Cambridge’s Liam Weston will face the ultimate challenge in Spain this month in the 2025 World Under-24 Ultimate Frisbee Championship.
Liam Weston will play ultimate frisbee in Spain for New Zealand. Photo: Elizabeth Moisson
The tournament is held every second year by the World Flying Disc Federation and will take place from June 21-28 in Logroño.
At 18 Weston is the youngest New Zealand Mixed team Mangōpare member.
And he has featured in Spain before – refereeing at the IberCup in Barcelona thanks to a programme which gives young football referees international experience.
‘“For me, it’s a really big achievement, especially being the youngest guy on our mixed team,” Weston said. “It’s tough to get in where there’s people five years older than you, also competing for a spot. This year has the most mixed teams compared to previous years with 21.”
This will be his second time representing his country, but his first world championships.
In 2023, he travelled to Australia as a part of the New Zealand under-20 team to play a trans-Tasman series.
“We have a warmup tournament in Italy on June 15 before we head to Logrono for the world championships,” Weston said.
The former Hamilton Boys’ High School student has a full calendar.
“I played since the start of high school, since I was 13. I was looking for a summer sport and Hamilton Boys’ High School have tons of options,” Weston said.
“I trialled around to see what else is available. I came across frisbee, I played it for the first year and I’ve played it ever since.”
Liam Weston is representing his country for a second time.
Weston loves the frisbee community and atmosphere as well as the competitive nature and the skills required.
“It’s like American football, but you can’t run with the frisbee. You make passes into an end zone or a try zone to score,” he said.
And his sport has… no referee.
“Frisbee really focusses on the spirit of the game. We are a non-referee sport. Everything is self-officiated. Everyone discusses decisions and the proper outcomes.
“That just means everyone is fair and we all have an understanding of where we want the game to go and at what level we’re accepting.”
Weston is part of the Hammertron team, based at the Hamilton Marist rugby club.
“It’s the largest team in the Waikato. There’s a couple of teams from Morrinsville and then Mt Maunganui and Taranaki as well.
“I practice three times a week and we try to get an organised training with other players once a week.”
He believes his hard work and commitment helped him to be selected for New Zealand.
“Lots of practice and surrounding myself with the right people is what I’d say helped me get to where I am now,” he said.
“For the under-24 team, we had trials last year in November. Everyone around the country who wanted to make the team went to Auckland for a two-day selection camp tournament, where we were watched and had some coaching before the teams were announced.
“I’m looking forward to playing against different countries and different styles of frisbee, as well as meeting all of these people around the world who share the similar passion.”
Hautapu rugby club’s senior strength and conditioning coach Alesha McQuoid was originally part of the under-24 squad but had to withdraw due to injury.
Liam Weston in action for his Hammertron team. Photo: Elizabeth Moisson
