Rockies
Caps, dogs, fireworks on tap
OK, the Rockies aren’t playing well. And that’s being kind. But there still are reasons to spend a summer night with a hot dog, a cold beer and baseball at Coors Field.
The Rockies will hold special promotions throughout the summer. Start with Father’s Day, June 21. Dad gets to see the Rockies host the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the first 20,000 fans get a free baseball cap.
The Rockies throw one of the best holiday fireworks shows in Colorado, and they’ll do it twice, on July 3 and 4. The opponent for both games is the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tickets still are available for both games.
Fans interested in catching baseball’s most intriguing teams get numerous chances. The defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, featuring budding star Evan Longoria, come to Coors Field on June 16-18. Chicago Cubs fans will take over Coors Field on Aug. 7-10. It’s always an adventure seeing Rockies and Cubs fans try to outshout each other during “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
June 9-10: First-year player draft
June 16: $1 Hot dog night, first 10,000 fans
June 21: Father’s Day baseball cap game, first 20,000 fans
July 3-4: Independence Day fireworks nights
July 14: All-Star Game, Busch Stadium, St. Louis
July 25: Rockies photo day, open to all fans
July 31: Major League Baseball trade deadline (2 p.m. MDT)
Aug. 7: Coca-Cola baseball cap night, first 15,000 fans
Aug. 7-10: Chicago Cubs at Coors Field
Aug. 23: Rockies faith day, open to all fans
Sept. 25: Fans appreciation fireworks night
Note: All giveaways and event dates are subject to change
Avalanche
Still nice time for ice
For Avalanche fans, summer usually is a fairly quiet time. But not all quiet.
The biggest fix Avs fans can receive is in the second week of July, when Avalanche rookie development camp begins at the Family Sports Center in Centennial.
Open to the public, fans can get their first look at the team’s top draft pick from the June 26-27 NHL draft — in which the Avs have the third pick.
The draft itself is a fun day for fans, although the Avs don’t have an official “draft party.” Lots of unofficial ones take place among the fandom.
Aside from that, the other big day is July 1 — free agency day. But with the Avs having salary cap problems, it may be a quiet day this year. Still, you never know.
Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
June 26-27: NHL draft
July 1: NHL free agency begins.
July 7-14: Avs rookie development camp, Centennial. Open to the public.
Extremes
Kayak, climb, bike, run
While Vail is historically known for skiing, the town’s annual Teva Mountain Games have earned the reputation as the one-stop spot for summer outdoor adventure sports. On June 4-7, the Games celebrate mountain sport and culture in an unrivaled festival featuring whitewater kayaking, rafting, bouldering, mountain biking, road cycling and running events for pros and amateurs. Live music, a film festival (and school), photo contest, exhibitions, gear demos and parties galore round out the festival (www.tevamountaingames.com).
Those interested in a more aquatic-oriented event will want to visit the New Belgium FIBArk Festival in Salida, June 18-21. The nation’s longest-running river festival (61 years) is rooted in all aspects of river boating (the unabbreviated name is First In Boating on the Arkansas River) but has spread its wings to encompass several other sports and a carnival atmosphere (www.fibark.net).
Mountain bike lovers can follow the New Belgium beer trucks over Monarch Pass to Crested Butte’s Fat Tire Bike Week, June 24-29. Catch the pros in action during the Wildflower Rush races (June 19-21), then try out the legendary trails of the sport’s Colorado birthplace for yourself. Contests and clinics abound (www.cbchamber.com).
Scott Willoughby, The Denver Post
Monday: Paddling Life Pro Invitational, Yampa River, Steamboat Springs
May 30-31: U.S. Freestyle Kayaking Team Trials, Colorado River, Glenwood Springs
June 4-7: Mountain Sports Teva Mountain Games, Vail
June 12-14: Mountain Sports Lyons Outdoor Games, Lyons
June 18-21: FIBArk Festival, Arkansas River, Salida
June 19-21: Adventure Xstream Series Purgatory Challenge (three-day stage: kayak, mountain bike, marathon), Durango
June 19-21: Mountain States Cup, Wildflower Rush, Crested Butte
June 22-28: Durango Bike Week, Durango
June 24-28: Fat Tire Bike Week, Crested Butte
June 26-28: Gunnison River Festival, Gunnison River, Gunnison
July 4: Firecracker 50 mountain bike race, Breckenridge
July 16-19: USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships, Sol Vista/Granby Ranch
July 18: XTERRA Off Road Triathlon, Beaver Creek
July 25: Gravity Play Series, six-, 12- and 18-hour multisport, Summit County
July 30-Aug. 2: Crankworx Colorado, Winter Park
Aug. 7-9: Mountain States Cup, Blast the Mass, Snowmass Village
Aug. 15: Leadville Trail 100, Leadville
Aug. 14-15: Gore Canyon Festival, Kremmling
Aug. 28-30: Mountain States Cup, The Copper Cup, Copper Mtn.
Sept. 5-6: Gravity Play Series, 30-hour Moab Finale
Sept. 4-7: Mountain States Cup, Sol Survivor, Granby/Sol Vista
Cycling
Hit the trail with the pros
Elephant Rock Cycling Festival is the unofficial kickoff of Colorado’s summer cycling season, with a variety of rides on both street and dirt for the young and not-so- young, and experienced and inexperienced riders. All rides start and end at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The shortest course is 7 miles, with others at 25, 32, 62 and 100 miles. Start times range from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Stick around for the post-race Party at the Rock picnic and cycling expo. Gregg Burkhart, The Denver Post
June 7: Elephant Rock Cycling Festival, Castle Rock
June 14-19: Denver Post Ride The Rockies
June 20: Blue River Century and Metric Century, Keystone
July 11: 21st annual Triple Bypass, Evergreen
July 17: 18th annual Fat Tire Classic, Winter Park
July 18: Kaiser Permanente Moonlight Classic, Denver
July 18: Mount Evans Hill Climb, Idaho Springs
July 25: Sunrise Century, Boulder
Aug. 1: Copper Triangle, Copper Mountain
Aug 9: Pedal to the Point, Fort Collins
Aug. 9: Good Sam Bike Jam, Lafayette
Aug. 16: Muddy Buddy, Boulder
Aug. 22: Tour de Cure, Longmont
Aug. 30: Venus de Miles, Longmont
Triathlons
Racing for a cure
The annual women-only event that benefits the Denver chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be Sunday, Aug. 2, at Cherry Creek State Park, starting at 7 a.m. Get yourself registered, because the triathlon is limited to 3,000 participants and usually fills up early. Athletes must be at least 16 years old. The swim is a half-mile, the cycling portion 11.4 miles, and then a 5-kilometer run. Gregg Burkhart, The Denver Post
May 31: 29th annual Longmont Triathlon
June 6: Boulder Sunrise Triathlon
June 21: 5430 Sprint Triathlon, Boulder
June 27: Danskin Women’s Triathlon, Aurora
July 12: Boulder Peak Triathlon
July 25: My Way or the Tri Way, Aurora
Aug. 2: Tri for the Cure women’s triathlon, Aurora
Aug. 8: 5430 Long Course Triathlon, Boulder
Aug. 16: Boulder Mini Muddy Buddy
Golf
Time for some swingin’
If the economy curtails some traveling and allows more time at home, make a resolution to lower your handicap this summer by taking lessons.
Most PGA professionals (club pros) offer lessons. Discounts often are given for a series of lessons. Group lessons are less expensive. Individual instruction can pinpoint particular problems.
Go to and click on the “Play Golf America” link. By inserting your ZIP code, you’ll find lesson packages and other events at courses near you.
Golf Digest gives Colorado’s public courses one of the highest average ratings among all the states. See what you’ve been missing.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
May 27-29: Colorado Women’s Open, Green Valley Ranch
June 2-5: Palmer Cup (college version of Ryder Cup), Cherry Hills
June 22-25: CWGA Match Play, Pinehurst CC, Parker
June 23-26: Colorado Open, Green Valley Ranch
July 6-10: CGA Match Play, Bear Creek Golf Club
Aug. 13-16: CGA Stroke Play, Lakewood Country Club
Aug. 18-19: Denver Open, Colorado National Golf Club, Erie
Sept. 2-4: Colorado Senior Open, Green Valley Ranch
Broncos
One fine day for the fans
The Broncos’ regular season doesn’t kick off until after Labor Day — Sept. 13 at Cincinnati, to be exact — but fans still can get their fill of the NFL in the sweaty summer months.
The team’s annual Fan Fair is June 6 at Invesco Field at Mile High. All Broncos players and coaches will be there to meet fans, take pictures and sign autographs. Individual tickets, available through and at the Invesco Field box office, are $20 for adults, $10 for children, or fans can buy a five-pack of tickets (there are a limited number) for $40.
Fans also will be able to watch training camp at the team’s Dove Valley headquarters. Camp is scheduled to begin July 31. The team typically has two practices a day, and most sessions are open to the public. All sessions and parking are free. Bring a blanket and sunscreen and wear your favorite Broncos gear. You’ll be sitting just a few yards from all the practice action.
Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post
June 6: Fan Fair at Invesco Field, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets available at or at the stadium box office.
June 12-14: Mandatory full-team minicamp. Not open to the public.
July 31: Tentative start of training camp at Dove Valley.
Aug. 14: Preseason, Denver at San Francisco, 8 p.m.
Aug. 22: Preseason, Denver at Seattle, 8:30 p.m.
Aug. 30: Preseason, Chicago at Denver, 6 p.m.
Sept. 3: Preseason, Arizona at Denver, 7 p.m.
Sept. 13: Regular-season opener, Denver at Cincinnati, 11 a.m.
Sept. 20: Home opener, Denver vs. Cleveland, 2:15 p.m.
Outdoors
Array of awesome attractions
These are, after all, the reasons most of us come to Colorado, not counting those addicted to bad baseball. Fishing, hiking, boating, wildlife watching — all attractions that bring visitors here by the millions. They flock mostly during the sunshine months framed by the two goalpost holidays, competing with residents for the best times and places.
Most often, this involves water, that wild rush of snowmelt heralding the nation’s most prolific rafting activity. Then, when the cascade settles, anglers wander down to the shore to match their skills with trout, or perhaps pack a tent to some timberline lake.
This extreme high country, famous for its 54 peaks above 14,000-foot elevation, attracts the adventurous who aim to make marks of achievement, or merely to breathe rare air. Whatever the reason, there’s nothing like Colorado outdoors in summer.
Charlie Meyers, The Denver Post
Running
Boulder highlights race scene
If the Bolder Boulder is your only experience of running in Boulder, you owe it to yourself to head up there this summer to get a taste of what the Boulder running scene is all about.
Start with the Boulder Running Series, three races run on Thursday evenings: the Uni-Hill 2K on June 11, the West End 3K on July 23 and the Pearl Street Mile on Aug. 13.
Nothing captures the electricity and diversity of the world-renowned Boulder running scene better than the Pearl Street Mile. Hundreds descend on the Pearl Street Mall to run the mile-high mile in waves determined by age. Here the elite runners will watch you run, unless you happen to be chasing them in their wave.
Consider, too, the bi-weekly All Comers meets at the CU track, presented by the Boulder Road Runners. Get details at .
John Meyer, The Denver Post
Monday: Bolder Boulder 10K; .
June 6: Sunrise Stampede (10K/2-mile), Longmont; .
June 7: Steamboat Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10K, Steamboat Springs; .
June 11: Uni-Hill 2K, Boulder; .
June 13: Run the Rockies Half Marathon and 10K, Frisco; .
June 13: Joe Colton 15-mile/10-mile/10K/5K, Rollinsville; .
June 14: Garden of the Gods 10-mile, Manitou Springs; .
June 14: Rocky Mountain Half Marathon/women’s 8K, Denver; .
July 5: Vail Hill Climb, 7.5 miles; .
July 23: West End 3K, Boulder; .
Aug. 2: Evergreen Town Race (10K/5K); .
Aug. 8: Georgetown-Idaho Springs Half Marathon; .
Aug. 13: Pearl Street Mile, Boulder; .
Sept. 7: CU Kickoff Classic 5K, Boulder; .
Rapids
Full schedule for soccer fans
Events this summer for the Colorado Rapids include the “Festival for Women” at 3 p.m. on June 20 before a game vs. D.C. United at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. This festival is promoting Colorado companies, non-profits, women’s business owners, authors, speakers, designers, artisans and local bands.
There also will be the first Rapids Crosswinds Classic Adult Tournament on June 19-21. The teams are divided into amateur men, women and coed divisions. Deadline to sign up is June 1 with a cost of $450.
A great event for kids is the Colorado Rapids Field Trip Program. It is an exclusive tour of Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, an autograph session with a Rapids player, visit with the Rapids mascot and a free ticket to a Rapids home game. To reserve a field trip, call 303-727-3541. There are fireworks and a celebration right after the July 4 home game, featuring live bands, kids activities, a beer garden and interactive games for families. Tyler Sapkin, The Denver Post
June 19-21: Rapids Crosswinds Classic Adult Tournament
June 20: D.C. United at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
July 4: Chicago Fire at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, fireworks
Aug. 8: Chivas USA at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Andy Cross, The Denver Post
Outlaws
Sticking around for fun
Events this summer for the Denver Outlaws include the Qdoba Mini Lax Jam on June 14 at Invesco Field at Mile High. It’s a three-on-three round-robin tournament with many prizes and a chance to meet the Outlaws players. Other events include the Sunday Sessions on June 1 and 22. These sessions include an obstacle course, playing catch with the Outlaws, autographs, photo opportunities, Q&A with the players, skills showcase and more.
Tyler Sapkin, The Denver Post
June 1: Sunday Session, 10 a.m.-noon
June 14: Qdoba Mini Lax Jam
June 22: Sunday Session, 10 a.m.-noon
July 4: vs. Boston Cannons
July 25: vs. Long Island Lizards
