Birding competition at lagoon
WHEN: Aug. 14, 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Westchester Lagoon
WHAT: Get your team together and compete to see who can find the most species in four hours. All birders are welcome from beginner to expert. Teams can be two to six people. There will be a potluck tailgate party and awards ceremony afterwards.
COST: $20 per team
CONTACT: flybynightclub@gci.net
BOATING
Six Mile Festival
WHEN: Aug. 21
WHERE: Six Mile Creek; 3.4 miles down the cut-off road to Hope
WHAT: One of Alaska's biggest whitewater festivals. Includes: 1 p.m. time trial races; 2 p.m. mass-start race through the three biggest rapids in the first canyon; 2:40 p.m. new pack raft mass start race; 4 p.m. boston bar freestyle/rodeo competition; and 6 p.m. bonfire party with music, raffle and free beer and hot dogs.
COST: Free
CONTACT: www.AlaskaWhitewater.org
BICYCLING
Champion at cyclocross clinic
WHEN: Aug. 12, 6 p.m.; Aug. 13, 6:30 p.m.; Aug. 14, 10 am.; Aug. 15, race at noon.
WHERE: REI
WHAT: Six-time USA Cycling Cyclocross champion Katie Compton will lead clinics on the form of racing that involves laps around a 1.5-to-2-mile circuit that includes grass, mud and obstacles. Dismounting and running with the bike is required. Cyclocross skills are applicable to road and mountain bikers and especially helpful to triathletes.
COST: Clinic and race is $125; race only is $15; limited to 50 people.
CONTACT: ArcticCross.org
Anchorage Tour this week
WHEN: Kincaid prologue time trial, Thursday, 7 p.m.; Kincaid Loop road race, Friday, 7 p.m.; Moose Run time trial, Saturday, 9 a.m.; Glen Alps hill climb, Saturday, 3 p.m.; Downtown road race, Sunday, 9 a.m.
WHAT: The five-race series is the premier event of the Anchorage road biking schedule. Last year, Matt Novakovich edged Daniel Folmar by one second in the expert men's division, while Sheryl Loan captured the expert women's division. All ages and abilities welcome.
COST: Series: $60 online, $75 on-site; Per event: $18 online, $25 on-site; Banquet: $10 online, $15 on-site
CONTACT: ArcticCross.org
FISHING
Women-only derby in Valdez
WHEN: Aug. 14
WHERE: Valdez
WHAT: Alaska's only women's fish derby will earn the winner $1,000 cash and $500 in prizes. Defending champion Christy Roden of Delta Junction landed an 18.56-pounder. The fast-growing derby has exploded from 372 entrants in its inaugrual year of 2005 to 662 last year.
COST: $50, plus a silver salmon derby ticket, also includes admission to opening and closing ceremonies. Opening features wine tasting, fishy games, a chance to win $5,000 in prizes, a free gift from Carhartt.
CONTACT: 907-255-4727 or email info@valdezfishderbies.com.
FLORA & FAUNA
Stay safe in bear country
WHEN: August 8, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center
WHAT: Be prepared for bear encounters by learning their biology and behavior.
COST: Free, $5 non-member parking
CONTACT: 694-2108, ERNC.org
KIDS
Learn about healthy streams
WHEN: August 4, 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: Eagle River Nature Center
WHAT: Kids up to second grade can join naturalist Bob Nichols to explore what makes a healthy stream. Limited to first 10 children, who must be accompanied by an adult.
COST: $8, $5 non-member parking
CONTACT: 694-2108
MOVIES
Epic mountain biking film
WHEN: Aug. 16, 5:30 and 8 p.m.
WHERE: Bear Tooth Theatrepub
WHAT: "Ride the Divide", an award-winning film by Mike Dion about the world's toughest mountain bike race, which traverses 2,700 miles along the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains. The film weaves the story of three characters' experiences with immense mountain beauty and small-town culture as they attempt to pedal from Banff, Canada to a small, dusty crossing on the Mexican border.
COST: $8
CONTACT: BearToothTheatre.net
Bart Yasso slide show
WHEN: Aug. 12, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bear Tooth Theaterpub
WHAT: Dubbed the "Mayor of Running," Bart Yasso is one of the best-known figures in the sport. "My Life on the Run" chronicles the heatstroke and frostbite, heartache and triumphs he's experienced while competing in more than 1,000 competitive races during his nearly 30 years with Runner's World magazine. Presented by Anchorage Running Club in conjunction with Yasso's appearance at the Big Wild Life Runs.
COST: $5
CONTACT: BearToothTheatre.net
OUTDOOR SKILLS
Becoming an outdoorswoman
WHEN: Saturday through Aug. 1
WHERE: Golden Anchor at the U.S. Coast Guard base in Kodiak.
WHAT: Course designed to introduce people to hunting and fishing and other outdoor activities. More than 24 hands-on sessions are scheduled, including firearms safety, bear safety, shotgun instruction, spin fishing, fly fishing and kayaking.
COST: $175. Fee includes meals, instruction, program materials and use of demonstration equipment.
CONTACT: Anchorage Sport and Fish Information Center at 267-2218 or Kodiak Sport Fish office at 486-1880
SKATEBOARDING
Battle of the Boards
WHEN: Aug. 14, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Spenard Recreation Center
WHAT: A skateboarding competition with beginner, intermediate and advanced entry levels. Skaters will be judged on two 45-second runs. Helmets are required. All ages welcome.
COST: $10
CONTACT: Abbey Harding at hardingas@muni.org
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