I know this post seems a little strange but here goes. I'm looking for places to play hockey in Madrid. I'd love to be able to play while I'm there. I see a lot of posts about inline skating and I thought maybe there were some hockey aficionados here. If anyone is interested I've actually spoken to someone on msn messenger who I met on a hockey in Madrid forum. There is a roller league in Madrid and he invited me to come and play when I get there. Just wondering if anyone had some firsthand information.
Cheers,
Mike
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
Are you crazy!!! Who would want to strap on skates and go around and smash up other people and get smashed up while chasing a little disk with a funny stick?
Just kidding. I like hockey, don't know the game well, but my brother is a raving Predators fan.
I don't know anything about getting hooked up with a league or even playing casually in Madrid, but the roller variety should exist there.
Actually, I am looking myself to find out any information about playing basketball. So maybe some of us could use any info about playing any of our North-American sports in a league or casually. Any ideas, anyone?
"I move in a landscape where revolution and love speak overwhelming words" Ren� Char<br /><br />"Using a stone for a pillow, I drift toward the clouds" Santoka Taneda
Posts: 124 | Location: san francisco, usa | Registered: 23 August 2002
There are a lot of polideportivos around Madrid. I wonder if maybe all the people from the board would be able to get together and form a team. I know it would be difficult to arrange but maybe we could join a league, basketball, hockey or otherwise.
Mike
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
I'll be back in August and raring to go for the fall. Let's see if other mm'ers want to join up:
Hoops, Hockey, Water Polo anyone?
ok, not Water Polo.
Shakes the Bone
"I move in a landscape where revolution and love speak overwhelming words" Ren� Char<br /><br />"Using a stone for a pillow, I drift toward the clouds" Santoka Taneda
Posts: 124 | Location: san francisco, usa | Registered: 23 August 2002
Mike, if you can get a league or just games together for roller hockey, LET ME KNOW. I would love to play, even if you are just going to play with those guys that you met on the hockey in Madrid forum.
Can you please post the URL to that forum?
I used to play roller hockey all the time in New York and I do miss it a lot.
FYI: Not to get too far off the hockey topic but we are starting up some Volleyball Sundays at the Retiro, all welcome --> SEE THE THREAD HERE (first games this Sunday )
I had another webpage for this roller league but I can't find it. I posted a message on the forum and this guy answered me back. He even wrote me an e-mail and gave me his MSN messenger name. We chatted for a while and from what I gather there are leagues throughout Spain in the major cities. There is a league in Madrid with about 6 or 7 teams. The finish their season and the winner moves on to another league with the winners of each city league.
I've been to Madrid a gazillion times and have always looked for places to play. Granted you could usurp one of the hard-court soccer fields and use that (like i do in NY) but he told me that they play in a polideportivo. Apparently, the rink is almost theirs and they are like the only team that practices there. He even gave me his cell # and invited me to come down and play when I arrive. I played ice in college and play roller a lot so I'd love to be able to play organized games. I'll be bringing my stuff with me so Jer, if you want to meet up and play let me know.
Mike.
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
WOW! That guy really went out of his way to contact you. Sounds like they may need players badly. Maybe he also thinks that since you are American, you were born with a hockey stick in your hand
I would love to go down there with ya and at least observe the first time.
I would need to get new equipment though.
I have some OLD roller-hockey skates here but I think I need new ones.
Ok, do ya think they will let me play (or laugh) when they see I have normal skates and not inline ones??? Seriously!!! I never learned how to blade and always played with my normal roller-hockey skates.
I think a LOT of players still play with quads. I was looking on some pages and in the pictures the players had quads. Maybe it's a european thing, haha. Seriously though, I don't think they will laugh becuase if you can play then it doesn't matter. BTW, I was asking him about the skill level around the league and he said that some teams have players that can't skate so I wouldn't worry. I played ice in college in NY then busted my knee so now I just play recreational roller. I have a whole bag of goalie equipment but no player stuff. There is a store in Madrid that I've been to but I have to remember the location. I know it's a longshot but I bought my blades at The SPorts Authority, a chain here in the US. They are Bauer's and cost me about 60$. You could buy them online and maybe ship them? Till then you should buy some electric tape and practice your shot! Queens style haha
Adios
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
Most players there will be Spanish, so as your friend has reported, maybe the level is not too high.
Maybe you and I will even be the ALL STARS :jeje:
Never played Ice, probably cause I am a spazz on ice skates but I used to be pretty good on quads (played defense mostly). Should come right back to me in no time.
I would still like to observe the first time out just in case.
My quads (had no idea they were called that) are very old and are "Micron" brand but good ones. I will probably buy new ones here as it is not something I can see buying online (hockey skates need a perfect fit).
The store you may be thinking of is "Decathlon" ( www.decathlon.es), a new sports superstore with EVERYTHING (even baseball equipment ). Got my Volleyball set there last weekend
We can go in my car one day when you arrive and scout it out.
Actually the store I visited was a Pro-Shop of sorts. It just had hockey stuff. It was near an entrance to the Retiro. I have to ask my girlfriend if she remembers. Let me know if you want gloves or something that I can pickup in NY cheap. I wasn't a player on ice. I played goalie for Fordham Univ. Since you're from NY maybe u heard of the school. Ha! I thought about being the all stars or something. I think it's safe to say that the level here will be higher than in Madrid. Who knows maybe we can be in the papers. haha. By the way, where is that Decathalon store?
Mike
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
Hey Mike, yes! I bought Ena and myself gloves at Sports Authority on a trip to NY a few years ago to see the fam./friends and when I was at Decathlon the other day, she pointed out a few gloves. Not a big selection but they at least had stuff.
As for playing baseball/softball here, been working on it for a WHILE. See the thread "Baseball/Softball in Madrid" I even have a running ad in InMadrid asking for players to get games together. So far I have about 15 people in my Outlook "Baseball/Softball" folder
Hardest thing has been finding good places to play.
We toss the ball around at a few multimadrid BarBQs but have not yet gotten anything serious going.
There are a few Decathlon stores here but they are all outside of the city. See the bottom of the page at www.decathlon.es/es/magasin/magasin.asp for the Madrid locations.
Saludos, jer...
p.d. Never would have guessed you went to FordhamMike
Maybe you thought I had an obsession with Jesuits. I just had to clear it up! I didn't know that Decathlon was here in the states. There is another chain called The Sports Authority. www.SportsAuthority.com It's pretty much the same thing. I'd love to play baseball when I'm there. You're right though, it would be difficult to find places to play in. Would make makeshift bases and use those I guess. With hard research I bet we could find a league of some sorts. After all I found a roller hockey league. Lemme do some googling and I'll let you know.
"He who hath not a dram of folly in his mixture, hath pounds of much worse matter in his composition".
Posts: 334 | Location: New York, USA | Registered: 06 June 2003
That is better for you than oggling which always seems to get me in trouble :jeje:
Yes, while I have only been to Decathlon here in Madrid, it is a French chain and the US website is at www.decathlon-usa.com (seems they are only in New England).
I know the Sports Authority well, remember, I also grew up in NY
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