Beavers
The Beavers are a San Francisco-based bike polo team with two World Championships and three North America Championships.
Photography by Matthew Brush @brush
HI BRIAN! TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
I’m a member of the San Francisco Beavers, a bike polo team comprised of 3 members—me, Joey Halverson and Eric Kremin. By day, I’m the sales manager at DZR shoes, which is a San Francisco-based footwear company that specializes in sneakers for cycling.
SNEAKERS FOR CYCLING. TELL US MORE.
We make clipless pedaling technology—products for cyclists who either commute to work or get around town on their bicycle and want a shoe that’ll perform well on the bike, but not look like a cycling shoe. They’re incognito.
LOTS OF CYCLISTS OUT IN SAN FRANCISCO. WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD ARE YOU IN?
For work, our headquarters are in the financial district downtown. And for bike polo, I train on a “polo court” in the mission at Jose Coronado. It’s basically a shitty old tennis court that’s surrounded by undesirables. Bike polo clubs are known for taking advantage of unused spaces in the least attractive parts of cities, often crumbling old tennis courts. But there’s a multi-use park featuring a polo court that will open soon in Dolores Park. It’ll be the second court of its kind in the world—Vancouver, B.C. already has one.
WHAT DO THE OTHER GUYS ON YOUR TEAM DO?
Joey’s a student, and Kremin is a bike shop manager.
WHAT DRAWS YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS TO THE SPORT?
For me, I grew up riding my bike to school in Minnesota, in the freezing cold springs and I've always been into it. Bike polo started when a friend showed it to me when I lived in Milwaukee. I’d just quit ice hockey and was looking for something similar. And I was also drawn to the community, which is just as much about hanging out and going out for drinks as it is about playing.
I was also drawn to the community, which is just as much about hanging out and going out for drinks as it is about playing.
Brian Dillman
YOU GUYS HAVE WON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS A BUNCH OF TIMES, AND JUST DEFENDED YOUR TITLE RECENTLY IN FRANCE. HOW'D THAT GO?
It was a great time. We had a blast. But our expectations are always to win, and we were runners-up this time. The team from Paris beat us. We beat them last year in Florida, so we have a rivalry.
WHAT DO YOU WEAR TO MATCHES, AND WHAT GEAR IS INVOLVED?
Purpose-built shoes designed specifically for hardcore bike polo from DZR, of course. Clipless pedals. Really tough over-built single-speed bikes that have fast acceleration and tight handling. Milwaukee Bicycle Company mallets. Mesh jerseys—they’re ventilated well and breathe. Protective gloves and helmets. Shorts. Some people wear knee pads and sleeves.
IF YOU DIDN'T LIVE IN SF, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE?
I almost moved to New York City a while back, but I realize now that for me it’s a better place to visit than it would be to live in. In the future… I love the mountains. So eventually I see myself leading me somewhere to a lakeside log cabin with, hopefully, no electricity and a wood burning stove. Like that guy in Alone in the Wilderness? I can see that happening.
{{ get-the-look }}
SOUNDS NICE. IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT ARE THREE THINGS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT?
First, my bicycles. Second, my surfboard—I’m just learning and it’s taking me a while to progress. But even on the worst day, when you’re surfing you’re still floating in the waves and there’s dolphins and whales. And definitely my friend group, they are a hugely important part of my life.
WHAT ARE YOUR THREE FAVORITE BARS IN SF?
Benders in the Mission. That’s our go-to before-and-after polo spot. Another is the Hemlock, which keeps it real. It’s near my apartment on Polk Street. And my third favorite place to drink isn’t a bar. It’d be to just get a six-pack on my bike and ride to a park and hang out.
WHAT'S THE BEST VIEW IN TOWN?
From the top of Corona Heights. It’s close to downtown, and it feels like you’re on top of a skyscraper, it’s so straight up. it’s windy and foggy and shitty most of the time. And there’s awesome rocks to sit on and check out the sights.
WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK OF YOUR W&P GEAR?
We tried out the shorts and the polo shirts in royal blue. It’s not an outfit we would necessarily wear every day, but I really liked them. It made us look a little more put together. When you get a little more dressed up you can act the part—comfortable, classy, and the blue of the polo is vibrant and stands out. They look really great when you’re wearing them.
Get the look
More Field Testers
Ben Warehime
Ben Warehime is a brooklyn-based woodworker/fabricator and the man behind our rolling pop-up shop, the Wool Peddler.
#004
Aaron Flack
Aaron Flack left his NYC consulting gig last year and embarked on a 17,000 mile road trip.Now he’s back in NYC working at a digital entertainment studio with a new appreciation for city life.
#003