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Bike polo subculture in Columbia continues togrow through COMOPOLO

Thursday, June 30, 2011 | 10:53 p.m. CDT; updated 6:52 p.m. CDT, Monday, August 1, 2011

COMOPOLO members Charlie Hill, left, Keaton Haire, center, and Aaron Arinder play in a match Wednesday

at Cosmopolitan Park. ¦ ANDREW FEILER/Missourian

BY Alex M. Silverman

COLUMBIA — When Tim Donahoe was growing up, he considered himself to be a part of what he called the

“punk rock and hardcore scene.” Years later, he is part of a new subculture: bike polo.

“You go to these tournaments and you’re fighting tooth and nail against these guys on the court. Off the court,

you’re best friends. You go out drinking with them and hang out and get into all kinds of shenanigans in whatever

city you’re in.”

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more attentive members of the group provide commentary on the action.

A midcourt collision that sent two players to the concrete garnered a collective “Ooooh” from the spectators.

“Wipeouts” and “spills” are a regular part of bike polo, which Charlie Hill, who had a scar below his bottom lip,

said he considers a contact sport.

“It’s definitely dangerous,” Hill said. “But this lip is probably the worst injury I’ve had. A guy hit me with a mallet

and my tooth went right through it (the lip). Actually, I also cracked a rib, and I kind of have some chronic

shoulder pain.”

Despite the risks, Losciale said aggression is an important part of the game, and toughness is part of the sport’s

culture.

“I think it’s meant to be played physically,” he said. “You’re supposed to get in people’s faces. A lot of people

hop on the court and don’t get that. I’m still learning it, everyone is.”

When asked about the physicality of the game, several players recalled an incident from a pickup game a few

weeks ago where a player’s chain snapped and he went flying over his handlebars. He fractured his wrist and a

few days later, he posted a graphic picture of the injury online for the whole club to see.

“GOOD JOB VINCE, SUPER EPIC INJURY. Way to outdo my mad dog 20/20 thumb dislocation,” a user 

named “BoozeKruse” posted about the photo.

Hill said the bike polo community in Columbia has come a long way in the past few years.

“We went from six people riding commuting bikes to 15 people with polo bikes," Hill said. "They're dropping

money on bikes just for polo, as well as competing and becoming really good at it and into it.”

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