Sharp Shooters Of The Southwest
Another group of diehards is L.A.’s bike polo club. With the sun shining practically 364 days of the year, there’s no reason not to play. And the polo facilities here, which include a full-size roller hockey rink in the valley, are “clandestine,” in the words of L.A. player and Southwest regional North American Hardcourt representative Joker. In addition to the rink, regular games are held throughout the week at an abandoned tennis court 18 miles away.
“Like Los Angeles itself, we are very spread out,” says Joker. Also like the city, its polo players come from a broad range of backgrounds. “From a player perspective we are pretty similar to the demographics of many other clubs, but what sets us apart from most other clubs is our year-round pleasant weather, our variety of courts, and the fact that one of our courts has lights that don’t turn off.”
Joker recalls losing every game he played the during his first day of polo in L.A., back in September, 2007, but things have changed since then. “L.A.’s A-line is the clear leader of teams in the Southwest Region of North America,” he boasts, having recently returned from the fourth annual Desert Polo Invite, where his team, Con Safos, took second place against the Guardians, in from Cascadia, after three years of holding the championship spot. “There are several strong teams based here, but L.A. is on top locally. And yes, I am expecting a little blowback for that. Bring it Nor-Cal and AZ!” As for the rest of the poloverse? “North America is a bigger pond,” he says.
While finding ample space to throw a full-scale tournament has been challenging in L.A., that hasn’t stopped the club from hosting visitors from North America and abroad throughout the year. With five polo players under one roof at the No Manor polo house, and courts just down the road, it’s never hard to get a game going.
“We behave like a family. From the physical and mental support we provide each other, to the general ribbing and kidding, LABP is there for LABP.”
Weekly games and more posted at www.labikepolo.org