Best Extreme Sports And Rec Spots In Sacramento
Adrenaline-activated sports enthusiasts unite over Sacramento's wildest extreme sports offerings. From cyclocross to black-diamond ski runs, this city was made for the elite.
Sky Dance Skydiving
24390 Aviation Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 753-2651
skydanceskydiving.com
Price: Click here for pricing
Hours: Mon to Sat – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free fall toward the face of the earth and find out what parachutes are really made for. Sky Dance Skydiving operates out of the Yolo County Airport, allowing adventure-seekers to jump out of a PAC750XL — an all-metal, low-wing monoplane expertly operated by fully licensed pilots and jumpmasters. It's a truly terrifying experience ... in the good way.
Related: Drop Zones: Best Skydivers in Sacramento
Sacramento Hang Gliding
PO Box 594
Sloughhouse, CA 95683
(916) 690-7760
www.sachanggliding.com
Price: Click here for pricing
Hours: Tues to Sun by appointment
Fly like a bird, no motor required. Hang gliding is a fantastic way to fly without being in an airplane. Listening to the wind and seeing the sights over sunny Sacramento as you ease through the air provides an experience only found in hang gliding. Train from beginner to novice to intermediate in the safety of the training hill before taking off solo for the ride of a lifetime.
Kirkwood Ski Resort
1501 Kirkwood Meadows Dr.
Kirkwood, CA 95646
(209) 258-6000
www.kirkwood.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: Click here for pricing
The Wall at Kirkwood is an intimidating sight: extremely steep and a little terrifying, it easily qualifies for as an extreme skiing destination. Expect fright followed by exhilaration flying down this breathtaking run. While it will be a bit of an adrenaline rush the first time down, successive drops off The Wall will add to your black diamond skills and bragging rights. This is an experts-only drop.
Related: Guide to Tahoe Skiing and Snowboarding
Lovers Leap Guides
PO Box 1017
Twin Bridges, CA 95735
(530) 318-2939
www.loversleap.net
Hours: Click here for schedule
Price: Click here for pricing and availability
Lover's Leap looms magnificently over Strawberry, just off US Highway 50. Climb a rock with Petch, who's been climbing since 1989 and guiding since 1996. Many of the routes on Lover's Leap were pioneered by Petch. This enormous chunk of granite boasts both learning routes and others that are more than a little extreme, especially when free climbing — no ropes, carabiners, cams or crash pads involved.
Prairie City Race Series
Prairie City Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park
www.racemtb.com
Hours: Wed – 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Price: Click here for price and registration.
Cyclocross racing is a mad dash around a complex dirt course on a bicycle. The start isn't for the faint of heart. Cyclists on mountain/road bike combos simply gang up at the start line and take off when the starting gun fires. Chaos and disorder rule the race. Plan to be covered in dirt or mud by the end of the race. The first race for 2012 is March 28. Races are set up for all levels of riders.
Charles is a freelance writer who has lived in the Sierra, halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, for the last 37 years. He retired from teaching after 36 years in 2010. He and his wife hike, kayak, cross country ski, snow shoe, ride mountain bikes and road bikes, year round. Wandering aimlessly, always looking for another place to explore, some place new, is high on the agenda. Charles enjoys all aspects of the great outdoors and writing about it to encourage others to explore as well. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
