The Most Fun You Could Ever Have On A Trampoline

Take traditional dodgeball, add a trampoline floor, season with coeds and you get a killer time.

After attending a few laid back events on my first two weeks of joining the Events and Adventures social club, I decided to try something a bit more active: Extreme Air Park. Sounds like a show that would air on the Spike network, but it's actually this super cool trampoline gym out in Richmond - Think IKEA ballpit, but for adults.

Located behind Silvercity, the venue boasts 42,000 sq. feet of interconnected trampolines.It's basically two full gymnasiums divided into a handful of activity areas where you can bounce, flip, shoot and play. There is a huge patchwork tramp area, two dodgeball courts, a half pipe bounce run, a basketball center (dunking is optional for the vertically gifted) and a freestyle foam pit jump area, for practicing all those snowboard moves you always wished you could pull off on the slopes.

But of course, before any of that got underway, there was a long waiver to sign.

I met with the group in the lobby area where we filled out the necessary paperwork. I recognized one girl from the golf night, but the rest of the members were new to me. The host was Sharon. She was really excited about the event, which was cool.

The guy/girl ratio was even: four guys and four girls. There was another social group signing in, along with a kids birthday party.

We were given special socks to put on; apparently regular socks are not extreme enough. They had lockers for valuables, shoes and coats. Tip for those who choose this event in the future: Bring your own combination or pad lock. I took a gamble and left mine open, but it did have my wallet in it. Sometimes you just gotta trust people…

After changing and getting organized, we met up at one of the dodgeball courts. I watched for a few minutes, then took my first couple of bounces and waded in. If you remember my earlier post about the Lions hike, I sustained a pretty serious ankle injury in September, so I was a tentative about going full out. I had actually been a little worried all day about my ankle holding up, but it turns out it was fine.

We had the court to ourselves at first, which was nice for the group to get to know each other. After working out the rules - start with the balls in the middle, call go, race to center court, grab and retreat - we began playing.

The balls we used were those red rubber balls from gym class. These were perfect because they didn't hurt when you got hit, no matter who was throwing and they also provided a decent amount of velocity.

One of our members enjoyed the bouncing more than the throwing. Her infectious laugh had us all busting a gut at how much joy a simple trampoline pad can provide.

Our next stop was the foam pit. Again, I was tentative to dive in. I didn't know if my ankle could handle it. So I stood back and observed for a few minutes. Some of the kids there were doing some crazy aerials, with forward flips and lengthy swan dives. Even our host Sharon pulled off a flip.

I slowly started to build my courage and then the lights went out… Disco Tramp!

Perfect. With the house lights out and disco dots spinning across the floor, I saw my opportunity. Two bounces and I launched myself into the foam pit in a less than graceful forward plunge.

Lights back on. An even less graceful crawl out and I found I had lost my (ARIEL) sock to the foam demons. An over zealous Air Park employee informed me that I should not have been wearing my own socks beneath the aerial supersocks. Lesson learned. Fortunately, a group on the edge of the foam pit located another abandoned aerial foot cover. Problem solved.

Moving away nonchalantly, I checked out a few of the other areas, such as the basketball courts. This provided a little reminder of why I rode the bench in my senior year.

We finished our session back at the dodgeball court; Patches O'Houlihan would have been proud of our improved skills.

After retrieving our gear (yes, my wallet was still there), we agreed to meet up at the Big River Brew Pub for a post-game drink. The Canuck game was in the second period and my salmon sandwich was delicious; a nice pairing. This was also a good opportunity to talk with theother members without the fear of a red ball hitting you square in the face. We shared some laughs and some stories about home security and called it a night.

No love found, but by far the most fun I've had on a Thursday night in a long time.

Searching for Singles in Vancouver

November is here, and with it, another month as a single man in Vancouver. But things are going to change. I can feel it.

This week, I thought I would compile a list of some of the best places in Vancouver to meet single girls. To make this list, I consulted a number of my friends, scanned a few Internet sites and puled on my own experiences. Each setting is graded on conversation opportunities, repeat visits (the likelihood of seeing the same girl twice at the same location), smile factor, age appropriate (the average age of the women frequenting this location) and overall potential. So without further ado, here is our list of our top locations for meeting women in the city of Vancouver.

1.The Gym - Vancouver is full of them. I've found that the YMCA downtown on Burrard is one of the best places in the city to meet women. It also has a huge selection of services, including a brand new pool area. This may be shallow to say, but one of the best things about meeting a girl at the gym is you know she is committed to looking good.

Conversation: There are so many different conversation starters at the gym, from inquiring about equipment to talking about technique. One of the downsides is girls often have their headphones in.

On Repeat: The gym is an excellent location for seeing the same girl twice. We are creatures of habit and you can use this to your advantage. Chances are high you will see the same people at the gym when you come at the same time the following week. Bonus: Repeatability will keep you going back to the gym on a regular basis. Your body thanks you.

Smiles: The smile factor can be a bit low at the gym. Sometimes patrons are more focused on getting through the pain than flashing a smile.

Age: The average age depends on the gym and the immediate community.  Again, the YMCA on Burrard is a nice mix of young, thirties and middle aged.

Potential: Your chance of getting a phone number is high if you take it slow. Because of the repeatability, you can wait till the second or third meeting. Play it cool at first and see where it goes.

 2. The Gastown Scene - This is where the kids are heading. Full with tourists during the day, Gastown is home to the Vancouver single community at night. From the Lamplighter, to the Revel Room, to Chill Winston, to the Alibi Room, Gastown has a ton of nooks, dance floors and tasty plates. It's proximity to the Waterfront public transport hub means you can leave the car at home.

Conversation: The conversation is easier than the Granville Street scene, but you may have to brush up on your pop culture references.

On Repeat: The repeatability is a little lower when you are dealing with a loose connection of bars, clubs and restaurants. What does this mean for the single man out on the town: if you see the signs, go for it. You probably won't see her again.

Smiles: With alcohol in the mix, the chance for a random smile is higher than the gym. The only thing is, girls may also be more likely to have their defence prepped and ready.

Age: Like the YMCA, the age spectrum runs the gamut from just got their ID to late 40s.

Potential: Visit a number of different establishments in one night and your potential will dramatically increase. For guaranteed results, head to the Metropole.

3. The Grocery Store - It sounds silly, but the produce section is one of the best places to meet women. From Whole Foods, to IGA, to the most reasonably priced grocery store in the Lower Mainland, No Frills, the grocery store is the perfect venue for having an easy conversation with no preconceptions.

Conversation: Make your initial move in the produce department. Even if you came for a frozen pizza, spend some time with the broccoli. That's a metaphor for life right there. If you start a conversation early, you can make it a cute reoccurring thing when you bump into each other again in a different aisle.

On Repeat: The repeatability is crazy high. Everyone needs to eat. If you start to flirt with a girl, remember the time of day. She probably just got off work. Note to self: This is when she shops. 

Smiles: If you're smiling, they will mirror your expression back. Unless they are having a terrible day, a good sign not to approach. Leave them with their tub of ice cream and back away while resisting eye contact.

Age: If they're old enough to buy their own milk, they are probably within range. If they're young enough to not need car service, they are probably also within range.

Potential: Keep your head up, notice the signs, wear a smile and you are bound to meet someone at the grocery store. It may take a few meetings to work towards a number, but if nothing else, your stomach will keep you going back.

To be continued…

Swing Away

I went with jeans…

The traffic was brutal on Tuesday night, all over the city. I got to the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course at five to seven and met with Angela and two members in the pro shop. A few others weren't so lucky with the commute; they showed up sporadically over the next fifteen minutes. But… it turns out this was a blessing.

Instead of starting at seven, we waited till seven thirty and received twenty-five extra balls. In fact, the bucket of balls cost less than six dollars. And, I forgot my clubs and the pro shop lent me clubs for free. Win, win, win.

Once everyone arrived, Angela made sure we were all introduced. Each of the members was new to me, but they were all super friendly and excited to swing away.

One of the ladies was golfing for the first time, so Angela and a few of the other members gave us all a basic lesson on club order, how to grip and the key points to having a consistent swing. I was sort of glad there were a few novices amongst us, as my own swing is far from tour quality.

After the mini lesson, we made our way to the driving range and found our reserved stalls upstairs. It was a gorgeous night - a bit brisk, but clear. The stalls were heated, but I was still glad I went with jeans.

The facility itself is brand new and state-of-the-art. With our own private section, we were able to socializefreely.

Like I said, we setup upstairs, so we were already positioned for success. I had a low iron and a monster driver. I started with the iron and had small spurts of success, but when I switched to the driver, I developed a mean slice. I tried to adjust, but my balls continued to veer to the right.  I laughed about it with the other members, who all seemed to be struggling with either direction or power issues. Golf is like that. No matter how good you are, there is always something pulling at your game. And that's what makes it fun. If we could all hit it two hundred and fifty yards straight down the middle of the fairway, what would be the point?

When our baskets were empty, we made our way back to the pro shop, returned our clubs and made plans for a quick bite to eat. Unfortunately, the Eagle Creek bar was closed, so we scooted down the road to 'Hop and Vine'. It was nice to sit down and have individual conversations with a number of my fellow golfers. We talked about upcoming events, the Halloween party and our plans for November. Tacos were on special and the beer list was extensive - a nice end to the evening.

Stress Relief

Well, it’s week two of my membership with the social club, Events and Adventures. I thought I’d write a little bit about my character and why ‘group dating’ seems like a natural fit.

I'm a nervous person; that's my personal omission of the week. Because of this, dating can be a huge source of anxiety.

I get nervous about what I'm going to talk about on the date, what I'll wear to the date and where we'll go on the date. I stress about it for days leading up to the first meeting. My work suffers and my hours asleep are shortened. It's as if my whole body stiffens with nervous anticipation. When the day finally comes, my face and body are visual evidence of my anxiety.

That's why I think the Events and Adventures club will work out for me. When I signup for an event, I simply add my name to a growing list of people who are interested in a specific activity. I don't have to research for days, trying to find a reputable rental company or a modern tapas bar. They've done that for me. All I need to do is choose what events I'd like to attend from the calendar.

There is suggested attire and directions. There is no back-and-forth texting trying to find an appropriate time; No volleying of date ideas; No confusion about location. The hard work is already done for you.

It makes the dating process super easy and lowers the level of anxiety. When I arrive, I know that the people who are at the event are all interested in having fun. They've chosen the same activity because they enjoy it and it works with their schedule.

With the pressure removed, I can relax and show more of my true self. I can settle into the activity, while chatting with the other members. I don’t have to worry about impressing anyone or managing the chosen event.

I’ve read that attractiveness is tightly tied to confidence. I am at my most confident when I’m enjoying myself. Events and Adventures allows me the opportunity to look more desirable while having fun. Even if I don’t meet someone at every event, I still get to get out and enjoy an active, social lifestyle.

My next event is the driving range. My only source of stress: choosing between gym shorts, tear-away pants or jeans.

Fried Green Bananas

My first official event was a casual dinner party at the original Banana Leaf on Broadway. I chose this event because I knew the restaurant, the area and it fit into my comfort zone. I wanted to start with something where I already had a familiarity.

I arrived a little early and met with our host, who made me feel instantly at ease. She was easy to talk to, even for an introvert like me, and all smiles. She introduced me to each member, as they arrived, which was nice.

One of the first things I noticed was the ratio of woman to men swung in favour of the gentlemen;  Of the twelve members that attended, seven were women and five were men. I guessed that around a third of the members were also within five years of my age.

I'm not an overly chatty person and I tend not to go up to random people in bars or clubs and start conversations, so I was a little worried it would be difficult to engage - Not the case. 

Other members started most conversations. That was really cool. Everyone there was super friendly and interested in having a good time.

The food was served 'family style' and each dish was passed around the table. I liked this approach. It wasn't like we each picked our own dish and waited for it to arrive. We were sharing - not only the food, but our opinions on each dish.

The crab course afforded the most entertainment. I worked at my claw for about five minutes using the crabbing tools provided. My yield was low, so I eventually abandoned them and went with my hands. I was relieved to see that other members had already adopted this method. By the end of the crab round, at least five people in our party were now wearing part of the meal - six if you include me.

I definitely noticed that out of all the tables in the restaurant, ours laughed the most. I thought that said a lot…

By the time we paid our bills, I had had conversations with four different girls, devoured what seemed like a 12 course meal and had chosen my next event.