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Zero-Gravity Sports League In Development

Jonathan writes "A company that provides weightless flights to paying space tourists is developing a league around a sport that is designed for a zero-G environment." From the article: "The sport is called 'Paraball'...originally short for Parabolic Football," Persaud told SPACE.com. "The game really isn't like football anymore as the rules have developed, but the name has stuck," he added. [..] "The International Parabolic Sports League (IPSL) I plan to start with seven U.S. based teams, plus one Toronto-based team. Initially all League games would be played from the Las Vegas, Nevada airport, but we'll have 'home' games when the Zero-Gravity Corporation are able to bring their aircraft to that many cities over the time span of the league's season."

10 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports by rednip · · Score: 4, Funny

    It'll be the only team sport where a airplane crash would take out both teams, the officials, and staff. Seriously, does anyone know how safe these fights are?

    --
    The force that blew the Big Bang continues to accelerate.
    1. Re:Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports by spacefight · · Score: 5, Funny

      An airplane crash can kill both teams, the officials and staff on countless other sport events if targeted accurate enough.

    2. Re:Vomit comet meets competitive TV sports by motorbikematt · · Score: 3, Funny
      is a minor death just one teammate death?

      Well, I suppose that actually depends upon the Fantasy Paraball rankings ;)

  2. Re:Another exclusive club forming: by luvirini · · Score: 3, Funny

    More like 100 mile high club.. but I think the mechanics might get difficult with not gravity to hold you together..

  3. pastime for the idle rich by pedantic+bore · · Score: 4, Funny
    I thought polo and yachting were the sports for people with too much money and time on their hands. Well, I guess times change.

    Anyone want to partner with me to develop league of swimming hamsters or weight-lifting mice? Those are sports we can all enjoy (watching, anyway). They could be the WWF of the 21st century.

    But wait, let me patent that, first.

    --
    Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?
  4. large blobs in space by digitaldc · · Score: 4, Funny

    In his research on space sports, Collins and colleagues have speculated about water sports where space tourists can dive through large blobs of water.

    In other news, many games eventually end up turning in to an impromptu old school favorite - 'dodgevomit.'

    --
    He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
  5. Safety vs Entertainment? by ImaLamer · · Score: 4, Funny
    I don't know if I can take the ups and downs that come with parabolic football...


    (maniacal laughter)

  6. Waitaminute ... this sounds familiar ... by ggvaidya · · Score: 5, Funny

    Paraball is seen as a cross of several sports...and has a lot of unique aspects too.

    Calvinball!!!

  7. Name of the 'sport' by Perey · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The game really isn't like football anymore as the rules have developed, but the name has stuck," he added.

    Ahh, much like American 'football' then?

  8. Re:Another exclusive club forming: by ozmanjusri · · Score: 4, Funny

    but I think the mechanics might get difficult with not gravity to hold you together.

    Some of us are developing "handles" to alleviate that problem.

    --
    "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."