Jan 8 2008
Kite BoardingIn Colorado, kite boarding is the newest winter sport literally taking skiing and snowboarding to new heights. Growing in popularity, all that winter enthusiasts need to get started is a kite, along with traditional ski and snowboard gear.
Colorado Kite Force offers daily instruction, in both kite boarding and kite skiing, to all ability levels at the Kite Park on Lake Dillon in Summit County. For those intermediate to advanced, the park also offers a variety of jumps, rails and boxes to add to the fun. The sport is easy to learn and skills can be mastered in just one day.
Dog Sledding
Colorado also is home to other popular winter sports, including dog-sledding tours and ski-biking. Enjoy the scenic Rocky Mountain landscape with twelve furry friends and zip through the trails on a dog sled tour in Telluride with Moon Sled Dog Adventures (970-729-0058). Half-day, full-day and overnight sled dog trips are available.
Guided Snowshoe Tours
Also at Telluride, enjoy educational snowshoe tours with a local naturalist are available at 10:00 a.m. daily from the Mountain Village Activity Center. Experience an exhilarating 2 to 3 hour snowshoe hike through the forest at 11,000 feet while learning about Telluride's unique environment. Private tours are also available. Snowshoes and lift ticket to touring area provided, no experience necessary. Purchase tickets for the TopAten Nordic and Snowshoe Area at the Mountain Village Activity Center located at the base of the gondola. Phone: 970.728.7517.
Ice Climbing
Once the snow freezes and ice takes over in Southwestern Colorado, Ouray, transforms into what many consider the ice climbing capital of the United States. Created more than 10 years ago, the Ouray Ice Park offers the ultimate climbing experience, beckoning climbers of all levelswith its challenging winter climbing routes and ever-expanding terrain. Each January, the park hosts the annual Ouray Ice Festival, highlighting the sport with free interactive clinics, exhibits with the latest gear and equipment, and demonstrations taught by some of the world's premier climbing athletes.
Ice climbing isn't easy. Scott Brown, who writes about climbing, has a great article that will help you get started. Scott says that The sport of climbing frozen waterfalls blossomed with the advent of the modern ice tool designed by Evon Chouinard in the early 1970's. It helps to be a seasoned climber before you tackle ice climbing.
Article and Information Courtesy: State of Colorado Visitors Bureau