Rollerskiing
The last time I went cross-country skiing, it was along the snowy trails of St Moritz, skirting a frozen lake. Now I can say I’ve been skiing on flat tarmac in a London park. In June. Needless to say, there was no snow.
I was rollerskiing – an alternative to cross-country skiing that began as a summer training technique in the 1950s, and is now a thriving sport in its own right. It involves short skis, about half a metre long with a small wheel at each end, plus ski poles. The experts at the London Cross-Country Ski Club recommend that beginners have five lessons to build confidence, technique and stamina. I was trying to master the basics in a two-hour crash course – hopefully without too much crashing involved.
Falling over on skis is never fun, but at least on snow you have a relatively soft landing. Tarmac, on the other hand, hurts. This made me tense, wobbly and slow; while the other two beginners in my class immediately zoomed off, I barely moved. On the plus side, I had plenty of time to concentrate on the correct technique.
We shuffled about on grass to get the feel of the skis, then moved on to a path to practise “double poling” (keeping the skis parallel and using the poles to propel yourself along), “skating” (going from side to side, like ice-skating) and “classic” (a smooth forwards stride). Having watched Alison, my instructor, fly along skater-style with the grace of a gazelle, I could certainly see why the more complicated techniques were worth practising thoroughly.
We attracted the odd bit of attention – “Look! Skiers!” – but city parks are full of weird and wonderful workouts (Battersea has a lot of recumbent cyclists), and most people didn’t bat an eyelid. And rollerskiing is a workout, all right – it has the same benefits as Nordic skiing, which is about the most effective whole-body cardio exercise you can do. It helps with balance and is low-impact – unless you hit the deck – so it is suitable for older people. And you don’t have to be fit when you start; Alison recently taught a 25-stone man, starting with a programme of Nordic walking before building up to skiing.
Rollerskiing is perfect preparation for a ski trip, as the technique is directly transferable to snow, but many people enjoy it as a standalone sport. For beginners, the London XC Club runs lessons (£30) and courses (from £76) around London and south-east England; club members ski in Hyde Park and Victoria Park every week (from £29 a month). The Roller Ski Directory list other clubs and locations around the UK. For competitive skiers, there is a race calendar; sprints, hill climbs, time trials, skiathlon.
For me, the only victory was staying on my feet – feet that, after two hours, were screaming for me to stop. But although I found it challenging, I had to admit it had been great fun, great exercise – and a whole lot cheaper than a skiing holiday.
Street golf
Think you haven’t got the time or money to play golf? Think again. Ahead of the 2016 Olympics (where it is included for the first time since 1904), the sport is adapting to attract new players. Take “cross golf”, AKA urban or street golf, a fun, fast, flexible, no-frills version of the traditional game, with fewer rules. It’s played on city streets or in parks, with a special ball that doesn’t damage people or property; perfect for a built-up environment.
Community Golf, a not-for-profit company, take cross golf to schools, universities, offices and local groups around the UK. As they point out: “Rory McIlroy used to chip balls into his mum’s washing machine at the age of nine, proving fun, practice and skill development can happen anywhere.” Last year, 2,243 people had a go across 28 sites. In May, Community Golf and urban golf pioneers the Shoreditch Golf Club staged the inaugural UK Cross Golf Open at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
If the weather doesn’t lend itself to outdoor golf, there are also plenty of indoor golf golf clubs-cum-bars to practise your swing. At the Golf Lounge in Glasgow, you can play on 50 of the world’s greatest golf courses via giant simulators, eat a pulled pork burger and drink a mint julep. Urban Golf in London has three clubhouses (Soho, Smithfield and Kensington), 60 championship courses and lots of anti-rules. Sample: “Rule 35 – we operate a strict admissions policy. No stuck-up, snobby behaviour allowed on the premises. Just a damn good golfing time. For everyone.”
If even that sounds too traditional, urban crazy golf, such as Plonk, a pop-up course in a snooker club in Dalston, east London. XScape in Yorkshire hosts something known as 4D golf, the UK’s “first glow-in-the-dark cosmic adventure golf”, which is so whacky it operates in another dimension. It’s all a long way from St Andrews.
And the best of the rest …
Free running
Free running, or parkour, evolved from military obstacle courses, and the aim is to move through your environment in a more dynamic way – why walk down stairs when you can vault off the rail? There are now dedicated parkour parks popping up across the UK so you can practise your moves. parkouruk.org
Urban MTB
Take the road more travelled and experience the adrenaline highs of downhill mountain biking. As numerous YouTube videos show, some of the world’s best courses are on city streets. To find out whether there’s a track or an upcoming event in your area, visit the website britishcycling.org.uk
Wakeboarding
Mix waterskiing and surfing and what do you get? Spectacular wakeboarding. It’s not only confined to the coast; there are wake parks popping up in city docks where riders are towed by cable systems. The biggest UK competition takes place in Albert Dock, Liverpool, on 25 July. albertdock.com
Rat race
Scramble and slide your way through a 10k course where obstacles are supersized, from monkey bars and tyre runs to 50ft water slides. The next race takes place outside London’s Excel Centre on 25 July when you can splash through the Thames to victory. londonriverratrace.com
Pétanque
The gloriously onomatopoeic pétanque (a form of boules that is usually played on hard dirt) has been growing in popularity since it made its way across the Channel, and you can probably find a friendly tournament in a city square or pub garden near you. For details visit petanque.co.uk
Hashing
What better way to finish your run than with a pint? Better still, why not run to the pub? A hash is a cross-country run with a difference – you begin at a pub and usually end at a pub. There are plenty to choose from, including inner-city runs (fancy dress optional). For more see hhh.org.uk
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