Freestyle soccer embodies multiple elements – individual skills and creativity, artistry, athleticism as well as performing talent. To ensure both objectivity and fairness Copa Freestyle has assembled a group of world-renown experts in different yet related disciplines whose domain expertise is well-aligned against the aforementioned elements.
Our experts are highly credible participants in freestyle soccer, the game of soccer, creative arts, music videos, film production and the performing arts.
Considered the godfather of freestyle soccer in North America, Steve ‘Eli Freeze’ Elias founded Freestyle Soccer Inc. in 1999 and has served as the conduit for major advancements in the promotion of freestyle culture in the US and Canada since then.
Elias’ skill set was well-known at the beginning of the decade as he was the #1 ranked freestyler on the Nikefootball.com site for three straight years and the top vote getter between 2001-2004. He capped off his competitive career at age 34 when he outlasted a field of 150 and defeated 19-year old finalist Angelo Storms to take down the 2007 Red Bull Futbol de Calle finale in New York.
Best known for the Eli Swirl, Elias is credited with developing many new tricks over the years – and has featured them in promotions for leading companies such as Adidas, Budweiser, Carlsberg, Coke, DKNY, Gatorade, Hyundai, Kelloggs, Miller Lite, MLS, Pepsi, Sony and many others.
Jeffrey Elmont (www.jeffreyelmont.com) ) is an accomplished and award-winning filmmaker currently residing in Southern California. A native of Holland, Jeffrey grew up loving and playing street soccer since he was a young kid. This love affair would serve Jeffrey well later in life when in 2004 he created (directed and produced) the first ever narrative film about street soccer called “League of Legends” starring soccer legend Edgar Davids and, in the process, successfully elevating the profile of the sport all over Europe. This film was selected as an entry into 15 prestigious film festivals in Europe and the US between 2004 and 2007. He also directed the short films, “My People” and “Duister en Licht” which were both awarded Best Short Film by the Netherlands Film Festival.
In addition to directing “Streetwizards” – a stylish documentary featuring three of the best street soccer players in the world – Jeffrey’s work in the music industry has included video collaborations with artists such as JoJo, Flo Rida, ONYX, J. McCoy, Brisco, J. Lewis, and rap star, Lil Wayne.
Always the creative type Jeffrey is currently the midst of pre-production on a multi-million dollar feature called “Body Language” – the first-ever Dutch dance movie that will be released nationwide in The Netherlands during the Fall of 2011.
Arnaud (Séan) Garnier leads the first generation of professional freestylers to fashion a career out of their competitive exploits. With his performance against Yosuke Yokota in the 2008 Red Bull Street Style World Finals in São Paulo, Séan locked the World Champion title with creativity, technique and style all of his own.
Previously, Séan took down titles at the Adidas F50 France Street Soccer National Final (2004), the 2006 Sony Playstation competition, and was a top finalist at the events which drew the world’s best over the past decade: Nike Joga Bonito 2006 (finalist), 2006 Masters of the Game (4th place), 2007 Eurobac-Vienna (3rd place), and the 2008 Komball Kontest (2nd place). Going into 2010, he was arguably the top seed to win any event that he enters.
As the Founder and Creator of S3 (www.streetstylesociety.com) Sean is currently developing and promoting the integration of freestyle soccer with urban art and culture in France.
Peter Konsto is the Founder and Managing Director of Kaos Football – the UK’s oldest and most highly respected Soccer-specific Sports Entertainment Agency. Peter has been involved with Freestyle Soccer for over 10 years and has been one of the pioneers in recognising its value both as entertainment and a sport in its own right. Peter has worked with high profile clients and brands all across the globe as well as working on events such as the 2006 and 2010 World Cup, 2008 European Championships and countless other soccer based extravaganzas! Kaos Football has worked and/or manages some of the greatest Soccer Freestyle talent on the planet and continues to bring new stars to the fore in the sport.
Peter has a Degree in Sports Management and Administration with a Sub-Major in Sports Journalism from the University of Canberra in Australia as well as a Diploma in Sports Science from the University of Northern Rivers. Following graduation Peter became the first National Development Officer for the entire Australian University Sports Program which saw him help revamp the whole national university sports system during his 5-year tenure. Peter also worked as a journalist for the then National Soccer League (now the A-League) and was a key part of the administrative team that organised the soccer component of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Freestyle Soccer has taken Peter all over the world, from doing business in Indonesia and Vietnam to almost every country in Europe as well as his homeland in Australia. Peter has vast experience in helping judge Freestyle Soccer contest including numerous Internet as well as National Red Bull competitions.
Considered one of the hottest up and coming filmmakers in Hollywood, five-time award winner Brendan Gabriel Murphy has accomplished a great deal during his short but prolific film career. As the co-founding member of Altered State Entertainment, Brendan’s creative genius was clearly evident in the firm’s latest short-film release called ‘Swerve’, which showed his passion and uncompromising drive to manipulate images as a means of exposing truth from a perspective grounded in both beauty and chaos. ‘Swerve’ has won numerous prestigious international film festival awards including “Best Narrative” (2010 HollyShorts International Film Festival); “Best Short Film” & “Best Art Direction” (2010 Action On Film International Film Festival) and “Best Film USA” (International Film Festival of Ireland) as well as being “Official Selection” (Palm Springs International Shortsfest, Chicago International Film Festival and Beverly Hills Film Festival). Brendan’s first short film ‘Wasted’ won him the honor of “Audience Choice Award for Best Short” at the 2006 Other Venice Film Festival. In addition, two pieces he edited for a New York entertainment show were nominated for the NY Emmys. Brendan has also been featured in several publications including Rolling Stones Rolling Stone Magazine, Mob Candy Magazine & H Magazine for his achievements as a director. His very personable and friendly style gives him the ability to connect with everyone on the set; actors, supporting cast, camera crew, productions staff that typically helps in creating a final product of a much higher quality.
Always the sports fan Brendan created, directed and edited the highly acclaimed music video by Petree called “Weakness Makes You Beautiful“. The video features three of today’s top freestylers and highlights the creative and truly freestyle culture of Venice Beach, CA where Brendan first settled when he moved to Southern California. That intimate knowledge of the freestyle culture clearly comes through in the video.
Brendan is currently working on several projects including directing and producing two television pilots and was selected to direct several music videos in 2011. ‘To Tame a Lion’, a feature film Brendan has written is also currently in development. Brendan graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Film Production.
Recognized around the world as a top US soccer authority Coach Sampson has achieved unprecedented success during his prolific soccer career. On the international front Coach Sampson was the first American-born coach to qualify the US National Team for a World Cup berth (France -1998) and the only US coach to guide historic wins against both Argentina (Copa America – 1995) and Brazil (Gold Cup – 1998). He also coached the Costa Rica National Team where during his tenure (2002 -2004) the team achieved highest ever FIFA ranking (#17) in the history of Costa Rica.
Coach Sampson used his international expertise to its full extent when he coached the LA Galaxy to the ‘Double’ – winning both the US Cup and the MLS Cup in 2005 becoming one of only three coaches to ever achieve such an accomplishment.
Prior to his prolific professional career Coach Sampson had successful tenures at the collegiate level winning 2 NCAA titles; one at UCLA as an assistant (1985), which he followed with as the Head Coach at Santa Clara University (1989).
Currently, as the President of Sampson Soccer Academy Coach Sampson spends his time applying his lifelong skills and expertise teaching young soccer players and preparing the next generation to better understand ‘what it takes’. A fan of freestyle soccer Coach Sampson believes that the more time kids and young adults spend with the ball the better players they could eventually develop into.
Dan is the President of the Freestyle Football Federation – F3, the global organization body he created in 2009 to support the growth of this globally exploding sporting activity.
Previously, Dan was a sports marketing professional having worked with clients that include some of the top global brands (Adidas, Reebok, others) as well the agency side of the sports marketing business. Dan’s entry intro he world of Freestyle Football dates back to 2005 when he co-founded Ball Fusion in the UK, followed by the creation of Streets United in 2008, a media entity that blends street sports with music and youth lifestyle.
Dan is a highly regarded sports marketing authority and a tireless promoter of Freestyle Football. His travels have taken him all over the world, creating local member associations of FFF in 44 countries to date.
