012 - Non-Standard Indoor Athletics 🛋️
While spring might be officially here, it’s still not warm enough for shorts, t-shirts, and outdoor field sports. Instead of staying indoors—wrapped in cashmere blankets and surrounded by scented candles—dust off your sweatband from the 1980s and attempt one of these non-standard indoor sports.
🏹 Projectile Athletics
If you want to exercise that throwing arm, or feed your inner viking, it’s time to join the Backyard Axe Throwing League (BATL). Feeling a bit more altruistic? Pull on a pair of green tights and head on over to Hood Archery to channel your inner Kevin Costner. If putting ninja training to use is more of your style—sans throwing stars—London has that covered too!
🎮 Competitive Gaming
Between tabletop games available at the London Public Library and the rise of eSports with Fanshawe Ultimate eSports League and WEGA, there’s no shortage of options to flex your competitive gaming muscle across the Forest City. Did you know that London hosted the Millennial Esports Tournament last fall at the Western Fair? Needless to say, there is an urge to game in this town.
🎯 European Bar Sports
Darts and a pint of English bitter go together like bangers and mash, so it’s no surprise that the best place to throw pointy objects at a wall is in London’s various European pubs. Check out Poacher’s Arms, The Scot’s Corner, or Fox and the Fiddle for available dart boards. If horizontal is more your style, Star Billiards and the Alibi Roadhouse both feature pool tables. For the more discerning player, Hustler Billiards has house rules and a dress code.
🏓 Olympic Qualifying
The London Middlesex Table Tennis Group is open daily, offering both drop-in play as well as leagues for the more dedicated pong’er. For Localists who are looking for an established sport—that has been active in London for more than 30 years—look no further than Underwater Hockey on Thursday nights at the Downtown London YMCA.
🚴 Bonus: Uni-Directional Cycling
Recreate Ice House memories (no, not that memory) with a visit to the Forest City Velodrome—the world’s smallest permanent indoor cycling track (138m long). There is only one week left to take part in their learn to ride program this spring.
Next week: Hiding in plain sight.
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Editors: Jon Clemens, Titus Ferguson, James Kingsley, Steve MacDouell, Kevin Van Lierop
Associate Editors & Localists: Brown and Dickson, Sameer Vasta, Rob Howell, Matthew Wilson, Mike Donachie, Jason Pomerleau
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