The Intsel: Your Game & Knowing Why You Show Up
It may be novel but the $35k Intsel Pro Invitational is a professional tournament. Players are invited to play the game.
The outdoor court in Maspeth is made of steel and you have to literally drive through a welding yard to get to it.The location can prove a long journey, as it is deep in an industrial part of Queens, New York. If you’re not driving, the bus or train ride will have you walking a bit to complete the journey.
Are you traveling alone or with family members, or with a friend or two? The urban backyard feel of the court-side space is welcoming yet hard and can feel a bit tight for more than 4 or 5 people.
If you’ve arranged your match during the week, you’ll most likely hear the clanging and banging of large scale metallurgy and even some muffled music.
What’s the weather? Is it really hot? Or have you made it deep into the draw and find yourself playing in frigid temps?
Oh, and your match is most likely handicapped, with a slide.
NYC Parks, Squash And An Open Place
Open spaces feel inviting. Seeing people out in the open playing sports in public spaces and hearing the corresponding sounds ignite whatever small sparks of interest passersby may be germinating. In that sense, NYC Parks present themselves as open, socially viable avenues for the uninitiated.
Musing Stella
Frank Stella of course reflected NYC to me, but sort of in the same way I followed squash before my time on the steel court, from a proverbial ten thousand feet.
SEAing Stories And Videos
Beyond the steel court, Robert’s connection with Squash Education Alliance opened provided an opportunity to take in the culture being facilitated. This was written last year.
The idea to produce something reflective of the passion and the growth happening in squash, in this gardened subculture.
Squash Wants To Be A New Thing In The U.S.
After spending a decade witnessing young professional racquetball players fully engage themselves in a sport diminished with opportunity, I find proximity to this set of squash players, has me wondering about growth opportunities and the look to Squash LA28.
Steel Firsts
Squash Wants To Be A New Thing In The U.S.
Does Squash Need To Participate In The Hype?
More U.S. college players are setting their sites on professional squash. They’re also attracting the demographic that the sport has been cultivating since the late 1990’s. Everyone is paying attention. Squash is making its own and feeling fresh.
Steel Landing
“…easy access to squash is meaningful. It’s a fantastic form of variety for me. I learn from it and blend it to my other racquet and paddle disciplines as a form of health and wellness. The Steel court plays fast in my opinion, with other credible opinions rating it as playing true. Add to that it is a space for me to continue to use my camera naturally. It just feels open and right, growing righter.”