Things to do in Denver metro during ski/ride off-season (skateboarding, rent)

[NinjaHitsAWall]

I moved here at the end of August so this will basically be my first summer in CO. I'm looking forward to it, been pretty happy here so far. But I'm looking for ideas for some kind of outdoor hobby to take up regularly in the spring/summer. I'll probably ask friends as well, but I don't know that any of them are looking for or like to do quite the same things.

This season, I decided I wanted to finally check the "learn to snowboard" item off my bucket list that I guess has been there since I was about 10. Because I'm in graduate school I haven't had an ideal amount of time to get on the slopes. But I took 3 lessons, then I discovered SnoBahn over the weekend (indoor ski/snowboard place in Centennial) and have taken a few lessons there as well. Very cool place! I've already progressed much more quickly there, which is actually one of their selling points. I think in another lesson or 2 I'll be able to link turns so my goal is to take that back on the slopes and be able to snowboard before the end of the season (I have a Copper season pass).

But I have never been a big fan of summer (backwards I know), I tend to get antsy in sort of an existential way haha. Maybe I have summer SAD or something (I'm from the Northeast, always hated the summers there, and maybe it'll be different here..but I've already developed a case of FOMO I didn't have in the Northeast because I was always kind of "meh" and never wanted to go anywhere because I was unhappy living where I did...)

So yeah, I already have some newfound antsiness and a vague desire to "do things".

I just think I need to find something to do to fill in the void once the ski season ends. Snobahn is cool, but way out of my budget to go to regularly. I am considering taking up longboarding and/or skateboarding as an off-season hobby. I used to rollerblade a bit as a kid so I can more or less do that, and I'm also considering checking out some of the trails around here for it. If there's some indoor equivalent of that that'd be cool too. (I don't know if roller rinks are appropriate? I've honestly never been to one or even worn those types of skates.)

My other idea was to add on the Woodward Barn pass at Copper, which I think is just another $150 if you're already a season pass holder. That way I can use the barn and learn some stuff in there (I never learned park riding of any kind, but always flirted with the idea). I have a bike too, it needs touching up but I'm ideally looking for something a level or two beyond just riding/skating around on roads as a means of commuting (boring). Perhaps mountain biking is an option?

I've also considered mountain boarding, though know close to nothing about it.

And yes, I know there's hiking, I'll probably check that out, I'm just not really a "cardio" heavy person, I prefer gliding on surfaces to trekking if that makes sense haha.

FWIW, I'm 29 and a lot of this stuff I've wanted to learn (or expand on, in the case of what I already learned) since I was like 10...hence being essentially relegated to a bucket list.

If anyone has any other ideas for something relatively affordable, I'd love to hear them.

[bluescreen73]

You've already named some of them - longboarding, skateboarding, rollerblading, mountain biking (tons of trails for all skill levels), kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, paragliding, hiking, pick-up sports at any of the local parks.

Originally Posted by NinjaHitsAWall

And yes, I know there's hiking, I'll probably check that out, I'm just not really a "cardio" heavy person, I prefer gliding on surfaces to trekking if that makes sense haha.

Try not to focus on the cardio aspect of hiking (I don't). It's more about what you see. Depending on where you go it can either be a social adventure or a chance to escape from it all and seek some solitude. I did a 15-mile solo hike last spring at a pretty busy state park, and there were times when I didn't see a soul for upwards of an hour. When I got my destination - the waterfall - there were a handful of people there, but the falls are so far from the park's entrance that traffic is much lighter. It took me about 7 hours to do the hike. I'm thinking about doing it again in a few weeks.

[NinjaHitsAWall]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

You've already named some of them - longboarding, skateboarding, rollerblading, mountain biking (tons of trails for all skill levels), kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, paragliding, hiking, pick-up sports at any of the local parks.



Try not to focus on the cardio aspect of hiking (I don't). It's more about what you see. Depending on where you go it can either be a social adventure or a chance to escape from it all and seek some solitude. I did a 15-mile solo hike last spring at a pretty busy state park, and there were times when I didn't see a soul for upwards of an hour. When I got my destination - the waterfall - there were a handful of people there, but the falls are so far from the park's entrance that traffic is much lighter. It took me about 7 hours to do the hike. I'm thinking about doing it again in a few weeks.

15 miles?! Ha I did 5 miles of snowshoeing a week and a half ago and one of my hip flexors was very unhappy the whole next day. (I was actually limping around that night haha)

[2bindenver]

Concerts, festivals, boating, biking, rafting, camping...

[jweb29]

"people move here for the winters, stay here for the summers" i think my stoner ski bum friends used to tell me that. You'll be fine! Add rock climbing to your list.


All the skiiers who like "Going down but not trekking up" tend to love mountain biking.

And yeah, snowshoeing is way harder than hiking, but that's awesome you did 5 miles on it! Good stuff! I hurt my knees if I do it for too long

[Loyoung]

Mountain biking along the front range offers an almost endless amount of trails to ride, there are thousands in the state to occupy your time. If you're interested in meeting up with others check out front range mountain bike group on facebook

[NinjaHitsAWall]

Yeah I'll have to look into mountain biking. Can you rent bikes? I'm on a student budget, so I bought a used Trek bike rather than spend $500-1000 + on a hybrid or mountain bike haha.

It seems like mountain boarding/dirtboarding isn't much of a thing. I can hardly find any info on it or where to do it, except that it's supposed to be the closest you can get to snowboarding without snow.