Hobby Central

by Brandom Freund on 23 Apr 2008

The University of Nevada, Reno's administration has always tried to facilitate diversity on campus. But do we realize how diverse we have actually become? UNR is truly a melting pot for all sorts of hobbies, encouraging everything from the globally popular to the uniquely unusual. Here's a preview of a few UNR students who are not ashamed to try something they find interesting…no matter the costume!

There is a plenty of focus being put on making games more realistic, and although many would argue which came first, the video game role playing game, or the real life role playing game, reality can't get much more real for Danyelle Overbo. Overbo, graduating this May as a
mathematics and English major, plays real life role playing games, or RPGs.

"This hobby is looked at as a ‘geeks only' type of thing and it's really not," Oberbo says. "I have friends from all sorts of social backgrounds who play RPGs and love them, it's one of the most fun things you could ever do."

They use the Generic Universal RolePlaying System (GURPS) to create the characters in these real life games. These characters can have back stories, different abilities or handicaps according to a point system on paper.

"One person is the GM (game master), and they create the setting for the characters and the story," Overbo says. "GURPS allow the GM to
create any world he can imagine for the characters to be in, from a
futuristic space setting to prehistoric times to present day. Anything can be done with GURPS."

Once the story is set up, you just sit down and play by talking out the story. The characters have decisions to make and tasks to accomplish. The outcome of these events is determined by rolling three six-sided dice. And although live, many aspects of the role playing game are made easier by using computer programs to assist you with the GURP system.

As you can imagine, Overbo says that this is something that gets hard to keep up as friends graduate or move away. They are always looking for new friends who are interested in giving it a try.

"Usually this is done with a close-knit group of friends," Overbo says. "You get into this sort of thing if you know someone who has a group together and you have an open mind and then one day you join them and learn how much fun it is."

|En Garde!|

Rose Vale is a fencer, and it all started with a free lesson at a
Renaissance Faire. About six years ago, Vale, a senior and Children's Educational Psychology major at UNR, decided to try something new.

"I study and perform historical re-enactments of Renaissance swordfighting with the Society of Creative Anachronisms (SCA)," Vale says. "We act as part of the cast at
renaissance fairs, where we meet with other swordfighting guilds and hold tournaments."

The SCA is an international organization that researches and re-creates the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe.

Members dress in clothing from the Middle Ages and Renaissance while attending events which feature tournaments, arts exhibits, classes, workshops, dancing, feasts and more.

As her swords swish through Renaissance Faires, Vale practices various styles of fighting with rapiers, daggers and period replica sabers.

"Both our rapiers and our sabers are tempered to have a certain degree of flexibility, for safety purposes," Vale says, adding that the real thing is difficult to perform with.

"An authentic sword is relatively inflexible," she says.

Along with the proper weaponry, authentic costumes are a must for
participating in a Renaissance Faire. Accurate garb can consist of a cloth hood, throat armor, leather gauntlets, along with full arm and leg coverage, boots and protective gear like masks and cups. Fighting for the SCA requires three layers of abrasion resistant cloth over the torso, three layers of puncture resistant material on the upper arms, thighs, and neck to protect the brachial and femoral arteries, and the cervical vertebrae.

But it's not an easy getting to the level that Vale and her family are at.

"Lessons are cheap, but it's difficult to find the weapon and armor
replicas with the right combination of strength and flexibility for a real, yet safe, dueling experience," Vale says. "It takes about six months to learn the basics and about six years (with dedication and practice) to become proficient in the art of the sword."

Vale suggests knowing your instruments and doing your research before taking up the hobby.

"Don't buy any fighting gear unless you have spoken with an
experienced swordfighter and spent enough time in lessons to see if this is for you," Vale says. "Most instructors have a variety of loaner gear, which you can test to see which styles you prefer before investing in this hobby."

|An Equestr- what?|

Horseback riding may seem a bit complicated. But regardless the difficulty students at UNR have the talent. Sarah Tjoa, a junior, is the captain of the Nevada Equestrian Team.

"This is not just my hobby, but my passion," Tjoa says. "I love riding and always have. It's the most terrifying experience in some ways, but also the most rewarding…there's nothing out there like it."

Tjoa has been riding for 15 years and came to UNR looking for a way to continue her passion.

"The equestrian team participates in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which is a unique organization that allows college students who don't have time for a full-fledged showing schedule with their own horses to compete with other colleges nationally," Tjoa says.

According to Tjoa, the association provides one of the more
dangerous ways to practice horseback riding. She finds her greatest
difficulty in competing with a horse that she has not trained or formed a relationship with.

"Riding is dangerous enough but considering riding a horse you haven't touched before greatly multiplies the anxiety and danger of the entire experience," Tjoa says.

She mostly enjoys riding English for the association. In addition she does show jumping, flatwork and a little Western riding too.

"Horses vary in so many different ways and when you add skill level, different disciplines, and a competition atmosphere, things get tricky," Tjoa says.

For aspiring riders, Tjoa recommends joining the equestrian team if you're interested in horseback riding.

"It's the best way to get easy training that accommodates to a college student's lifestyle," Tjoa says. "Try out both the Western and
English discipline and figure out what you like best. It requires hard-work and dedication."

Otherwise, she says just get out there and get familiar with the training barns in your area. It's a great way to form lasting relationships with those who share your interest and the animals you train with.

|Hot! Hot! Hot!|

Nothing beats salsa dancing when you feel like doing something hot, according to international business major, Carlos Montenegro. The UNR junior began salsa dancing at a community center in Las Vegas as his mother's dance partner and says that since then it has only gotten better.

"I have been salsa dancing for around five years off and on," Montenegro says. "I was in Los Salsoleros, a salsa group, for a short while in Las Vegas which performed for different community events. That was tons of fun and the rush of performing is always exciting."

Salsa dancing is one of many Latin dances around the world. It is less formal than you would see on a ballroom dance floor and is a great way to exercise and meet new friends. People of all ages and experience levels get involved in salsa dancing, and it is an
inexpensive hobby to maintain.

"I enjoy it so much because it is different from the typical bump and grind you get at all your weekend parties," says Montenegro. "There is a lot of self expression and the sexuality of it is just irresistible."

To get started salsa dancing you just need to do a little research, Montenegro says. "There are various studios around town which offer classes at reasonable rates. Some restaurants have beginners class for free and you can find tutorials on the internet."

Montenegro and some friends recently formed the Rumberos club at the University for anyone interested in experiencing more salsa dancing.

"At first you might feel awkward and off balance, but if you keep practicing you will get the hang of it," Montenegro says. "Then next time a salsa song comes on you will be the talk of the crowd."

For now, Montenegro will reserve his hobby for the casual weekends.

"After I take some more classes I might look into teaching some beginners classes on my own for some extra cash," Montenegro says. "But for the time being, I will just enjoy going out with some friends and having a great night. Dancing is a very useful skill and I still have not met a girl that does not like it"

If you're interested in dancing, upbeat Latin music, or impressing the ladies, it's definitely something worth checking out.

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