10 ways to survive winter without bike polo
Cold months are a great time to do the things we don’t do, but should do, the rest of the year when playing. Just because the cold breaks your balls doesn’t mean you can’t be a proactive slayer.
In this article, Caleb Trujillo and Jennifer Spencer share some ideas and tips to keep those winter blues away and get you ready for bike polo season.
1. Watch bike polo videos
Bike polo players love to make films of themselves. And with all the sweet tricks and plays, can you really blame them?
In addition to fun, watch videos to learn! Analyze videos for plays and techniques. Bike polo is evolving quickly, so take advantage of the downtime by studying your opponents and the game.
Here are some links to get you started in polo watching heaven:
- NAHBPC 2019 games and more: https://bit.ly/2R7mBg
- 2018 Berlin Mix Highlight Video: https://youtu.be/7FM4ZLJMoMQ
- Sombodies Gotta Do it with Mike Rowe — Bike Polo Segment https://youtu.be/6FrhsZZn7GY
- Mr Do Video: http://mrdovideo.com/
- Bike Polo Drills: http://bikepolodrills.tumblr.com/
2. Stay active
Idle legs do the devil’s work, so find some time to keep your cardio and strength up! Or just take these winter months to finally get swole.
Go outside! Winter sports are okay. Stay sane, fit, and healthy by picking up cross-country skiing, hockey, snowshoeing or other activities around snow and ice (yuck).
Stay indoors. If the cold is too blistering for outdoor fun, hit the climbing gym, weight room, take a spin class (great for building that polo sprint speed!), or do some home workouts to build your strength, power, and endurance.
Whatever you do, mix it up! Science shows that cross-training enhances athletic performance and you’re a goddamn athlete, now train like one!
Even better, cross-train with your team! Studies showed cross-training with your teammates will improve your teamwork and team performance. And let’s be honest, we need all the help we can get!
3. Rekindle old friendships
Now’s the time to hang out with your non-polo friends who you’ve neglected for the past six months. Winter will pass faster with people to help you forget you’re not playing bike polo. If you’ve forgotten how to hold a conversation that doesn’t include polo, you’re not alone, so here are some good conversation starters to help you learn how to have a normal conversation.
If you still can’t think of anything to talk about, maybe its time to dust off the board games you’ve left in that damp Midwest basement of yours.
4. Seek bike polo podcasts and blog
Winter is a great time to catch up on bike polo podcasts and articles!
Check out Gabe’s new page, Fck Yea Polo. He’s got some great gameplay discussion and last year launched a podcast!
Go read archived articles on 321 Polo, relive the glory days and discover some old gems. Personally, there is no better way to enjoy winter than getting all soapy and slippery in a hot shower with the sounds of old Shuffle Podcast episodes filling the bathroom. Bliss. Don’t forget your shower beer.
Also, real talk, take these wintery months and create some new bike polo content! Maybe edit all that video you took over the summer, submit an article here on The Scoop, or how about you create your own bike polo publication! Check out Medium Publications, it’s free and good looking to boot!
5. Sharpen your mind
Working on your bike and ball-handling skills is important, but don’t forget to work on your mind. Your mental game is just, if not more important!
Listen to sports psychology podcasts on how to train your brain! My current favorite is The Sports Psych Show, episode #5 and #9 are a great place to start developing your skills and mental game. This podcast covers dealing with self-sabotage, how to optimize your practice routine better learn new techniques and skills and so much more!
Read! Pick-up an old fashion analog book. Two of my favorite books for thinking about my bike polo practice and mental game: The Inner Game of Tennis and Atomic Habits.
6. Get your club organized for next season
Take a page from seasonal parks departments: when the snow comes, they stop mowing grass and instead prepare projects for the next season.
Winter offers a chance to set club goals, schedule tournaments, and plans to fix up the courts. Make a strategic plan for the club that includes recruitment events, working with local parks departments, finding sponsors, and building your club’s identity and reach. What club doesn’t want a glossy webpage and slick social media presence?
7. Volunteer with the NAH
Put all your “strong opinions” about bike polo to good use! Get involved and volunteer to help the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Association (NAH) get shit done! They have lots of projects they’re working on and are always in need of help. If you don’t see a project you are super excited about, pitch your own idea!
8. Travel far far away
Get some Vitamin D and your bike polo fix by planning a trip or two to a warmer location to play. Hawaii is hosting a tournament in January and Puerto Rico is around the corner in February!
Check out the Bike Polo Calendar for other tournaments happening around the world.
9. Upgrade your gear
Get with the times! We aren’t a DIY sport anymore! Jkjk, love us some DIY! But we’re all in need of good equipment and lucky for us, we have a number of awesome bike polo companies supporting us!
In North America alone we have two great bike polo frame companies: Enforcer and Lightfoot. Need new shafts, heads or balls? Go take a gander at Heckler’s Alley.
Don’t have the $$ to spend at the moment? No worries, hit up some clubmates or the Second Hand Bike Polo Page on Facebook and get some gently used bits and bobs, maybe even do some bartering!
10. Move to California
Seriously if you can’t handle the winters, maybe you would be better off in a cushy state where the government gives you free stuff, the sun shines every day, and tears don’t freeze. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Am I a year-round-bike-polo kind of person?” If the answer is yes, it’s time to move to the Golden State where polo never sleeps and Grandpa Bruce and Shitty Kyle are always ready to party.
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Acknowledgments: thanks to Jared Jelsing for the great GIFs for this article and Caleb Trujillo who helped with the original draft of this post three years ago!
