To get an event listed in the calendar, send your information 14-21 days in advance to: OEcalendar@denverpost.com or fax 303-866-9004. Be sure to include a contact number. Items will run on a per-space basis.
AVALANCHE AWARENESS
Friday-Sunday
Avalanche Level I program; at Loveland Ski Area; for women to learn the fundamentals of the avalanche phenomenon; a comprehensive introduction course for the basics in evaluating conditions; classroom and field instruction; covers weather, snowpack stability and terrain features, and more; $300 includes lift tickets. babesinthebackcountry.com or 970-453-4060
Avalanche I class; Level I class follows AAA guidelines and ski-patrolling techniques; covers the basics of avalanche safety, including how to identify avalanche terrain, weak layers and strong layers, perform field tests for snowpack stability, rescue techniques and more; half classroom, half field time; at Silverton Mountain; for skiers and snowboarders, advanced and expert; $279. silvertonmountain.com
CYCLING
Mountain and road
Ongoing
Beginner Mountain Bike Skills Class; various locations along the Front Range; first Sunday of every month; taught on a custom-made obstacle course; 8 a.m.; $80. 303-507-1148
Road rides each weekend in the south Denver area hosted by the Highlands Ranch Cycling Club; intermediate to advanced; two to five hours; helmet required; free. highlands-ranchcycling.com
Road bike rides every Saturday and Sunday along the Front Range, sponsored by Colorado HeartCycle; 20 to 100 miles; weather permitting; helmet required. heartcycle.org
KAYAKING
Ongoing
Lessons and open pool sessions hosted by Golden River Sports; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; reservations required; Golden Recreation Center. 303-215-9386
Open pool session and beginner and expert lessons hosted by Confluence Kayaks; 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays; lesson with gear, $45, open pool access only, $10; reservations required; University of Denver’s El Pomar Natatorium, 2201 E. Asbury Ave. 303-433-3676 or confluencekayaks.com
Open pool session hosted by Pikes Peak Whitewater Club and Colorado Kayak Supply; 5-7 p.m. Sundays; introductory lessons from 4-5 p.m.; Cheyenne Mountain High School pool, 1200 Cresta Road, in Colorado Springs. pikespeakwhitewaterclub.com
RUNNING
Saturday
Rudolph’s Revenge 5K/10K; at Chatfield State Park, in Littleton; the first race in the Winter Distance Series; $20 to $30; 10 a.m. winterdistanceseries.com
Aurora Police D.A.R.E. 5K Run/Walk; at Aurora Municipal Court, in Aurora; $15 to $25; seniors free; 10 a.m. 303-877-8534
Sunday
Christmas Classic 4-Mile; kids free; also, a Santa Chase kids’ fun run twice around a 200-meter loop; at Harmony Market Place in Fort Collins; 9 a.m. 970-377-8005
Steve’s Rudolph Ramble 5K and 100-Meter Junior Dash; part of the BKB Holiday Race Series; $15 to $23; at Washington Park in Denver; 9 a.m. bkbltd.com
Dec. 30
Kwanzaa 5K Run/Walk; in Aurora; $5 to $25; 10 a.m. 303-877-8534
Dec. 31
22nd Wells Fargo Resolution 5K Run and Walk; to benefit the Family Resource Center Association; at Washington Park in Denver; 6 p.m. 303-635-2815 or emgcolorado.com
Fort Collins Resolution Run; 5K evening race; both a competitive run and a family event with a kids’ run; prizes for costumes; on the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins; $13 to $22; 5:30 p.m. krfcfm.org
Jan. 1
New Year’s Day 5K at the Runners Roost in Fort Collins; $10; 10 a.m. runnersroostftcollins.com
Ongoing
Every Girl Runs Half-Marathon Training Group; meets Tuesday and Saturday mornings with triathlon coach Rainey Wikstrom; prepares for the Moab Half-Marathon Race in March; $325 to $645 for 15 weeks. 303-750-1191 or lmwikstrom@msn.com
SKIING/SNOWBOARDING
Wednesday
Ski/Board Conditioning at Lone Tree; at the Lone Tree Recreation Center; conditioning class; every Wednesday in December; 5:45 p.m.; $7. sspr.org or 303-708-3514
SolVista opening day. solvista.com
Wednesday-Saturday
U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix at Breckenridge; including Winter X Games champion Steve Fisher and some of the world’s other best riders; also, a night-time exhibition in town under the lights. breckenridge.snow.com or ussnowboarding.com/grandprix
Saturday
Women’s Tele Clinic; all female instructors, emphasize specific techniques for women; includes a half-day of professional tele instruction; $48 to $51; 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. arapahoebasin.com
Early Season Warm-Up Clinic; skiers and riders; must be comfortable on blue trails; $69; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. skiwinterpark.com
Sunday
Telemark Clinic No. 1; certified telemark instructors; for beginners; covers basic skills and movements; $59; 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. skiwinterpark.com or 800-729-7907
Monday-Dec. 19
Rocky Mountain Trophy Series Men’s and Women’s super-G; the region’s top male and female racers on the Hughes Trail course; qualifier for the U.S. Alpine National Championships. skiwinterpark.com or 970-726-1590
Dec. 23-24
FishSki at Crested Butte; a freeskiing ski camp for girls ages 12-17; with former world freeskiing champion Wendy Fisher; includes one day of big mountain and one day of terrain park coaching with Fisher and Crested Butte Mountain School professional ski instructors. fishski.com or skicb.com
Jan. 6-Feb. 3
Keystone KOPS ski and snowboard lessons; four sessions; by South Suburban Parks and Recreation; ages 8-14; transport, equipment and lunch included; $440. sspr.org or 303-347-5999
Jan. 8-9
High School Big Mountain Freeride Camp; weekend camp for high school-age snow athletes; learn big mountain skills, focusing on steep skiing, powder techniques, tree skiing and jumping; includes two days’ coaching from guides and two nights’ lodging; $425. silvertonmountain.com
Jan. 6-March 10
Lone Tree Ski Bus Trips; by South Suburban Parks and Recreation; chartered bus to Summit County ski resorts; all trips depart from the Lone Tree Recreation Center, 6 a.m., and leave to return at 3:30 p.m.; must be 18 years old or accompanied by an adult; $24. sspr.org or 303-347-5999
Jan. 9-13
Ski Jam IV; at Steamboat Springs; skiing, snowboarding and jam bands; with food, drinks, event tent. skijam.net
Jan. 20-21
The Talons Challenge Weekend; at Beaver Creek; a showcase of the best steeps at Beaver Creek; 13 black diamond and double-black diamond runs, including the World Cup Birds of Prey downhill course in Larkspur Bowl and on Grouse Mountain; normally the trails are exclusive to the Ski School. beavercreek.snow.com
Jan. 25-28
ESPN Winter X Games 11 returns for its sixth year at Aspen Mountain. aspensnowmass.com
Jan. 26-30
13th annual Country in the Rockies; at Steamboat Springs; world-class skiing and country music; race clinics, celebrity ski team race, mountain excursions and daily activities. steamboat.com
Feb. 3
Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge; at Keystone Resort; tour open to all ages and abilities, with more than 30 race categories, with winners invited to the series finals; also a Rail Jam, a core component on two-hour sessions. keystone.snow.com
Feb. 3-4
24 Hours of Sunlight; an endurance race challenge for teams of all ages and abilities to hike or ski up the mountain and ski or board down for more than a 24-hour period; at Sunlight Mountain. sunlightmtn.com
SNOWSHOEING/CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
Saturday
Salomon Ranch Creek Opener; 15K classic, 15K skate, 1K kids fun race; free waxing clinic; 10 a.m. devilsthumbranch.com
Dec. 20
Steamboat Nordic Challenge Series Howelsen Hill Relays; at the Steamboat Springs Nordic Center; both recreational and competitive skiers; classic and skate races; with a youth course of 1 to 3 kilometers, short course (3K to 5K) and a long course (10K) $14 to $16; 6:30 p.m. steamboatxcski.org
Jan. 6; Feb. 3
Skijoring Clinic; learn to ski with your dog; $25; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, in Tabernash; 10 a.m. devilsthumbranch.com
Jan. 12-15
Third Grand Lake Snowshoe Festival; includes 7K competitive race, 7K fun run/walk, celebrity snowshoe race, antique snowshoe tours and sleigh rides, ice skating, mountaineering and environmental seminars, and more; main race is a USSA-sanctioned event; at Grand Lake. grandlakesnowshoefestival.com
Jan. 20
SWIX 2007 Devil’s Thumb Pursuit Championships; 7.5K Classic/7.5K skate continuous pursuit; 10 a.m.; mass start; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, in Tabernash. devilsthumbranch.com or 970-726-8231
Jan. 28
Sixth AARP Redfeather Snowshoe Festival; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, in Tabernash. devilsthumbranch.com or 970-726-8231
Feb. 24
Wild Hare Snowshoe Trek; at Snow Mountain Ranch; snowshoe trek for the Sporting Woman Community Fund. thesportingwoman.com
TRIATHLON/DUATHLON
Jan. 14
National Championship Tune-Up Winter Triathlon; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Winter Park/Fraser Valley; 5K run, 10K mountain bike and 8K ski; 9:30 a.m. 5430sports.com or 303-442-0041
Feb. 4
USA Triathlon Winter National Championship and ITU Pan American Winter Triathlon Championship; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Winter Park/ Fraser Valley; 8K run, 15K mountain bike, 10K ski; 9:30 a.m. 5430sports.com or 303-442-0041
WINTER ACTIVITIES
Today-Sunday
Country Vail Snow Daze; a celebration of early-season snow and mountain lifestyle; on-snow events and street parties. vailsnowdaze.com
Dec. 16
Skate with Santa at South Suburban Ice Arena; all ages; skate with Santa, his elves and Mrs. Claus; 1-3 p.m.; bring a non-perishable food item to skate for free. sspr.org or 303-483-7016
Jan. 13
Full Moon Ski and Ice Skating; also a bonfire, marshmallows and hot chocolate; 6:30-9:30 p.m.; at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, in Tabernash. devilsthumbranch.com
Jan. 16
33rd annual Bud Light Cowboy Downhill; a ski rodeo, with more than 100 of the best professional rodeo cowboys competing in downhill events. 970-879-6111 or steamboat.com
LECTURES/CLASSES
Ongoing
Maps, Compasses and Orienteering class; a U.S. Geological Survey- hosted class; free; 1 p.m., first and third Fridays of the month at REI Denver flagship store, 1416 Platte St. rei.com
Outdoor discussion with Altitude Adventures staff; topics include high-altitude sicknesses, trip planning and compass reading and what to do in emergency situations. altitudeadventures.com or 303-499-1100
