sports camps YMCA OF BOULDER VALLEY
ACTION SPORTS CAMPS
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF OLYMPIANS
by Tom Winter
W
hen Bob Dylan crooned, “The times they are a-changin’,” he certainly wasn’t thinking of the Olympics. But with a slew of action sports poised to take center stage in Tokyo 2020, the summer Olympics will be unlike any you’ve witnessed. With events like half-pipe and slope-style skiing now in the winter Olympic mix, as well as the explosion of skateparks and bike pump tracks and other alternative sports locally, what’s a hip parent of a future Olympian to do? Well, probably not sign their kid up for Little League (not that there’s anything wrong with that). For Boulder parents with actionsports-oriented kids looking to mix it up in the summer camp world, and who also sneakily think little Joey is Olympic material (hey, you never know), here’s how to get hip to Boulder’s brave new world of action-sport camps and other kid activities that may lead to a gold medal future. Or, more realistically, offer an easy, fun and safe introduction to the action sports world. Climbing Sport climbing will make its debut in Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics. The event will consist of three disciplines: lead climbing, speed climbing and bouldering. Medalists will be determined upon the total performance in all disciplines. Check our listings of ABC Kids Climbing Camps, EVO Rock + Fitness Climbing Camps, as well as Boulder Rock Club (303-447-2804, boulderrockclub. com). They offer kids the chance to enter the vertical world of climbing with indoor and outdoor instruction. Instruction starts for athletes as young as 4 in their tiny tots’ program, with youth and teen programs also available. Their five-day indoor/outdoor camp offerings for children and teens are complimented by a girlsonly weeklong camp that takes place in August. 34 FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Skateboarding Featuring both street and park skateboarding, the sport will bring a distinctly X-Games vibe to Tokyo. For athletes, there are 80 spots available (40 for men, 40 for women), with each event featuring 20 competitors: three from the World Championships, 16 from world rankings and one from the host, Japan. Check out Avid4 Adventure in our Outdoor section, which is also a great place to look if your kid is interested in... Surfing Surfing will take center stage in 2020, as Japan hosts the event at Tsurigasaki Beach. Given that we don’t have an actual wave pool in Colorado (yet), the best way to get hip to the Centennial State’s closest equivalent to surfing is stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Surfing’s close cousin will develop the boardsport skills to not only surf Colorado’s river waves, but be able to sort out your balance when you drop in on an ocean wave. BMX Long an X-Games staple, BMX biking debuted in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Action-packed and a spectator favorite, the inclusion of the sport into the Olympic mix marked the beginning of the new wave of Olympic action sports. There are plenty of bike-related camps, including Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures and Woodward Copper (see listings), not to mention 303 Dirt (970-749-3957, 303dirt.com). 303 Dirt offers a combination of group skills coaching, “day away adventures” and other skill camps and seminars for both BMX and mountain bike athletes. Coaches include mountain biking legend Myles Rockwell, 2000MTB downhill world champion, and Miriam Van EK, who can help kids dial in their dirt jumping skills. A highlight is their sixth annual Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day at Valmont Bike Park on June 8.
KIDSCAMP
SPORTS DAY CAMPS H ABC KIDS CLIMBING BOULDER
303-443-5437
BOULDERINDOORSOCCER.COM/ CAMPS-CLINICS
Summer camps all summer long. Morning, afternoon and full-day camps, with an evening option available as well. Your player can register for individual days or for the entire week. Discounts for multiple days of registration.
ABCKIDSBOULDER.COM/CAMPS
Full- and half-day, indoor and outdoor climbing camps. Featuring indoor climbing, trips to local outdoor climbing areas, art, cooperative games, special events and quality instruction. All ages and abilities. H ACADEMY STABLES LAFAYETTE
303-665-4637
ACADEMYSTABLES.COM
Activities are designed for kids ages 6 and older, and sessions run from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Lessons include horse care, horse shows, horse safety, riding instruction, horse show and Friday pizza day. Both English and Western-style riding available. Call for reservations.
H BOULDER KARATE BOULDER
303-442-4330
BOULDERKARATE.COM
Designed for kids to have a blast while learning important life lessons through martial arts. Fun karate activities and games throughout the day include: ninja dodgeball, kung fu relay races, to name a few. Character-building study of our five values (attitude, integrity, respect, self-control and heart) is included, as well. Learn interesting lessons on the five Shoalin animals (tiger, leopard, crane, snake and dragon). And to complete the experience, each child receives a uniform and a belt. Full days go from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., with half-day options available, from June-August. Ages 5-12.
H ANYTHING GOES — WITH BOULDER PARKS & RECREATION BOULDER
303-413-7270
BPRCAMPS.ORG
Play the final week of summer with a wide range of camper and counselor favorites. We will have a plan, but anything goes! Campers will have a large part of this week’s planning and activities. Ages 5-11. H BOULDER INDOOR SOCCER CAMP BOULDER
303-440-0809
H BOULDER PARKS & RECREATION — JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS BOULDER
303-413-7270
BPRCAMPS.ORG
This camp offers juniors, ages 4-17, an opportunity to immerse themselves in the game and hone their skills with assistant professional David Talaba and PGA apprentice Breighton Bardezbanian as instructors. You learn the fundamentals, course management, rules and etiquette, BOULDER WEEKLY
