Shuffleboard - Easy to Learn, A Game for All
Bette Wray, of Ocean City, pushes her disc down court on her way to victory over Katie Toskaner, president of the Ocean Grove Shuffleboard Association.
By TOM SHORTELL
Tuesday was the opening day of the Mae Murphy State Tournament, the first shuffleboard tournament of the season, and the Ocean Grove club was struggling.
Katie Toskaner, who is president of the local shuffleboard club, was knocked out of the double-elimination tournament by noon.
I dont have good aim, she said defeatedly.
Al Johnson, who has played shuffleboard at Ocean Grove for 15 years, lost his first match. While other club members vouched for his ability, Johnson was a little more nonchalant about it.
On any given day, on any given night, anyone can beat anybody. Thats my philosophy, Johnson said.
Shuffleboard is played by pushing discs down a court with a cue. The goal is to land the disc in a scoring section on the opposite end of the court. Your opponent, however, can knock your discs away with his own.
The secret to success in shuffleboard is protecting your disc, called a hide. When a disc lands on a high scoring section, the goal is to hide it with another disc so your opponent cant knock it away.
Its like a game of hide and seek, said Bea Hepler, the former president of the New Jersey Shuffleboard Association and a champion of champions.
While things may be looking grim for the Ocean Grove Shuffleboard Club, thats not the point.
Its a wonderful way to meet people, Toskaner said. She plays for the socialization, exorcise and fun.
You dont have to win to have fun, Toskaner said.
Its a little competitive, said Betty Quish, vice president, but its a nice competitive.
The people at the shuffleboard clubs dont believe their sport is the old folks game that its stereotypically seen as.
Shuffleboard is for everyone, said Barry Wray, a member of the opposing Ocean City Shuffleboard Club. Grandparents can play with their grandkids and everyone in between.
That openness makes shuffleboard an ideal game for the family on vacation, Wray said. When families come down to the shore, they have to pay to get onto the beach or onto rides. Shuffleboard, however, is free at the club.
Johnson learned to play during a family vacation. His father taught him during a trip to Lake George, New York when he was 10-years old. In turn, he taught his children how to play when they were young.
Part of the draw to shuffleboard is that its easy to learn.
Look at the motion, Wray said, pointing to a woman as she pushed off one foot and extended her arm out. The motion is like bowling. Its similar to throwing a softball underhand.
For those whod like to brush up on their shuffleboard skills, the Ocean Grove club, located on Broadway near the boardwalk, offers open lessons Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
But even if you knock all your discs into the kitchen, the spot on the court the losses points, thats fine too.
We just play to have fun, Toskaner said.
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