50 Ways to Leave Your Blubber 

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38. FOOSBALL Foosball, while not as popular as other parlor games such as pool, is one of those pastimes that has a passionate, cult-like following. The game — also known as table soccer — is believed to have originated in Germany during the late 20s. A guy named Lawrence Patterson brought the first table soccer game to the US in 1962, and received trademark rights to the term "Foosball." Two great places to play are:

Bailey's Sports Grille, 8500 Pineville Matthews Road, 704-541-0794.
Thomas Street Tavern, 1218 Thomas Street Ave., 704-376-5975.

39. SWIMMING Swimming is great exercise, much easier on your body than running and other impact sports, plus you get to see people in their bathing suits. County Park and Rec offers several great public swimming facilities, including the Aquatic Center, the Marion Diehl Center Pool, and Ray's Splash Planet. They also offer swimming and water exercise classes for all ages. If you're interested, call the Aquatic Center at 704-336-DIVE or check out www.parkandrec.com, then click on "aquatics."

Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, 800 East 2nd St., 704-336-DIVE
Marion Diehl Center, 2219 Tyvola Road, 704-527-0237
Ray's Splash Planet, 215 N. Sycamore St., 704-432-4RAY

PUBLIC NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS
Revolution Pool, 120 Remount Rd., 704-336-2652
Cordelia Pool, 2100 N. Davidson St., 704-336-2096
Double Oaks, 1200 Newland Rd., 704-336-2653

40. WATER SKIING If you're into water skiing, you're in luck, because the Charlotte area is blessed with several great lakes, including Lake Norman, Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie. Plus there are a number of public boat launch areas provided through Duke Power and a state park on Lake Norman in Iredell County. Lake Wylie, about 15 miles south of Charlotte in York County, 325 miles of shoreline, ideal for boating, fishing, water skiing and sailing.

McDowell Park, McDowell Nature Preserve, 15222 York Road (Hwy 49), 704-583-1176

Lake Wylie/Catawba River

Gaston County

South Point South Point Road, 26 acres of land as well as 3,410 feet of shoreline. Six concrete boat ramps and three floating parking spaces.

York County

Buster Boyd Hwy 49, 662 feet of Lake Wylie shoreline, covering four acres of terrain including two concrete boat ramps with four lanes and one floating loading pier with three slips.

Mountain Island Lake

Mountain Island Lake is located on the Catawba River chain and forms the line separating Mecklenburg and Gaston counties. It has approximately 3,281 acres of surface area and 61 miles of shoreline. There are several public access areas on the lake:

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, 704-875-1391

Neck Road Access Area, covering six acres alongside 614 feet of shoreline. Park amenities include a concrete boat ramp, a stationary loading pier and 50 gravel parking spaces for visitor convenience.

Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road, Cornelius, 704-896-9808
Jetton Park is a 105-acre lakefront park offering a variety of recreational opportunities.
Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius, 704-896-9808.
This 46-acre waterfront park features beaches for sunning, a wind-surfer beach, a boat launch area with docks, a new playground, picnic shelters (some covered), nature trails, a store and a fishing pier.
Blythe Landing, 15901 Highway 73, Huntersville, 704-896-9808.
This 26-acre park offers floating piers and boat launching facilities.

PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS
Lake Norman
Iredell County
Pinnacle Hwy 150, between Mooresville & Terrell. Nine-acre area with 1,035 feet of shoreline. Three concrete boat ramps & one floating loading pier with four slips are available for public use.
Lake Norman State Park, State Park Road, off I-77 at Exit 42, Troutman, 704-528-6350.
1447 acre park offers group and family camping, boating, boat ramps, boat rental, fishing, nature and hiking trails, nature programs, picnicking and public swimming.
Lake Norman Ski Club
Watersports junkies of all kinds are welcome to check out the Lake Norman Ski Club which offers an array of lessons and clinics. http://lakenormanskiclub.8m.com/skier.htm

41. UNDERWATER HOCKEY Ranking right up there with synchronized swimming and curling in the oddity department, underwater hockey is a fast-paced game played on the bottom of a pool. Players push a 3-lb. puck using a foot-long stick. The sport is coed, non-contact and a great workout. For more information contact Dan Goodrich at: daniel.goodrich@atcmail.com

42. TABLE TENNIS Guess what's the most popular indoor sport in the world? It's table tennis. So says John Pahl. And if anyone would know such a thing it's John, who's president of the Charlotte Table Tennis Club. The club currently has about 50 members, representing about 16 different countries, most of whom are nationally rated with the US Table Tennis. The club is having a tournament May 1 at the First Ward Recreation Center, featuring some of the best players in the Southeast. For more information, check out www.USTT.org.