3D Animation

Take Me to the Pitch

December 12, 2008 December 12, 2008 Practicum is upon us.  Our class has the distinct honor of preparing an educational tool for the victims and families of aplastic anemia, a project that gives real meaning to the motto “Media that Matters.” In the first week, Norm Brzycki, program director Aimee Corrigan, and all the faculty advisors offered us tons of great advice on what to expect and how to deal with the challenges ahead.  One piece of advice that I thought was especially important was to maintain a balance; keep your personal life in good shape and remember to get away from practicum every once in a while.  I bring this up because I enjoy any opportunity to let people in on one of my personal favorite recreational activities: kayak polo. Photograph by John Corbett, Austin, November 2008 That’s right – they’re fighting for the ball.  In kayaks.  Not many people have heard of this unique sport, which is sort of a cross between basketball and soccer, except with 650,000 gallons of extra water.  Originating in England, and extremely popular in Europe and Australia, kayak polo has only begun to catch on in the United States in recent years.  A typical game is played on a pitch about as big as a basketball court and consists of two periods that are 20 minutes long.  Two teams of five square off and attempt to score the most points by passing a sphere roughly equivalent in size to a volleyball through a goal that is probably six or more inches smaller than a hockey net.  Note that this goal hangs six feet over the water and is usually protected by a goalie. Photograph by John Corbett, New York, January 2008 You have to do all this while seated firmly in your kayak, and members of the other team can block your shots with their paddles, stick their boat in your path, and even push you over if they get close enough.  It can actually be a pretty rough sport when especially competitive teams are on the pitch.  Because it’s a full contact sport, everyone wears a helmet and padded PFDs (personal flotation devices) and there are strict rules about where and how you can impact another player.  I.E., no paddle strikes. Despite this, it’s an incredibly fun sport.  Most new players have to overcome the hesitation of being upside down while strapped into a fiberglass boat, but once you master the different techniques for staying upright, you can zip up and down the pitch like an NBA star.  Because its winter, we play in a pool, but during the summer, we practice on a river or pond, and it’s a great workout.  If you’re interested in learning more, visit your local club on the web at Boston Kayak Polo.