COLUMN: Spring sports preview: Ultimate a go, lawn darts a no
I once revered basketball as my favorite sport to play, but the hardwoods have been replaced as my preferred venue. It’s now wide expanses of green grass.
Ultimate Frisbee is No. 1 on my want-to-play sports list. The warming weather (that is, except for yesterday) affords the opportunity to play as frequently as one can find a few friends and an open field.
Participating in Ultimate Frisbee offers all the benefits of basketball without the gym. It’s a great sport for cardiovascular exercise, as each player is constantly on the run.
Ultimate Frisbee is definitely not as violent as other team sports (i.e. basketball, football). The game involves contact, and during the course of play collisions are likely to occur, but constant body contact is rare unless two players are highly competitive. Being too competitive is no fun. Ultimate Frisbee to me is a “chill” sport. If you ask members of the USU Ultimate Frisbee Club, they may tell you differently, but the way I play sports, all of them are “chill.”
There is a higher margin of error in Ultimate Frisbee. In basketball and football, passes are quick and usually have to be right on the money. But in Ultimate Frisbee, a player can loft the disc long and it floats up there for a while. If the pass isn’t right on the money, there’s still a chance the recipient can catch it – he or she will just have to run extra hard. And if the intended receiver is unable to get it, a nearby teammate could likely come out of nowhere and grab it. Happens all the time.
But let’s face it – Ultimate Frisbee is far from the only spring sport available. There are so many options to consider.
How about Badminton? Well, so maybe the equipment is harder to come by, but I’m sure if you really wanted to play you could go down to Fred Meyer and purchase a cheap set. Unfortunately, the USA Badminton Web site has no recommendations on where to play in Utah, but I’m sure any park or backyard will do.
I was about to suggest lawn darts, but I discovered that as of December 1998 they’ve been banned from sale in the United States. Good. I wouldn’t risk the harm they could inflict on small children.
Horseshoes make a great spring sport. Two horseshoe pits are available next to the HPER Field. I’m sure there has to be other horseshoe pits in town. It wouldn’t be that hard to make your own if you really wanted to. Or if you’re looking for a scenic horseshoes venue, drive to USU’s Training Center on the shores of Bear Lake. But be sure to ask permission first.
Go to the ORC, rent canoes and canoe the wetlands in the Benson/Mendon area. Canoeing is two sports in one: rowing and bird watching.
Or if you don’t like to venture out of the backyard, there’s always croquet. It’s the classic leisure sport. No banging bodies with this one – unless you’re SUPER competitive.
If you’re a money-bags, go to Logan River or Birch Creek golf courses and hit the links. But watch out for that dog leg on No. 4 at Birch Creek. It’ll get you every time.
Bring lots of water balls if you’re going to Logan River. I’ve never bought a golf ball in my life – I find them all (or they’re given to me). Lots of times I can go golfing and come back on top – finding more balls than I lose. But at Logan River, that’s nearly impossible. If you’re really cheap, like me, just go to the driving range instead.
If you don’t like spending money and want an exhilarating experience, go jump in the Logan River from one of the bridges at First Dam in a couple weeks. It’s my kind of sport – not competitive and totally “chill.”
Reuben Wadsworth is the assistant sports editor of the Statesman. He can be reached at reubwads@cc.usu.edu