No horses, no problem. Say hello to polo on bikes

What do you get when you combine hockey, horse polo, cycling and soccer?

The answer is a bit of a surprise: bike polo.

It's a game that draws inspiration from a variety of sports but stands out thanks to its star player — the humble bike.

"[The] essence of bike polo is kind of work with what you have: an outdoor rink, a concrete pad, big net, small nets, old bike, new bike," said Alexander Dakers, a player with Calgary Bike Polo, a club that focuses on bringing together enthusiasts in the city. 

According to Dakers, a player doesn't need to own a specialized bike to participate. An "old school and bare-bones bike" works just as well as a more customized one. The important thing is to be a team player who's enthusiastic about the sport.

Calgary Bike Polo, which was officially founded in 2004, is an inclusive group that is open to anyone interested in playing the game, regardless of experience, age, background and gender.

"It definitely is like kind of a learning curve. But as long as you're just, like, down to have a good time with us … we're [a] very supportive club," said member Jessica Arndt. 

"We're ready to lend you our bikes or mallets or, like, show you what you need to do, tell you the rules, explain things specifically."

Arndt believes that mastering the art of maintaining a fine balance plays an important role in the sport. Another skill that needs some practice is learning how to handle the ball while riding a bike during a fast-paced game.

A typical match begins with a "joust" with the ball in the middle of a tennis court or outdoor hockey rink. A player from each team attempts to get the ball and pass it to a teammate, who tries to score a goal.

"You're basically working with your team rotating around, no dedicated goalie, no dedicated attacker, and you're passing the ball, trying to get it in the net," said Dakers.

A bike polo team generally has three to six players, depending on the format of the game. A match with a smaller team doesn't last beyond 15 minutes, while bigger teams may play for as long as 40 minutes.

The one major rule that all players must follow, says Dakers, is they cannot put their feet down. If they do, they "have to cycle out a play and go typically touch the centre of the rink on the boards" before returning to the game.

Hardcourt bike polo has interesting origins, according to Dakers. He said bike messengers were responsible for drawing attention to the game because they needed "something to do" in their free time. 

"It started in big cities around the world.… Between shipments, you know, you'd have a mallet, you'd have your bike and you'd have a ball and then you'd go find a tennis court or an outdoor rink," he said.

'I just fell in love with the sport'

Coincidentally, this origin story shares similarities with Arndt's own experience. Arndt, who began playing in 2015, started as a bike messenger and was introduced to the game by another bike courier. 

"At first, I was the only female player for, like, the first six years," Arndt said. "It's been great. I just fell in love with the sport, I guess."

These days, Arndt has company, thanks to other female players who've moved to Calgary from different parts of the country and joined the local club. 

She's also had a chance to interact with other players at international events. 

Her first memorable experience was a tournament in the United States, where she met like-minded athletes.

"Seeing other women play was definitely inspiring, like knowing that I could be as strong as my teammates are," Arndt said.

Both Dakers and Arndt love how supportive the bike polo community is. They reckon that no matter where you go, you're likely to find a welcoming group if you say you're interested in playing the game.

"I love that I can just travel to new cities and there will almost always be a polo club there and they will, like, take you in and, like, show you all the cool spots," Arndt said.

Dakers believes that if you're interested in cycling, you're likely to enjoy yourself if you participate in a game or two. 

"I bet so many more people would enjoy it if they came out [to play]," he said. "If you like to ride bikes, this is something for you to try. It's an entirely new way to engage with the bike that will get you hooked."