Taking up a new sport or hobby can be tough on the wallet, especially popular ones here in the Bay Area, like cycling or skiing.
But not every outdoor activity has to break the bank or require hundreds of hours of training before you feel confident in your skills.
If your main goal is to get moving — and maybe even to find an active community along the way — this list of sports taught right here in the Bay Area might be for you.
Plus, read on for a few keys to success (or at the very least fun and safety) from the teachers themselves and extra information about cost so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
Jump straight to:
Shooting a bow and arrow might be something you’ve only ever seen on TV or in the movies, but “this isn’t the Olympics,” Bowhunters Unlimited President Debbie Golzen said. “Anyone can do it.”
Bowhunters Unlimited, an all-volunteer group that operates out of Stevens Creek County Park in Saratoga, offers beginner lessons, team-building activities, a practice range and a field range with around 30 targets along a 3-mile course to get in a full day of target practice.
During a lesson, participants learn the basics about archery equipment, safety and shooting form from the training area, where the targets are set close to the shooter and have backstops so you don’t have to chase down your arrows too far, Golzen said. Plus, the lesson area is separated from the regular range so newcomers can take as much time as they need to set up, shoot and retrieve arrows.
“By the end of your lesson, you will feel confident to continue the sport at your leisure,” Golzen said. “Archery is so simple. If you can play catch with someone with a ball without making them chase that ball all over the place every time you throw it to them, you can shoot an arrow 10 yards.”
Archery is an age-inclusive sport, too, Golzen said, with some of their oldest members in their 80s. The group attends tournaments that are open to anyone of any skill level, where participants, organized by age, gender and category of shooter, shoot at 3D foam targets that are shaped like animals.
“If you make it through all those targets and try, that’s success,” she said.
Set up for success: Golzen recommends wearing close-toed shoes with some ankle support to the park, and to bring some water. To make shooting easier, wear close-fitted sleeves. All the coaches and the range itself are certified to keep everyone safe. As for gear, they have light bows and arrows available for those taking lessons.
If you decide to continue pursuing the sport, Golzen recommends Archery Only in Newark, Predator’s Archery in Gilroy or Pacifica Archery in Daly City to get fitted for and purchase a bow and arrows that are right for you.
“You can’t shoot someone else’s gear,” Golzen said.
Cost: There is no fee to use the range, but a $40 yearly membership helps support keeping it open for all. A lesson, booked through a form on their website, costs between $20 and $45, depending on how long you’d like and how many people are in your group.
Ever considered joining a rock climbing gym, but it all just feels a little too intimidating?
Maybe you tried the sport once or twice as a kid at a birthday party or tagged along with a friend, but never took the leap yourself.
To get you started, Movement Gyms’ San Francisco, Belmont, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Mountain View locations offer periodic free-for-all days for anyone interested in trying out the sport of indoor rock climbing. The days, which Bay Area district director Joey Luna said the gym hopes to offer a few times per year, include free gear rentals and lessons, and are tailored specifically toward beginners.
To help with that, on free days, the gyms are full of extra staff milling around to help participants get started, give pointers on form and answer any questions, he said.
If you’re not able to make a free day in the future, Luna suggested coming out for one of their free introductory courses, which are offered at each of their Bay Area locations.
You can sign up for intro bouldering, intro rope climbing or any of their other fitness or yoga classes.
The sport of indoor rock climbing can be extremely rewarding, Luna said, especially as you begin to be able to complete routes and execute moves that previously felt impossible.
“It stokes the fire,” he said. “I was hooked after one climb.”
The routes at the gym, Luna said, are set for a wide range of skill levels and heights, so everyone can find a way up the wall that’s comfortable for them.
Set up for success: Luna suggested wearing clothing that’s easy to bend and stretch in for your first time on the wall. If you want to set yourself up for future sessions, consider choosing the intro to rope climbing course to learn how to belay for your friends and get your certification on your next visit, he said.
Cost: The occasional open days are completely free, including rental gear, as is your first intro class at the gym. You can also sign up for two weeks of access to the gym and rentals for $40 if you’re not ready to commit to a full membership.
If team sports are more your speed, consider joining the Golden Gate Australian Football League. The sport is much like other field sports, but “a bit more fast and free-flowing,” league President Loren Dawes said.
“I think the best thing about Aussie rules is that it’s like a real hybrid of a bunch of other sports,” Dawes said. “So it’s really easy if you’re athletic in any other sport like soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee or rugby. There’s elements in those games that are really going to translate well to Aussie rules.”
Dawes said the group is always looking for new players, and anyone is welcome to come to any of the three training sessions they host per week across the Bay Area — on Tuesday nights in Oakland, Wednesdays in San Francisco and Thursdays in the South Bay.
Then, if you like the sport, you can come out for their metro league, where they split off participants into teams and compete in games.
The league also forms more competitive women’s and men’s teams to compete against other cities across the United States and Canada.
“Although it is a sport that originated in Australia and it’s not super well known here in the United States, once you discover it, you realize it’s a pretty cool sport to play and also spectate,” Dawes said.
Set up for success: If you decide to come out to a training, there’s no need to let anyone know — just show up. They will provide the footballs, and you can train in running shoes or cleats. Dawes said it may be smart to bring a mouthguard, because the sport does include a fair amount of contact.
But “it’s more incidental,” kind of like basketball, she said. Plus, they can modify the training or your participation depending on your comfort level.
If you’re more comfortable knowing someone else on the field, bring a friend or reach out via GGAFL’s interest form to get in touch with a member. And there’s no real commitment required, either.
“We wanted to be as accessible as possible,” Dawes said. “People can drop in. If they want to stay for 10 minutes and leave, they can.”
Cost: There’s no cost to come out to training. If you decide to join the league more permanently, there are yearly dues that cost $80 to $100 per year for your first year.
Did you know you can get out on the ice and learn the sport of curling any time of year right here in the Bay Area?
The Silicon Valley Curling Club is one of a few local clubs that offer introductory courses to the sport of curling at its San Jose and Fremont locations.
Curling instructor Jeremy Malerich said the two-hour session starts with some basic skills, like how to slide with the stones, how to sweep and how to communicate with your teammates.
“By the end of it, we want people to be able to play a game,” Malerich said. “And everybody plays their first game by the end of those two hours.”
From there, many curlers can jump straight into playing in the local leagues, which are seasonal and held once weekly on weekday nights in San Jose and weekends in Fremont. But if you want more time to get comfortable before jumping into a league, the club also offers a second-level class, where the focus is more on balance and strategy.
Plus, SVCC periodically hosts “fun nights” where things are more fluid and anyone can come play — their members range from ages 13 to in their 70s and are of all abilities.
“It’s a game that you can play for the rest of your life,” he said, noting that curling can also be easily adapted to be played from a wheelchair.
Malerich said inevitably, their intro sessions get more popular around the Winter Olympics, when the sport is being broadcast prominently on national TV. That’s also when they get the most beginners. But a dedicated curler can get good very quickly, he said, and nobody — even first-timers — ever looks too out of place on the ice. Plus, their social events are open to all, too.
“It’s very traditional to go to the bar together with your opposition after you play,” Malerich said. “Not everybody drinks, but we do like to still hang out together for a bit.”
Set up for success: Make sure you bring layers, because the rink can get cold, Malerich said. Otherwise, you just need athletic clothes and sneakers to get started — the club provides the rest of the equipment.
Malerich said the club always makes sure to match new curlers with more experienced ones for their first season or two to help them develop and learn. During the rush of new players around the Olympics, almost all teams will be a blend of newer and more experienced players, he said.
Cost: Each intro course costs $40 for the two-hour session. After that, you can choose to become a member for an additional fee of $75 per year or join a league for about $40 per game.
Looking to get your feet wet in a slightly more extreme sport this summer? Try open water swimming in the Bay, and consider joining one of several local groups that host formal and informal swims every single week.
In Aquatic Park are the Dolphin Club and the South End Rowing Club, where swimmers can be found every morning braving the cold water for an energizing workout. Local triathlon clubs like the San Francisco Triathlon Club and the Golden Gate Triathlon Club also run supervised open water swims each week. Plus, a handful of other informal swims can usually be found at public beaches in Sausalito, Crissy Field and in the East Bay.
Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of Pacific Open Water Swim Co., which runs guided swims in the Bay and in Lake Tahoe, said a sheltered area like Aquatic Park or Crane Cove are great places to get started if you’re new to the sport.
Just make sure you take into account the wind, currents and others who may be in your path, like marine life, boaters or paddlers.
Lacock’s group also hosts the triathlon clubs’ new swimmer orientation, where they go over conditions, practice breathing in cold water and work on navigation — all skills important to get the hang of before your first open water swim.
“It’s highly addictive,” Lacock said. “Some people who come out, they get in the water, and they’re like, ‘I want to do this every day.’”
Set up for success: It’s really important that you’re a confident pool swimmer before attempting open water swimming, Lacock said. Wearing goggles and a bright swim cap is recommended, as is a tow float that attaches to your waist and floats behind you, to keep you visible to boats and others in the water.
“It’s your responsibility as a swimmer to also make sure that you are checking on their location and making yourself seen,” Lacock said.
Many people also choose to wear wetsuits, but if you go that route, make sure you get one that’s for swimming, Lacock said — or rent one from Sports Basement or other nearby retailers.
Lacock said it’s better to start with shorter times in the water, like 10 or 20 minutes for your first few swims to get used to the cold and the roughness of the water. If you can’t go with one of the groups, consider bringing a buddy so you can check in on one another.
“You might feel really good right up until the point you don’t,” Lacock said. “And at that point, it may be too late.”
Cost: While swimming in the Bay is totally free, you might consider becoming a member of one of the local triathlon clubs for around $150 per year. The Dolphin Club and South End Rowing Club also each offer day use passes for $12 on alternating days, giving you access to their facilities for showers and lockers. To get professional instruction on open water swimming, Pacific Open Water Swim’s clinic is pricier, at $150. If you decide the sport is for you, the group offers personalized events and courses to help you get from casual swimming to completing more difficult routes like swims to Alcatraz or to Angel Island and back.
Lindy in the Park, the free dance session and lesson held each Sunday in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, is a completely free and open-to-all event to get your swing on.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been dancing for years or never at all — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, a DJ, dance instructor and dozens of participants will be out on JFK Drive between Eighth and 10th avenues swinging to the beat. The dance lesson, held at noon each Sunday, is just a half hour and will work you up from basic footwork to learning the dance so you can feel confident jumping onto the dance floor. You don’t even have to bring a partner, co-founder and organizer, Kenneth Watanabe said.
“You can just show up by yourself and learn a few steps,” Watanabe said. “It’s a good way to try it out and see if you like it.”
Watanabe and co-founder Chad Kubo created the group in 1996, when swing was making a renaissance and the dancing scene in the Bay Area was growing quickly, he said. After someone suggested trying to organize an outside event, Watanabe sent out an email to the around 20 people he knew in the local Lindy Hop community at the time, “and then people just showed up.”
“One of my friends brought a boombox and we all met at the bandshell and played CDs,” Watanabe said. “We thought it would be fun just to dance outside.”
Since then, the group has grown from a monthly to a weekly event to make it easier to attend — on its busiest days, more than 100 people will be out dancing. Watanabe said, apart from occasional disruptions like Bay to Breakers, assume the dancing is on.
Set up for success: All you need to get started is comfortable shoes, Watanabe said. Depending on the weather that day, bring layers, as the park can get cold and foggy. And don’t worry about tripping over your own feet: “It’s a really friendly crowd,” Watanabe said.
“It’s just a happy dance,” he said. “You’re jumping around, you’re kicking, you’re moving. It is a way to express yourself, it’s a great way to meet people — and the music’s fun.”
Cost: Access to the park and the dance event is completely free.
To learn more about how we use your information, please read our privacy policy.