Foosball Fever

Denver is to foosball what Europe is to soccer: a breeding ground and a battlefield. From hosting the first International Foosball Championship tournament in 1974 at Elitch Gardens to being home to more master-level foosers per capita than any other city in the world, Denver is a holy land for foosball hooligans. And while the best footballers ship to Manchester or Madrid to hone their touches, foosballers from around the world come to Denver to get their kicks.

There's a tournament almost every night in the metro area, and one of the best is held on Wednesday nights at Castaways in Westminster. It's a classic double-elimination BYP ("bring your partner") tournament that consistently draws some of the best talent in the region. Foosaholics with nicknames like "Pickle," "Sticky" and "Pimp 'n' Ho" belly up to the rods with custom handle grips and pockets full of quarters, calculating percentages for passing efficiency and smashing pull shots from their two-bar that will make you duck for cover. Want to see how you match up to a master fooser? The $5 entry fee is cheap tuition for a chance to learn from the best.

Castaways is located at 451 West 84th Avenue; contact tournament director Aaron LeFevre at 303-916-2953 for more information. If Wednesday isn't your night or Westminster isn't your haunt, check out www.coloradofoosball.com for other area contests.
Wednesdays, 2007