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Disc golf course open at Vandaveer Ranch | Free Content

admin free_content, News, sports_outdoors 0 Comments October 23, 2022

, 2022-09-30 02:00:00,

Disc golf is a sport for everyone, said Skylar Schalit, one of the founders of HotRDG (Heart of the Rockies Disc Golf) disc golf course at Vandaveer Ranch, which opened in late December.

The other founders are John Sztukowski, Craig Schuchman, Daryl Huschka and Jenny Majeski.

Disc golf has rules similar to golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, it uses three types of discs: drivers, which are thin and have sharp wings; the midrange, which are slower and more accurate; and putters, which are the slowest and blunted, usually used for a range within 60 feet. The target is a tall metal basket, Schalit said.

Participants can play solo or with a group of people. For tags, considered a normal match, usually 12 people are playing, Schalit said.

HotRDG was initiated as a nonprofit in December 2020, the organization was founded in 2021, and the baskets were installed in late December.

Schalit started playing disc golf in his early 20s when he moved to Salida in 2004. Disc golf is the ultimate “aprés sport,” he said, meaning that it is easy to play at a fun level with a diverse group of players.

Schalit comes from a background of many sports, including snowboarding, skiing, lacrosse, basketball, track and mountain biking. “I like sports,” he said. “I really enjoy being out in nature and I really enjoy athletics and learning how to get better.” Disc golf is a change of pace because it is more casual than other sports, he added.

He and other founders wanted to start a disc golf course in Salida in part because they saw a need for it – most other resort towns have a disc golf course, Schalit said. Salida needed to up it’s game.

When Schalit returned to Salida after spending more than a decade on the Front Range, he was interested in starting the disc golf course and rallied with some friends to make it happen. When the city purchased the Vandaveer property, Schalit presented the idea to city officials. The city’s approval and funding came through, and the team set to work preparing the course and building trails to hike, which turned out to be the difficult part of the job, Schalit said.

The best part of starting the club has been the club itself, Schalit said. Referring to the other founders, he said, “The five of us have been friends for a while.” He enjoys watching the community grow and seeing new faces, however,…

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20 – CKS Paddlefest celebrates milestone memory in Buena Vista | Free Content

admin arts_entertainment, free_content, News, outdoors, recreation 0 Comments May 5, 2022

CKS Paddlefest returns May 27-30 for its 20th anniversary celebration.

“It is a good opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate our natural resources from the Arkansas River to the trails to public land and its a great kickoff to whitewater season,” organizer Cat Tobin said.

“Paddlefest speaks for itself in being an annual celebration of a great season in the valley.”

Paddlefest will be held on East Main Street along with live music on the Lawn and in the Ivy Ballroom at South Main’s Surf Hotel.

“It was originally a way to showcase Buena Vista and the river as people travel to the event,” founder Earl Richmond said.

“I’m very proud and excited to see Paddlefest enter its 20th year,” Richmond said, “What I love about Paddlefest is that it’s a reunion of like-minded and passionate people.”

While operating on a smaller budget and with no sponsors, Paddlefest still offers all the experiences from last year and more.

Events include River Surf Competition, Numbers Kayak Race, Three Rock Splat Challenge, Race To The Grill, Yucca Classic Annual Disk Golf Tournament, 8K Spirit Trail run and a freestyle clinic.

“We’re keeping it pretty simple this year with a couple water events, kayaking on water events, fun run and a disc golf tournament,” Tobin said.

“Nothing missing from last year, been a couple years since we’ve had this streamlined version of it,” she said.

Paddlefest began its journey in 2002 when Richmond’s CKS store on East Main Street first started the event that May.

“It’s a collaborative event but it’s mostly manpower and labor vs. cost more than anything. This year’s proceeds go to support the river fund. We’ve been hosting this event for years but it’s mostly donations and volunteer effort that allow this to happen,” Tobin said.

“It’s a great way to raise money for local non-profit organizations like Optimists Club and Boys & Girls Club. It’s also a great way to raise funds to maintain our nationally renowned river,” Richmond said.

Registration for the event is currently open with prices ranging from $25 to $60 for entry. Paddlefest ends Monday, with the traditional final event being the Race to the Grill hosted by River Runners.

The float involves a mad dash for participants through the family section of the Milk Run area of the Arkansas River to the River Runners Riverside Grill.

Among events at the river park and South Main will be entertainment by The Thievery Corporation on the Lawn followed by the talent of Chali 2na who will perform inside the Ivy Ballroom.

Event goers will have to pay to attend both of these shows, tickets for Thievery corp will cost about $80 while Chali 2na will cost $50.

For more information and registration visit ckspaddlefest.com