by K.C. Jordan
Quyon
May 18, 2024
Twenty bike polo teams from across North America gathered over the weekend in Quyon for the fourth annual Rumble by the River tournament.
The atmosphere at the event was relaxed. Players were parking camper vans, pitching tents and slinging hammocks wherever they could find room on the Quyon fairgrounds.
Some people were up until 5 a.m. on Saturday morning playing pickup games under the lights. A four-piece band called “Unsociably High” provided the weekend’s entertainment.
“It’s always about the people for me,” said Justin Matheson, who started this . . .
tournament four years ago. “I throw this event specifically to get everybody from all over just to have fun, camp, and spend four days together.”
Bike polo began as a sport for bike messengers in Portland, Oregon in the early 2000s, and involves hitting a ball into a net with a mallet, all while riding a bike one-handed.
The sport has grown to include both highly competitive international tournaments, as well as more relaxed ones, such as this weekend’s.
Matheson plays with the Mallets of Mayhem, Ottawa’s bike polo club, and said the sport’s community looks forward to coming to Quyon every year.
“It’s set up perfectly for polo. The court is here, the river is there, the dépanneur and the chip stand . . . everything is within walking distance.”
This year, he wanted to give back to the town that has given the bike polo community so much. He asked each participant to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Bouffe Pontiac.
Players travelled from American and Canadian cities including Montreal, Philadelphia and New York City to face off against other teams on Quyon’s field.
Stevie Kuzara drove up from Buffalo, New York. This was his third Rumble by the River, an event he said he looks forward to every year.
“It satisfies all my needs of polo and community, beautiful nature. I love camping, I love polo, and just good hangs, and this is the epitome of that.”
Kuzara was thankful for the sunny weekend weather. He says last year they faced some pretty bad rain, but the community stayed strong.
“It washed everyone out, and everyone just shook it off, dried out, and the next day was beautiful. We just roll with it. The community comes together.”
