rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I'm 49 years old, have crap eyes and moderate health. (Crohn's disease) Though I am reasonably fit and have plenty of discretionary time and funds. Before I got sucked into competitive shooting in the course of my life I had really been into tennis (3.0), mountain biking (worked for Trek and won Super D races), motorcycles (tons of track days),trail running (sub 21 minute 5k off road), rock climbing (leading 5.10c both sport and trad) and brazilian jiu jitsu (purple belt at Atos with medals in the pan ams). Participating in all of them to a high degree of competency. I like doing stuff. Looking at this list I seem to be drawn to individual things, outside things, physical things and stuff with a moderate gear requirement. And if you wanted, which I always do, a competitive side to participate in. Now 8 years on in shooting sports I really wish I could find something to replace it in my life. But I don't want to go back and re-do any of my old hobbies. I'm having great difficulty in thinking of something that: Is available to do where I live in San Antiono NOT on a Sunday That I haven't done before Is physical in some way Isn't a team sport Doesn't have onerous gear requirements Has both a recreational and competitive side I really can't think of anything, but I know I want to consider other options. I thought about kart racing as there is a track near by, a nice scene in Texas but it seems really impractical/low value to the rest of my life. I really do not want to do over something I've done before. And just to make sure I checked out the climbing gyms, bjj schools, tennis clubs and biking stuff here. None of them drew me in again. Don't take it personal if you reply and my reply is reasons why it won't work hahahah. But I have a block on discovering something new that fits my criteria. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Bowling.. it’s all you. kart racing you talk about money, it’s like a hole in your back yard that you try to fill with $100.00 dollar bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Or this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I've been where you are. Already passed the motor sports phase in my life though. Still play with karts on occasion for nostalgic reasons. Not sure about you but my reasons for looking outside of shooting sports are partly just regular old burnout, but also a desire to have a hobby thats existence isn't directly tied to the very fluid political landscape. Like you, I haven't been drawn to anything yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 I would only be interested in the LO206 class, essentially the Production of kart racing. hahaha. NOT getting into two stroke shifter karts! But yeah, other reasons to dismiss it anyways. what the heck would I do with a boat?? it meets none of the criteria hahaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 Just now, TonytheTiger said: I've been where you are. Already passed the motor sports phase in my life though. Still play with karts on occasion for nostalgic reasons. Not sure about you but my reasons for looking outside of shooting sports are partly just regular old burnout, but also a desire to have a hobby thats existence isn't directly tied to the very fluid political landscape. Like you, I haven't been drawn to anything yet. Yeah, I've autocrossed (miata, cayman s, elise, rsx type s) a bunch, car track days and done tons of motorcycle track days. Karting is only interesting because it is big in Texas and there is a private track I could join less than an hour from my house. But yeah, it was just a passing item to look at as I look at other things. And yeah, I haven't found something yet.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Not to worry after you popped for one of these most can’t afford gas for it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 1 minute ago, EEH said: Not to worry after you popped for one of these most can’t afford gas for it anyway. also as i learned in my motorcycle track days, i am horrible at backing up a trailer, scarily bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degnan Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Golf seems like an obvious answer, but it might not be physical enough for you. I have not picked up my golf clubs since I discovered USPSA 4 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSteel Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 There is absolutely no way to get into karting that is not gear heavy, $$ draining, time consuming!! It is an extremely competitive hobby.. Sure, you may want to start out simple but every race drives you harder!!! It would definitely fill your needs but be prepared.... I spent many hours preparing all week for the weekend and the UPS guy could get to my home with his eyes closed.!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, Degnan said: Golf seems like an obvious answer, but it might not be physical enough for you. My youngest son enjoys golf and I play with him sometimes when he visits. Golf is where my dad would corner me as a teenager to ask me tough questions. That made me not really enjoy it. I'd have to overcome that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flea Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Ultra trail runs or orienteering or kayaking or SUPing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racinready300ex Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Do you have a dirt track in your area? Micro sprints look fun and not stupid expensive. My brother did it for a short time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathanb Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 If I hit this point I’m buying a utv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnipTheDog Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) I know you've done some mountain biking, but ebikes put a fun twist on riding. It's not something that you need to train all week to make the climbs anymore since you have the battery assist. It's more about enjoying the downhills, rinse, and repeat. Also, Texas oil tanker surfing is a thing: Edited November 12, 2020 by SnipTheDog agfgza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Flea said: Ultra trail runs or orienteering or kayaking or SUPing. The amount of water around me does make kayaking as a regular hobby pretty viable. I hadn't thought of that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1b Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I don't spend much time on these forums anymore so I'm not entirely familiar with you and all you've done (in shooting or otherwise). Some things that come to mind for me... Scuba Diving, while not competitive, I have found to be awesome. It can be as challenging and on the edge as you choose it to be. Fresh water close by and the ocean a bit of a drive away would provide some variety in experience. It can be equipment heavy but rental options can help with that. I personally found flying to be very challenging. I enjoyed the process a lot. Not overly physically demanding (obviously) but it takes skills, multi tasking, and it challenged (me at least) mentally on things that were just new. It's an expensive hobby but damn fun. My final thought is archery hunting. It can be equipment intense but you can manage that. Particularly after the initial investment. It's challenging. And it's competitive in terms of the game you're chasing. Bow hunting isn't gun hunting in my opinion. Much more challenging. And then if you wanted to expand horizons you could go out west which would definitely open up the physical challenges. Just some thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver_Surfer Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyScuba Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Got kayaks. Very nice ones but don’t use them much... and there is water a plenty around these parts. Zegul makes awesome boats. scuba -still do but our kind of diving involves travel. And after a few years of the Caribbean the itch to go to the coral triangle grows. It’s about as visually stunning as is it’s cost. I guess if you lived on the coasts I could see the “let’s just go diving today” lifestyle. Shooting is sooo much easier hence why we are going in the opposite direction than you lol at least we can still shoot in the winter (indoors and out) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 If I still lived on the West coast this would be much easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Long range rifle is where I would gravitate to, especially living in TX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwmiket Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Archery- some variation (this is the closest to what you are doing now) Precision rifle Those would be two that would seem to fit. -M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomstick303 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Airsoft? I have been thinking about getting into this as an outlet. We have an amazing field fairly close. Seem like it would be fun and a change of pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racinready300ex Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 like others mentioned Archery is something worth considering. You can get into hunting which is much more challenging then with a rifle. You could also do recurve instead of compound for additional challenge. You can take a bow fishing, you can even hunt birds out of the air with them using the right kind of arrows. If you don't miss you can reuse practice arrows for ever. Hit a tree and they're toast lol. Then there is 3D style competitions that simulate hunting, or more precision based competition, similar to bullseye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intheshaw1 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 (edited) Archery, prs, golf, flying, sky diving and competitive mall walking are a few I can think of. Archery can be physically demanding if you stalk vs stand hunt. Oh, and paintball or airsoft can be fun. Edited November 12, 2020 by Intheshaw1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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