Sword Play

Bellaire, the center of the fencing universe? Olympians quietly train in ourmidst, drawn by Rice guru

Photo by Karen Burd
More than 60 fencers lined the pistes at Salle Mauro Fencing Academy this week.
Photo by Karen Burd
Many of the young fencers will go on to compete in the 2012 U.S.A. FencingNational Championships, which attracts thousands of competitors and begins onFriday.
Photo by Karen Burd
Photo by Karen Burd
The camp appeals to fencers of all ages.
Photo by Karen Burd

On a recent weekday morning, the scene inside of Bellaire's Salle Mauro Fencing Academy was a tangle of foils, epees, masks and gloves, children and pre-teens in various stages of undress from starched white jackets and stiff lamés.

The annual Camp Victory drew dozens of fencers from all over the country to train with top trainers and international competitors — including highly-ranked Italian Olympic qualifier Valerio Aspromonte, and Dallas-based brother-sister duo Zain and Mona Shaito, who will represent Lebanon in the Summer Olympics in London.

"When you teach something, it helps you learn it," Dan Gorman, a full-time coach at Salle Mauro, tells CultureMap.

The Olympic competitors will continue with their footwork and conditioning in the weeks leading up to the London games. Doling out individual tips and sparring with amateur competitors represents just another facet of that training.

"When you teach something, it helps you learn it," Dan Gorman, a full-time coach at Salle Mauro, tells CultureMap.

Another draw for the Olympic athletes and coaches is Mauro Hamza, owner of Salle Mauro, fencing coordinator for Rice University and the U.S. national coach for men's foil fencing. As a former Egyptian fencer and a longtime coach, Hamza is well known and respected in the international fencing circuit.

All of that expertise attracted a far-reaching crowd of fencers to the five-day Camp Victory in anticipation of the 2012 U.S.A. Fencing National Championships, which began in Anaheim, Calif. on Friday.

"The caliber is very high here," says Hamza, who pointed out competitive young fencers (including his own son, 10-year-old prodigy Mohamed Hamza), many of whom will compete in the national championships this weekend.

In preparation, students spent the fifth and final day of camp in simulation of the bracket-style competition that they will see at the championships, strings of body cord keeping tally of each hit and causing a complicated web of wires along the pistes.

Gorman says that the gym isn't quite so hectic on a regular week, when the staff at Salle Mauro offers classes and private lessons to adults and children, beginners and swashbucklers. Find more information here.

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pucker up

Growing pickleball franchise smashes into Houston with 2 locations

Two men play pickleball on a Picklr court.

Photo courtesy of The Picklr

A Picklr court campus similar to the ones soon to open in Houston.

Pickleball is one of the hottest sports sweeping the nation, and one of the biggest names in the game is setting up two new facilities in Houston. Picklr is scheduled to open indoor sports campuses in Cypress and The Woodlands in the coming months.

“Bringing a pickleball facility to Cypress will not only provide a fun and engaging recreational outlet for residents of all ages, but will also foster a sense of community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Steve Nguyen, owner of The Picklr Cypress.“This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for social interaction, skill development, and friendly/competitive competition, enhancing community bonds and offering a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.”

Although the game is approximately 60 years old, pickleball saw a massive spike in popularity following the pandemic when people were looking for fun group activities with easy points of entry. Though a racket sport like tennis, it is far easier and slower thanks to using perforated balls, smaller courts, and lighter paddles. This means the game is open to players of all ages, and was originally most popular with retirees. Now, there are roughly 5 million players across America, with players under 24 making up the majority. Houston even has its own professional team, the Hammers (not the Texas Hammer; that's this guy).

The court in Cypress will be located in the old ASI Gymnastics building at 8920 Barker Cypress. It's a relatively modest facility with only six courts including a practice court. By contrast, The Woodlands location will be much more opulent. At 66,517 square feet, it will have 20 courts, 4 private event spaces (one with an exclusive viewing area), as well as a shower, changing room, dry bar, and kitchenette. Picklr The Woodlands will be located at 16590 Interstate I-45 South.

These locations are the first for Picklr in Houston. They have twelve locations all throughout Texas, including in Round Rock and McKinney, and many more nationwide. Picklr locations operate on a membership model similar to a gym. Memberships run $159 a month for adults and $89 for minors, with unlimited access to open play, league play, and tournaments , as well as four free clinics a month. Additional coaching is available.

There is currently no set opening date for the two Houston-area Picklrs. Players interested in learning more may sign up for updates at ThePicklr.com.

pickleball openings