Looking to try one of the 26 Ways?
Below are a series of links to clubs, associations & other organising bodies that might provide you with a place to start.
Scroll down the list for things that might interest you…
Alpine skiing
Rather than crowd this page with links to ski resorts, here are some links to help you better appreciate the sport & the form of skiing might be best for you:
Ski mountaineering: http://www.ismf-ski.org/webpages/
Telemark skiing: https://www.telemarkskier.com/
Nordic skiing: https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/nordic-skiing-norway
Snowboarding vs skiing: https://newtoski.com/ski-vs-snowboard/
Bog snorkeling
There is only really one place to bog snorkel & that’s Wales (in the UK). So pop it on your bucket list & find out more here:
https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/events/sport/can-you-beat-bog
To get a better sense of the organised lunacy, this ought to do it: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/bog-snorkelling-championships.html
CrossFit
CrossFit is a fitness phenomena with a worldwide presence. For more detailed descriptions of how CrossFit session are conducted visit: https://www.crossfit.com/
Looking for a CrossFit gym? A Google search should help to connect you with something local, such as… https://www.crossfitsydney.com.au/
Dragon boating
There are lots of Dragon boating clubs in Australia. A good place to start is to visit the AUSDBF, the sport’s Australian governing body: https://www.ausdbf.com.au/home/
Want to paddle on the NSW Central Coast? https://www.ccdragons.org.au/
Want to paddle in Sydney? https://www.sgscc.edu.au/course/dragon_boat_paddling
For paddling anywhere else, a Google search should get you where you need to be!
Extreme ironing
The thing about extreme ironing is that there aren’t any clubs to join. But fear not! The best & most amusing place to go for more on this wacky sport is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtremeIroningOfficial/
As you know from the book, Aimee is a canyoner & the Blue Mountain in NSW is a hell of a place to canyon. If you are in the area, here’s a place to try: https://www.roamadventures.com.au/
Fencing
Eddie’s story is one of the most inspiring in the book, as he didn’t take up the sport until he was 50. He regularly competes & coaches here: https://www.pcycnsw.org.au/newcastle/activities/fencing
In NSW? Visit the NSW Fencing Centre: https://nswfencing.org.au/
Further afield? Visit the Australian Fencing Federation: https://www.ausfencing.org/
Goalball
Goalball Australia is the sport’s governing body: https://www.goalballaustralia.org/home/
In NSW? Go here: https://www.goalball.com.au/home/
These sites can provide contact information for regional teams. For example, in the NSW Hunter Valley: https://www.goalball.com.au/regional-hubs/hunter/
Hiking
For a comprehensive overview of bushwalking in Australia, this web site is an excellent resource. It includes links to tracks & trails in all Australian states & territories: https://www.bushwalkingaustralia.org/
For discussion groups focused on bushwalking, go here: https://bushwalk.com/forum/
Ice skating
Ice Skating Australia is the sport’s governing body: https://www.isa.org.au/
There are ~20 ice skating rinks in Australia. Check out the list here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ice_rinks_in_Australia
Judo
If you are keen to connect with Shane, you can find him here: https://www.judonsw.com.au/club/kugatsu-central-coast-judo-club-erina/
Judo Australia is the sport’s governing body: https://www.ausjudo.com.au/
Judo NSW website: https://www.judonsw.com.au/
Kayaking
If this is something you’d like to try, the Paddle Australia Find-a-Club web page is a great place to start: https://paddle.org.au/find-a-club/
For more specific sea kayaking links in NSW, go here: https://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/
Or in Kesley’s part of the world (Newcastle, NSW): http://newypaddlers.org.au/
Luge
Obviously, not being a cold country, you won’t find any luge tracks in Australia. But if you are interested in what Australia is doing in sliding sports, this site is good to explore: https://www.bobsleighskeleton.org.au/
The AOC website is also worth a look & has a profile on Alex: https://www.olympics.com.au/sports/luge/
If you are a traveller, this might give you a sense of the sport: https://www.skylineluge.com/en/
Mountain biking
Mountain biking happens all across Australia & Red Bull have listed the Top 8 trails: https://www.redbull.com/au-en/best-mountain-bike-trails-australia
Here’s an example of a business that offers both a retail service & organises social ‘shop rides’: https://www.facebook.com/theoverlander.cc/
If you life in Vinnie’s part of the world (Tasmania), check this out: https://hobartmtbtours.com.au/
Random example of a club on NSW Central Coast: https://www.ccmtb.com.au/
Random example of a club in Sydney: https://www.sydneycyclingclub.org.au/off-road
Netball
Netball is the highest participation sport in this book. As such, it is not difficult to find a club in most parts of the country. Here are a few suggestions:
Netball Australia: https://netball.com.au/
This is Susan’s beloved Menai Hawks netball club: https://www.menainetballclub.com/
Here’s a site all about walking netball: https://www.playwalkingnetball.com.au/home/
Open water swimming
The most obvious way to engage with Open water swimming is through ocean swimming. A good starting point for that can be found here: https://oceanswims.com/ (including the event calendar).
Another obvious way to get involved is through Surf Life Saving Australia: https://sls.com.au/get-involved/
For Kristen, the North Entrance Surf Club has been a great community to be part of: https://northentranceslsc.com.au/
Padel
Padel is a fairly new sport in Australia. But its presence is beginning to grow, with courts now in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and on the Gold Coast. Check out the locations at the Australian Padel Federation website: https://padel.org.au/ (click the ‘Find a club’ page)
If you wanted to speak to someone about the sport, there’s no one better to contact than Matt himself: https://www.trainwithmatty.com/
Quadball
Quidditch has only just changed its name to Quadball. As such, finding information about it means continuing to use ‘quidditch’ as your search term. The best place to start for information is: https://www.quidditchaustralia.org/
Looking for a team?: https://www.quidditchaustralia.org/teams
Rowing
Rowing includes more than just flat water, Olympic-style rowing. As you will see from the Rowing Australia web page, it is also possible to get involved in coastal rowing, indoor rowing and Para-rowing: https://rowingaustralia.com.au/
Looking for a club? First stop…the Wikipedia list of rowing clubs in Australia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rowing_clubs_in_Australia
Click here for Zoe’s profile: https://rowingnz.kiwi/Person?Action=Profile&Person_id=8947
Surfing
Unsurprisingly, Australia has oodles of board riding clubs & surf schools: https://surfingaustralia.com/clubs/
In fact, if you are looking for any information about surfing, the Surfing Australia web site is really the best place to start: https://surfingaustralia.com/clubs/
Vigoro
Vigoro is mainly now played in Queensland & is overseen by the Queensland Vigoro Association: https://www.qldvigoro.com.au/
To find out about Deanne’s club in Ipswich, go here: https://www.ipswichvigoro.com.au/home/
Ultimate
Ultimate is played in all states and territories in Australia & the Australia Flying Disc Association web site can help you find games in all these areas: https://afda.com/where-can-i-play
If you would like to know more about Ultimate Peace (a peace initiative that brings Israeli & Palestinian young people together to play), click here: https://www.ultimatepeace.org/
Table tennis
Table Tennis Australia is a great web site for getting information on all aspects of the game: https://www.tabletennis.org.au/home/
Looking for a club? https://www.tabletennis.org.au/club-finder/
Check out Pete’s rap sheet: http://www.cctta.com/peter-higgins.html
Wheelchair rugby
Previously called ‘murder ball’, Wheelchair Rugby Australia is the organisation that oversees the growth & development of the game: http://www.wheelchairrugby.com.au/
If you are interested in Para-sports more generally, which includes wheelchair rugby, go here: https://www.paralympic.org.au/play-para-sport/
Click here to see Richard “Dickie” Voris’ player profile: https://www.paralympic.org.au/athlete/richard-voris/
X (cross) country running
In Australia, there is no recognised governing body for the sport but many groups, clubs, event organisers & information sources can be found online. These include:
Australian running calendars, which identify many different types of running events: https://www.runningcalendar.com.au/
Lists of running clubs: https://runcalendar.com.au/clubs
parkrun Australia, for those just getting started: https://www.parkrun.com.au/ or Australian Ultra Runners Association, for the more experienced: https://www.aura.asn.au/
Click here to visit Melissa’s page: https://www.crackneck.com.au/
Yachting
Being an island nation, Australia has a long history with yachting & sailing. Australian Sailing is the sport’s governing body: https://www.sailing.org.au/home/
To find a club, go here: https://www.sailing.org.au/club-finder/
If you are interested in the different classes of sailing vessels, this should help: https://www.nbsailsports.com.au/
Zurkhaneh
Zurkhaneh does not have a strong presence in Australia & it is no possible to practice the arts in a specific location - the Zurkhaneh (‘House of Strength’) - as would be done in Iran. As such, any connection to these sports/arts is best to be made through Kashi: https://www.persianyoga.com/
Click here for a profile on Kashi: https://www.persianyoga.com/dr-kashi-azad/