Around the Fort: Offbeat sports

Not into playing sports? We understand. Maybe you're looking for something a little different – something a little off the wall – to get your competitive sweat on. These offerings might just become your new favorites.

Create your own X Games

Slam City Skatepark

When the weather gets too rough to use the city's outdoor skate park, skaters grab their boards and bikes and move indoors to the Slam City Skatepark, which claims to be the area's only indoor skate park. The park is open from October through March and offers pretty much anything you need or want to master that kickflip or ollie. And if you are still a newbie, they offer skateboard classes so you can begin to skate with the big dogs.

Where: 1412 S. Anthony Blvd.

Hours: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 8 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 4 and 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Cost: You must sign an online waiver and pay a yearly usage fee of $10 before you can skate; classes cost extra.

Info: 238-0398; slamcityskatepark.com

Climbing underground

Earth Adventures Bouldering Gym

Boulder Down Under is what Earth Adventures calls its basement bouldering gym, which is used by area climbers to keep their skills from lapsing during the offseason. After all, Indiana is not known for its mountains, which makes it even better that you have to go underground to use the climbing walls.

Where: 1804 W. Main St.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; call ahead to make sure the wall is available for use

Cost: $1 per day, and you must sign an online waiver form to use the climbing wall

Info: 424-1420; earthadventures.com

Feel like an Olympian

Fort Wayne Curling Club

Curling is that winter Olympic sport that is weirdly fun to watch, but most people don't understand. Really, how hard can it be to use a broom to sweep a rock across some ice? Well, there is definitely a learned skill to it, my friend. If you want to learn how to do it, or compete with others, the Fort Wayne Curling Club is just the place. There are Learn to Curl sessions and leagues that you can join. And the best thing is that you have a cold atmosphere when you start to heat up from pushing that stone.

Where: 3837 N. Wells St.

Hours: Hours vary for sessions and leagues

Cost: Learn to Curl sessions are $20 per person

Info: 739-5182; fortwaynecurling.com

Play the silver ball

Fort Wayne Pinball

This may not be much of a physical activity as it is mental. Trying to keep that little silver ball pinging and dinging using the flippers is really about strategy – and a little luck. But at Fort Wayne Pinball arcade you can try your hand at more than 130 different pinball machines. The best part is it's a low-cost activity for the whole family as many of the machines cost only a quarter to play.

Where: 14613 Lima Road

Hours: Noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday

Cost: Varies from 25 cents up, depending on the machine

Info: Fortwaynepinball.com

Chop to it

Ax throwing

Forget about darts, the new bar game these days is ax throwing. And considering most participants will be imbibing while throwing a sharp object, all throwers and spectators at Deadeye Dick's Axe Throwing and Bullseye Bar are required to wear closed shoes. Flannel shirts are optional.

Where:

• Deadeye Dick's Axe Throwing & Bullseye Bar, 4524 Parnell Ave.; hours: 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2 to 11 p.m. (2 to 6 p.m. for ages 14 to 20) Friday, noon to 11 p.m. (noon to 6 p.m. for ages 14 to 20) Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday; deadeyedicksfw.com

• Combat Ops Entertainment, 702 Ley Road; hours: noon to 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 11 p.m. Thursday, noon to midnight Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday; combatops.com

• Busted Haft Throwing, 202 W. Market St., Bluffton; 260-824-4777 to book a lane; bustedhaft.com

Around the Fort is a once-a-month feature that highlights places to go and things to do in and around the Fort Wayne area. Got an idea to be featured? Send it to Terri Richardson at trich@jg.net.