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Hong Kong Poland Katie Conwell 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships world games ioc
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Top 5 Lacrosse Destinations: Experiences You Can’t Miss

Editor’s Note: These are the author’s top 5 lacrosse destinations to have traveled to a lacrosse event, like the 2019 Vail Lacrosse Shootout. Share your favorites in the comments or tagging Lacrosse All Stars on social @LaxAllStars.

I have had the opportunity to have a variety of experiences with lacrosse that many others in the sport might not have, particularly centered around traveling to some cool lacrosse events spread across the world.

There are plenty of others out there working in the industry or who are heavily entrenched in the sport, who have shared similar experiences to me and are likely more well-traveled. There are many of those experiences that I’m hoping to have as well, but I wanted to share some of my favorites so far for anyone out there wondering where to go for a great week or weekend of lacrosse.

 

Here’s a list of my five favorites of events that I have been to in no particular order.

Hopefully, this will give you some ideas for any bucket-list trips to plan for.

My Top 5 Lacrosse Destinations

Vail, Colorado – Vail Lacrosse Shootout

2019 vail lacrosse shootout
A T3 Elite attacker uses her defender as a screen and shoots around her for a goal in the U19 Girls division.

The Vail Lacrosse Shootout is in its 47th year, and they certainly have shown a good time so far. The relaxed atmosphere of a mountain ski-town and lots of lacrosse make for an incredible week to play a sport we all love. The location and scenery could not be better. The drive from the airport is actually not too bad as it is only about a two-hour drive without much traffic. The Mountain Express shuttle can even drop you off at your dwelling for the week and take you right back to the airport when the tournament is done.

The tournament really has a community feel. Countless volunteers have been coming here for 10, 20, 30+ years to volunteer at the tournament and be a part of the family that is the Vail Lacrosse Shootout. The event attracts a lot of top talent as there are and have been multiple Under Armour All-Americans that have come through here as well as professional players of the retired variety. Rumor has it Josh Sims was wandering around the Colorado resort-town, and professionals like Gary Gait, the Powells and more have all made stops here at one time or another.

Find out more information about the Vail Lacrosse Shootout here.

Onondaga Nation – 2018 LASNAI

lasnai

I didn’t even play in LASNAI, and I still had a blast. I wasn’t as familiar with the box game at this point in my lacrosse journey, so I soaked it all up as I saw the likes of the United States Indoor team take on Thompson Brothers Lacrosse in the gold medal match that saw Thompson Brothers win it all for the third time in a row.

Was it a lot of work to help put on? That may be a bit of an understatement. But to be on the land of so much lacrosse history was a really awesome experience.

Find out more about LASNAI here.

Nanaimo, British Columbia – 2018 Presidents Cup

This had to have been one of my favorites.

OK… they’re all my favorites.

But the 2018 Presidents Cup held during 2018 in Nanaimo, British Columbia was an amazing first-time exposure to that high of a level of box lacrosse. Seeing the wooden sticks flying around and smacking people made me appreciate the safety of my crease in field lacrosse. The games were thrilling, particularly the playoffs that saw the host Nanaimo Timbermen fall to the St. Albert Miners in the championship game. My favorite part about all of this was shooting video for the tournament. Talk about a dream come true.

Find out more about the 2018 Presidents Cup here.

Netanya, Israel

bermuda fil lacrosse luxembourg

This was an amazing lacrosse experience. The highest-level lacrosse I had seen in-person to this point in my life was NCAA Division III lacrosse, not counting a few Division I fall scrimmages here and there. I also once saw an exhibition Colorado Mammoth game played in my hometown growing up, but seeing as I don’t remember much of it and didn’t really appreciate box lacrosse at the time, I’m counting the 2018 World Lacrosse Championships as my true inauguration into the game.

It was surreal to see the stars that I had so often seen playing on TV, heard about in the media or what have you. Growing up in Utah, I never thought I would see lacrosse at that level in person. Nor do I think I would have had the same appreciation for that moment unless I came from the lacrosse background that I did.

It was also great visiting Jerusalem and other parts of the country. There’s a unique feeling there that to me is best described by the music of Matisyahu. Not trying to make generalizations, but it’s true. A lot of his earlier music to me really captured the vibe that is there.

It was really the people that I worked with there that also made the trip so great. It was my first introduction to the LaxAllStars team and I became good friends with everyone there. It was an honor to work with them all.

The Star At Frisco, Texas – Adrenaline All American Games

Adrenaline All-American treatment - locker rooms

This was another very cool event. Like, really cool. It was hosted at an incredible venue at the Dallas Cowboys practice facility, with the accompanying hotel and shopping district right next door. It was a perfect setting to host an event, and using the facilities at The Star was right out of the top drawer.

What really made this event impressive was seeing the level of maturity and capability of the high school All-Americans playing in the game. It was high-level lacrosse.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! Those are my top 5 favorite lacrosse destinations. What are yours? Share in the comments or on social media, tagging us @LaxAllStars. We’d love to hear from you!