LIVING

BASKETBALL

For a great cardiovascular workout, a good, fast-paced game of basketball is an ideal option. Thirty minutes of basketball burns several hundred more calories than playing ping pong (see below) for the same amount of time, so it’s an ideal way to keep in peak physical condition while waiting for the summer beach months.

Long a popular sport in Barcelona and Spain, and with an ever-growing fan base thanks to stars like Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio and success for the national team on the world stage, many sports centres across the city, both public and private, have indoor basketball courts for hire, ideal for these cooler months of the year. For hardier souls, there are also several public outdoor courts and numerous stand-alone hoops in many of Barcelona’s parks. Of course, quality varies greatly. Some courts, such as those at Parc de Joan Miró, are a pleasure to play on—a paved surface with fences to help contain the occasional errant shot—while on others, the game is played on a dirt court amidst the chaos of children on bicycles and curious dogs.

In terms of indoor courts, typical are those at the Estació del Nord Poliesportiu Municipal. “Call us four or five days before you want to play,” suggested Marta Andrés, working on the information desk at the sports centre. “The cost to reserve a court for an hour is €57.85, and you can rent a basketball for €2.” This court rental is a flat fee, so it’s worth organising a large group to share the cost.

For the outdoor courts or stand-alone hoops, no reservations nor fees are necessary, only the luck to find them empty. Just buy a basketball—expect to pay €10-€20 for a decent one—and go put it to good use.