How accurate do you think the SCVA final standings are?

And based off of them what would be your predictions for teams that will medal at JO's?

I would use the standings from the SCVA Classic. They are more recent than the standings.

Do you think any midwest teams will medal this year? In any of the age groups

West Allis Lightning 15s have a legit chance. They'll have to work for it, and maybe occasionally get lucky and come up against a top team while they're playing like crap (like they did at the Classic) and steal their seed, but there's a shot. They should be one of the top 5 seeds, and at very worst they should finish 5th.

Yeah I think quite a few Midwest teams have a definite chance to medal...
Based on the SCVA Classic
In 18s NSMVC and Adversity definitely are both very solid teams along with Spri 18 Mizuno even though they didnt compete in Cali.
For 17s its either Ultimate Gold or West Allis... I know West Allis finished in bronze but only got there because of a crazy threeway tie. They can upset many teams as long as they have Dejno bombing on the outside. Ultimate also finished fifth at SCVA and only lost to Epic on a ridiculous call that lost the game for them... They have very strong passing, middles, and have a stud setter.
For 16s I'm just saying Ultimate Gold. They showed they can play when they finished 2nd at the Classic. They beat two very very strong teams in MB Surf and Seaside. Their middle (#11) is their go to guy and as long as they can keep feeding him, they have a legit chance to take out anyone in the nation.
For 15s its all West Allis like My Name a Borat said... They can sometimes play like crap but still come up on top against some very good teams..so watch out when they're "on". All around they are a very solid team and are probably one of the biggest contenders from the Midwest on this page.
As for 14s.... I don't care.

Also to add to some midwest teams that might medal:

Northshore Milwaukee 14's

Northshore Milwaukee 15's

Before the cali event the seeds are done. They use the cali event to tweak the seeds of the teams playing in the event. Meaning if they wanted MBeach at 18s at 1st and then balboa won the southern cal event they move balboa to 1st instead.

They have to use Qualifiers before the souther cal tournament only because souther cal event is not a qualifier.

However ive seen the spread sheets before and helped ranked once. And the qualifiers are all listed on a spread sheet as well as souther cal event last. All finishes are listed and some big wins and losses are pointed out.

North Shore is extremely scrappy, but offensively they are so weak that they really won't win a medal. It's not like they have great defense and good OHs so they constantly have one to go to, they have a good middle and a pretty good outside, and once neither of them are in the front they have no one to go to and the other team gets on huge on runs. Unless they get an easy ride to the top 4 they won't medal. Teams in the 15s that could medal are SCVC, Balboa Bay, West Allis Lightning, MB Surf, Guayanabo Mets, Pitirres, Torrimar, and Naranjito. OCVC's not included because they really got lucky in getting 2nd.

I saw NSMVC 14s play High Line and they weren't impressive at all either. In 14s the medals belong to High Line and the Puerto Ricans. Even without the Puerto Ricans, NSMVC isn't that good.

I disagree with you in regards to your statement. Northshore 14's have only lost two matches all year. Have went undeafeted in all three qualifiers in the midwest and have beaten Torrimar. Also they did not have a full team at Junior Boys Classic.

In regards to the Northshore 15's, if I'm not correct, they have beaten Lightning 4 times too counterattack that you think Lightning has a better chance to medal.

My guess for 17's teams to medal would be:

OCVC 17-1's
Balboa Bay QS
Epic 17-Jeff
Riptides OC

For 16's

SCVC
Seaside
Balboa Bay QS
MB surf

For 18's

Balboa Bay
MB surf
Riptides OC
????

All cali teams..hah

In a four day tournament the 12 seed plays the 1 seed twice, the 3 seed twice, they lose the title match to the 2 seed - and you say they got lucky to finish 2nd? They won because they BEAT the other teams when it counted on the court. Should they be seeded higher than the other teams you mentioned above - probably not because of their poor start to the season. However, luck had nothing to do with the outcome of the four day open tournament - you have to play the games against the opponent on the court. Do I think they will medal, probably not. because the division is so even throughout. However, that does not mean the same as saying a team "got lucky".

I hope the midwest always does good but you have to remember that wisconsin has HS ball in august/september/october so the 15's & 16's are always better at the beginning of the year. As for 14's the wisconsin kids are always good at that age.

what would that have to do with NS and Lightning though? they are both from Wisconsin. Also, NS 18's seem to have done pretty well this year, and in the past NS's older teams (16s -18s) have done pretty well at both Cali and nationals.

From my experience, the team that wins the Boys Classic wins JO's about half the time, maybe less. So you may want to consider that when you guys make your predictions for JO's. Teams that stepped up and played out of their minds, like OC Riptides 17s, are probably less likely to continue that ride through to nationals. Whereas the OC Riptides 18s team that flamed out at Boys Classic may have gotten the wake-up call they needed to turn it up at JO's. I don't think they will (their passing on the outside is a little suspect), but that is the type of team to look for a title run, one who had a bad day and found out how one bad day can ruin a title run.

For some of the age groups, it seems way too difficult to predict teams that will win because there are so many good teams. For example, the 17s level has about 12 teams that have a legitimate chance of making it pretty far. And its impossible to predict which upsets will occur at JOs, cause at the Classic, I bet no one would have thought that santa barbara 18s would have been knocked out early. Last year wasnt as hard to make predictions for, but now, its pretty hard considering the amount of good teams that could make a run for gold.

17s Outrigger Canoe Club won the SoCal Qualifier crushing balboa and riptides remember?

That is true, and I thought NSMVC would be more impressive than West Allis, but really I wasn't. Maybe West Allis had a huge game when I saw them, I don't know. Maybe North Shore knows some big weakness about WA because they're so close with them. But judging from the Boys' Classic, I think West Allis is the better team. Remember WA just picked up a new Opposite, so that may change things up.

I wouldn't count Riptides OC 17s out, they also beat OCVC at the Boys Invitational Qualifier before losing to Outrigger. They've already beaten OCVC more than once so you can't really say they played out of their mind. They are clearly a great team that is more than capable of winning JOs. I'd be very surprised if they weren't the overall 1 seed when the seedings for nationals come out.

someones a little stuck on cali
for 16s how about Ultimate Gold considering they took out two teams you named there
oh and coqui is gonna destroy everyone in 16s anyways

the 17s seem pretty fair you could add West Allis or ultimate if they play at full potential
the 18s seems fine

Ya my predictions were just of my knowledge, i know a lot of teams outside of CA have a good chance but i don't know all the details and didn't want to make a false prediction. Ultimate 17 Gold has definitely held their own against the cali teams and made it to quarterfinals at the boy's classic and JO's last year. Ultimate 16's are definitely a contender cause they beat balboa and seaside. O and i forgot about the puerto rican teams cause they didn't go last year

17s open this year is going to be very exciting to watch. I can't even make predictions because any team in the top 10 can beat any other top 10 team any given match. Should be interesting

Ultimate never beat Balboa, they beat MB Surf

For 16's I am from Wisconsin, have seen all the midwest teams, Pace who is the best from the east, and all of the Cali teams at the classic. I am not sure anyone can beat Couqui. They look very, very good. They were big for a team for PR & had great ball control. I have been around club for a while now and they looked like the best PR team at their age level I have seen. No offense to the Cali kids because they are very good & think they cant ever lose. Couqi is my pick.

to whoever is in charge of this tour

Is there any chance that we can either post up here on forum or website about latest standings of beach tour or are we going to keep it as unprofessional as last year and only up date it once after the first event?