The Sports/Rec page in the Hook newspaper of Charlottesville

Sports
&
Recreation

Participatory

City of Charlottesville swimming pools
Fees: For city residents: $3 Adults, $.75 kids, $1.50 seniors. Season passes: $100 family, $45 adults, $15 kids, $25 seniors. Non-residents: $4.50 adults, $1.75 kids,$3.75 seniors. Season passes: $150 family, $70 adults, $30 kids, $45 seniors.

Indoor
Crow Pool, Walker Upper Elementary School, Rose Hill Drive. Lap and rec swim. 977-1362
Smith Pool, Buford Middle School, Cherry Avenue and Ninth Street. Lap and rec swim. 977-1960

Outdoor
Onesty Pool at Meade Park, Meade Avenue. Mid-June-Labor Day, Lap and rec swim available.11am-5pm daily. Open from June 4th-August 21st and weekends of August 27 and Labor Day weekend. 295-7532
Washington Park Pool, Preston Avenue. Mid-June-Labor Day, Lap/Rec swim available. M-Th 11am-7pm. Open from June 4th-August 21st and weekends of August 27 and Labor Day weekend. 977-2607
McIntire Wading Pool, 250 Bypass. Bargain admission 25 cents for residents, 40 cents for non-residents. Open daily from 11am-5pm June 4th-August 21st and weekends of August 27 and Labor Day weekend. 295-9072
Forest Hills Wading Pool, Forest Hills Avenue. Open daily 11am-5pm. Free. 296-1444

Albemarle County swimming holes

Swimming at all lakes Memorial Day to Labor Day. Daily 10am-8pm; For county residents: $3 adults, $2 children. Season passes $100 family package, $50 adults, $30 children. For non-residents: $4.50 adults, $3 children. Season Passes; $150 family package, $75 adults, $45 children. 296-5844

Chris Greene Lake, Rt. 29N, left on Rt. 649 (Airport Road), right on Rt. 606, left on Rt. 850 (Chris Greene Lake Road). 120 land acres, 62 water acres, two beach acres. Canoe rentals Memorial Day to Labor Day. Fishing, with wheelchair-accessible fishing pier; electric motor boats allowed; playground; picnic shelters. 973-3790

Mint Springs, Rt. 250W, right on Rt. 240, left on Rt. 788 (Railroad Avenue), right on Rt. 684 (Mint Springs Road), left into park. 504 land acres, eight water acres, two beach acres. Fishing, playground, picnic shelters, hiking trails. 823-5889

Walnut Creek, Rt. 29S, left on Rt. 708 (Red Hill Road), right on Rt. 631 (Old Lynchburg Road), park is 1/2 mile on left. 480 land acres, 45 water acres, two beach acres. Canoe rentals from Memorial Day to Labor Day; fishing; electric motor boats; picnic shelters; bike trails (see Mountain Biking section below). 979-0964

Claudius Crozet Pool, 25 minutes west on Rt. 250, right on Rt. 240, right on Tabor Street, right on High Street, left on Park Road, park is on left. 22 land acres, one-acre pond, eight-lane, 25-meter swimming pool. Handicapped accessible with mushroom fountain and 0-depth entrance area. Kids $2.75, adults $4.75, seniors $2. Open 11am-8pm swim lessons and a swim team also available. 823-5834

Sugar Hollow,15 miles northwest at White Hall. This reservoir and expanse of hiking trails is an easy day trip. Depending on the movement of the Moorman's River, swimming holes can be found up and down the trail. Blue Hole is the best known, about half a mile past the last parking area. Free.

Swim Clubs
These are private clubs with membership fees. Call clubs for rates.

Fry's Spring Beach Club, 2512 Jefferson Park Avenue. This historic recreation site in the city offers tennis courts and beach volleyball, too. A brand-new 50-meter lap pool plus middle-depth and baby pool areas lie beneath towering oaks and maples. 296-4181

Blue Ridge Swim Club, Rt. 250W to right turn on Owensville Road, entrance is 1.2 miles on right. 100 yards long and 10 yards wide, this pool is actually spring-fed from a stream and is only lightly chlorinated, so it resembles clean lake water. 977-3937

ACAC Adventure Central, 200 Four Seasons Drive. ACAC operates eight clay tennis courts, a family learning center, and a water park including three outdoor pools, water slides, and a grill pavilion in a park-like setting. 973-5987

Boar's Head Sports Club, Rt. 250W behind the Boar's Head Inn. Swimming, tennis, golf at Birdwood, and a fitness center. 972-2237

Fairview Swim & Tennis Club, Rt. 651 (Freestate Road), Six-lane, 25-meter pool with diving well and toddler pools. Courts for volleyball, tennis and basketball. 973-7946

Glenmore, Farmington, and Keswick country clubs: Swimming, tennis, golf, and fine dining are just some of the amenities offered to members. Farmington's west of town in Ivy; Glenmore and Keswick are east of town in Keswick. Take your pick.

There's even a YMCA in this area, the Piedmont Family YMCA. It's on Westfield Road (near the old DMV). 974-9622.

YMCA: This local program serves over 6,000 local kids per year with a year round swim team along with basketball, wrestling, soccer, cheerleading, youth leadership training, judo, 974-9622.

The hot summer kids competitions is the 15-team Jefferson Swim League, 975-5001

Soccer
SOCA (Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albemarle), 370 Greenbrier Drive. Soccer fun for the whole family. SOCA competition can be fierce, not only on the field, but just trying to enroll in the program. Be warned: Classes fill up months before play begins. But for a city- and countywide bonding experience with energetic kids and enthusiastic parents, this organization can't be beat. 975-5025

Mountain Biking
O-Hill, McCormick Road to Observatory Road, look for trails. Right in the City-- or, actually, on UVA property-- these five or six miles of single-track are some of the most challenging around. Free.

Walnut Creek Park, Rt 29 S, left on Rt. 708/Red Hill Road, right on Rt. 631/Old Lynchburg Road; park is half mile on left. Fifteen miles of trails, ranging from beginner to most difficult, located about seven miles south of town. $3 county residents, $4.50 nonresidents. 979-0964

Panorama Farms, Rio Road to Rt. 743 (Earlysville Road), left on Panorama Farm Road, right into Panorama Farm parking field. A private facility containing over 20 miles of singletrack near the Rivanna Reservoir. Intermediate difficulty. $8 day pass; $175/year. Passes available at Extreme Sports, Blue Wheel Bikes, Downtown Athletic, and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.

Like racing? Try the Monticello Velo Club. 977-1870

Fishing and Hunting
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 296-4731. To report poaching, call the Albemarle police at 977-9041 (911 if it's an emergency).

Horseback riding
Wintergreen: Pony rides $14, trail rides $46, lessons $37, and $60 for advanced "hack" rides. 325-8260

Horse watching'
It's an hour southwest of here, but if you dig equestrian events, this is the place: The Virginia Horse Center. Exit 191 off I-81 south. 540-464-2950. It has a 4,000 seat indoor coliseum and also houses the American Work Horse Museum with authentic plows, yokes, etc.-- open when there are events at the Center.

Tennis
Albemarle High School: 8 courts with lights, 2775 Hydraulic Road. 975-9300
Western Albemarle High School: 4 courts with lights, 5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet. 823-8700
Jack Jouett Middle School: 2 courts, no lights, 2065 Lambs Road. 975-9320
Sutherland Middle School: 2 courts, no lights, 2801 Powell Creek Drive. 975-0599
Walton Middle School: 2 courts, no lights, 4217 Red Hill Road. 977-5615
Darden Towe Memorial Park: 4 courts, no lights, Rt. 20N. 286-5844
Charlottesville High School: 7 courts, 4 with lights, 1400 Melbourne Road. 245-2410
Pen Park: 8 courts, no lights, Pen Park Road off Rio Road. 970-3589
Tonsler Park: 4 courts with lights, Fifth Street Extended. 970-3589
UVA's Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center: 13 courts with lights, corner of University Avenue and Emmet Street.

Rowing
Rivanna Rowing Club, Rivanna Reservoir. Teaches rowing to novices and stages competitive events in the summer. 978-2092

Running
Popular here. Biggest annual race is the Charlottesville Ten-Miler, which will take over city streets in the early morning of Saturday, April 2. 293-3367
One new gig locally is the Charlottesville Marathon. Like the 10-Miler, it happens in April, but unlike the Ten-Miler, which takes place downtown, organizers promise the best of both city and country on raceday, April 16, 2006. Also, it's a private, for-profit affair. 293-7115

Serving Charlottesville's running community since 1976, the Charlottesville Track Club hosts a number of races throughout the year and offers several training programs for everyone from beginner to seasoned road warrior. The Ragged Mountain Running shop serves as the club's information headquarters with all the latest on upcoming events. Info line 293-6115.

One nutty local running group is the Hash House Harriers which bumbles through the woods every Sunday while drinking beer and having a blast. 531-1917

Frisbee
Charlottesville Ultimate E-group
E-group big on the frisbee (or "disc," if you don't want to get sued). Co-ed, competitive, casual, league, pickup-- all levels and styles. Many games at UVA. groups.yahoo.com/group/cville-ultimate/

Guns
The Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club
A private shooting club on 100 acres off Old Lynchburg Road with everything from trap and skeet to an indoor range to archery. Must join NRA first and get three letters of recommendation.

Motorboating
The two most popular spots: Lake Anna in Louisa County and Lake Monticello in its namesake community in Fluvanna County.

By the way, it's illegal in Virginia to operate any motorboat-- even a canoe with a tiny electric motor-- without registering with the state. There's a minimum 2% watercraft sales tax and $18 minimum registration fee. Call the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' Automated Boat Registration Hotline at 1-877-898-BOAT (2628).

Golf
Meadowcreek at Pen Park: A public course offering 18 holes with tee times beginning at 7:30am and continuing 'til dark seven days a week. Golf carts available. Mon-Thurs: $21 walking, $33 riding. Weekends: $23 walking, $35 riding. A special twilight rate of $10 begins at 6pm, and you can play as long as the light lasts. 977-0615

McIntire Park: Located off the 250 Bypass, this nine-hole course with sand greens still relies on the honor system of payment; there's a small box located on the hill behind the playground. The course is threatened by rumors of a road called the Meadowcreek Parkway.

Swannanoa Country Club: Best views and best price. Eighteen holes can cost as little as $10-- although in dry seasons the parched earth may vex players unused to seeing their balls bounce around as if on pavement. Mon-Thurs: $10 walking, $19 riding. Weekends: $12 walking, $25 riding. 540-943-8864

Wintergreen: Two courses-- the 4,000-foot-high Devils Knob and Stoney Creek-- for pricier, resort-style golf. Mon-Thurs $90 (includes cart), weekends $100. 325-8250

Ice skating
Charlottesville Ice Park- West end of the Downtown Mall- The Ice Park offers year-round indoor ice-skating with public skating sessions, ice hockey leagues, freestyle and speed skating sessions, skating school, and reduced price family sessions. Times vary daily. Check the website to be sure.
General admission for the public sessions is $7.50 but just $6 if you have your own skates. Deals for kids under five, seniors, and college students. Schedule: 817-1423. Office: 817-2400

Roller skating
Staunton has a real old-time 1960s-era place called Skatetown USA on Barterbrook Road. Skating sessions are Wednesday 2-4 pm, 6:30-8:30pm; Thursday 2-4 pm; Friday 2pm-4pm & 7:30pm-11pm; Saturday 10am-noon, 1-4pm, and 7:30-11pm; Sunday 2-5pm. Cost is $3.50-6. Skate rental is $1 for regular skates, $3 for in-line skates. 540-885-3798.

Skiing/snowboarding
A selective guide to the best places for avid Charlottesville winter sports enthusiasts.
Wintergreen: Crowded on weekends, but overall the biggest place close to town. Go midweek, and it's all yours. Two tubing parks. 325-2100
Massanutten: A hair farther than Wintergreen and a hair smaller, so it doesn't get as much Charlottesville traffic, but not a bad place. Snow tubing park likely to sell out on weekends. 800-207-MASS
Snowshoe: The biggest ski resort in the South-- by far. But also a three-hour drive to another state. Middle-of-nowhere location limits day-trippers, so crowds rarely exceed the number of beds on the mountain. 877-441-4FUN
Canaan Valley: The quieter West Virginia resort. 800-622-4121
The Homestead: Not the most impressive mountain, but what a swanky centuries-old resort, and it offers major winter discount packages. 800-838-1766

Walking Trails
Ragged Mountain: Route 250 Bypass to Route 29 business exit. Take Fontaine Avenue a quarter of a mile to Reservoir Road. About two miles up, parking lot is on the right. 980-acre nature preserve where Edgar Allan Poe used to traipse.

Rivanna Trail: A 20-mile loop almost encircles the city of Charlottesville, going under Barracks Road and crossing Route 250 at Free Bridge. Look for the brown signs. 923-9022

Humpback Rocks: Take 64 West to the Blue Ridge Parkway, 20 miles west of town. This 0.8-mile hike commands the finest view of Albemarle County as well as the Valley, and lures even non-hikers. High sweat factor. 828-298-0398

Ivy Creek Natural Area: Hydraulic Road to Route 743, ICNA is a half a mile on the left. 215 acres boast six miles of walking trails and three quarters of paved trail. Open 7am-dusk seven days a week. 973-7772

For the dogs
For everything you need to know about registering and parking your dog, check out the dogs section of our newcomer's guide.

Climbing Clubs
The only instructor-equipped rock we know of is the Outdoor Wilderness Leadership School at Wintergreen Resort. OWLS charges $89 for at least two people for three hours of instruction. Private lessons are also available. The rock is rated 5.6-5.11, which means it has routes for beginners to experts. Open seven days a week. Reservations only. 325-8166.

Rocky Top Climbing Club: Join the throngs who have discovered the joys of scaling walls while imagining they're scaling cliffs. Open 3-9pm during the week, 11am-7pm Sat, 1-7pm Sun. General cost is $10. 1729 Allied St. 984-1626

ACAC Rocks: More faux rocks. 629-2 Berkmar Circle. 817-3800

Extreme stuff
KF-Flying Circus Aerodrome: The Flying Circus featuring WWI airplanes is located 14 miles south of Warrenton and 22 miles north of Fredericksburg off Route 17 on Route 644 near Bealeton. Just watch for the Flying Circus sign. Show starts at 2:30pm every Sunday, May through October, and open cockpit flights are available. Adults, $10; children 3-12, $3. Children under 3 are free. 540-439-8661

Skydive Orange: Located at the pastoral Orange County Airport, this place offers same-day free-falls (if you're willing to have an instructor on your back) as well as the old static line jumps. 877-DIVE-SKY

Skydive Virginia: Located in nearby Louisa, here's yet another place if you feel an irresistible urge to jump out of an airplane and plummet 10,000 feet. 540-967-3997

Powered Up Aerial: Motor-powered parachutes. Located just over two hours away, south of Virginia Tech in Pulaski, this firm will teach you how to fly these 26mph ultralights that you can keep in your garage or basement. 540-980-0469 / 540-616-6402.

Ballooning: There are no less than four separate ballooning operators in Charlottesville, and they all take off from the Boar's Head Inn, among other places.

Blue Ridge Balloons: 589-6213

Monticello Country Ballooning: 996-9008

Bonaire Charters: 589-5717

Bear Balloon Corp: 971-1757

Tubing/canoeing
James River Reeling and Rafting: Equipment and tube rental and transportation in downtown Scottsville for fun times floating and frolicking down the James. 286-4386

James River Runners: A similar set-up, but located five miles upstream on a serene, green stretch of the same mighty river. 286-2338

Albemarle County's Parks & Rec Department maintains six river access points. On the James River: Howardsville, Hatton Ferry, Warren, and Scottsville. On the Rivanna River: Milton and Darden Towe Park. 296-5844 (See more on rivers below.)

Lake Canoeing: Ho-hum. You can rent canoes at Chris Greene Lake and Walnut Creek Lake for $5/hour.

Major rivers
Actually, Charlottesville's nearby rivers won't quicken the pulse of any whitewater enthusiasts.
Hardware River: Down Scottsville way.
Rockfish River: On the border between southern Albemarle and Nelson.
Mechums River: The one that goes through "downtown" Ivy.
Moormans River: Stretches from Sugar Hollow in White Hall over to the South Fork Rivanna reservoir.

Rivanna River: A nice calm run exists between Charlottesville and the tiny burg of Columbia where this river opens into the James.
James River: The mac daddy of area rivers-- in size at least. Home to the two big tubing/canoeing companies mentioned above, it used to be the main "highway" in 18th century Virginia.

Spectator
UVA Football: Now with three consecutive winning seasons under his belt (9-5, 8-5, and 8-4) head coach Al Groh expects his program to exceed expectations and capture its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship since 1991. Senior quarterback Marques Hagans and halfback Wali Lundy will head a speedy backfield, while junior linebacker and Bronko Nagurski candidate Ahmad Brooks plans to wreak havoc on opposing offensives. UVA wll opens the season September 3 welcoming Western Michigan to C-ville. The Cavs will also host perenial power Florida State October 15, and arch-rival/defending ACC champion Virginia Tech November 12. The 'Hoos set a record in ticket sales selling out all season tickets three months prior to their home opener. "Cavalier fans have again stepped up and shown a level of support associated with the top programs in the country," Groh told UVAsports.com June 6. He went on to add, "Now we ask each fan to be a little more orange and a little bit louder this season." Expect Scott Stadium to be rocking all fall... some single game tickets are still available, but call 924-UVA1 for more information.

UVA Men's Basketball: The smaller University Hall will finally give way to the roomier John Paul Jones Arena in the spring of 2006, but for now Cav fans have plenty to be excited about as new head coach Dave Leitao takes over the program. After a four year NCAA tournament drought, the former Depaul coach replaces Pete Gillen in hopes of resurrecting the program from a disasterous last place finish in last season's ACC standings. Even through the recent struggles, Wahoo fans usually fill the compact arena for most games, but call the UVA Athletic Ticket Office at 800-542-8821 for more information.
UVA's Women's Basketball games Debbie Ryan's club returns well in tact for a run deep into the NCAA tournament after advancing to the second round last season. Single game tickets are usually easy to come by on game day. $6 Adult, $4 Youth. Season ticket prices not determined by press time. 924-UVA1.

UVA Soccer That "other" version of football in the fall is always a popular attraction at Klockner Stadium. Both the men's and women's teams are consistently ranked among the best in America, and both landed superb 2005 recruiting classes to carry on the tradition this fall. Season tickets must be reserved, but single tickets are available starting one hour before kickoff. $6 Adult, $4 Youth. 924-UVA1

UVA Lacrosse: Klockner is the home for UVA's strongest athletic programs as it also hosts men's and women's lacrosse games during the spring. The men won the 2003 national championship, and advanced to the semifinals last season, while the women won it all in 2004, and came up just short of a repeat in the 2005 championship game. Single game Tickets $4 Adult, $6 Youth.

UVA Swimming & Diving: They may not attract the prime-time media attention, but this program is filled with unsung heroes and All-American athletes that are always bringing home heavy hardware. The men have won seven straight ACC championships, and the women are not far behind. And get this &endash; regular season swim meets at the swanky Aquatic Fitness Center on Alderman Road are free for fans, unlike the pigskin competitions next door.

UVA Baseball: It's arguably the fastest growing program at UVA since Coach Brian O'Connor took over in 2004. The 'Hoos had not seen the NCAA tournament in nearly a decade, but O'Connor led the Cavs back to the "Big Dance" the past two seasons and hopes continue to remain sky high for future success in 2006. Davenport Field's season tickets were available for $100 last year, and single games charged $6 adults, $4 kids/seniors. 924-UVA1. Alternate choice: the Waynesboro Generals play in the NCAA-sanctioned valley summer league. They play a 44-game summer schedule for $5 a game. Home games at Kate Collins Middle School field. 540-942-8790

Polo: Judging from tourism brochures, you'd think everyone in Charlottesville plays polo or rows. While the area boasts four polo clubs, actually only a few sports-minded equestrians play. For many locals, tailgating at the Polo Grounds of Forest Lodge Farm off Old Lynchburg Road is a summer tradition. Tickets: $4. 977-POLO. But it's not the only game in town. Crozet's King Family Vineyards has a polo field of their own and hosts games every Sunday.

Auto racing in Waynesboro: Eastside Speedway If you've got the need, the need for speed, this Valley track offers drag racing on Fridays and good ol' dirt track stock car racing on Saturday night. 540-943-9336 / 540-942-1219

Richmond Braves: Take me out to the ballpark-- in this case to The Diamond in Richmond, to see the Atlanta Braves' Triple-A affiliate. It may be minor league, but a box seat can be a majorly good time and costs only $9. $6 general admission. Not a bad seat in the house. 800-849-4627.

Lynchburg Hillcats: The home of the Pittsburgh Pirates' Single-A club, newly renovated City Stadium makes for a great intimate setting to catch a rising baseball star. A great slice of Americana. Reserved seats are $7, general admission is $6. 528-1144.

Washington Nationals: After 34 years, the boys of summer finally returned the American pastime to the nation's capital. By the way, they're no longer the loveable losing Senators of the 1960s, as the Nats find themselves in the thick of a pennant race with just two months of regular season baseball remaining. Good old RFK Stadium is the temporary home for these ballplayers, but a brand new ballpark is in the early-construction phases and is expected to open in 2008. 81 single game tickets are usually available on game-days (April-September) for $7-55, but fans have discovered there are no guarantees with this team.

Baltimore Orioles: There are few better ballpark experiences than the one just three hours north. When major league teams were building shiny new stadiums to look "old school" for the last decade, they were all imitating the mix of modern amenities and historic downtown charm that Charm City perfected when Camden Yards opened its gates in 1992. And for the first time in several seasons, the O's are contenders this year as they battle the Red Sox and Yankees for supremacy in the American League East. Availability varies from game to game, but if you can get your mitts on them, single game tickets range from $8 to $45.

Washington Redskins: An exciting season of eight home games are scheduled from September through December at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. Beloved head coach Joe Gibbs enters his second season hoping to revive the Skins' from recent mediocrity back to their glory Super Bowl years of the 1980s. Redskin fans are some of the most loyal around,and the waiting list for general admission season tickets is 10-12 seasons. You'll have better luck with club-level season tickets. Those go from $2,200-$3,700 per seat. Or, if you get a group of 25 together, the 'Skins will see that you get tickets. 301-276-6800.

Baltimore Ravens: Once their beloved Colts moved to Indiana under the cover of night in 1984, Baltimore was without an NFL franchise until Art Modell brought Cleveland's beloved Browns to town in 1995 and christened them anew after an Edgar Allan Poe poem. After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, the Ravens look to return to Super Bowl form this year. They're set to play eight home games at a stadium with an identity crisis worse than the Three Faces of Eve, now called M&T Bank Stadium. For season tickets, be prepared to take a number and wait in line, but single game tickets just went on sale. 410-261-7263.

Washington Wizards: Even the return of Michael Jordan could not seem to save this team until all-star Gilbert Arenas, and a young and talented group of players finally came together durng the winter of 2004-05. The Wiz not only made the playoffs but avanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time in well over a decade. Expect tickets to be in high demand come Halloween, but call 202-661-5050 for both single game and season tickets.

Washington Mystics: The WNBA counterpart to the Wizards have been playing their home games at D.C.'s MCI Center since their inaugural season in 1998. They're led by their star center Alana Beard, whom UVA fans will remember for tormenting Cavalier defenses when she was a Duke Blue Devil. Their schedule runs from May through August. Season tickets range from $40 to $85. Plenty of single game tickets are available on game day and run $8 to $38. 202-661-5050.

Washington Capitals: Who knows what to expect this October when the puck is dropped for the first time in a year. The Capitals will be just one of 29 NHL teams desperately trying to bring back their fans after a 300 plus day league lockout cancelled the 2004-05 season due to labor negotiations between the players union and team owners. There is much discssion of cutting ticket prices this season, so a Caps ticket might suddenly become the best deal in the district.