Glendale, AZ

Thunderbird-Paseo

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2.385(based on 21 reviews)
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8 0
Nate32
Gold level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 10.6 years 74 played 60 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 22, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Thunderbird-Paseo Park in Glendale, Arizona is a decent course located in a canyon shaped park. Each hole pretty much plays over a small creek filled with trash in it. Tee signs on this course are great and in full color. This course offers a nice range of holes stretching from about 200-600 feet.

+ Course amenities include a playground, restrooms and more. On the other side of the overpass there is a great field for some practice shots.


Elevation on this course is very interesting. Each hole is unique and offers a different playing style. This park is huge though. There are a couple of soccer fields stretching from one overpass to the other.

Holes 4 and 5 are pretty fun technical holes as you have to throw a steep hyzer into the basket. If you looked at the course map most of the holes here cross the river repeatedly. On a hot summer day this course is brutal.
This course has concrete tee pads and Mach 2 or 3 baskets. I will say that the amenities on this course are great except for that each hole could use a broom due to dirt on the tee pad. Elevation on this course is very tricky as you traverse your way through a small canyon. The pictures on this course might be a little outdated because park keepers can not maintain this part of the park anymore. Shrubbery has grown as well near the baskets.

Cons:

Even though Thunderbird-Paseo park has some great features to it there are still quite a few problems with this course. I found that most of the holes crossing the creek have a ton of trash in it.

On hole 9 someone found a shopping cart and used it as a bridge to cross the creek. This course needs some updating as it falls short on the number of bridges stretching down the creek.I threw my disc into the creek once but the creek was full of sludge so it took a lot of work to get it out of the creek.

In the summer time this course gets very hot a dry. make sure to bring lots of water as there are hardly any trees. I would recommend playing this course early in the morning if you are playing in the summer. but in the wintertime this course is soppy and muddy. Not very fun to play in those conditions.

Hole 18 should be removed though as it you are almost always going to ruin you disc due to the huge rock bed. Overpass noise is very annoying on hole 2.

Other Thoughts:

For a reasonable course in a small Canyon I would drive the extra miles to go to Vista Del Camino Park. I have played this course a couple times and I have found that the conditions are getting worse and worse as the trash builds up in the creek.

As for this course goes it might be worth checking out if you are on a road trip but be careful on which season you go in.
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8 1
Pierparknut
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 10.8 years 89 played 85 reviews
2.50 star(s)

2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 22, 2018 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Thunderbird Paseo Disc Golf Course, like many other area courses, plays through a large park that also serves as a floodplain. Park amenities include soccer fields, a playground, restrooms, and a popular jogging trail.

-Holes range from 200 to 500 feet in length. The course starts with a long drive over the creek on the first hole. Hole 2 is a fun shot playing underneath the 59th Avenue overpass. Hole 3 is the first of many long shots from one side of the valley to the other. Holes 4 through 7 make up the shorter, more technical section of the course, utilizing small trees and hillsides. Holes 8 through 12, at the back section of the park, play through an open, arid landscape and cross back and forth across the creek. The rest of the holes wind back to the start.

-For a repetitive landscape, the course was well designed, with a nice variety of shots. Baskets are placed near trees and other obstacles whenever possible and holes generally do not interfere with one another. You certainly need more than a hyzer to score here.

-Tee signs are very large, in color, and show each basket position.

-The field next to the first tee is perfect for a practice session: it's large, flat, with smooth grass and lights at night.

Cons:

-There's a huge quantity of trash all throughout the course, probably from flood events. The small creek that runs through is particularly disgusting.

-There are six small concrete bridges in order to cross the creek. However, a couple were of insufficient length. On one hole I had to jump from the bridge onto an old shopping cart before reaching the other side.

-The first hole plays on mowed grass. Unfortunately, it's a terrible tease for the rest of the course, which plays on a rocky, uneven surface certain to do a beating on your discs. Several holes also have unkempt grass mixed with weeds. Keep an eye on your disc and also on your socks for burrs.

-I imagine that this course would be like playing in an oven in the summer months, being positioned in a valley and with few available trees.

Other Thoughts:

-This course follows an out-and-back type routing. The 11th hole is three quarters of a mile from the start. If you don't have time to play the entire course, I'd suggest playing 1-6 and 15-18. Holes 7-14 are not the best part of the course.

-It's not a very popular course. Over two trips to the course I did not notice more than 10 other players.

-West Phoenix is not a hotbed for excellent disc golf courses. This course is certainly not the most pleasant experience. However, there's enough fun shots to make it worth playing.
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3 1
schmidticus1
Experience: 29.2 years 9 played 4 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good use of a flood retention! 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jun 4, 2017 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Lots of varied length, keeps you interested.
Not many people in the way.
A few elevation changes...
Good for practice and open bomb drives...
Nice for beginners and birdie opportunities if you've been at it a while!

Cons:

Trashy, tall grass and stagnant water after rains.
Many repetitive holes, few trees...
No garbage cans.
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3 3
Cnel36
Experience: 7.5 years 2 played 2 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Below Average Course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 8, 2017 Played the course:once

Pros:

-Wide open where on most holes you can try different shot types.
-Not crowded
-Nice baskets and cement tee pads
-Nice signage, never felt like I didn't know where the next hole was

Cons:

-As everyone else has stated, this is in a drainage ditch, so it was muddy and had a lot of trash in it
-Fairly boring course, not much character
-Good forehand needed to score, so even though this is an easier course, there is a stretch of holes that plays better for a forehand or lefties

Other Thoughts:

Overall, I didn't have any major issues with this course, but I doubt I would go back as there are many other local courses that are much better.
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3 0
The Valkyrie Kid
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 45.8 years 1563 played 1507 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Nice Variety Of Throws And A Breeze To Navigate! 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 20, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

I think the course designers did an admirable job here working the terrain they were given. Granted it's not the prettiest spot for a course, it's a giant floodplain which occasionaly fills up after extra heavy rains. But the designers managed to use every inch of the area to incorperate shorter ACE runs, several bombs across the valley, a couple of technical holes, and both hyzers and annies. I liked the variety here. The concrete tee pads had the hole # imbedded on them which helped and the signs are vandal proof and concise. There are mulitple basket positions although sometimes it's not clear which position the basket is currently placed. There is a small drainage ditch/creek which runs through the center of the valley. It could come into play depending on your arm.
The course is extremely easy to navigate. After attempting to play the nightmare that is Sweetwater this morning, I so appreciate the signage and helpful hints here.

Cons:

There was so much trash strew about. I don't think it's from the players or even the neighbors. I think it maybe gets carried here when the waters are high. It's really annoying and such an eyesore. Kind of like playing disc golf at a landfill.

Other Thoughts:

What this course needs is.... one of these old retired dudes down here decides he wants to be the course angel and make it his mission in life to pick up the trash. I've seen it happen on other courses before.
Or maybe a club/organization to adopt this park? Or maybe at a golf tourney, each player who brings in a bag of trash can subtract a stroke or something?
Thunderbird deserves better! Make it happen somebody!
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2 2
thespeedokid
Experience: 9.4 years 110 played 34 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Desert course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 2, 2015 Played the course:once

Pros:

Good distances. Some nice elevation changes. Good baskets. Good concrete tees. Good hole signs. Easy to follow course layout. Not many people play it. Small stream which comes into play on a few holes

Cons:

Almost no trees. Plays in what could be considered a ditch. Some holes play next to culvert which could come into play. Lacks grass on most holes. Lots of thorn bushes. The course itself was difficult to locate. Most holes lack variety.

Other Thoughts:

It's a desert course that would be good for begginers.
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6 0
mashnut
Diamond level trusted reviewer
Experience: 22.1 years 831 played 767 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Repetitive 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 20, 2013 Played the course:once

Pros:

The course plays in a large drainage area that seems to be disc golf exclusive. The elevated sides of the drainage ditch offer some chances for elevation changes. There are some fun shots from elevated tees and several baskets on slopes that have the potential for rollaways. There aren't a whole lot of obstacles, but the ones that are available are used pretty well to add some variety. I thought the shot between the bridge pylons was fun and one of the more interesting shots here.

The tees are nice concrete pads, and the baskets are in good shape. The signs are large and plenty informative, we had no problems finding our way around here. There are alternate pin positions on many of the holes to try to add some more variety. There are some chances for longer shots here, and enough space to get to throw some distance drivers.

Cons:

The course is pretty much wide open. Despite creative use of the available elevation and obstacles there just isn't enough potential here to make a very good course. No specific lines are forced here, you can get by with nothing but hyzers. The low areas of the course have tall grass, and with several holes crossing this area there's potential for frustration and lost discs. There are some crossing fairways, which made no sense to me given how much unused space there is on either end of the course. There's absolutely no excuse for introducing that kind of safety issue here.

Other Thoughts:

Beginners will find this course approachable though the long grass could be daunting for players without the distance to get all the way across. More experienced players will find this an ok place to practice drives and shot placement, but won't be challenged to use many different shots.
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3 0
Danger
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 14.6 years 105 played 68 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Good local course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Nov 20, 2012 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy course to navigate with concrete tees, big easy to spot signs, and descent baskets. The course is built in a large drainage canal and incorporates the sloped sides into the design as much as possible. Shots vary from quite long to a few shorter technical shots. Many baskets are on a side hill requiring precision in landing strategies. What foliage is there comes into play as much as possible, including a nice blockage off the tee for a long shot toward the end of the course. A couple holes play under a road bridge which is always fun; said road bridge provides some shade (some of the only shade besides a few smaller trees on fairways). OB ditch adds a little bit of an artificial challenge, as well as the (optional) rockwork on hole 18. Mostly DG exclusive, spread out and easy to see if people are catching up or if you are approaching another group. Like Fountain Hills, this course provides mostly obtainable threes for the beginner with at least four opportunities for short birdies mid course. Advanced players will find their challenge in placing the disc near the pin for birdie.

Cons:

There isn't any shade here, and I can imagine this course being unplayable due to the heat in the hotter months. No water available except at the beginning so make sure to bring your own. Grass in the center area of the canal can get quite long and created some disc finding issues with natural colored plastic, however big arms should have no issue crossing this region. Advanced players could find the middle of the course redundant.

Other Thoughts:

All and all I think this course is a bit underrated here at DGCR but maybe we caught it on a good day. Other than it being really hot (in late November) and knowing that it only gets worse in Phoenix, I would find this a desirable course to practice at if I lived locally. No huge pronounced challenges really, but a good collection of longer and shorter holes. The 'ditch' with 'water' in the center of the course creates good goals for distance measuring. Beginners might find themselves bored here because many pins are unobtainable off the tee, but since there is no line shaping to be had it's a good opportunity to try something new. Throw a couple. An advanced player would appreciate the open-ness for practice once field practice becomes too monotonous. It did not appear to be busy so this is a great spot for that...the elevated tees are high enough to allow you to see what your disc is doing, and the crowds are low enough so you can throw a few with relative ease in finding your plastic afterwards. By no means a fantastic awesome destination course but a very descent place to hide at for a while while you hone in on your specifics.
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1 0
discgolfkyle
Experience: 11.8 years 15 played 2 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Decent course if you live in the area 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jul 5, 2012 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Thunderbird is a fun course for all players. You can really air out your discs here as there is no ceiling or tunnel shots to get in your way. I played this course as a beginner and found it not very difficult. There are some real birdie opportunities here, but par shots are existent on every hole. There is almost never a wait and there are very few disc golfers on the course. Plastic will not take a beating here, either. Baskets and teepads are in good conditon.

Cons:

In the summertime when the weeds in the middle are grown out, losing a disc is a possibility (I've almost lost a few). At all costs, avoid the drainage ditch in the middle. Again, very hot (it's PHX, what do you expect). Many holes are very repetitive. Most consist of just hurling your disc to the other side of the ditch. Never come after a storm, trust me.

Other Thoughts:

This course is definitely not worth driving more than 30 minutes. If you live close, it's a good area to practice your drives, but nothing special. The city did the best they could do with what they had.
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6 0
azbab
Experience: 15.2 years 15 played 4 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Don't play this one for the views 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 31, 2011 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Thunderbird is a beginner friendly course due to its open layout and really non-existent risk of losing plastic. The design takes good advantage of the very little landscape that is available in this location and beginners and intermediates will appreciate the options for throws that this open course provides. I find it to be a good course to practice different shots, when I am tired of fieldwork. Multiple pin placements do break up the monotony of this course.

Cons:

The pros of this course will be cons for more advanced players, who will not be challenged here, being you can throw pretty much any shot on any hole.
Thunderbird is not maintained as a disc golf course so "fairways" are very seldom mowed and can get out of control, long at times. Certainly not a visually pleasing course that often times has lots of grimy garbage about due to it being located in a storm run-off retention basin.

Other Thoughts:

This course is located in a retention basin that doubles as a walking trail and park with some basketball courts and playground nearby. It tends to favor lefties and forehanders due to the direction it plays along the sides (lots of side hill pins) of the retention basin. Don't visit this one for line shaping challenges or visual appeal - there isn't any.
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5 0
IsaacIRL
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 15.1 years 83 played 46 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Located in a Ditch?!? 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jan 1, 2011 Played the course:once

Pros:

Whoever designed this course did an amazing job with the little he/she had. Some of the holes were fun. Driving from an elevated tee is always fun. Trees were well placed to block direct routes to the basket. Baskets were in nice condition. Tee signs were very good. It's a shame that they had to be wasted on a course like this.

Cons:

Well, the course is in a drainage ditch under a highway. What can you expect? It's always muddy and trashy. There's a nasty river thing running through the center of the park. I could put all of the holes in two groups. Playing on the side of a hill and throwing from one side of the ditch to the other. Needless to say, there's not much variety in shots here. The grass was super tall and you could lose small dogs in there. There was graffiti on 1 and 18's tee signs. Some of the tee pads were very muddy. They were pretty small for some of the distances of the holes, and a lot of the tee pads were situated on a hill so you couldn't get a run-up. Some of the fairways made an X so you might aim for the wrong basket. Some of the tee pads had hole numbers on the wrong side with the wrong numbers, which only confused me more.

Other Thoughts:

The fun factor was 0 here. Drive to Buffalo Ridge or Conocido instead of here.

-------------------------
If you mark this review unhelpful or you find a mistake, please send me a personal message here on DGCR explaining what is wrong with it.
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2 7
yonstermonster
Experience: 4 played 2 reviews
0.50 star(s)

pass on paseo 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 6, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

epic drives from high ground

Cons:

everything short holes just a garbage dump of a course. my disc went in the sludge in the middle of the canal and its still smells funny...

Other Thoughts:

don't go....throw discs at wall would be more fun
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3 0
Korrupted
Experience: 13.6 years 9 played 5 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Ok AZ. course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Oct 8, 2010 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Fairly easy course compared to the other courses in the area. If you have some distance it makes for easy pars or possible aces. Good hole placement on a few holes that use trees and OB's to make a decent challenge. Good signage showing hole location and next tee pad. Trash cans at most of the tee pads. Not many pedestrians on the course, few bikers and joggers riding along the path. A lot of parking with restrooms.

Cons:

This a drainage canal so it tends to be littered with trash. The 1st and 18th tee pad have graffiti on the signs. A lot of ants so be mindful of where you are setting down your bag or taking a shot from. The grass after the second hole can be near waist high and likes to hide discs. I also got a rash and itching after walking in the grass. I also had a lot of sticker pods stuck in my socks and shoes. I would not play this course after a rain. It becomes very muddy, smelly and littered with trash and debris.

Other Thoughts:

This is a decent course, but I would not travel out of your way to play it. If you are in the area check out Buffalo Ridge or Connocido. The first tee is in the center of the grass toward the left off parking lot. I have not seen a map of the course but the great signage makes navigation easy. Park opens at 6 and closes at sunset.
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2 4
RandomToss
Experience: 20.7 years 14 played 3 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Graduation Day 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 12, 2010 Played the course:once

Pros:

Easy to Play! As a beginner I found this course very rewarding. It was one of the first course I played that allowed me to work on my long game without fear of losing a disc or going out of bounds.

Cons:

Very minor detail: It is in a drainage ditch.

Other Thoughts:

The cool details in the tees: some tees have discs pressed into them with a record of throw. I was able to make some long putts that I haven't made at other places.
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3 0
Harrishabitat
Experience: 17.8 years 192 played 11 reviews
2.50 star(s)

Wide open and throw it far 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Aug 26, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Very wide open and plenty of chances for birdies. Easy to navigate.

Cons:

Very little technical aspect. If the course is not mowed it is very easy to lose disks or small children in the /grass/brush in the middle.

Other Thoughts:

This is the course closest to my house so we play here quite a bit. Almost to easy, but a good pick me up if you have had some bad rounds and need a low score to make you feel better.
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2 0
justint97
Experience: 15.1 years 47 played 6 reviews
2.00 star(s)

WIDE OPEN SAPCES 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Mar 20, 2009 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Easy to find. Extremely easy to navigate! 0 shade if your trying to get a tan. Wide open if thats what you are looking for.

Cons:

The 3rd time i went, my car was the only one in the parking lot and got broken into. Not enough elevation change or tree's to challenge the better player.

Other Thoughts:

I am from out of state and played a few courses in the phoeniz area. Buffalo Ridge is by far my favorite.
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2 0
wolito
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.1 years 88 played 86 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Bring your big arm here. 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Jun 17, 2009 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Whomever designed this course did a great job, that is with what he had to work with. It is located on a drainage system in the middle of the city. It is pretty wide open with smaller trees that they try to make use of. Most of the holes are long, around 400 feet and straight shots. Get your long distant drivers out to practice here. Baskets are nice and signage is fabulous: large signs with all the info you need. While there are minimal trees on this course, they are used well to add to the challenge. Parking is very easy, right next to the 18th basket.

Cons:

Not much excitiment on this course. Most hole just go back an forth across the dry canal. Though the teepads are large cement, there are a couple that have a slight dropoff the edge, just enough to make you feel you need to shorten up your x step as not to step off them. I think that there are a few teepads that use the sidewalk that edges the course. This can be busy at times, just have to wait to throw. Watch the little water at the bottom of the canal, it looks kind of dirty.

Other Thoughts:

I feel they made the best course possible given the land that they had to work with. However, there is little to challenge an experienced player and new players might get frustrated with the longer, boring holes. This place can get hot and dry! No real shade to speak of so bring your liquids of choice. Generally speaking, one of the longer hole length courses in the area, so let those distance drivers fly!
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4 0
ragajones
Experience: 11 played 11 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A fair course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Dec 23, 2008 Played the course:5+ times

Pros:

Paseo is a great course for improving your long game, especially when the wind is up. Come here expecting to fling it pretty far. There isn't a whole lot of short shots to be had. Not too many obstacles so your focus will be about power and less on technique or finesse.
Throwing across a diagonal slope can present some interesting challenges for shot selection. Steep enough to get some bad rolls.
Somewhat similar to the look and feel of Shelly Sharpe (same lengths, same open terrain, grass etc.) although Shelly is nicer, better maintained, and not so remote feeling. Really spread out. The best signage in Phoenix, there are even little trash bins on each tee. (Hole one's sign was missing as of December of 2008). There are some interesting wild animals on the course, we have seen jack rabbits, mallards, giant egrets, and hawks that dive and swoop. Pretty cool.

Cons:

Rare to see people playing on the course. In more than 5 visits, I have only seen another group one time. Footbridges across a wash can be muddy, slippery and dangerous. If you play this course after a rain, you can expect to get wet up to the knees or higher. The water can be stagnant and smelly. There is a real trash problem here.

Other Thoughts:

I seem to notice the wind here more than any other course, probably due to the layout of the terrain which can act like a giant wind tunnel. This is a great course to work on drives. Your arm can be pretty sore if you play all 18.
Favorite hole - 13 - a long drive across a giant patch of gunite (O.B.) possible to get across in a single throw but tough.
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3 1
Doktor John
Gold level trusted reviewer
Experience: 35.1 years 423 played 64 reviews
2.00 star(s)

Not my kind of course 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:Feb 16, 2007 Played the course:never

Pros:

Great for beginners
Creative use of a very bland terrain

Cons:

Very redundant ( given the limitations of the terrain)
Not much challenge--felt like I was just throwing back and forth across a field

Other Thoughts:

Hats off to the DG community of Phx for making the best out of challenging situations
I don't want my "negative" comments to be taken personally...
Playing any disc golf is better than playing no disc golf...but I would rather play a different type of course if I had the chance...and Phx offers a few other types of courses that are more fun for me
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2 1
FoleyT
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 18.8 years 86 played 84 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Desert River Bed 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Updated: Played on:Apr 4, 2008 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

Mostly open with a few small scrub trees and drainage culverts for 'hazards'. Nicely laid out, good variety of distance. Course seems to be mostly disc golf dedicated except for pedestrians on the walkways bordering each side of the riverbank. Lots of chances to 'let it fly'.

Cons:

Can be hot and dry in the middle of the day, bring water, and good socks and shoes and be prepared to get your discs scuffed up on the rough terrain.
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