Segway Polo
Encyclopedia
Segway polo is a team sport
which started to gain some measure of popularity after being played by members of the Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group
(Bay Area SEG) in 2004. The Bay Area SEG was not the first to play polo on a Segway HT; a team sponsored by Mobile Entertainment
played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
at a Minnesota Vikings
halftime show in 2003 although the Bay Area SEG members were not aware of this match at the time they first played the sport. Segway polo was developed as it is played today by the members of the Bay Area SEG and other groups and teams that have joined subsequently.
, except that instead of playing on horseback, each player rides a Segway PT
on the field. The rules have been adapted from bicycle polo and horse polo. Two teams of five players each hit a ball with their mallets, trying to get the ball into the other team's goal. The regulation field size is 200 feet (61 meters) by 128 feet (39 meters), and the goal is 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide by 5 feet (1.5 meters) high. A regulation match consists of four 8 minute quarters, known in polo as "chukkers." The ball can be struck with the mallet or any part of a player’s body or Segway but may only be directed using the mallet. A goal can not be scored off of any part of a player’s body or Segway unless it occurs accidentally.
Although not a major sport, Segway polo is gaining popularity and teams have begun forming in the United States
, Germany
, Sweden
, Austria
, Barbados
and New Zealand
among others. Some of these teams have started to compete against each other. The International Segway Polo Association (ISPA) has been established as the official governing body for Segway Polo.
The Segway Polo world championship
is the Woz Challenge Cup, which was established in 2006 when the Silicon Valley
Aftershocks played the New Zealand
Pole Blacks in Auckland, New Zealand. The result was a 2-2 tie.
In 2007, it was played in San Francisco, California, with the Aftershocks defeating the Pole Blacks 5-0.
The 2008 Woz Cup was played in Indianapolis
, coincident with Segwayfest 2008. The California Gold Rush defeated the Silicon Valley Aftershocks for the championship by a score of 3-2. The Funky-Move Turtles (Germany
) placed third and the Polo Bears (California
) placed fourth.
The 2009 Woz Cup was played in Cologne
, Germany. The Flyin' Fish from Barbados
took first place, beating the Silicon Valley Aftershocks 2-0. Steve Wozniak
co-founder of Apple Computers, was there to play and present the cup; Victor Miller
, who wrote the script for Friday the 13th, was also on the Aftershocks team. The Flyin' Fish have been playing Segway polo for only four months and dominated the other teams hailing from the United States, Germany and Austria.
The 2010 Woz Cup was played at the Lion Castle Polo Estate in Barbados
. Once again, the Barbados Flyin' Fish won, this time beating the Germany Blade Pirates 3-1. A total of eight teams participated, including two teams from Barbados, two teams from Germany, one team from Sweden and three teams from California.
The 2011 Woz Cup was hosted by the Folsom Breakout and played in Folsom
, California from June 16 to 19, 2011. There were a record 12 teams competing. The Germany Blade Pirates avenged their previous year's loss against the Flyin' Fish and beat them in the championship match by a score of 1-0.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
which started to gain some measure of popularity after being played by members of the Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group
Bay Area SEG
The Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group held its first meeting on September 20th, 2003 at the California FIRST Robotics Competition. The group was formed to increase knowledge and public acceptance of the Segway Human Transporter and to provide a resource to local owners and enthusiasts for...
(Bay Area SEG) in 2004. The Bay Area SEG was not the first to play polo on a Segway HT; a team sponsored by Mobile Entertainment
Mobile Entertainment
Mobile entertainment comprises a range of activities associated with mobile electronics. The list is constantly expanding.-Definition:According to Moore and Rutter, a primary difficulty when researching mobile entertainment is that of definition. It is not always apparent to consumers precisely...
played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...
at a Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
halftime show in 2003 although the Bay Area SEG members were not aware of this match at the time they first played the sport. Segway polo was developed as it is played today by the members of the Bay Area SEG and other groups and teams that have joined subsequently.
History
Segway polo is similar to horse poloPolo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
, except that instead of playing on horseback, each player rides a Segway PT
Segway PT
The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
on the field. The rules have been adapted from bicycle polo and horse polo. Two teams of five players each hit a ball with their mallets, trying to get the ball into the other team's goal. The regulation field size is 200 feet (61 meters) by 128 feet (39 meters), and the goal is 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide by 5 feet (1.5 meters) high. A regulation match consists of four 8 minute quarters, known in polo as "chukkers." The ball can be struck with the mallet or any part of a player’s body or Segway but may only be directed using the mallet. A goal can not be scored off of any part of a player’s body or Segway unless it occurs accidentally.
Although not a major sport, Segway polo is gaining popularity and teams have begun forming in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
among others. Some of these teams have started to compete against each other. The International Segway Polo Association (ISPA) has been established as the official governing body for Segway Polo.
The Segway Polo world championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
is the Woz Challenge Cup, which was established in 2006 when the Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
Aftershocks played the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Pole Blacks in Auckland, New Zealand. The result was a 2-2 tie.
In 2007, it was played in San Francisco, California, with the Aftershocks defeating the Pole Blacks 5-0.
The 2008 Woz Cup was played in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, coincident with Segwayfest 2008. The California Gold Rush defeated the Silicon Valley Aftershocks for the championship by a score of 3-2. The Funky-Move Turtles (Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) placed third and the Polo Bears (California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) placed fourth.
The 2009 Woz Cup was played in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany. The Flyin' Fish from Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
took first place, beating the Silicon Valley Aftershocks 2-0. Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
co-founder of Apple Computers, was there to play and present the cup; Victor Miller
Victor Miller
Victor Miller may refer to:* Victor A. Miller, Attorney General of Wisconsin* Victor J. Miller, Mayor of Saint Louis* Victor S. Miller, independent co-creator of elliptic curve cryptography* Victor Miller , television and film writer...
, who wrote the script for Friday the 13th, was also on the Aftershocks team. The Flyin' Fish have been playing Segway polo for only four months and dominated the other teams hailing from the United States, Germany and Austria.
The 2010 Woz Cup was played at the Lion Castle Polo Estate in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. Once again, the Barbados Flyin' Fish won, this time beating the Germany Blade Pirates 3-1. A total of eight teams participated, including two teams from Barbados, two teams from Germany, one team from Sweden and three teams from California.
The 2011 Woz Cup was hosted by the Folsom Breakout and played in Folsom
Folsom
- Places :* Folsom, Alabama* Folsom, California* Folsom, Louisiana* Folsom, New Jersey* Folsom, New Mexico* Folsom, Pennsylvania* Folsom, West Virginia- People :* Abby Folsom , American feminist and abolitionist...
, California from June 16 to 19, 2011. There were a record 12 teams competing. The Germany Blade Pirates avenged their previous year's loss against the Flyin' Fish and beat them in the championship match by a score of 1-0.
Venues
- 2006 —
New Zealand (AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
) - 2007 —
United States (CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) - 2008 — United States (IndianapolisIndianapolisIndianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
) - 2009 —
Germany (CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
) - 2010 —
Barbados (BridgetownBridgetownThe city of Bridgetown , metropolitan pop 96,578 , is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. Formerly, the Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the parish of Saint Michael...
) - 2011 — United States (Folsom, CaliforniaFolsom, CaliforniaFolsom is a city in Sacramento County, California, United States. Folsom is most commonly known for its famous Folsom Prison. The population was 72,203 at the 2010 census....
) - 2012 To be played —
Sweden (StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
)
Known polo teams
| Team | Place/Country | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aftershocks | Silicon Valley Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations... |
Original Segway polo players and creators of Woz Challenge Cup. Tied in first Woz Cup, 2006, and 2007 Woz Cup winner. |
| Junkyard Dogs | Oakland | |
| Folsom Breakout | California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
|
| Polar Bears | California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
|
| Pole Blacks | New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
Original challengers for newly created Woz Challenge Cup in 2006 |
| Segway Polo Club of Barbados | Barbados Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint... |
Club currently has two teams (see below) |
| Flyin' Fish | Barbados Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint... |
Woz Cup Winners 2009 and 2010 |
| Rum Runners | Barbados Barbados Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint... |
4th Woz Cup 2010 |
| Funky-Move Turtles | Germany | |
| Blade Pirates | Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
Woz Cup Winners 2011 |
| Swiss HT-Polo | Switzerland | |
| Austrian National Team | Austria | 4th Woz Cup 2009 |
| Stockholm Saints / Sweden National Team | Sweden | 5th Woz Cup 2010 |
| Hemer Butterflies | Germany | 5th Woz Cup 2009 |
- The first open European Polo Championship will be held 16-18 July 2010 in Hemer (Germany)
External links
- Segwaypolo Germany
- Segway Polo Club of Barbados
- Barbados Rum Runners
- Video of Segway Polo
- Bay Area SEG
- New Zealand Pole Blacks
- Hemer Butterflies
- International Segway Polo Association
- Swiss HT Polo Club
- Segway Polo at the Metrodome - September 28, 2003
- Sacramento SEG - California Gold Rush Team
- Segway of Oakland and the Junkyard Dogs Segway Polo Video
- http://www.segway-emotion.at