North Myrtle Beach Signs Five Year Agreement With Disc-iple Sports For World's Largest College Spring Break Ultimate Frisbee Tournament

The City of North Myrtle Beach and Disc-iple Sports have signed an agreement to keep the High Tide Ultimate Frisbee Tournament in North Myrtle Beach for the next five years.

The High Tide Ultimate Frisbee Tournament is the world's largest college spring break ultimate Frisbee tournament. Run by Disc-iple Sports, the tournament was held in March 2015 at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. The event featured 225 teams with over 3,200 participants representing colleges and universities in 25 states. Each team stayed an average of five nights in the North Myrtle Beach area.  The 2015 event provided a direct impact of about $3 million to the North Myrtle Beach economy.

"The beautiful North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex and its close proximity to the beach make it an ideal location for the High Tide Ultimate Frisbee Tournament," said Disc-iple Sports Event Coordinator Ed Pulkinen. "But the biggest factor in our committing to a five year deal is the people of North Myrtle Beach. From the staff at the sports complex to the lodging partners and sponsors like BI-LO, High Tide staff and tournament participants experienced a community that goes all out to welcome sports events and college students. We experienced very positive hospitality everywhere we went!"

Beginning in 1996 in Savannah, GA with just six teams, the High Tide Ultimate Frisbee Tournament has grown to include 225 teams. The 20th anniversary event set is set for February 29 - March 24, 2016 in North Myrtle Beach. City and Disc-iple Sports officials expect participation to grow beyond the 225 teams fielded for the 2015 event.

In addition to running the tournament, Disc-iple Sports staff also conducted free Ultimate Frisbee clinics at local schools, spreading their love for the game to the youth of the community.

"We are excited and honored that Disc-iple Sports has chosen North Myrtle Beach to host their prestigious event," said North Myrtle Beach Superintendent of Recreation & Sports Tourism Matt Gibbons. "This is exactly the kind of first class, impactful event that the city's leaders had in mind when they planned the park and sports complex. The event has an immediate positive impact on our community, and it allows us to showcase North Myrtle Beach and all of its natural and other offerings to thousands of future college graduates, who we hope will come back and vacation with us in the future."

For more information please contact Ed Pulkinen at ed@hightideultimate.com or  visit www.hightideultimate.com.

Matt Gibbons can be reached at (843) 280-5574 or jmgibbons@nmb.us