Author Topic: Looking for a new sport/activity to play  (Read 3370 times)

The Fake Cheap

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Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« on: April 07, 2017, 07:33:22 PM »

I've been a life long basketball player, but I think it's time to move on.  My "old" (late 30's) body can't take it anymore.

This new activity has to give me decent cardio, (so something like golf is out), I also have shoulder issues, so something with not much arm waving around, the new spot should be low cost, and hopefully something not too far from home.

I would like to try something like water polo, but doesn't seem to be much of a community around here for that.

I would love to hear some suggestions.  Thanks.

MBot

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2017, 07:45:13 PM »
Run-commuting or running is the easiest answer. Are you looking for a team sport, however?

Cycling/spin classes are good for cardio without much arm work. My mom barters editing/proofreading services for her class entry fee, no money out of pocket.

Are you near any good hills or stairs to hike? the stairs up the Hamilton escarpment or hiking the Niagara gorge or walking up city hills in Montreal or hiking mountains outside of Vancouver have all been great cardio for me.

Floor hockey or rec hockey leagues are an idea in Canada, I know a few guys who play a couple times a week for fitness. Usually stupid early or late hours for cheap ice time, if it's hockey.

How about Ultimate Frisbee in the summer? Lots of beer league/rec league options, nice and cheap, good company. A bit of shoulder work but mostly throwing from the elbow.

Outside of sports, how about volunteering a couple times a week to walk dogs, or having a side hustle in a fancy neighbourhood walking dogs? Gets you out for cardio and makes a few bucks.

A few ideas to get you started anyway. Depending on what you like I am sure people can make good suggestions.




The Fake Cheap

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2017, 08:05:35 PM »
Hockey is out, too expensive and crappy ice times as you mentioned.

I do some running, I don't love it though, walking doesn't really cut it for me.  No big hills/stair sets/mountains near me on the east coast.

I've thought of ultimate, but seems like mostly a younger crowd, it is an option I may look into.

Dog walking, lets just leave it at I'm not a dog person.

I wouldn't mind trying more of a solo sport, so I'm open to that.

Great ideas though, thanks!

GhostSaver

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2017, 08:18:23 PM »
Swimming? XC skiing?

Ultimate actually kind of shreds my arm out if I play a lot, but it's a great workout.

I don't play tennis, but it looks like a great workout, but it might not be the knee-saving alternative to hoops you're looking for.

Cycling, of course.

Debts_of_Despair

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2017, 08:22:18 PM »
Biking seems like the obvious choice.  Try to find an active club near you.

MBot

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2017, 09:56:53 PM »
Hockey is out, too expensive and crappy ice times as you mentioned.

I do some running, I don't love it though, walking doesn't really cut it for me.  No big hills/stair sets/mountains near me on the east coast.

I've thought of ultimate, but seems like mostly a younger crowd, it is an option I may look into.

Dog walking, lets just leave it at I'm not a dog person.

I wouldn't mind trying more of a solo sport, so I'm open to that.

Great ideas though, thanks!

The beer league here for ultimate has some late thirties/fortysomething professionals and professors. I'm sure you'll be able to find some things in the area. And as the other poster mentioned biking (of any type) seems like it fits the lower-body criteria.

On a totally different tack, any interest in parkour? In bigger cities some folks I know (edit - in their 30s, getting to late 30s) have enjoyed (and lost a lot of weight) learning how to run and jump over things. Still love it as getting older. Very minimal arm involvement too.

surfhb

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2017, 10:00:54 PM »
You live near water and wind?    Try kite surfing.....it'll keep you in shape for sure.

EDIT:  missed the part where you said you has shoulder issue....sorry.   Water polo would also not be a good idea either.    Its all shoulder work
« Last Edit: April 07, 2017, 10:02:57 PM by surfhb »

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2017, 10:22:30 PM »
Football/soccer? Rugby or touch football even?

Swimming (although shoulder issues would be a problem there)? Tennis (again, could be limited by shoulder)?

The Fake Cheap

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2017, 07:36:11 PM »
Thanks for the replies and ideas.

Parkour, never thought of that, I may check that out, but I'm not sure if my city is large enough to have a dedicated group...but I will look into it. 

I do a fair amount of biking now with my wife and the toddler in a bike trailer, but it's pretty casual.  I'm a bit afraid that if I join a dedicated bike group they would laugh at my $99 bike...I may still look into that as well.




HPstache

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2017, 07:56:17 PM »
Pickleball.  Fastest growing sport in America last time I checked... and for good reason... very addicting!  It's a paddle sport played on a court about badminton size with a low net.  It's a cross between tennis, pingpong and few other racquet sports.  Usually it's played as doubles, but singles as well.  Check it out, it is so much fun.  I am 32 and I play very competitive people up to 60+... it is for all ages.  Excellent workout.

YMCA is a good place to check if there is a league going.

shelivesthedream

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2017, 03:23:43 AM »
Dancing! Depending on which style you choose it can be gentle or very athletic. There's a big community around it too. The initial lessons might cost a bit, but once you've got the basics you can start going to cheap or free social dances. I'd recommend ballroom, salsa or jive/swing, depending on what floats your boat.

Villanelle

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2017, 03:48:54 AM »
Would tennis be too rough on the shoulder?  My parents are in their 70s and still playing tennis several times a week.  Low cost--most cities have free courts so all you need is a racket.  After that, the only ongoing costs are balls.

Poundwise

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2017, 04:47:30 PM »
If you have a toddler, I highly recommend nordic ski (if you live in an area where it is available.)

Great aerobic workout, peaceful, cheap, and even cheaper because you can tow baby in a sled (called a pulk). We have a "Chariot" brand carrier which converts from bike trailer to jogging trailer to pulk. Pricey new, but the best money we ever spent on a baby item, and has paid for itself since we never have to hire a babysitter on vacation.

Papa bear

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #13 on: April 09, 2017, 06:25:24 PM »
Volleyball. And if your shoulders hurt, serve underhand.


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VeggieGirl

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #14 on: April 09, 2017, 09:42:57 PM »
Soccer, maybe joining a league? or mtn biking? I use to ride with a group, my bike was by far the least fancy of them all. No laughing when you can keep up and ride with the best of them on a cheapo bike. :-)

Just Joe

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #15 on: April 12, 2017, 08:38:55 AM »
Bicycling: buy a nicer bike used for a few hundred bucks. Then let them believe you've been a rider for a long time but you took a break.

Proud Foot

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #16 on: April 12, 2017, 11:48:33 AM »

This new activity has to give me decent cardio, (so something like golf is out)

Go play a round or two without a cart and I think you might change your mind on this.  Especially if you walk briskly between strokes. Probably wouldn't fit your low cost criteria though.

I agree with the suggestion of biking.

Kris

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #17 on: April 12, 2017, 12:48:47 PM »
Hiking. Unless you live someplace that's flat as a pancake, you can get exercise suited to your level by choosing trails of varying difficulties.

Mountain biking might be an option for you as well (except for the initial expense of the bike). Not sure how that would work with your shoulder, though.

The Fake Cheap

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #18 on: April 12, 2017, 07:21:23 PM »
I never really heard of pickelball, it might be something I'll have to look into.

I LOL'd at the dancing, I think my wife would be upset if I signed up for dancing without her!

Tennis I would love to try, but the serve would be hell on my shoulder.

I did look online to see if any Parkour groups were around, none in my city, at least none with any online presence.

Great call on the cross country skiing, we do have a toddler, he might be able to do a bit of skiing by next winter, or maybe we could find something to haul him around in. 

I've done a fair amount of golf in the past, it's not great for the shoulder,  I find it too time consuming, and pricey. 

Also going to look into the bike club thing as well.

So many great ideas!


Villanelle

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #19 on: April 23, 2017, 05:25:13 AM »
I never really heard of pickelball, it might be something I'll have to look into.

I LOL'd at the dancing, I think my wife would be upset if I signed up for dancing without her!

Tennis I would love to try, but the serve would be hell on my shoulder.

I did look online to see if any Parkour groups were around, none in my city, at least none with any online presence.

Great call on the cross country skiing, we do have a toddler, he might be able to do a bit of skiing by next winter, or maybe we could find something to haul him around in. 

I've done a fair amount of golf in the past, it's not great for the shoulder,  I find it too time consuming, and pricey. 

Also going to look into the bike club thing as well.

So many great ideas!

You can easily play casual tennis without an overhead serve.  Essentially, you bounce the ball an then hit it with a regular swing (or throw it straight up and hit it with a regular swing as it comes down.)

CptCool

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #20 on: April 24, 2017, 09:58:34 AM »
I never really heard of pickelball, it might be something I'll have to look into.

I LOL'd at the dancing, I think my wife would be upset if I signed up for dancing without her!

Tennis I would love to try, but the serve would be hell on my shoulder.

I did look online to see if any Parkour groups were around, none in my city, at least none with any online presence.

Great call on the cross country skiing, we do have a toddler, he might be able to do a bit of skiing by next winter, or maybe we could find something to haul him around in. 

I've done a fair amount of golf in the past, it's not great for the shoulder,  I find it too time consuming, and pricey. 

Also going to look into the bike club thing as well.

So many great ideas!

When I was a toddler my dad would take me cross country skiing. He'd just use two ropes tied to a cheap plastic sled. Makes for a harder workout & you're not going very fast so it's not very dangerous. A toddler or young child won't enjoy cross country skiing and wouldn't last very long even if they did enjoy it

Poundwise

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Re: Looking for a new sport/activity to play
« Reply #21 on: April 24, 2017, 10:15:45 AM »
Great call on the cross country skiing, we do have a toddler, he might be able to do a bit of skiing by next winter, or maybe we could find something to haul him around in. 

Quote
A toddler or young child won't enjoy cross country skiing and wouldn't last very long even if they did enjoy it

From my experience, you might get your toddler to ski for about 15-20 minutes, but more likely you'll end up hauling those skis along with the toddler in a sled.  One of my kids was very motivated and learned to ski at 4 (and did a diamond trail at 6). Another child finally learned at age 7, but does not seem to enjoy it much yet.

 

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