Kenny Shults is an American footbag (hacky sack) player and multiple-time world champion. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential athletes in the history of the sport, known for his competitive dominance, technical innovation, and contributions to footbag's judging and instructional systems.
Early life
Shults began playing footbag in 1977 in Oregon, where the sport first emerged.
He gained attention at a young age for his skill and creativity. A 1996
Sports Illustrated profile described him as one of the most accomplished athletes in the sport's history.
Shults graduated from the University of Oregon in 1988 with a degree in advertising.
Competitive career
World championships and titles
Shults has won multiple world championships in freestyle, doubles freestyle, footbag net, doubles net, and consecutive kicks.
According to the International Footbag Players Association, he has earned 18 world titles in footbag net—eight in singles and ten in doubles.
His competitive career spans from the late 1970s through the 2000s.
Technical innovation and contributions
Shults co-developed the
ADD system, the difficulty-rating method used in modern freestyle footbag.
He has invented and named numerous advanced maneuvers, including the trick known as "Big Apple Sauce".
His work helped refine core elements of freestyle play such as stalls, dexterities, and linking concepts.
Media, teaching, and community involvement
Shults created the instructional videos
Tricks of the Trade and
Tricks of the Trade 2—wide
