As summer approaches, many of us start looking for new ways to be active. Whether you’re emerging from a cozy winter of hibernation, or searching for a replacement for skiing and snowboarding, there are inexpensive and accessible ways to get outside, get active, and make the most of summer.
Ultimate Frisbee
Like football or soccer, but with a flying disk instead of a ball, the objective in Ultimate Frisbee is to pass the frisbee to a teammate in the opposing team’s endzone. Where it stands apart from other sports is its non-contact nature. It is much safer than football and is embraced by an enthusiastically friendly and informal community.
“There’s an understanding that it’s not a common sport, so there’s no expectation to be good,” says Ryan Lackie, a long-time player. “You can play soccer anywhere you want, but it might be harder to find a group because you need to find players with the right skill level. In Ultimate, really skilled players are still happy to play with regular Joes.”
Most people play Ultimate in community leagues, meeting regularly in public parks. There’s no equipment required other than a frisbee — many players even go barefoot — and leagues are usually free. “Provo has an incredible scene,” says Lackie, “because BYU has been ranked top five in the nation for college Ultimate for the past decade. You have so many elite players coming from there, and so there’s tons of frisbee in Provo. Some of it’s extremely high-level stuff, but there are also guys who go to play with their younger siblings, or who work with schools, or just play in their neighborhood.”
Facebook and the directory on UtahUltimate.org are good ways to find leagues, but Lackie also recommends going to a game played by Salt Lake City’s professional team, the Shred. “You can talk to literally anybody there and make connections. A lot of the people who go to the games know the players personally, because the overwhelming majority of them are locals. It has a very tight-knit feel.”
Racquetball
Racquetball is fast-paced, competitive, and lots of fun. Unlike tennis, there’s no net here and only limited out-of-bounds zones: instead, the walls, floor, and even ceiling are legal playing surfaces, leading to energetic, no-holds-barred play. Courts are available at many rec centers and gyms, where you can usually also rent the simple equipment necessary. Because it can be played with just two players, this is an easy sport to get into if you have a schedule that’s mismatched with your local community leagues. You only need to round up one friend.
Trails Maintenance
Do you love hiking and adventuring on public lands? It might be time to give back and make your own contribution to the trails. Starting every spring, volunteer groups gather all over Utah.
“Organizations try to have a variety of projects,” says Patrick Parsel, the Trails Program Manager for the DNR. Parsel is a strong believer in trail maintenance, conducting a series of workshops every year. “If you want to roll a bunch of big heavy rocks to build a retaining wall or steps, you can do that. If you want something lighter, you can put up signs or clear brush … Often in spring, trails have been muddy but then they’ve hardened up, so there are divots where we need to smooth out the trail.”
It’s a great way to get outside, to work hard, and to become part of a community that’s passionate about trails and the stewardship required to keep them in good condition. You can find a directory of organizations on the DNR website to learn about volunteer days near you.
Pickleball
These days everybody knows about pickleball, but did you know that you don’t have to become a member at a big pickleball gym in order to play? It can be played on tennis courts with some modification, and many public parks now have designated pickleball courts, where groups gather at lunchtime or in the evenings to put on a pick-up game. Facebook groups are a great place to find established meet-ups and learn which parks near you have an active scene.
Aqua Zumba
“Aqua Zumba is a Latin-dance-based workout, but in the water,” says Rian Gordon, an instructor at the Spanish Fork rec center. “A lot of high intensity cardio is going to be really hard on your joints, but this is very gentle because you’re in the water, so it’s great if you’re recovering from an injury, or if you’re getting older. It’s just really accessible to everyone.”
Another benefit of aqua zumba is that the water adds resistance to your motions, which makes it even more of a workout and builds muscle. Plus, the dance aspect adds a lot of fun. “You don’t have to be a good dancer!” Gordon says. “You just have to enjoy music and moving your body. Over time you’ll pick up the moves.”
She offers a mix of new and familiar choreography so her students can get to know each dance well but not get bored with the same old thing. “We give a lot of modification options,” she adds, “to make it easier or take things up a level.”
Feature Image by Stefano Zocca on Unsplash
