Player Profile: Crisandra Hinton, Everett, WA

Sandy, how and when did you ever get into darts? I started last year in January when my husband and his brother drug me down to Ringers in Mountlake Terrace for a tournament going on there. I was not going to play, just watch, and they convinced me to just have fun and play. So I played with my husband’s brother and we won the tournament - I WAS HOOKED!

 

You’re a tough competitor, who taught you to throw like that? I have had a lot of great teachers in the sport. Us newbies are fortunate to have so many great players around to watch and learn from. I have two guys in particular that really made me what I am today. Mike Williams showed me how the game should be played and taught me the basics, and Ed Winkle really nailed down my technique and “closing” strategy.

 

Do you think men have an advantage over women in darts? Heck No! Bring it on boys LOL. I think that women are really starting to turn around in the sport and take it more seriously like the guys have been. If you think about it… women have the advantage. We are completely unpredictable and can dominate a board without you even realizing it until it’s too late. Most guys underestimate women when we come up to the line. I love playing against a guy who thinks that because I am a girl I won’t hit and then crush him, LOL. I think it’s absolutely bittersweet! WATCH OUT BOYS here we come.

 

Where did you grow up? Well I wouldn’t say I have grown up yet, that’s overrated, but I did most of my growing up in sunny San Diego, CA. I moved up here when I was 13 and have been here ever since getting stunted by the rain.

 

What’s your favorite food of all time? Manicotti, LOVE IT!

 

What keeps you busy away from darts? Definitely my kids, when I am not playing darts or at work you can usually find us hanging out with the kids going to movies, shopping or just playing a little Black Ops at home! You know the typical family things, LOL.

 

Do you have family in the area that plays darts? My sister and brother in law in Issaquah have recently started playing darts. My brother in law used to play when he lived in Italy and England (he’s a steel-tipper).

 

What about the game do you love most? I would have to say the friends. There is nothing like the friends you make in the dart world, we’re a family. You mess with one, you mess with us all. Some people find that out the hard way (ha-ha). There’s nothing like going to those big weekend/holiday shoots or State and seeing everyone you’ve been missing for months and you’re hanging out, like it was just yesterday that you saw them last.

 

What is your biggest pet peeve in darts? My biggest pet peeve huh, you sure you want me to get into this (ha-ha)? Honestly I would have to say the rating system. We need to find a better way to rate people accurately in both league and tournament/cup playing. The game has lost something because of those who don’t respect the game.

 

Who is your favorite dart partner and why? Mr. Hollywood himself, Mike Williams. He was my first real longterm partner and we were winning left and right. He is so easy to play with and a lot of fun too. You cannot help but learn from him as you play. He’s awesome!

 

Where do you call your “home location” for darts? Cactus Moon Saloon, BABY! We have so much fun there every night we hang out. Steph, Danny, Sarah F., Teresa, Tracy-Mama, Joy, the list goes on and on.. can’t get a better group of girls to hang with on a Thursday, Friday, Sunday night (Jeez we go out a lot). The boys aren’t too bad either, WHERE’S MY LIFEGUARD (LOL). It’s a place where me and my husband are able to kick back, let loose and have an awesome time. Cactus is one of those places that makes you feel welcome and has an awesome dart program of course.

 

Where is the coolest place you’ve ever been? Oahu, HI hands down. That place even smells gorgeous!

 

What kind of music do you like? Apparently Buck Cherry’s Crazy Bitch is my theme song, however, anything upbeat while playing darts, a little Drowning Pool (Bodies) doesn’t hurt the cause though either. Outside of darts I relax with some Country.

 

Have any tattoos worth noting? A couple (ha-ha). I have one on my lower back that is a beautiful butterfly and says BITCH underneath. What a tramp-stamp, huh? Then I have four others, one of which is my beautiful daughter’s name, Angelena.

 

What was your rating when you started and what is it today? When I first started I came in as a 1. That lasted about two weeks (ha-ha). Now I am a 6 and working on going up still.

 

What has been your greatest achievement so far? Oh you mean besides being asked to do a Player Profile :0) I would have to say going to the PIT with Mike Williams and Jack Stickles in my second season. We stayed in the winners bracket the whole way. We only took second, but you know what? I know people who have never even been to the Pit. I am very proud of it.

 

Do you prefer leagues or tournaments? Tournaments are more of a relaxed atmosphere, but league is fun too. It’s kind of 50/50 for me. Obviously the money in a tournament is nice though, if you win.

 

What are your long-term goals in the sport? To have fun basically. I would love to continue going up in rating and play with the big boys at their level, watch out Todd (ha-ha)! All in all though, I am just there to have fun and play a great sport.

 

How do you feel about competing with higher-rated players? I love the challenge! Nothing gets my heart pumping and adrenalin up more than when you get a higher-rated playing against you and you’re winning. I am very competitive and it makes me a better player to be challenged.

 

Have you introduced any new players to the game? My mom and sister have come out to play. I have contributed to subjecting the addiction to some friends’ significant others though.

 

Any parting words for our readers? Well I have not been around very long but I plan on being here for a long time coming. I believe that women can dominate in this sport if we put our minds to it and try. I hope to make a good impact on the sport and give back as much as I get from it. I hope you all have had a great season and I look forward to playing with and against you in the future. SHOOT WELL EVERYONE!