JohnM
07-11-2005, 03:32 PM
Union Leader, 7/11/05
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=57578
Riders of the new age: Segway polo comes to city
By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER — Veterans Memorial Park was turned into an impromptu polo field yesterday morning, as Segway owners and admirers from around America gathered to play a match using the machines instead of horses.
A small crowd of onlookers also turned out for the event, which was part of this weekend’s SegwayFest 2005 convention in the Queen City. The pick-up match, which involved both expert and novice players, showed off an exciting — if somewhat unexpected — way to use the devices.
“I love it. It’s the most exercise you can get on a Segway. It’s the most fun you can have on a Segway. It’s great,” said Derry resident Jen Hosker, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Playing polo using the Segway involves far more athleticism than one might think. Since they’re holding mallets, players have just one free hand to steady themselves and steer the Segway. At the same time, players must stretch forward or backward to move the Segway, while chasing after the ball along with the other players on the field. Occasionally, players crash into each other, which can cause them to get thrown from their Segways.
The most challenging parts of the game, according to Hosker, are making evasive maneuvers and swinging the mallet while riding.
“When you’re going 12and a half miles per hour, you kind of have to move your body like you’re skiing. You learn to just move and turn quickly. It takes some getting used to,” said Hosker.
However, Segway polo’s not a difficult sport to pick up: for instance, Hosker began playing just this weekend. Those who have played a bit longer — such as Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple Computer Inc. — also said it was easy to learn.
“There are a lot of skills you develop as you play,” said Wozniak, a resident of Los Gatos, Calif., who has been playing Segway polo for about a year. The game is most popular in the San Francisco area, where organized Segway polo matches take place once a weekend. Several of the Segway polo players taking part in yesterday’s match were from the West Coast.
Yesterday morning, an injury — unrelated to Segway polo — was keeping Wozniak from playing at top form. One of his favorite tactics involves fighting for the ball at close range, and he was holding back a little because of some pain. But it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the game, and those playing along with him shared that enthusiasm.
“It’s tons of fun,” said Matt Karolian, of Hooksett, a communications intern for Segway and a Central High School student. “It’s a great time — some of the best time I’ve ever had on a Segway.”
The match also impressed folks who simply came down to watch the demonstration in action.
Bob Olson, a retiree from Manchester, said he didn’t know whether he would play polo in a Segway. But he did see a lot of advantages to the device.
“I would love one. If I could afford one, I’d buy one today. They’re very low-maintenance and you can go most anywhere,” Olson said. “More people should have them. It’s all what they say it is.”
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=57578
Riders of the new age: Segway polo comes to city
By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER — Veterans Memorial Park was turned into an impromptu polo field yesterday morning, as Segway owners and admirers from around America gathered to play a match using the machines instead of horses.
A small crowd of onlookers also turned out for the event, which was part of this weekend’s SegwayFest 2005 convention in the Queen City. The pick-up match, which involved both expert and novice players, showed off an exciting — if somewhat unexpected — way to use the devices.
“I love it. It’s the most exercise you can get on a Segway. It’s the most fun you can have on a Segway. It’s great,” said Derry resident Jen Hosker, a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Playing polo using the Segway involves far more athleticism than one might think. Since they’re holding mallets, players have just one free hand to steady themselves and steer the Segway. At the same time, players must stretch forward or backward to move the Segway, while chasing after the ball along with the other players on the field. Occasionally, players crash into each other, which can cause them to get thrown from their Segways.
The most challenging parts of the game, according to Hosker, are making evasive maneuvers and swinging the mallet while riding.
“When you’re going 12and a half miles per hour, you kind of have to move your body like you’re skiing. You learn to just move and turn quickly. It takes some getting used to,” said Hosker.
However, Segway polo’s not a difficult sport to pick up: for instance, Hosker began playing just this weekend. Those who have played a bit longer — such as Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple Computer Inc. — also said it was easy to learn.
“There are a lot of skills you develop as you play,” said Wozniak, a resident of Los Gatos, Calif., who has been playing Segway polo for about a year. The game is most popular in the San Francisco area, where organized Segway polo matches take place once a weekend. Several of the Segway polo players taking part in yesterday’s match were from the West Coast.
Yesterday morning, an injury — unrelated to Segway polo — was keeping Wozniak from playing at top form. One of his favorite tactics involves fighting for the ball at close range, and he was holding back a little because of some pain. But it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for the game, and those playing along with him shared that enthusiasm.
“It’s tons of fun,” said Matt Karolian, of Hooksett, a communications intern for Segway and a Central High School student. “It’s a great time — some of the best time I’ve ever had on a Segway.”
The match also impressed folks who simply came down to watch the demonstration in action.
Bob Olson, a retiree from Manchester, said he didn’t know whether he would play polo in a Segway. But he did see a lot of advantages to the device.
“I would love one. If I could afford one, I’d buy one today. They’re very low-maintenance and you can go most anywhere,” Olson said. “More people should have them. It’s all what they say it is.”