News>Feature - Air Commando takes polo to the street
Photos
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alexander Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron mission co-pilot, poses in bike polo gear at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 1, 2012. Pappalardo is a member of a bike polo team that meets off-base to practice and compete recreationally. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alex Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron, mixes up polo clubs to determine teams in Clovis, N.M., July 31, 2012. Pappalardo and several friends get together regularly to participate in bicycle polo recreationally. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
Matthew Loewen, town local, collects polo clubs after re-designating teams for the next match in Clovis, N.M., July 31, 2012. U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alex Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron, and several friends get together regularly to participate in bicycle polo recreationally. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alex Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron, and Matthew Loewen, town local, attempt to maintain the game ball during the first round of the match in Clovis, N.M., July 31, 2012. Pappalardo and several friends get together regularly to participate in bicycle polo recreationally. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
Matthew Loewen, town local, lines his bike up behind his team goal-line in Clovis, N.M., July 31, 2012. U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alex Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron, and several friends get together regularly to participate in bicycle polo recreationally. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal)
U.S Air Force 1st Lt. Alexander Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron mission co-pilot, poses on his bicycle at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Aug. 1, 2012. Pappalardo is a member of the Clovis, N.M. bike polo club. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Eboni Reece)
by Senior Airman Whitney Tucker
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
8/2/2012 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- On "one, two, three, polo!" the sound of dormant gears churning to life announces the sprint for the first possession of the game. Moments later, a sharp crack erupts as metal collides with metal and two members of New Mexico's Clovis Bike Polo Club meet cold, hard concrete.
Maintaining the premise of old world polo and infusing it with youth, modern day convenience and the occasional crash, bicycle polo is just what its name suggests.
"Bike polo is almost exactly the same as polo played on horses," said 1st Lt. Alex Pappalardo, 524th Special Operations Squadron mission co-pilot. "The only real difference is we ride bikes. There's still mallet swinging, ball hitting and goal scoring."
From a gaggle of pedals, tennis shoes and mallets, the elusive ball emerges followed immediately by four eager players jockeying for position. Struck with expert precision, the ball speeds across the hardtop and finds its target between two carefully placed orange cones signaling the first goal of the match.
Formerly teammates in a greener arena, Pappalardo and fellow bike polo enthusiasts Matthew Loewen and Andrew and Steven Schaap met while playing for a Clovis soccer team. After inspiration struck in the form of a YouTube video, the group got to work scouting practice locations and forging mallets from old ski poles and high pressure tubing.
"We're all new to the sport," Pappalardo said. "We practice Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the parking lot of Central Baptist Church and we highly encourage new arrivals. We hope to get as many people out here as we can. It's a really informal setting, just people trying something new and having a good time. All you need is a bike."
As day gives way to night, Pappalardo stands in the center of the blacktop shuffling mallets behind his back to determine teams for the next match. As two fall on either side of the white line that divides the court in half, the men mount their bikes and prepare for play. The winner of the previous game can only be guessed at and it's clear the object of this gathering is pure, unadulterated fun.
Comments
8/13/2012 9:22:59 PM ET You are my new hero Poppy. Far surpassing my former hero Christopher Columbus. You are charting new territories and discovering new sports Go Pro
Matt mcc, Minneapolis
8/13/2012 11:03:06 AM ET No winners and losers It's time to keep score Pappalardo. I expect greatness and greatness is only achieved by winning. Is the ABU t-shirt the official uniform of bike poloGreat article though. Makes it sound pretty epic
Chunk, LA
8/13/2012 7:28:23 AM ET Looks like good clean fun after a rough day of flying secret missions.
