The thrill of victory and agony of defeat have left Vancouver. Apolo Anton Ohno has left the building. But you, yes you, can draw upon your inner Olympian here in Colorado.
Alpine ski racing
It’s too late to qualify for the March 25-28 NASTAR national championships in Winter Park, but most resorts will continue to offer recreational giant slalom racing through the end of the season. Plus, you can post your times online and compare your times to those of racers at other resorts based on the NASTAR handicapping system.
Cost: $5-$10
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Curling
Admit it, you were mesmerized by the Olympic curling competition, weren’t you? The Denver Curling Club, in existence since 1965, is offering one- and two-week learn-to-curl clinics and spring leagues at The Ice Ranch in Littleton. The initial offering of April clinics sold out, but new dates will be available soon. First-timer clinics are also offered by The Broadmoor Curling Club at the Colorado Sports Center in Monument.
Cost: $25-$50
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Cross country ski racing
Tops among the events remaining on the calendar are the Breckebeiner 60K race at the Breckenridge Nordic Center and the Big Shooter Bonk, with 20K, 40K and 60K races at Latigo Ranch in Kremmling. If you’re not into racing, nordic centers at Frisco, Vail, Breckenridge and Beaver Creek, and Snow Mountain Ranch in Fraser and Eldora Mountain Resort west of Nederland, offer lessons and rentals for classical and skate skiing.
Cost: $25-$50
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Freestyle skiing
The Mary Jane side of Winter Park Resort is known for mogul skiing, and there’s no better place to take a bump skills clinic. The Mary Jane Bump Jamboree on March 20 is a six-hour clinic with personal coaching, while Bob’s Mogul Skiing Camp from March 12-14 is a more intensive immersion into mogul skiing.
Cost: $95-$499
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Freestyle snowboarding
The 19,400-square-foot indoor Woodward at Copper center at the base of Copper Mountain has trampolines, foam pits and synthetic snow surfaces aimed at helping snowboarders (and skiers) develop halfpipe and terrain park skills via drop-in sessions, specialized classes, private coaching and camps.
Cost: $99-$499
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Multisport racing
The Steamboat Winter Pentathlon on March 20 is a five-discipline, 23.5-mile endurance race that starts and finishes at Howelsen Hill ski area. Participants run up a ski slope in ski or snowboard boots, click into their skis or board and then race the 400 vertical drop back to the bottom. Then, there’s 2.5 miles of snowshoeing, 4 miles of cross country skiing, 12 miles of mountain biking and 5 miles of running. (There’s also a 13.1-mile short course.)
Cost: $45-$75
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Speedskating
The Colorado Gold speedskating club offers weekly open speedskating practices for all levels of skaters on Saturday mornings at The Ice Ranch in Littleton and Sunday afternoons at the World Arena Ice Hall in Colorado Springs. All levels of speedskaters are welcome, but helmets, gloves, knee pads and speedskating skates or hockey skates are required. If you’re really into it, check out the Colorado Speed Skating Championships on April 10 at the World Arena.
Cost: $10-$12 per session
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Ski jumping
This week’s 2010 Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Junior Olympics at Howel- sen Hill is a chance to watch the next generation of American hopefuls. The last of the Hitchens Brothers Wednesday Night Jump Series concludes March 17 and includes the chance for young newcomers to get a taste of the sport.
Cost: free
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Snowshoe racing
OK, this isn’t an Olympic sport, but there was an international exhibition race Feb. 27 in Vancouver that included many of the world’s top snowshoe racers. The March 7 North American Snowshoe Race (5K, 10K) in McCoy Park at Beaver Creek Resort always draws a deep field.
Cost: $30-$35
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