Saba / Sport

By Nigel Tisdall

Saba is not a destination for sports enthusiasts, but the islanders have an interest in major events with basketball the most closely followed sport.

Adventure

Beyond diving and hiking, Saba does not offer adventure sports – although you may think otherwise when you see the daredevil speed with which some locals tear around on their quad bikes.

Cricket

The culture and landscape of Saba is not conducive to the game of cricket.

Cycling

With its steep mountains and just one long, sinuous road, this lonely tropical island would seem the ideal place for a gruelling coast-to-coast Tour de Saba race. Until that happy day, the dogs will continue to sleep peacefully in the middle of the road.

Golf

There are no golf courses on Saba. The nearest is at the somewhat run-down Mullet Bay Golf Course on St Maarten, or for top class facilities head to the Greg Norman-designed Temenos Golf Club on Anguilla.

Health/Fitness

Just look outside your window - the hills around you are a walk-in workout. If you fancy some step-aerobics, head for the 524 steps of The Ladder, a cliffside trail up which everything on the island was brought until the 1970s. If you prefer to get a sweat up indoors, Shearwater Resort and Queen's Garden Resort both have a small fitness centre, plus a large outdoor pool.

Hiking/Walking

Until just sixty years ago, Saba was an island where if you wanted to get somewhere, you walked. The footpaths that once linked its villages together now form the nucleus of an extensive and highly rewarding network of a dozen signposted trails that are today managed by the Saba Conservation Foundation and kept in shape through the efforts of visiting and resident volunteers. Trail maps, books and information on hiring a local guide can be obtained from the Saba Tourist Bureau and the Trail Shop in Windwardside.

Sport Fishing

The best opportunities for sports fishing are on nearby St Martin/St Maarten, but you might be able to arrange a trip by asking the local fisherman at the harbour. Fishing is not permitted inside the Saba National Marine Park, which encircles the entire island from the high-water mark to a depth of 200ft (60m).