had been throwing some 230 meters throws in training so I knew that I could do it.

I took my chance on the Big D 2002 with a Valkyrie DX. This disc has a really nice glide when you get it up really high in the air with a lot of power and spin on the disc. When the nose stays down at the end of the flight this increases the speed in the last part of the flight so there wasn't any luck that this disc did the business for me.

When a good thrower, who knows his discs, puts it out there and in the perfect spot, you can feel it in your whole body.

Two weeks before Big D IV I went to Spain for two weeks for a training camp with my trainer. We went to the Spanish desert and trained distance three times a day in different ways. I was going directly to El Mirage with a few days rest behind me.

The Throw
It was blowing about 20-25 mph. My tee off was perfect. I felt the power from my quadriceps through my hip, lowerback and shoulders and ended up with a huge snap and a quick arm. I got the perfect angle and the nose down on the disc and it just went off.

"Oh its gone" I heard the audience say behind me, ending with "yeah that was awesome dude". It seemed that the disc never wanted to land.

If somebody asked me whether my throw is beatable, I would said yes. We could have had a more powerful wind and more lift on the discs during the flights.

I think that the perfect shot is still out there somewhere. I also think that Big D is the place to beat it, a more perfect spot to throw distance probably does not exist.

And so finally, one of my big boyhood dreams had been realised. I can finally sit on the throne of kings as the man who throws the farthest in the world.

This is really something for me, a lifestyle and a living have really paid me back after all these years. The only thing left for me is to become PDGA World Champion.

To those who want to train for distance I can say two things. Without hard training you will not come up to that 200 meters area at all. Don't always train with your body, train with your brain too. Be critical, look for the smallest errors everytime. Trust your self, you can do it, don't listen too much to other people, listen to your heart and yourself.

Finally, I want to thank Mark Molnar for doing the world's greatest distance competition as perfect as possible. Also a big thank to Innova, without their discs I would never be in this position and I would probably never be doing frisbee at all. Their discs are perfect for me and have taken my game to a whole new level. Its not only a choice of discs, it's a choice of champions.

Best regards,
Christian Sandström
The world champion and the world record holder with Innova. Thank you!!

Further Reading
Swedish Disc Guru Peter Heriksson discusses monster throws