Why an evening of pétanque with friends is the shit

An old man's sport that has suddenly become trendy again: pétanque. Yes, the senior game is experiencing an unprecedented rise among millennials. Looking for a night out? Throwing metal balls is back in. Yes, really. And now with charcuterie boards and gin and tonics included.

The first thing I wonder: what drives us twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings? How can an old-fashioned camping sport suddenly become ‘cool’ again? Does the sports world follow the same trends as fashion? Something is completely out and then slowly becomes trendy again? Or does this overstressed internet generation simply long for quaintness? Is that what drives us to also massively start playing cards again?

Anyway: in Sweden, pétanque halls are popping up like mushrooms, and in the Netherlands, throwing balls is also trendy. Going out? Nah, so 2019. ‘Pétanque’ is the new going out. And while playing pétanque, you eat vegan bitterballen and drink craft beers.

An elongated sandbox, one small ball, and a few large metal balls: that's all there is to it. And that makes it so nice and clear, that a game hall isn't cluttered with new technological gadgets. Just throw that big ball as close as possible to that small ball, that’s it.

Maybe pétanque for millennials is a bit comparable to golfing: clearing your head while moving. It doesn't matter at all whether you win or lose. You can just stay in your normal clothes, you don't need any complicated accessories (or ugly bowling shoes!) and you don't have to master any special technique. It's accessible (everyone can win) and it reminds you a bit of that one vacation in France.

Anyway, pétanque then. You can now do it in almost every major city, and mark my words: it's fun.

The balls!