Briefs

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 17, 2002

X marks the spot at Aspen games

There's nothing like extreme snowmobiling to make you say "how X is that?"

The sixth annual ESPN Winter X Games feature snowmobiling, along with motocross, skiing, snowboarding and ultracross. The games are in Aspen this year, with a full slate of events that began Wednesday and end Sunday.

In its "xplanation" of the X Games events, ESPN offers descriptions of the dozen or so competitions. Skiers and boarders will compete in skier X and boarder X, a fusion of motocross and downhill racing; slopestyle, a competition with obstacles used also by snowboarders; superpipe; and ultracross, with riders paired together on the X course. Snowmobilers will compete in snowcross, on a cross-country style track, and hillcross, where the fastest racer wins. Motocross racers will compete in a big air competition.

The games will be aired Feb. 1-5 on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. For more information on the live events in Aspen, check www.aspensnowmass.com.

Disabled Invitational, more at Winter Park

The 27th annual Wells Fargo Bank Cup returns to Winter Park Resort Feb. 1-3. The event brings together world-class disabled ski racers, Denver Broncos alumni and amateur skiers of all abilities. The event is the largest fund-raiser of the year for the National Sports Center for the Disabled.

Competitors in this year's pro-am race, the Governor's Cup, can put together their own teams of five for the Feb. 2 event. Competitors can be of any ability level; a timing run will add a numerical factor to each racer's time and allow casual skiers to compete against more experienced racers.

The World Disabled Invitational takes place Feb. 3. The event features disabled skiers competing on parallel courses.

The third race, also on Feb. 3, teams Denver Broncos alumni with racers from the Winter Park Disabled Ski Team.

For information on the event or to put together a team, contact the National Sports Center for the Disabled, (970) 726-1543.

All women, all day at A-Basin

Day-long clinics for women are being offered throughout this season at Arapahoe Basin. Clinics specializing in alpine, telemark skiing or snowboarding emphasize women's learning styles and techniques. The day starts with 8 a.m. registration, and continues with a brief discussion and warm-ups; the rest of the day will be spent on the slopes. Cost, including lunch, is $50. Lift tickets and rentals must be purchased separately. The next clinic for women is Feb. 2.

Other clinics offered at A-Basin include a telemark clinic, Feb. 2. The Arapahoe Basin Avalanche School is an intensive three-day course, scheduled Wednesday and Jan. 24 and 25. Registration is at 8 a.m. on Wednesday; cost of $175 includes lift ticket, lunch and a party. Graduates will meet the Level 1 Curriculum Guidelines from the American Avalanche Association.

For information on all the A-Basin clinics, call (970) 468-0718 or check www.arapahoebasin.com.

- Deb Acord; The Gazette