SLE Sports

People who know me IRL are astonished that I was never involved in gymnastics at some point in my life, even later on in it. I'm 5 feet tall, and very powerfully built in whatever manner can be ascribed to someone who sort of fluctuates between 95-105 pounds. I could most likely walk unchallenged to the floor at any Olympiad, especially where I speak enough languages to get by the more dim members of the security force.

But I was a tomboy as a child, far more interested in basketball and soccer than in falling off some balance beam in a lonely gym somewhere with some Romanian coach screaming at me. I wanted no part of a pommel horse, to the extent that I'm not sure if I spelled it properly. The only rings I was ever interested were the ones that come with a husband, and my idea of a floor exercise also comes with a husband, if you know what I mean.

This does not mean that I do not appreciate the talent and skill of the Gymnast. Only a small % of the population can get down like that, despite the sport being HUGE in Europe, Asia, and America. Perhaps only figure skating can rival it for sheer grace and beauty. Many people feel the way I do, because both sports can lay great claim to carrying whatever Olynpics they're involved in.

God didn't make me very graceful. I can list all my injuries here, but you'd get bored around the second broken leg or so. That's not SL, either. I've fallen down Mount Cardigan on a bicycle, and I've crashed a jet-ski into one of those flashing buoys that are supposed to tell you which way to enter a harbor or something. I go all out.

So, I was quite pleased to meet one of the people from ZAW's Sports in my wrestling group. I tend to fight a lot of Asians, more due to my size than anything else. Wrestling tends to break down along weight class, and I'm Shanghai-sized. It beats getting beaten up by teenagers, which was what was happening to me before I figured out the whole Asian thing. "You're terrible... my Mom would like totally kick your ass."

So, off to Zaw's Sports I went. It was one of the more enjoyable trips I've made, and I enjoyed it enough to make it my first retail column. I plan to do a bunch, because I've been to some kick-ass shops for sports such as cheerleading, hockey, football, and boxing. We'll start at Zaw's, which can be found easily enough with a search.

First of all, you may want to turn on your translator, as both Zaw and Katsumi (who run the store) are Japanese. you can explore the place on your own, as it isn't that large. What caught my eye was the low prices... someone going there aiming to leave dressed as a gymnast can get out of there in an authentic outfit for as little as 10 Ls. The prices go up, with a very nice outfit being available for 60 Ls (which I bought), and the top of the line running 110 Ls or so. I've paid 150 Ls for wrestling knee pads before, so I was pleased to see Zaw priced to sell.

The fun part of Zaw's Sports is the gymnastics room. It is very much a work in progress, but you can try your new leotard out for some stretching (they have a poseball for it). You can then hit another poseball and perform a complicated floor routine, which makes you look totally sweet. The cherry on the sundae is the balance beam routine, which is awesome but short.... sort of like your favorite sports reporter.

I wouldn't be shocked to find Zaw's has expanded when I return home from my trip, but the place is well worth a visit now. It's a must if you have any interest in gymnastics, it's a great idea if you want to dress as Mary Lou Retton at a costume party for 10 Ls, and even someone who isn't into sports might enjoy a brief visit there as a novelty. If you have some sort of fetish for gymnasts, this is sort of the Local Watering Hole to your Hungry Lion.

Just be careful hitting on Katsumi, though... I fought her in wrestling, thinking that my 4 inch height advantage would allow me to beat her like a rental car.... but she laid me out, to the point where I quickly learned how to beg for mercy in Japanese..

Regardless, I give Zaw's a hearty recommendation. Pop on in, and tell 'em Stacey sent you.