Innova Champion Discs Inc., generally known simply as Innova (stylized as INNOVA) is an American disc golf brand and manufacturing company. Founded in 1983, it is the largest disc golf disc manufacturer and was among the first companies to produce equipment specifically for disc golf.[1]

INNOVA
Company typePrivate
IndustryDisc golf equipment
Founded1983 (41 years ago) (1983) in California, United States
HeadquartersOntario, California, United States
Key people
Dave Dunipace (President and CEO)
ProductsDisc golf equipment
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

History

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Dave Dunipace, co-founder and CEO with an INNOVA polo shirt and disc golf bag

The company was incorporated on 5 May 1983 in California as Champion Discs Inc.[2] In 1983, Dave Dunipace created and patented the Eagle, now known as the Aero, the world's first disc designed specifically for the sport of disc golf.[3]

Products

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INNOVA DISCatcher basket featuring an INNOVA flag

In addition to discs, Innova manufactures other disc golfing equipment including bags, accessories, and their DISCatcher targets, which were introduced in 1995.[4] Their 60+ golf discs are manufactured using various molds and plastics. Innova manufactures discs in 4 distinct lines of plastic with distinct flight characteristics: Star, Champion, Pro, and DX. There are also many subtypes related to the main 4: Halo Star, Echo Star, Gstar, Starlite, Champion Edition, Metal Flake, Blizzard Champion, Glow Champion, R-Pro, XT-Pro, KC-Pro, KC-Glow, McPro, JK-Pro, Yeti-Pro Proline and Glow DX.[5][6]

Current models

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Distance drivers
  • Ape
  • Archon
  • Beast
  • Boss
  • Colossus
  • Corvette
  • Charger
  • Daedalus
  • Destroyer
  • Dominator
  • Firebird
  • Firestorm sand
  • Groove
  • Invictus
  • Katana
  • Krait
  • Mamba
  • Monarch
  • Mystere
  • Orc
  • Roadrunner
  • Savant
  • Shryke
  • Sidewinder
  • Teedevil
  • Tern
  • Thunderbird
  • Valkyrie
  • Viking
  • Vulcan
  • Wahoo
  • Wraith
  • Xcaliber
Fairway drivers
  • Archangel
  • Banshee
  • Cheetah
  • Dragon
  • Eagle
  • IT
  • Leopard
  • Leopard3
  • Teebird
  • Teebird3
  • TL
  • TL3
  • Viper
Midrange
  • Atlas
  • Avatar
  • Caiman
  • Cobra
  • Gator
  • Kite
  • Lion
  • Mako
  • Mako3
  • Manta
  • Panther
  • Rat
  • Roc
  • Roc3
  • RocX3
  • Shark
  • Skeeter
  • Spider
  • Stingray
  • Vroc
  • Wolf
  • Wombat
  • Wombat3
Putt & approach
  • Aviar
  • Aviar3
  • AviarX3
  • Birdie
  • Bullfrog
  • Classic Aviar
  • Colt
  • Dart
  • Firefly
  • Hydra
  • Invader
  • JK Aviar
  • KC Aviar
  • Mirage
  • Nova
  • Pig
  • Polecat
  • Rhyno
  • Stud
  • Wedge
  • Whale
  • Xero
  • Yeti Aviar

Disc ratings

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INNOVA Monster distance driver disc rated 10|3|0|5

Innova uses a numeric scale to rate the performance of its discs. The ratings represent:

  • Speed – Speed is the rating of the throw speed which is required to throw the disc on the line the other flight numbers suggest, and is largely determined by the thickness of the rim, with 2.6 cm being the thickest allowed for PDGA approved play, but it has also been described as how easily the disc cuts through the air. Ratings range from 1 to 14, with 14 being the "fastest" drivers and 1 being the "slowest" putt and approach discs.
  • Glide – Rated from 1 to 7, Innova describes glide as "the discs ability to maintain loft during flight. Discs with more glide are best for new players, and for producing maximum distance. Beginners wanting more distance should choose discs with more glide. Discs with less glide are more accurate in high wind situations".[7] A disc with a glide of 1 will be relatively unaffected by winds and will tend to fly on the thrower's power more than anything, while a disc with a glide of 7 will be very sensitive to crosswinds and headwinds, but will ride a tailwind much further than it could be thrown via force alone.
  • Turn – The turn of a disc (also known as high speed stability) describes how hard a disc will fight against its natural inclination to fade (see below) during the flight. Turn is rated from -5 to +1. A -5 rated disc will turn from a straight line of flight very easily with relatively little power behind it, while a +1 is unlikely to turn at all and will usually begin fading earlier in the flight.
  • Fade – The fade of a disc (also known as low speed stability) is the degree to which a disc will fall to one side as it loses speed. The direction of the fade depends on how it is thrown. For example, for a right handed person throwing in the traditional backhand style, the disc will fade to the left, but when thrown forehand, it will fade to the right. Fade is rated from 0 to 5, with a 5 rated disc fading hard and early, and a 0 rated disc barely fading off of its original line of flight at all.

Innova Factory Store

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"F2 Factory Second" stamp on Innova factory second discs

In 2011, Innova opened the online Innova Factory Store and a brick and mortar pro shop in Rancho Cucamonga, California. In addition to stock production discs, gear, and apparel, it carries limited edition discs, prototypes, out of production models, and a variety of factory seconds stamped with an F2 label.[8][9]

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Innova sponsors a wide variety of athletes worldwide, from junior athletes to elite professional players. Below is a list of the 10 classes of players sponsored by Innova and affectuously called the "Innova Air Force," as of December 2020: [10][11]

2021

Star Team

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  •    Jennifer Allen
  •    Gregg Barsby
  •    Henna Blomroos
  •    Garrett Gurthie
  •    Calvin Heimburg
  •    Jeremy Koling
  •    Valerie Mandujano
  •    Eveliina Salonen
  •    Ohn Scoggins
  •    Nathan Sexton

Hall of Fame

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  •    Alan Beaver
  •    Steve Brinster
  •    "Crazy" John Brooks
  •    Ken Climo
  •    J. Gary Dropcho
  •    Gregg Hosfeld
  •    Carlton Howard
  •    Juliana Korver
  •    Anni Kreml
  •    Mitch McClellan
  •    Stan McDaniel
  •    Joe Mela
  •    Jim Oates
  •    Des Reading
  •    Jay Reading
  •    Fred Salaz
  •    Barry Schultz
  •    Johnny Sias
  •    Tita Ugalde
  •    Dr. Rick Voakes
  •    Steve Wisecup
  •    Lavone Wolfe

Team Champion

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  •    Anthony Barela
  •    Philo Brathwaite
  •    Lisa Fajkus
  •    Holly Finley
  •    Mason Ford
  •    Joel Freeman
  •    Christine Jennings
  •    Andrew Marwede
  •    Callie McMorran
  •    Kona Panis
  •    Nathan Queen
  •    Alex Russell
  •    Jessica Weese
  •    Ellen Widboom

The Masters

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  •    Robert Bainbridge
  •    Jonathan Baldwin
  •    Steve Boylan
  •    Sandy Gast
  •    Kenny Boo-Rad Lee
  •    Courtney McCoy
  •    Kevin McCoy
  •    Brian McRee
  •    Mike Moser
  •    Eric Rainey
  •    JD Ramirez
  •    Pam Reineke
  •    Brian Schweberger
  •    George Smith
  •    Don Smith
  •    Cameron Todd
  •    Kyle Wilkes

International Team

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  •    Stanislaus Amann
  •    Blærörn Ásgeirsson
  •    Ryan Budge
  •    Eliška Bártková
  •    Linus Carlsson
  •    Jacky Chen
  •    Daniel Davidsson
  •    Tony Ferro
  •    Mikael Máni Freysson
  •    Mikael Häme
  •    Knut Håland
  •    Tetsuya 'T2' Kikuchi
  •    Jakub Knápek
  •    Pasi Koivu
  •    Marion Kull
  •    Kristian Kuoksa
  •    Marco Lehousse
  •    Peter Lunde
  •    Jon Henry Marthinsen
  •    Espen Møkkelgjerd
  •    Karl Johan Nybo
  •    Christian Plaue
  •    Katarina Staalesen
  •    Jalle Stoor
  •    Cassie Sweetten
  •    Hemi Te-Awhitu
  •    Andri Fannar Torfason
  •    Carl Ulvinen

Crew Team

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  •    Melodie Bailey
  •    Emily Beach
  •    Dallin Blanchard
  •    Logan Bowers
  •    Deann Carey
  •    Sarah Cunningham
  •    Aaron DeVries
  •    Christian Dietrich
  •    Martin Hendel
  •    Austin Hoop
  •    Erica Johnson
  •    Zackeriath Johnson
  •    Alex Lambert
  •    Kat Mertsch
  •    Paul Oman
  •    James Proctor
  •    Joe Rovere
  •    Chris Shotwell
  •    Bo Tillman
  •    Bradley Williams
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  • Kevin Babbit
  • Jesse Bickley
  • Hope Brown
  • Andrew Brown
  • Haley Childs
  • Josh Childs
  • James Cole
  • Kevin Couch
  • Jacob Courtis
  • Bobby Cowperthwait
  • Brock Cummings
  • Will Dobrzykowski
  • Jeff Fiedler
  • Devin Frederick
  • Nolan Grider
  • Ray Johnson
  • Matt Kern
  • Landon Knight
  • Randon Latta
  • Das Loomis
  • Mike Loya
  • Maximus Meyer
  • Andrew Nava
  • Maria Oliva
  • Gavin Ossenkop
  • Devan Owens
  • Chris Pinegar
  • Derek Sahr
  • Kevin Sheehan Jr.
  • Peter Sontag
  • Dean Tannock
  • Eddie Ward
  • Keith Warren
  • Cole Wehrheim
  • Erikah Weir
  • David Wiggins Jr.
  • Nick Wood
  • Amanda Zaccone

Celebrity

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Junior

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  • Judah Berman
  • Pryce Bevins
  • Finn Etter
  • Nikko Jesse Forbes
  • Hunter Grayum
  • Uriyah Kelley
  • Owen Ludington
  • Alexander Muniz
  • Olivia Scott
  • Gavin Simpson
  • Carver Whitford

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Menickelli, Justin; Pickens, Ryan (1 April 2016). Definitive Guide to Disc Golf. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-63319-474-8.
  2. ^ "Articles of Incorporation of Champion Discs, Incorporated". California Secretary of State Business Search. 5 May 1983. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020.
  3. ^ "About Innova Discs". Innova Discs. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Disc Golf Course growth". Innova Discs. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ^ Seminoff, Aaron (11 November 2023). "Innova Plastic Types". discgolfplanet. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Plastic Types Overview". Innova Disc Golf. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Flight Ratings System". Innova Discs. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  8. ^ "INNOVA FACTORY STORE". Innova Discs. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  9. ^ "2ECONDS". Disc Golf United. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Team Innova". Innova Discs. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  11. ^ INNOVA (9 January 2019). "Wysocki Returns, Team Innova Grows in 2019". Innova Discs. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
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