Come Out & Play!
Hey Sporty Spice! Get out there and work it!
As the autumn
air brings a slight chill, we're reminded of the return of fall and winter
sports! It’s time to get out there and get some exercise other than lifting a
cocktail or remote control. Here are just a few examples of the great LGBT
sports organizations out there just waiting for you.
Instead of
going to a bar to meet guys, you can go to BARS. That’s Big Apple Recreational Sports! BARS is a
3-in-1 sports organization hosting Dodgeball, Kickball and Bowling! “We are a competitive league, but
we found one of the things our players are most excited about is the friends
and relationships they make within the league.” says Stephen Moreau,
Commissioner.
Slip’n slide
with the New York City Gay Hockey
Association, now in its 14th year. The NYCGHA
manages six co-ed teams at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers. Games are on Saturday or Sunday
afternoons and evenings. Beginners and "rink rats" welcome.
Get out of town
and fly down a mountainside, or slowly make your way down the bunny-slope with
the Ski Bums! Travel to some of the
world's most spectacular places, with a focus on getting to know new people.
This year, the Ski Bums have twenty
trips planned in 2014 from Lake Placid, New York to Chamonix, France! And look forward to their traditional “après-ski” gatherings: crisp beers, roaring fireplaces, and gorgeous mountain views.
Feel the need
to dribble? Then the New York City Gay Basketball League is the place to be! Join these big boys as they run up and
down the court at The Field
House at Chelsea Piers on Sundays between 5pm and 8pm. "Our group is inclusive, diverse, and dedicated to breaking
down stereotypes of LGBT athletes." says Kris Alspach, Commissioner, Mens
Division. Afterwards, join the boys for a post-game happy hour at some of the local bars who sponsor
the league.
Brotherhood and
camaraderie are the two words that best describe the Gotham Knights Rugby Football Club! You’ll learn other words like
scrum, pitch and flop at the post-game
"third-half" (good food, great beer and bruises.) And as we speak, the Gotham Knights are preparing
for the Bingham 2014 Cup, the largest non-professional rugby tournament in the
world, which will be held in Sydney, Australia next August.
Run, Forrest,
Run – with the Frontrunners! "We are a diverse group for
runners, from first-time runners to local elites, who enjoy both running and
socializing." says club President, Dave Lin. The group’s most popular run is on Saturday
mornings at 10am when they meet and stretch at Rutgers Church on 73rd Street and Broadway,
then head over to Central Park to do a loop. Bagels and coffee served afterwards back at the church. There are also weekly runs in Brooklyn for all you hipsters!
And lastly, where would sports be without cheerleading! Cheer New York will help you channel that pep in
your step! And you’ll feel great cheering as their "Cheer for Life" mission
helps local charities by giving back to the LGBT community. The cheerleaders
typically flock together after each practice or game. They're quite the social
club partaking in karaoke, brunches and more!
For more
information on each of these organizations and many others, go to www.oobnyc.org.
