Every two years, thanks to the Olympics, we get a glimpse of low-profile sports (can you say curling?) that are usually trumped bythe biggies, especially here in Sox-Celtics-Patriots nation. Just aswe come to understand and maybe even appreciate the athletic events,though, the Olympics conclude - and we move on.
It doesn't have to be that way. Yes, the Olympics end on Sunday,but if you've developed an interest in a summer sport and want tokeep watching (or try playing), you don't need to go far.
Foiled again
Think fencing is only for the Summer Games and Renaissancefestivals? To that we say, 'En garde!' Fencing happens to be big inNew England. In fact, Brandeis graduate Tim Morehouse is on themen's saber Olympic team this year. If you want to be likeMorehouse, there are plenty of ways to fence and be fenced aroundtown. The Boston Fencing Club in Waltham welcomes participants andspectators alike. Syd Fadner, who coaches fencing at Boston Collegeand runs the Boston club, welcomes experienced fencers as well asnewcomers. Even if watching the sport during the Olympics didn'tappeal to you, you may enjoy fencing more as a participant, shesays. 'It can be difficult if you've never seen it before to followthe action because it's so very, very fast,' she says. The club hasan open house Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Boston Fencing Club, 110 Clematis Ave. #2, Waltham. 781-891-0119. www.bostonfencingclub.org
Target practice
Archery USA in Dedham prides itself on the fact that there areonly two dead animals mounted on its walls. That's because thisarchery store and training center is more fixated on Olympic skillsthan hunting. Like the Boston Fencing Club, Archery USA lets youwatch or play. On Thursday nights from 7 to 9, you can check out anopen target practice for teams. Classes are ongoing throughout theyear but they get busy next month when school starts. AnthonyBellettini, who runs the place and trains a Junior Olympic ArcheryDevelopment team, knows how powerful his sport can be: 'You candodge a ball,' he quips, 'but you can't dodge an arrow.' So true.
Archery USA, 606 Providence Highway, Dedham. 781-320-3626.www.archeryusa.com
Paddle whack
OK, so if you've been watching the Summer Games, you may knowthat table tennis isn't one of the United States' best sports -China usually wins most of the medals. Still, we love our ping-pong, and at the Boston Table Tennis Center in Medford, members playhard - including former over-60 world champion Albert Lau, who oftenpractices at the club. Alex Landsman, a co-vice president, says youcan drop in, play casually, or try a match with a skilled pro. It's$8 a night, and yes, there are spectators (significant others ofplayers, table tennis groupies, etc.). 'They often cheer, especiallyat Table 1,' he said. 'Table 1 often has the highest level ofplayers.'
Boston Table Tennis Center, 407R Mystic Ave., Medford. 617-953-0707. www.bostonttc.com
Lend a hand
There's only one club team in New England that plays the sportthat's a little bit soccer and a little bit basketball. That team -the New England Freeze - has a men's and women's division andcompetes against other handball teams across the country during thefall and winter. Until September, when the Freeze begins practicingat the Harvard University's Kennedy School on Wednesday nights, youcan see them (and join them) at Revere Beach on Sundays from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. (their goals are in front of the five large gray condobuildings) and on the Cambridge side of the Charles River on Tuesdaynights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Newcomers often join in on the beachhandball fun. Coach and player Dirk Hentschel says that if you'veever played basketball, handball is easy to pick up. 'The rules arevery easy and it's a fast game,' he said. 'Nobody's excluded.'
www.nefreeze.com
Mirror images
The Selkies, one of several youth synchronized swimming teams inthe area, perform to popular songs that blare through the pool'sunderwater speakers. If you want to check out their routines, youcan avoid the poolside humidity by watching through a big glasswindow from the lobby. 'You don't even have to get sweaty,' saysJohn Ogden, director of competitive aquatics. When the team, whichcompetes regionally and nationally, starts up again next month (youcan find a schedule online), you can spectate for free, or you canjoin in - even if you're a grown-up. For the first time this year,the North Shore YMCA is starting up an adult division of theSelkies. 'They work very hard,' Ogden says of the team. 'In terms ofthe skills, they're extraordinary.'
Beverly Sterling YMCA, 254 Essex St., Beverly. 978-927-6855.www.northshoreymca.org
Bye-bye, birdie
Neil Davies of Somerville (who is originally from England), saysthat in the United States, people play the game of badminton, but inother parts of the world, people play the sport of badminton. Thatmeans foreign players take their birdies seriously. At the WalthamBadminton Club, many of the Bay State-area players come from othercountries. Mariam Trubitsyn, originally from Russia, is one of themany international regulars who say the club helps fill the Americanbadminton void. Most club members are intermediate to advanced,although there are always a few newbies who attend. The drop-in feefor Saturday afternoon practice (2 to 5 p.m.) is $8. Spectators arewelcome.
Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, 785 Beaver St., Waltham.www.wolfberg.net/badminton/waltham
SPORTING TRY
To see a video of archers and badminton players in action, go toboston.com/thingstodo.
