Here are five hidden gem sports we’ve found in the University of Liverpool AU this year

Have you ever felt like turning up to the same sports hall every week is doing your head in? Or that, while you’re at university and having to pay £60 to join the AU anyway, you might want to try a new sport that’s a little bit more of a… rogue choice?

We’ve devised a short guide to point you in the right direction of the lesser-known sports clubs at the University of Liverpool for the 2022/23 academic year, so you can get your money’s worth out of that AU fee…

Windsurfing

Grecian waters as warm as the bath you wish you had in your student accommodation. Sunshine that’s so hot, you’re constantly reminded we’re in a global warming crisis. Not a wetsuit in sight, only beers on the beach, while you lounge around on the sand and watch your mates zoom past you on a windsurfing board…

Sound like your jam? Windsurfing with LUWC will tick every one of those boxes (most of the time…). If you put the hours in the chilly waters of Crosby, you’ll be catching the winds of Croatia in no time.

LUWC told The Tab Liverpool: “Windsurfing is an extreme sport, and if you put the work in, you can be in the harness blasting across the water and there’s no feeling like it. But you can also make it a really relaxing sport if you want, and we have a really great community of windsurfers in Liverpool and across the country.”

Jiu Jitsu

What do Joe Rogan, Jonah Hill, Keanu Reeves, Shaquille O’Neal, Kate Upton, Tom Hardy and Robert Pattison all have in common?

No, it’s not the beginning of a rubbish joke: they all train jiu jitsu.

Jiu jitsu is a hot topic amongst celebrities and university students alike. It’s not only a great cardio sports, but it’s also a mental exercise in problem-solving your opponents moves. Another good point is that jiu jitsu is considered less intense than MMA training and wrestling, which is perfect for those looking for a really fun sports to try at university.

UOL Jiu Jitsu told The Tab Liverpool: “In our opinion, jiu jitsu is the best martial art to learn real-world self defence. From grappling to weapon defence, you’ll be confident in your capabilities in no time.”

Gaelic Football

Growing bored of football? Finding rugby training a bit of a chore to turn up to? It might be time you tried Gaelic football – the ultimate Irish team sport.

A fast and full on game, and definitely not contact-free, this is a sports that will serve you an adrenaline rush without having to get wet (sorry, windsurfing) or be thrown out of a plane (more on that later). If you are looking for a sports to improve your fitness levels while also meeting friends for life, you’ll love this hidden gem of a sport.

UOL GAA told The Tab Liverpool, “Gaelic football, with its close-knit community, is a must try when you come to Liverpool. Whether you’re an all star or never heard of it, it will definitely be the best decision you make at university!”

Ultimate Frisbee

Fancy a non-contact sport to fit in between your jiu jitsu and Gaelic football taster sessions? Ultimate frisbee is the perfect team sports to try your hand at.

If like me, your hand-eye co-ordination leaves something to be desired, then Ultimate Frisbee is a great opportunity to develop this skill while also picking up new ones. Fast-paced and reliant on quick reactions, the sport is also a great cardio workout as you throw, dive and jump repeatedly over the course of a game.

UOL Ultimate Frisbee told The Tab Liverpool: “Frisbee is such a great sport to start at university, as it’s composed of mostly beginner players. The sport provides you with an incredible community and so many opportunities to play both for fun and competitively. Come along and try it out for yourself!”

Skydiving

Okay, hear me out: Skydiving is a sports that everyone should try at least once in their life. So why not try it with your mates at university?

The freedom of falling through the air is highly liberating, and it has been described as meditative as you are forced to stay calm and focus on yourself in the moment – say goodbye to your anxiety over that bit of coursework you’ve been obsessing about for a week.

Taking the jump will make you feel like you can do anything! And the sense of community between the select few people in the world who are brave enough to try it in the first place is unmatched.

Liverpool University Skydiving told The Tab Liverpool: “Skydiving is an exciting experience where you’ll get to meet like-minded thrill-seekers while training to become a fully qualified skydiver.”

So, what are you waiting for?

Featured image kindly provided to us by @uol_gaa