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Student life is also hula hoops and kayaks

A new hula hoop class has just begun their tough training programme. It looks pretty straightforward, but the participants break into a sweat when they have to control two or four rings at once.

A new hula hoop class has just begun their tough training programme. It looks pretty straightforward, but the participants break into a sweat when they have to control two or four rings at once.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Student sports — The students’ sports programme at the University of Copenhagen offers 270 different sports, ranging from kayakking to hula hoop teams. See the photos for inspiration and sign up if you want to join in.

by: Anders Fjeldberg

Journalist

More relaxing than mindfulness?

Registration:

The sports association at the University of Copenhagen used to be called USG, but has now changed its name to KSI.

However, you still need to register at www.usg.dk.

Price examples:

Group training in hula hoops costs between DKK 600 and DKK 725. A normal kayak class costs between DKK 970 and DKK 1070, and for that you get weekly lessons for eight months.

On the kayak team you can get free training and at the hula hoop there is also the ‘Saturday dance’ where you can try out different dance styles.

The most fun place to be social on your study programme studio and make new friends?

The most healthy place to be if you like activity, both outdoors and indoors?

The student sports at KSI (university of copenhagen’s student sports) is about to resume a new year’s programme. There are 270 teams to choose from, with disciplines ranging from outdoor, martial arts, crossfit, yoga, ball games and dance.

In August, the University Post checked out the vibe at two of them – a kayak class and a hula hoop class.

First, the hula hoop training

Now the class is in full swing. It takes place in a large, bright room at Nørre Allé 51, at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Instructor Mia Panduro with a flower in her hair - here there is absolutely no yelling and screaming instruction like on a fitness team. Everything is explained quietly and the music is a rock'n roll American 1950s style – just as it was two Americans who invented the plastic hula hoops for children in 1958. The following year they sold 100 million of them, says Mia Panduro.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Here the participants have two hoops going at once. This requires coordination, concentration and fitness. With this, you cannot ‘just do it’.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Mia Panduro has made a living from the hula hoop rings for many years - all over the world. She was one of the first to teach hula hoops in sports in Europe when this form of training started to grow into 'something for adults' from around 2010, when Time magazine named it 'fitness trend of the year'.

Mia Panduro has made a living from the hula hoop rings for many years - all over the world. She was one of the first to teach hula hoops in sports in Europe when this form of training started to grow into 'something for adults' from around 2010, when Time magazine named it 'fitness trend of the year'.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Here four rings are moving at the same time. It's not easy, and it's hard work. The participants who met up this day in the middle of August are all adept at twirling the hula hoops.

Here four rings are moving at the same time. It's not easy, and it's hard work. The participants who met up this day in the middle of August are all adept at twirling the hula hoops.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

To make it just a little bit more difficult, the participants must also play ball together as they twirl the hoop around their waists.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

The room is a really good place to work out, and there is room here for 25 hula hoopers when the student sport season really gets going in September.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

-and then in kayaks from Holmen to the Little Mermaid

We now jump into the big outdoors to the old gunboat shed kanonbådskur 6 on the Holmen. Here a kayaking class meets up once a week for training.

It seems like the world’s most peaceful place when you just arrive, and the photographer was envious over not being able to paddle along with them.

The instructor is Kristian Engkilde.

From the gunboat sheds on Holmen you get the peace of mind and a nice green view – as well as access to the whole of Copenhagen's inner harbour. This is where KSI kayak class meet up to train and enjoy themselves.

From the gunboat sheds on Holmen you get the peace of mind and a nice green view – as well as access to the whole of Copenhagen's inner harbour. This is where KSI kayak class meet up to train and enjoy themselves.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

The kayaks are in the gunboat sheds, and from the quayside there is only ten centimetres down to the water today, so this is perfect.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

The others in the class are already in the water, and they waiting to get started with a warmup before the kayaking trip of the day goes out to the Little Mermaid.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

One of the participants tries out the art of squeezing into a kayak.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Success!

image: Anders Fjeldberg

Team coach Christian Engkilde is employed by KSI and it is as if he lives and breathes for his job of instructing the students in every possible class, and he praises the young people’s companionship. Here he is instructing them in the game 'catch the frisbee'. He throws it, and there are two teams with three on each. The team where all three first manage to fish the frisbee out of the water has won. It is the warm up before the trip.

Team coach Christian Engkilde is employed by KSI and it is as if he lives and breathes for his job of instructing the students in every possible class, and he praises the young people’s companionship. Here he is instructing them in the game 'catch the frisbee'. He throws it, and there are two teams with three on each. The team where all three first manage to fish the frisbee out of the water has won. It is the warm up before the trip.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

It is a struggle to fish the frisbee out of the water. The participants in this class are all practiced, so they can both control the kayak and keep their balance – and avoid accidentally bashing each other on the head with the paddle in the 'heat of the battle' or bumping into the ribs of a teammate with the tip of the kayak. The kayak is hard and Christian showed the participants how to avoid it before starting the game. The whole team sets off towards today's destination, the Little Mermaid. For Christian Engkilde, it is especially important that all participants learn safety, so that they can take care of themselves in a kayak.

It is a struggle to fish the frisbee out of the water. The participants in this class are all practiced, so they can both control the kayak and keep their balance – and avoid accidentally bashing each other on the head with the paddle in the 'heat of the battle' or bumping into the ribs of a teammate with the tip of the kayak. The kayak is hard and Christian showed the participants how to avoid it before starting the game. The whole team sets off towards today's destination, the Little Mermaid. For Christian Engkilde, it is especially important that all participants learn safety, so that they can take care of themselves in a kayak.

image: Anders Fjeldberg

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University Post is the critical, independent newspaper for students and employees of University of Copenhagen and anyone else who wishes to read it. Read more about it here.

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