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Zero-Gravity Sports League In Development

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the falling-down-on-the-job dept.

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."

5 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Practical Though? by heli0 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    "It wasn't a dark game, but it wasn't a bright one either-the lights were about half, like dusk. In the distance, in the dim light, he could see the enemy door, their lighted flash suits already pouring out. Ender knew a moments pleasure. Everyone had learned from Bonzo's misuse of Ender Wiggin. They all jumped through the door immediately, so that there was no chance to do anything other than name the formation they would use."
    --
    Whenever the offence inspires less horror than the punishment, the rigour of penal law is obliged to give way...
  2. Why invent a new sport? by vitalyb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The battle-school sport in Ender's Game is complex enough.

    I can even think of a few ways for the freezing guns.

  3. The losing team... by oaksey · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The losing team should get tossed out of the plane (with parachutes of course), with the winners just getting flown straight home. Would make it a bit more dramatic for TV.

  4. Xenon + Oxygen = Swim in Breathable Gas! by Sigfried · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In "The Inventions of Daedalus", scientist and author David E. Jones points out that Xenon is a noble gas with a density greater than water. If you combine Xenon with oxygen and put it in a really big tank, you will have a breathable gas in a tank, in which human being can float. By combining xenon with appropriate amounts of nitrogen, you can get the density close to that of humans, and it will be similar to weightlessness. Wikipedia points out that Xenon has some anaesthetic effects, which would come in handy for those bruising scrimmages...

  5. Re:Some pictures and video of ZeroG parabolic flig by DigiShaman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You know, the Porn industry would pay you guys' big bucks!!! Think about it; a new DVD titled "Zero-G Spot" or something. I mean, video of zero-g sex in action would be very unique to the market. Talk about a venture partnership to capitalize on.

    Also, imagine Zero-G fighting championships. Ohh AWSOME idea! Spike TV would love this. Hell, a new martial art might even be formed out of it (bouncing off walls and stuff to go for that headlock). The kicks, punches, rebounds *drool*

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.