Some sports have been going for hundreds of years. Others are only just getting started. In the last couple decades, a few relatively new sports have exploded. Below are just 7 examples of these new fast-growing sports.
Pickleball
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the US. It is a hybrid of ping pong and badminton – players use paddles to hit a plastic ball back and forth over a net across a court. Pickleball paddles are similar to ping pong paddles, but are slightly heavier and often made from more durable materials (such as these professional pickleball paddles). The ‘pickleball’ itself is hollow and perforated. Meanwhile the pickleball court is similar to a badminton court, but with a lower net. Started by a family in the 60s in Washington, the sport remains popular among all ages – it is regarded as being more friendly on the joints than games like tennis while also being less technical with a much more straightforward point system. You’ll find many courts across the US.
Paddleboarding
While paddleboarding can be traced back to Polynesians as early as the 1700s, it has only become popular as a sport in recent decades. Paddleboarding involves kneeling or standing on a large board which is steered with a paddle. For many people, paddleboarding is a recreational adventure activity. However, it does have a dedicated sporting side that involves racing other participants. You can try paddleboarding in a lake, on a canal or in the sea. There are dedicated places where you can hire a paddleboard and even paddleboard schools, however some people prefer to buy their own equipment and teach themselves.
MMA
MMA stands for ‘mixed martial arts’. While hybrid martial arts have existed for a long time, it was the founding of the UFC in 1993 that would turn MMA into its own official sport. The sport has since spawned global superstars such as Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov and is attracting an increasing number of participants each year. Just how do you get into MMA? Signing up to an MMA training gym is one way to do it. Other people start by trying out individual sports like wrestling, boxing or martial arts first.
Airsoft
Airsoft is a team-based combat sport using airsoft guns that fire BB pellets. It is similar to paintball, but typically attracts more ‘serious’ players. Games put more emphasis on strategy and realism, although tend to be played in many of the same arenas. Over the last couple decades, airsoft has grown to a point that it now rivals paintball. There are many arenas where you can rent guns and protective equipment. Alternatively, you can buy your own gear. You’ll find many airsoft stores online that sell all kinds of replicas of real firearms.
Indoor skydiving
This sport offers the sensation of skydiving without having to actually jump out of a plane. Instead, you enter a vertical wind tunnel, which allows you to float as if you are falling. Many people try it as an experience, but there is a sport aspect to it – participants can eventually learn tricks and compete in championships. The number of indoor skydiving centers is growing every year. Book your first session to try it.
Drone racing
One of the most modern sports on this list is drone racing. As the name suggests, it involves racing drones around a specially designed track. How does one get into drone racing? As you can imagine, you need to be able to fly a drone, however it needs to also be a high quality fast drone. Some participants buy specialist drones while others build their own – providing an engineering aspect to it. Drones must meet certain legal standards of course to compete, so you cannot just enter any drone. Many drone racers do the majority of their training on a simulator. Drone racing schools and downloadable simulators can teach you the ropes.
eSports
Finally, it’s important to include eSports, which may well be the fastest-growing new sport on this list. If you love video games and tend to come on top of the leaderboards, you may want to consider getting into eSports. This involves training for video game tournaments against some of the most adept players in the world. Tournaments are generally based around a specific game and game mode. Some tournaments may involve assembling a team. Your best bet is to start off entering local tournaments and build up from here (but be warned – even local tournaments can be quite tough).
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