Innova Champion Discs

Innova Champion Discs, generally known simply as Innova (stylized as INNOVA) is an American disc golf brand and manufacturing company. Founded in 1983, it is the largest disc golf disc manufacturer and was among the first companies to produce equipment specifically for disc golf.[1]

INNOVA
TypePrivate
IndustryDisc golf equipment
Founded1983 (1983) in California, United States
HeadquartersOntario, California, United States
Key people
Dave Dunipace (President and CEO)
ProductsDisc golf equipment
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The company was incorporated on 5 May 1983 in California as Champion Discs Inc.[2] In 1983, Dave Dunipace created and patented the Eagle, the world's first disc designed specifically for the sport of disc golf.[3]

Products

In addition to discs, Innova manufactures other disc golfing equipment including bags, accessories, and their DISCatcher targets, which were introduced in 1995.[4] Their 60+ golf discs are manufactured using various molds and plastics. Innova manufactures discs in 4 distinct lines of plastic with distinct flight characteristics: Star, Champion, Pro, and DX. There are also many subtypes related to the main 4: Echo Star, Gstar, Starlite, Champion Edition, Blizzard Champion, Glow Champion, R-Pro, XT-Pro, KC-Pro, KC-Glow, McPro, JK-Pro, Yeti-Pro Proline and Glow DX.[5]

Current models

Distance drivers
  • Ape
  • Archon
  • Beast
  • Boss
  • Colossus
  • Corvette
  • Daedalus
  • Destroyer
  • Dominator
  • Firebird
  • Firestorm
  • Groove
  • Invictus
  • Katana
  • Krait
  • Mamba
  • Monarch
  • Mystere
  • Orc
  • Roadrunner
  • Savant
  • Shryke
  • Sidewinder
  • Teedevil
  • Tern
  • Thunderbird
  • Valkyrie
  • Viking
  • Vulcan
  • Wahoo
  • Wraith
  • Xcaliber
Fairway drivers
  • Archangel
  • Banshee
  • Cheetah
  • Dragon
  • Eagle
  • Leopard
  • Leopard3
  • Teebird
  • Teebird3
  • TL
  • TL3
  • Viper
Midrange
  • Atlas
  • Avatar
  • Caiman
  • Cobra
  • Gator
  • Kite
  • Lion
  • Mako
  • Mako3
  • Manta
  • Panther
  • Rat
  • Roc
  • Roc3
  • RocX3
  • Shark
  • Skeeter
  • Spider
  • Stingray
  • Vroc
  • Wolf
  • Wombat
  • Wombat3
Putt & approach
  • Aviar
  • Aviar3
  • AviarX3
  • Birdie
  • Bullfrog
  • Classic Aviar
  • Colt
  • Dart
  • Firefly
  • Hydra
  • Invader
  • JK Aviar
  • KC Aviar
  • Mirage
  • Nova
  • Pig
  • Polecat
  • Rhyno
  • Stud
  • Wedge
  • Whale
  • Yeti Aviar

Disc ratings

Innova uses a numeric scale to rate the performance of its discs. The ratings represent:

  • Speed - Speed is the rating of the throw speed at which is required to throw the disc on the line the other flight numbers suggest, and is largely determined by the thickness of the rim, with 2.6 cm being the thickest allowed for PDGA approved play, but it has also been described as how easily the disc cuts through the air. Ratings range from 1 to 14, with 14 being the "fastest" drivers and 1 being the "slowest" putt and approach discs.
  • Glide - Rated from 1 to 7, Innova describes glide as "the discs ability to maintain loft during flight. Discs with more glide are best for new players, and for producing maximum distance. Beginners wanting more distance should choose discs with more glide. Discs with less glide are more accurate in high wind situations".[6] A disc with a glide of 1 will be relatively unaffected by winds and will tend to fly on the thrower's power more than anything, while a disc with a glide of 7 will be very sensitive to crosswinds and headwinds, but will ride a tailwind much further than it could be thrown via force alone.
  • Turn - The turn of a disc (also known as high speed stability) describes how hard a disc will fight against its natural inclination to fade (see below) during the flight. Turn is rated from -5 to +1. A -5 rated disc will turn from a straight line of flight very easily with relatively little power behind it, while a +1 is unlikely to turn at all and will usually begin fading earlier in the flight.
  • Fade - The fade of a disc (also known as low speed stability) is the degree to which a disc will fall to one side as it loses speed. The direction of the fade depends on how it is thrown. For example, for a right handed person throwing in the traditional backhand style, the disc will fade to the left, but when thrown forehand, it will fade to the right. Fade is rated from 0 to 5, with a 5 rated disc fading hard and early, and a 0 rated disc barely fading off of its original line of flight at all.

Innova Factory Store

"F2 Factory Second" stamp on Innova factory second discs

In 2011, Innova opened the online Innova Factory Store and a brick and mortar pro shop in Rancho Cucamonga, California. In addition to stock production discs, gear, and apparel, it carries limited edition discs, prototypes, out of production models, and a variety of factory seconds stamped with an F2 label.[7][8]

Innova sponsors a wide variety of athletes worldwide, from junior athletes to elite professional players. Below is a list of the 10 classes of players sponsored by Innova and affectuously called the "Innova Air Force," as of December 2020: [9][10]

Star Team

Current
  •   Jennifer Allen
  •   Gregg Barsby
  •   Henna Blomroos
  •   James Conrad
  •   Lisa Fajkus
  •   Garrett Gurthie
  •   Calvin Heimburg
  •   Jeremy Koling
  •   Eveliina Salonen
  •   Nathan Sexton
  •   Madison Walker
  •   Jessica Weese
  •   Ricky Wysocki
Past
  •   Josh Anthon
  •   Philo Brathwaite
  •   Hannah Leatherman

Hall of Fame

  •   Alan Beaver
  •   "Crazy" John Brooks
  •   Ken Climo
  •   J. Gary Dropcho
  •   Gregg Hosfeld
  •   Carlton Howard
  •   Juliana Korver
  •   Anni Kreml
  •   Mitch McClellan
  •   Stan McDaniel
  •   Joe Mela
  •   Jim Oates
  •   Des Reading
  •   Jay Reading
  •   Fred Salaz
  •   Barry Schultz
  •   Johnny Sias
  •   Tita Ugalde
  •   Dr. Rick Voakes
  •   Steve Wisecup
  •   Lavone Wolfe

Team Champion

Current
  •   Anthony Barela
  •   Philo Brathwaite
  •   Steve Brinster
  •   Holly "Finale" Finley
  •   Martin Hendel
  •   Valerie Mandujano
  •   Andrew Marwede
  •   Callie McMorran
  •   Karina Nowels
  •   Alex Russell
  •   Ohn Scoggins
  •   Ellen Widboom
  •   Scott Withers
Past
  •   Joel Freeman
  •   Garrett Gurthie
  •   Hannah Leatherman
  •   Brian McRee
  •   Joe Rovere
  •   Bradley Williams

The Masters

Current
  •   Robert Bainbridge
  •   Jonathan Baldwin
  •   Steve Boylan
  •   Sandy Gast
  •   Kenny Boo-Rad Lee
  •   Courtney McCoy
  •   Kevin McCoy
  •   Brian McRee
  •   Mike Moser
  •   Eric Rainey
  •   JD Ramirez
  •   Pam Reineke
  •   Brian Schweberger
  •   George Smith
  •   Don Smith
  •   Cameron Todd
  •   Kyle Wilkes
Past
  •   William Gummesson
  •   Jay "Yeti" Reading
  •   Dean Tannock

International Team

Current
  •   Blærörn Ásgeirsson
  •   Sofie Björlycke
  •   Ryan Budge
  •   Linus Carlsson
  •   Jacky Chen
  •   Daniel Davidsson
  •   Tony Ferro
  •   Mikael Máni Freysson
  •   Knut Håland
  •   Mikael Häme
  •   Tetsuya 'T2' Kikuchi
  •   Pasi Koivu
  •   Kristian Kuoksa
  •   Marco Lehousse
  •   Peter Lunde
  •   Jon Henry Marthinsen
  •   Espen Møkkelgjerd
  •   Karl Johan Nybo
  •   Christian Plaue
  •   Katarina Staalesen
  •   Jalle Stoor
  •   Cassie Sweetten
  •   Hemi Te-Awhitu
  •   Andri Fannar Torfason
  •   Carl Ulvinen
  •   Kristo Vaikmaa
Past
  •   Hannele Määttä
  •   Eveliina Salonen
  •   Maxime Tanghe
  •   Ilari Tuoma

Crew Team

Current
  •   Melodie Bailey
  •   Emily Beach
  •   Logan Bowers
  •   Sarah Cunningham
  •   Christian Dietrich
  •   Mason Ford
  •   Joel Freeman
  •   Thomas Gilbert
  •   Austin Hoop
  •   Christine Jennings
  •   Erica Johnson
  •   Zackeriath Johnson
  •   Hannah Leatherman
  •   Alexis Mandujano
  •   Noah Meintsma
  •   Paul Oman
  •   Kona Panis
  •   James Proctor
  •   Nathan Queen
  •   Joe Rovere
  •   Chris Shotwell
  •   Bo Tillman
  •   Bradley Williams
  •   Amanda Zaccone
Past
  •   Carrie Berlogar
  •   Collin Carter
  •   Nicholas Duran
  •   Devin Frederick
  •   Jessica Hill
  •   Avery Jenkins
  •   Izak McDonald
  •   Alex Russell
  •   Leslie Todd
  •   David Wiggins Jr
  •   Nick Wood
  • Cooper Arnold
  • Kevin Babbit
  • Chris Becker
  • Jesse Bickley
  • Andrew Bohme
  • Logan Bowers
  • Lacey Brugler
  • James Cole
  • Kevin Couch
  • Bobby Cowperthwait
  • Aaron Devries
  • Henry Dissell
  • Will Dobrzykowski
  • Jason Dore
  • Kyle Eckmann
  • Jeff Fiedler
  • Logan Fiske
  • Itzy Galvan
  • Sandy Gast
  • Kailey Hall
  • Stan Hubbard
  • Ray Johnson
  • Kevin Sheehan Jr.
  • Matt Kern
  • Landon Knight
  • Sara Lamberson
  • Alex Lambert
  • Randon Latta
  • Kara Lee
  • Kenny Boo-Rad Lee
  • Mike Loya
  • Alexis Mandujano
  • Valerie Mandujano
  • Andrew Marwede
  • Joel Maury-Holmes
  • Andrew Nava
  • David O'Meara
  • Maria Oliva
  • Glenn Patterson
  • Chris Pinegar
  • Deegan Silva
  • Peter Sontag
  • Andrew Speth
  • Brenden Tetloff
  • Mckayla Thomas
  • Colleen Thompson
  • Danielle Vargas
  • Eddie Ward
  • Keith Warren
  • Ellen Widboom
  • Kelsey Wilmering
  • Casey Wright
  • Amanda Zaccone

See also

References

  1. Menickelli, Justin; Pickens, Ryan (2016). "The History, Present and Possible Future of Disc Golf". Definitive Guide to Disc Golf. Triumph Books. ISBN 9781633194748. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  2. "Articles of Incorporation of Champion Discs, Incorporated". California Secretary of State Business Search. 5 May 1983. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  3. "About Innova Discs". Innovadiscs.com. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  4. "Disc Golf Course growth". Innovadiscs.com. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  5. "Innova Discs Plastic Types". Innovadiscs.com. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  6. "Flight Ratings System - Innova Disc Golf". Innovadiscs.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  7. "INNOVA FACTORY STORE". Innova Discs. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. "2ECONDS". Disc Golf United. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  9. "Team Innova - Innova Disc Golf". Innovadiscs.com. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  10. INNOVA (9 January 2019). "Wysocki Returns, Team Innova Grows in 2019". Innovadiscs.com. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
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