Fun Ways to Get Fit in Hong Kong

Play Ski+Snowboard and Play Baseball+Softball

Play was founded in May last year by Dr. Robert TK Ho, a neurologist who wanted to encourage sports among Hong Kong youth. Play offers facilities for sports that are not native to Hong Kong, namely snowboarding, skiing, baseball and softball. It has two fully automated ski slope simulators, each with a total surface of 500 square feet. The gradients on these are adjustable, and there is also a stationery slope for kids and beginners. For baseball enthusiasts, There are two multi-speed, full-length baseball batting cages, including one lane with a unique virtual pitcher that serves balls at speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour. For beginners, they have one toss ball cage. Freshen up afterwards at the Play Café, which is run in conjunction with the Zambra Café in Wan Chai.
1&2/F Kras Asia Industrial Building, 79 Hung To Rd., Kwun Tong, 2797-9323 (for Play Ski) & 2342-9830 (for Play Baseball), www.321play.com.hk.

da Verm Indoor Climbing Gym

This gym may be a baby (it’s only five months old!), but it’s gaining popularity as the largest and tallest indoor climbing gym in the city. With a peak that’s seven meters tall, it features something for every kind of climber—top roping, leading and bouldering facilities included. They’re very welcoming of beginners, and even teach courses to help improve your balance, coordination and climbing skills. Once you’ve got your basics down pat, step up your game by climbing their harder routes. They recently hired duo Tonde Katiyo and Florian Escoffier (of renowned French route-setting company L’Ouvre-Boite) to set more challenges for intermediate climbers. Hands all rough? Da Verm stocks the Climb On line of products, which promises to soothe callused hands/feet/knees and wherever else you might want to slather it on.
419G Queen’s Rd. West, Sai Ying Pun, 2803-0567.

Related Article: Working Out in Hong Kong

Hash House Harriers

Love to run? Love to drink? Put your passions together by joining the Hash House Harriers, a “drinking club with a running problem,” so say the founders. Hashing began almost three-quarters of a century ago, in Kuala Lumpur, when a group of British colonial officers came up with the activity. Hashing involves following a trail laid by a “hare.” Runners follow the trail—which is usually in a picturesque part of the city—and then once the race is complete, partake in a delicious diet-wrecking meal. There are 12 clubs that run all over Hong Kong, with frequencies ranging from weekly, monthly and annual runs. There is also a special run that takes place only when the typhoon 8 signal is up. Visitors are welcome to join, but you have to pay a fee (each club has a different amount), to cover expenses.
To find a club near you, visit http://home.netvigator.com/~hasher/

HK Ultimate Players Association

Ultimate Frisbee has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Originally played with empty pie molds, the sport now boasts of groups all around the world with thousands of members. Hong Kong’s association, the HKUPA has around 150 members. They meet weekly in locations on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and beginners are welcome to just turn up and play. There are many different types of Ultimate Frisbee game, but all are played with sevem team members on each side. Players pride themselves on not having to play with a referee, as they are self-regulatory. If you’re really good, you’ll be able to join the national team, which travels to different parts of Asia for the sole purpose of playing Ultimate. Expect a laidback yet sporty environment with tons of cool people.
For more details, visit www.hkupa.com or email [email protected].