INNOVA Disc Golf inks Maine’s Elite

It’s safe to say that as children, a fair amount of us had dreams of becoming a professional athlete. Two Maine Disc Golfers had their dreams become reality this winter. Jason Dore, a Skowhegan native and Nick Gagne hailing from Sidney, both signed sponsorship agreements with the most popular and largest Disc Golf Company in the world, Innova Disc Golf.

Jason Dore putts at Skyland Classic NT in 2010

Nick Gagne poses during 2011 DG trip out west. 

 


The duo will join an elite group of sponsored players that are headlined by 2012 PDGA World Champion Paul McBeth, Barry Schultz, a two-time World Champion and captained by the legendary twelve-time World Champion, Ken Climo.

Jason Dore at Vibram Open registration behind INNOVA team member Val Jenkins

10Down Disc Golf caught up with Dore and Gagne recently and asked them what their future may hold; now they are part of the INNOVA family. 

10Down: What’d it feel like when you found out INNOVA wanted to sponsor you?

Nick: It was great. It has been one of my major goals since I began playing competitively.

Jason: Absolutely amazing. To work on your game and your rating for six years and to finally get noticed is awesome. I’ve pretty much thrown INNOVA ever since I started playing so psyched about that too.

10Down: What are your obligations? Will this change what you do with Disc Golf?

Nick: Being sponsored means there is a certain criteria you have to follow. By doing that though, you get merchandise and $$$. There are different levels of sponsorships, so the better you play, the more they give you.

Jason: I get to wear INNOVA gear and throw INNOVA discs. I got an agreement that covers it all. I need to maintain my composure on and off the course and promote the sport with a clinic or two. No real changes in what I do as I have been working to get to this point where I can get on Tour and play Disc Golf all over the country and world for a long time.

10Down: What have you done to get your life in order for the upcoming season?

Jason: I took a major look at my financial situation. I set up a plan to cover my home expenses while I’m on Tour, as well as for work when I get back.

Nick: We all know there can be great money in Disc Golf, but it comes with lots of practice and a side job. The side job is needed to keep the money coming in. So that’s how I’m preparing for the season, by getting in the best shape I can and saving up enough to maintain life on Tour.

10Down: How are you training, where are you training, and whom are you training with?

Nick: I usually train alone at my home course DnD, on my home basket, and out in the field. Field practice is key in this game. Any time I can play a round with GaryL is great. Always need to be around competition to make you strive to make the next great shot.

Jason: This time of year is an extremely hard time to train due to the weather. I’d love to do field work, but with 1ft.+ of snow it makes it hard. I practice putting as much as I can and play a couple rounds a week at Woodland Valley Winter League. I also am on Team Maine that plays other New England teams throughout the winter in a monthly series. I’m lucky that I have a bunch of guys to train with down here. All of us play events together and some travel out-of-state with me on occasion.   

Well over 100 in. of snow this winter in Maine - Quaker Hill DG Course

10Down: What are your 2013 goals?

Jason: I think the biggest goal for me this year is to hit as many PDGA major events I can. I’d like to take a couple months this summer and just travel and concentrate on playing Disc Golf. Ultimately I’d like to sustain myself on Tour and not have to go back to a 9-5 job. Other goals: to contend for the title at The Vibram Open, Top 5 in a NT event, and winning my first A-tier event.

Nick: Play as many PDGA events as I can. I want to be in the Top 10 in NT Tour events and in the Top 3 at Regional A and B tiers. Definitely want to put myself in position to get a Major victory.

Future looks bright for these two; we wish them the best of luck and continue to support them in achieving their goals. They will be playing their first PDGA event of the year this weekend at Tourney 54. Check back periodically for continuing coverage of Jason and Nick as well as other Disc Golf news from the Northeast in 2013.