Whether it’s earth or air, dirt or water, rock or roll, Colorado has every outdoor adventure enthusiast covered this weekend.
* Ladies first: Breckenridge-based Babes in the Backcountry is halfway through its women-only mountain biking clinics this summer, joining instructors from RipStoke for a home-girls session of coaching, yoga, skills and drills in Breck on Saturday. More comprehensive follow-up sessions are scheduled for July 13-15 and Aug. 10-12, with one-day options available.
To learn more, call 970-453-4060 or go online at
* Boaters first: America’s oldest whitewater festival kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday with the carnage-centric Pine Creek Boater X on the upper reaches of the Arkansas River. A carnival atmosphere ensues in the otherwise sleepy town of Salida throughout the weekend, mingled with running races, kids climbing contests, pro-am kayak rodeos, a river dog competition and the FIBArk Festival’s namesake event – the 26-mile downriver race to Cotopaxi to establish who is First in Boating on the Ark. www.fibark.com
* Air sickness: Sometimes it’s safer in the bleachers, and this weekend’s Mile Hi Canopy Cup in Longmont qualifies as one of those times. Fearless professional parachute pilots will fly through the sky at the Longmont Airport from Friday through Sunday in the third annual “swooping” competition, skimming across the pond at speeds in excess of 90 mph for horizontal distances of up to 700 feet. The event is free and open to the public.
Info at or 303-SKYDIVE.
* Climb for a cure: Health, Empowerment, Research and Awareness are the inspiration behind the HERA Climb for Life Celebration, coming to Boulder and Denver for the first time Friday through Sunday. Supporting the fight against ovarian cancer, the $50 clinic is designed for all ability levels and includes climbing clinics, parties, food and more. Learn more at www.herafoundation.org/events.
