Octopush is like hockey - only you play it
underwater. Simon Fry takes a dive. try this LEISURE
For puck's sake
Octopush is like hockey - only you play it
underwater. Simon Fry takes a dive.
It's Wednesday evening and I'm at Speedwell Baths to try my hand at octopush, a sport best described as underwater hockey. There I meet Bristol Octopush Club member Kiran Brown who kits me out with snorkel, mask, fins, headguard and glove, as well as the foot-long pusher, which resembles something an Inuit might have once carved out of a jawbone.
Jumping into the pool, Kiran drops the puck to the bottom, and looking through my mask I see the technique required to propel it, hopefully in a team-mate's direction.
Tonight's game will be between two mixed teams of six. I am tonight's only rookie, but there's an open invitation for new members to drop in any time, and I am made very welcome. Kiran assigns Nath Sharp, a player of ten years' experience, to look after me as Kiran heads off to join the opposition.
All players line up at their respective ends, a whistle is blown and there's a speedy swim towards the middle. Nath points out formations aren't dissimilar to those found in hockey or football, and I take my place roughly at left back.
It's not long before the opposition are attacking, and the puck heads in my direction. Gripping my stick and taking a big breath, I dive to the bottom, reaching the puck before anyone else. While I am not sure I deploy the smooth, sweeping stroke Kiran had shown me, I am glad to see it go forward a bit. The game is only a minute or so old and my confidence is boosted by an assured first touch.
Equally as quickly, play moves down pool (I am grateful to have, quite literally, not been thrown in at the deep end) and I see the puck hit the metal goal as our side takes an early lead. I am amazed at how fast the game moves -it's a bit like watching the Little Mermaid and friends play ice hockey on a severely melted rink. Already I am picking up an understanding of the sport's excitement and appeal. It's excellent exercise and there's a terrific spirit of camaraderie.
What I am not picking up as quickly is mastery of the snorkel. I have not worn one before, and as the match pans out I realise someone with even an hour's experience of using one would be better placed to get fully involved. The situation is not improved by my usually playing football at this time on a Wednesday, so my default is to place myself out on the periphery, hoping for a searching pass, which can't apply in this water-based sport.
Still, I get another touch shortly and two more memorable moments occur. A woman on the other side says she saw me touch the puck, and it's possible she's not just being nice. Also, as the opposition break, the bloke on the puck thinks about passing to me, he sees my white stick, and decides against it. I have made a difference, if only by default.
My first go at octopush has been a lot of fun. Maybe I'll come back soon after I have got to grips with the breathing technique. Someone with familiarity of fins, mask and snorkel would take to it even more readily than me.
BRISTOL OCTOPUSH CLUB TEL: (01454) 852395
p38 8 – 17 October 37 BRISTOL & BATH’S MAGAZINE VENUE
Reproduced by kind permission of Venue Magazine. Picture by Marsha Tufft West Chester Ohio USA