Kayak Water Polo Heads For Outdoors
Kayak water polo, which made its debut locally indoors last winter, is going outdoors for a five-week stint.
The Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club and Spokane Park and Recreation Department will begin a summer season Thursday at Witter Pool in Mission Park.
Registration will be held the first night, between 6:30 and 7, with instruction and play running 7-9.
Coed teams consist of three to five players. No experience is necessary. Participants only need a swimming suit, helmet (bicycle-style will do nicely) and life jacket. And a towel wouldn’t hurt; players do get wet.
Fee is $25, with the individual going into a player pool. If players sign up as a team, it’s $145. Games also are scheduled the next four Thursday nights - July 20, 27 and Aug. 3, 10.
“We had about 40 people in the winter, and expect about that many (this summer),” said Andrew Brewer, of the canoe and kayak club.
Because Witter is larger than Shadle’s indoor pool, where the winter session was held, Brewer said, “It’s L-shaped, so we have the capability to run two matches at a time if we want to.
“We could give instruction for beginners in one end and have a match going on at the other end.”
If the turnout dictates, he said, plans are to have divisions for beginners and those with more experience. Beginners paddle the kayaks, which are donated by Loulou’s, with their hands, while the advanced division will use paddles (helmets must have face masks).
“Because we’re outdoors, we expect we’ll attract some attention, and will probably pick up people after they see what’s going on,” Brewer said. “That’s what happened in the winter. People came out to see what was going on and joined.”
Bicycling
It seems a new helmet law in Auckland, New Zealand, has resulted in a beneficial side effect: bicycle thefts are down.
“Bicycling” magazine points out that since the law went into effect in January, bicycle thefts have decreased 40-60 percent in that city.
One police spokesman theorized that thieves think it isn’t cool to be seen wearing a helmet. And without one, they’re likely to get caught riding stolen wheels.