Summer is in full swing! The sun is shining and hence its the perfect time to get out and play some sports! There is something for everyone, whether you are a hardcore sports enthusiast, whether your favourite sports is switching channels or you are someone in between, Pomerania has something for everyone from everywhere! As more and more expatriates call Pomerania home, they bring with them sports native to their countries and regions. Do you know what curling is? You might have heard about parkour, but don’t actually know what it’s all about? Is there a huge question mark popping up in your head when asked about lacrosse and softball? Is Cricket just an animal, oh wait it’s a game? We’ll make it easy for you and explain the basic rules and places in Pomerania where you can enjoy these and some other non-mainstream sports.
The Native American game
Lacrosse is a team sport that came to us from the US where it’s extremely popular. It’s thought that actually hockey originates from it as lacrosse was played as early as in the 12th century by the Native American Indians. Sounds intriguing? The game is typically played on a field by two opposing teams and the ball is carried by and passed between the characteristic, triangle-shaped heads the sticks are equipped with, to be shot into goal. The rules and the protective gear for men and women may differ. In Tricity there have been teams of both sexes playing for a couple of years. Both Corsairs teams welcome those willing to participate in their practices.
Don't let your disc slip!
Frisbee is most often associated with a beach entertainment for those bored of lying flat with the hope of getting a suntan. However, its team variant – Ultimate Frisbee is an intensely dynamic discipline bringing together the elements of football, handball, basketball, and rugby. In a nutshell – the goal is to catch the disc in an opposing end zone which adds one point to the attacking team’s score. Games are typically played to a time limit of 90 minutes or until one of the teams score 15 points. Teams compete against each other either on a grassy field, a beach, or indoors and can be mixed or consist of only men or only women. UF became popular in our country at the beginning of the 21st century when a number of teams were founded, also the one based in Tricity. An interesting example of a successful mix of Frisbee and golf is disc golf. The initial round of the first edition of the Tricity league took place in July and August this year
No place for softies here
Softball derives from baseball and the name refers to the less challenging dimensions in comparison to its older variant. The ball is larger, the bat is lighter and thicker while the field is smaller in size, and the game attracts many women. There’s no shortage of its enthusiasts in Tricity, with its recently founded club Gdańsk Medusas. The women are the true pioneers as it’s the first softball club in the region. If you’d like to start your adventure with this fascinating sport, you’re welcome at open practices.
Get swooped by a Seahawk. Be brave as a Lion
Few people know that Tricity boasts not only one but two American football clubs – Gdańsk White Lions and Gdynia Seahawks. The latter has won the National Championship 3 times during the last 15 years when it was founded under the name of Pomerania Seahawks. The club didn’t participate in this season’s games because of the organizational and financial difficulties, however, as we know, all the matches were suspended due to COVID-19. Want to give a try? Any recruitment details are published on the clubs’ fan pages.
When you can't get through, jump over!
In contrast to the previously described sports, parkour is more of a physical activity than a sport. The aim is to pass obstacles as fast, efficiently and spectacularly as possible, the choice of which is only limited to imagination and experience of a tracer – the one performing stunts. Before you jump onto a wall, vault over a rail or consider leaping across rooftops, learn how to perform basic moves in a safe way. You’ll have no problem finding a club in Tricity. The one we recommend is KS Movement. GAP Gdyńska Akademia Parkour offers individual training sessions, adjusted to specific needs and preferences. The dedicated parkour parks and facilities are available i.e. at Parkour Park at Krosienka Street in Gdańsk, Movement Park at Stadion Energa or at PK Park Leszczynki.
You better brush up!
Curling is not a summer discipline, on the contrary, it’s essential to have ice to be able to play, but it’s worth mentioning, because it’s getting increasingly popular in Tricity. It is so because Sopot Curling Club Wa ku’ta offers sessions for beginners at Hala Olivia, separately for persons under and over 19. Curling is a team sport played on a sheet of ice and the players try to slide their stones so that they’re eventually positioned as close to the target as possible, the more the better. Apart from the slide itself, the path of the stone can be influenced by the use of special brushes. The game may be very exciting, as it’s based on precision, choice of the proper technique and strategy when competing with an opposing team. It comes from Scotland and dates back to the beginnings of the 16th century.
Unusual sports usually appear and are available in large cities and Tricity is no exception. It offers many interesting and unconventional sports and activities to choose from while the equipment if needed, is provided by the organization or the company. All you need is as much and as little as your willingness to try.
