Best of 2008: Sports

 

Seattle Thunderbirds

(Kent Events Center, Kent, 525 Fourth Ave. N; 206.448.PUCK [7825])

Since the Sonics packed their bags, the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team gave folks a whole new reason to visit KeyArena this year, having held their first eight games of the 2008–2009 season at the Sonics’ former home. The team has since moved to its permanent home at the new Kent Events Center (which isn’t as bad of a drive as you think). Swing by to cheer for the home team at this fast-paced, loud, fan-fueled game for just $16–$22 a ticket—and if you’re lucky, there’ll be a good fight or two on the ice.

 

Wish you could revisit P.E.

now that you’re no longer the shrimpiest kid in school? You can with Seattle Street DodgeBall games on Tuesday and Friday nights (at the Yesler Community Center and Miller Community Center, respectively). Same rules apply as when you were a kid—get hit with the ball, you’re out—except now you can have a beer afterward to alleviate the sting.

 

This combo of badminton, tennis, table tennis, and a soupçon of cricket was created in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, William Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island. (And it was actually named for a Bainbridge neighborhood dog named Pickles, who’d chase after errant balls.) It’s now got official rules, tournaments and reigning champs take it all very seriously. Pickleball reached critical mass in its growing popularity this year (you may have caught a segment devoted to it on Good Morning, America in July), and it all started here, folks.

 

(206.612.0623)

A renowned personal trainer, both on her own and through Ballard’s GamePlan Fitness, Chris Kirchoff was one of the first local trainers to jump into Adventure Boot Camp, held in Ballard and Magnolia, roughly two years ago—and she’s gained a reputation as the best. A growing legion of devotees and newer “recruits” are increasingly signing up with gusto. Why? Because Kirchoff is knowledgeable, flexible, she’s incredibly motivating and allows just enough laughs to get even the laggards over the finish line.

 

(International District, 409 Seventh Ave. S; 206.340.1049)

When our beloved Storm play out of town, forget running from bar to bar to see who’s got the game on TV. Cheer the hoopstresses on in the comfort of the Theatre Off Jackson. The intimate I.D. space dims the lights and projects the game onto a big screen in the theater.

 

Seattle’s Bike Polo Brigade is a motley but devoted crew. The loose affiliation of men and women play every night of the week at locations all over Capitol Hill, including T.T. Minor Elementary and Cal Anderson Park. Using makeshift mallets and beaten-down bikes, the players engage in fierce bouts that (finally!) answer the question: What would the spawn of Ralph Lauren and Mad Max look like?