Matchmaking Fitness
Get
fit while connecting with other singles in these
romantic sport and activity clubs.
BY
LINDA MELONE
“An
instant camaraderie develops when people participate
in fun, outdoor activities together," says Craig
Inaba, founder of Orange County-based ActivaDate.com.
"You can't get the same thing in a nightclub or
online." Inaba, a professed sports fanatic and
former golf instructor, launched the new fitness
singles site early this year and already counts over
400 members.
Anyone who has ever endured a date-gone-horribly
wrong due to incompatibility (she smokes, you're a
triathlete), sees the value of screening for
important life values. Seeking other active, fit
people falls into the "niche dating" category.
Web-based fitness groups are only one of many niche
dating organizations that cater to smokers,
vegetarians, Ivy Leaguers and even Ayn Rand fans.
(Rand wrote "Atlas Shrugged"). The niche industry
ballooned from $50 million in 2000 to an estimated
$490 million in 2005, according to Jupiter Research
in New York.
Sites like ActivaDate attract like-minded singles
(average ages from 21 to 35) and establish some
reassuring common ground upfront. Recent ActivaDate
events have included rock climbing, golfing clinics,
hiking, mountain biking and beach volleyball.
Membership to the site/club is free. "Our goal is to
attract singles between Los Angeles and San Diego,”
Inaba says. “In addition, we are looking for
companies to help sponsor events or donate raffle
prizes to help raise money for charities we're
working with.”
Dynamic vacations Another Orange County fit-singles
club, the Athletic Singles Association, opened its
doors more than 20 years ago, making it one of the
first of its kind. Ed Reder, founder of ASA, began
the club in 1985 after a short stint running a video
dating company. "I had always been into sports and
was looking for tennis partners while I had the
video dating company. So, I thought why not combine
the two and have a sports-type singles
organization?" Reder says.
Athletic Singles boasts more than 1,200 members in
Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles counties, although
their Orange County membership is the largest. ASA
attracts singles between 30 and 40 years old,
according to Reder. Members enjoy sports ranging
from paintball to wakeboarding, but ASA specializes
in dynamic vacations. "I call it Club Ed," Reder
jokes. Members, who can take trips to such places as
Tahiti, Costa Rica, Belize, Greece and Italy, save
cash on room, board and food. "What the members save
on trips more than makes up for the cost of
joining," Reder says.
At
$425 a year to join (plus a $275-a-year renewal
fee), Reder knows his club is more expensive than
many other singles groups but believes you "get what
you pay for."
Eileen Hurley, a member of ASA for four years,
enjoys the social interaction and variety of
activities. "It's a chance to get to know someone
over time. I tried other dating services years ago,
but you don't know someone until you meet them
face-to-face."
What's the success rate for marriages? Reder
estimates that over 200 couples met and married
after meeting at an ASA event. "It's tough to know
I think there are more than that, actually, but we
don't keep track."
Beyond the niche Although finding someone with
similar interests makes sense, one expert cautions
against limiting yourself exclusively to niche
dating organizations. Connie Merritt, Laguna
Beach-based dating coach and author of "Finding Love
(Again!)," recommends using specialized dating sites
with caution. "Looking for someone by using only
niche groups limits your options." In addition,
Merritt notes that "fitness" means different things
to different age groups.
"To
a 20-something man, a 'fit' woman may mean an
attractive woman with a great body, but to a man in
his 40s, it may but not necessarily include a
woman with an incredible outlook on life, full of
energy and a sense of humor."
Strictly online fitness dating sites also exist for
those who prefer this approach or do not have access
to live organizations. Most, like
www.athleticmeet.com, allow you to search profiles
for free but charge for a monthly membership if you
want to respond to another member's profile.
Athletic-meet.com charges between $12 and $20 a
month, depending on the package you choose.
Merritt offers this advice to Orange County singles
looking for a mate: "Spend time making yourself a
more intriguing person and you'll attract other
people. You must first be an interesting person
yourself."
www.activadate.com
OC Metro
