Fluge Global Adventures

Another Fluge Global Adventures year is now in the ‘books’. The FGA team was able to experience many new (and some old) adventures and even participate with some charities along the way. 2009 was quite a year.

Following such exciting adventures in 2007 and 2008 that included a trek to Everest Base Camp, triathlon and biking athletic tests, a Summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Sports Car Club of America Championship racing, a Gumball Rally race across America and even the hunting of the Loch Ness Monster in Scotland, 2009 was equally testing.

The year started out in the spring when Nick Fluge and Bill Lowblad entered the World Poker Challenge. It was a change from the previous three consecutive years at the World Series of Poker but a new and challenging venue existed to be conquered. Bill performed up to his usual high standards and Nick was even able to crack the “Final Top Four Tables” while playing against some of the best ‘hold-em’ players the world had to offer.

Regular Zine subscribers might remember that Fluge spent the winter in the south of France learning oil painting, ceramic painting and glass blowing. Well, while his talent might have been a bit thin, it didn’t stop him from opening an art gallery which has included many of his personal works as well as some by other well known artists. While the Gallery adventure is only a ‘temporary’ project – it has allowed Nick to share both art and Scotch with friends and other interested guests.

Things quickly turned to youth – as FGA was honored to sponsor the Concord Elementary School Outdoor School which included a writing contest for the kids; “One World Infinite Adventures”. Outdoor school was an opportunity for elementary school students to learn more about themselves and the environment around them through hands-on activities and projects in an outdoor environment.

In addition to sponsoring the week long Outdoor School trip, we asked the students to share with us their ultimate adventure, or life dream, in an essay for the first ever Fluge Global Adventures “One Word…Infinite Adventures” writing contest.

Among the essays were career aspirations, dreams of meeting heroes, hopes of world travel, and of course, becoming the next American Idol! The common thread was that they all have faith in their goal and a passion for achieving it. These are the traits that make for a true Adventurer.

Nick Fluge returned to the World Series of Poker for one event at mid-year and while he played strong – he was eliminated early. Given his high standing in his 2006 WSOP “Main Event” this was disappointing but his thoughts were focused on his first Professional Sports Car Race.

Certainly, the training and strength of team, has paid dividends in sports car racing circles. Not only did Nick win a 3rd consecutive class championship (GT1), but he now owns 4 track records at PIR (the most of any individual driver). He also moved into the professional ranks by driving against some of the world’s best sports car drivers in the summers’ Trans-Am Championship race. Fluge’s qualifying position of 6th put him in the thick of things throughout the event.

With help from Matt at Speed Sports and Todd at ProDrive, Fluge is always prepared with gear and with driving acumen. However, great thanks go to Steve Gatrell and his entire ProFab team (Spence, Patrick, Leo, and others) for keeping the Derhaag running in world class condition. A special thanks to Aimee who often creates the greatest parties and BBQ’s for many of SCCA’s participants.

Fluge worked with Youths at Risk and the Regional area Santos youth soccer teams/league by assisting Ruma Perez (group organizer) with a check but more importantly inviting the kids to his pro race and proudly running the Santos banner along with that of FGA.

August heat led to one of the zanier of FGA’s adventures. Nick Fluge and Bill Lowblad entered John Deere’s in farm country’s “Combine Demolition Derby”. Local farm competitors viewed them as city slickers – but were still orderly – until the combines started moving. Fluge was quickly taken out by a variety of machinery and while Bill continued admirably – he was also prevented an overall win due to losing much of his rear tire/wheel/suspension combination which is so critical.

Not a win – but a wild experience!

While finishing behind 1000’s of competitors, Nick Fluge, a late entry, was strong enough to finish the event and still have a number of entrants behind him. While he hadn’t trained for this specific event and chose to enter only the day before the race – he credits his trainers, Yelena King and Troy Carter with always keeping him in shape to do such a thing – even without much preparation.

The final event of the year continues periodically and will through early 2010. It’s the Fluge Poker Championships – named after the Poker Man himself. Here, local friends and acquaintances meet to play Hold-em often throughout a year period with the winner taking home a special FGA Award. As of this writing, Bill Lowblad is holding the lead position but is being threatened by the likes of James (IceMan) Marlow who has won or finished very highly in the last several events. Fluge is holding his own in the middle of the pack – but is being challenged by the up and coming Poker Star, Troy Carter.

Rumors suggest the Amazon may be the next hurdle for Team FGA. Kayaking, battling deadly snakes and other regional flora and fauna could be a part of such an adventure – but as we say each year – only the future will tell the final story.

It seems like only a few months have passed since last year’s World Series of Poker. I guess time passes more quickly when you’re part of the Fluge Global Adventures team and hang with the Man of Adventure himself, our Lead Adventurer Nick Fluge.

Our “High” Rollin WSOP adventure begins the moment we exit McCarren Airport and instead of turning right into the throng of “less” adventuresome individuals herded into the seemingly never-ending cab lines, we turn left and hop into our awaiting limo to kick back Fluge-style on our ride to our WSOP hotel.

After checking in we decide on getting a little pre-event practice and head to probably the finest poker room in Vegas – The Venetian Poker Room for some No-limit holdem. The Venetian is a great place to play. You really have no excuse to get up from the tables as they literally cater to your every whim while sitting and playing.

We’re knocking down the competition and decide against our previous tradition of a steak house dinner and ask for the “poker room table side butler service.” We actually have dinner served by our personal butler while still taking money from the competition! How can you beat that?

I continue on with more poker but Fluge, always looking for the next adventure, decides to take his winnings from poker and beat up on the blackjack tables. We’ve planned to call it a night early in preparation for out next day’s WSOP event that is expected to last a grueling 13+ hours so I cash in my winnings and head off to the blackjack tables in search of our Lead Adventurer. I start scanning the room but before I get far, I actually hear calls of “Way to go Nick,” “Nick your en-fuego!” and find our man at the high limit table with a massive stack of chips and his own private peanut gallery. Tom, the only other player at the table is giving kudos to Nick for his stylish play. River the dealer who has his own large stack of chips from the exceeding generous largess of our Lead Adventurer is almost bursting with gratitude. Meghan, the beautiful cocktail waitress is asking if there is “anything else I can get for you “Nick?” The Pit bosses are watching with a keen eye as chips keep moving in a steady rhythm from the dealer’s tray onto the stacks in front of our man. I weave my way through the gathered ogling crowd watching the rare winner in Vegas and am introduced to the crowd. I let him know “it’s time to head out” to the immediate disapproval of everyone surrounding us. No more tips for River and Meghan, no more cosmic Karma for Tom, no more chances for the Pit bosses to recoup their looses and no more Fluge for the crowd of onlookers. The last bet brings a few more chips onto Nick’s pile and and a final gratuity for River as well.

After cashing out we exit the casino only to find the ever present Saturday night taxi line stretching as far as the eye can see. That of course doesn’t faze the FGA crew in the least and we quickly give a high-roller handshake to the valet and a limo materializes from no-where and we are whisked off to our hotel in style.

We start off event day with a great meal and head on to the Amazon Room at the Rio for Event # 2 No-limit Texas Hold’em of the 2008 World Series of Poker. Everywhere you look there are the faces of celebrity pro’s you see on tv each week. Phil “The man with a record 11 bracelets” Hellmuth, Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, previous main event winners, Jerry Yang, Carlos Mortensen, Jamie Gold and Scotty Nguyen. We see our friend Jennifer Tilly along with High Stakes Poker competitors Barry Greenstein and Eli Elezra.

Over the loudspeaker and on the omnipresent tv screens around the room, we’re told that our event is the largest single event in WSOP history outside of the Main Event itself. 3929 competitors. Wow!

I’m at Amazon Blue table 49 and Nick’s at Amazon Blue table 19. We’re in the same row so I can see the big man from where I sit. We give a thumbs up to each other and wait for those famous words, “shuffle up and deal.”

On the first hand, reigning WSOP Main Event champ Jerry Yang is decimated and left with only 1 chip.

The first two rounds are fairly uneventful for me and I see Nick is still in his seat. We hear the ever present call of “seat open” from around the room which signifies another player has hit the felt. Thirty minutes into his event, Phil Helmuth, possibly the greatest NL hold’em tournament player is GONE. 12:32 Alan Cunningham, player of the year, GONE. 12:39 Marcel “The Flying Dutchman” Luske, maybe the only player in the room who could compete with the Fluge on the suave level, GONE. 1:03 2006 World Champion Jamie Gold, GONE. 1:06 Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, GONE. Right before the first break, Scotty “Bring me another Carona” and past World Champion Nugyen, GONE.

Nick and I meet briefly at the break, but no real big hands for either of us. We’re still in there while others are dropping like flies.

Round 3 begins and tables are opening right and left as the blinds go higher. Full Tilt star John Juanda GONE, The lovely Jennifer Tilly GONE. WPT champ Eric Lindgren GONE. Eli Elezra GONE, Robert Williamson III GONE. Round 4 comes and goes with little action for me, but I’m still alive and I look down and Nick is still sitting tall in his seat. The break arrives and we discuss our hands that would never appear on a televised event for their lack of excitement. We’ve really have been biding our time and haven’t received any cards that would lead to a make a break hand.

After the 20 minute break we head back to the tables for Round 5 and 6 leading up to the dinner break. This is the period where trouble begins as the low stack tend to go all in and if luck versus skill goes their way you can get in trouble with a good hand. I make it through round 5 alive but hurt a little in chips as I donk one hand to guy with 3 pairs of sunglasses and can’t defend my blinds against the ever present raises. I still have not had a decent hand wired in hours. I look over and Nick is still going at it but I can’t tell from this distance what is in front of him. He looks back for a second and his body language gives me the feeling that we are pretty even with each other so far. I really want to make it through round 6 and regroup at the dinner break. The first 30 minutes of the hour round are uneventful with my stack staying roughly the same. I see Nick is alive as well. Next hand, I’m in late position and finally find a wired pair of 10’s. I raise and everyone goes out except a short stack in the large blind. The flop comes 447 and the large blind goes all in. Who knows what he has, I’m hoping maybe A-K but I’m pot committed and call. Would you believe he has A-4 for trips. My 3^rd 10 never appears and he doubles up and I lose half about 1/3 of my stack. Three hands later what do I find, another wired pair of 10’s. I’m on the button and raise a healthy amount. This time it’s the short stacked small blind that calls. The flop comes AK rag and I know I’m in trouble. He bets out and I have to fold as I’m sure he has either an Ace or King. I’m the short stack at the table now but there’s only 20 minutes till the dinner break. Three hands later what do I find? My third wired set of 10’s in less than 10 hands. I’m tempted to throw it away as 10’s appear to be the anti-christ right now, but I figure this was meant to be and go all in. As I do, we hear that Jennifer Harmon the Queen of the big Cash games has just gone out with pocket 9’s, not a good sign. I get a caller and his pair of King’s take me down. I look over and find Nick’s seat empty and he has been eliminated as well.

Another 10-15 minutes for both of us and who knows what we may have been. We outlasted over 3200 of the players only to fall short. But what a great time.

I’ll wrap this up to at least let you all know that the FGA crew can get right back in the saddle and we headed back to the Venetian to take out our frustration on the tables there.

To make a long story short, I did well in the cash poker games and yes, your one and only Lead Adventurer kicked some major butt again. When we cashed out, I was looking for a private security guard to walk us out to the waiting limo as the Fluge was carrying a stack of Benjamins that would equal the height of a George Burns special sandwich at the Carnegie Deli.

There may be another event yet this year, but if not people will fears us in the 2009 events.