Remember Rocky Johnson with a little softball
Nobody loved softball more than Rocky Johnson, an energetic player and coach for many years in WoodRiverValley slow-pitch softball leagues.
Roderick “Rocky” Alan Johnson, 58, died April 17 at St. Luke’s WoodRiverMedicalCenter in Ketchum after a brave battle with cancer. His friends and teammates are celebrating his memory Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a full day of softball at LionsPark in Hailey.
The memorial service will take place at 12 noon Saturday at the park with a potluck to follow. Bring a dish to share. There will be a barbecue grill available—don’t forget your meat. So, dusty off your glove and grab at bat to remember Rocky Johnson’s passion.
Questions, Jeff Poggi 481-2128 or Debbie Oneida 720-1555.
It’s about 25 days and counting until all the excitement and hullabaloo of the Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival July 11-17 that includes the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country National Championships.
But the locals don’t want to be outdone, and several road bike and mountain bike events this coming weekend are a good indication that the Sun Valley area is not only “Nordictown,” but also “Biketown.”
One of the newer versions of WoodRiverValley summertime fun is Friday’s Hot Dog Hill Climb One Handed World Time Trial Championships (HDHCOHWTTC) that’s part of Hailey’s Sheeptown Festival. So, let’s get in the saddle:
Sheeptown Festival continues in Hailey
You’re mistaken if you think this week’s Sheeptown Festival mountain bike event in Hailey is anything but fun. “It’s all fun, and it’s free,” said Billy Olson of Powerhouse Bike Pub and Fit Studio (788-9184).
And there is something for everyone, although today’s Bike Polo Cultural Event is not intended for the cultured.
The festival moves to CuttersPark pavement today for the Bike Polo Cultural Event at 6 p.m. followed by the HDHCOHWTTC, not intended for the faint hearted. The Hot Dog Hill Climb One Handed World Time Trial Championships (HDHCOHWTTC) begins today, Friday at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday the Sheeptown Festival winds up with the Sheeptown Epic—about a four- or five-hour ride on an unannounced course (“a surprise course,” Olson said) leaving from the Powerhouse shop at 9 a.m. For more details visit farca.wordpress.com.
Perch stages bike hill climb
The Elephant’s Perch of Ketchum is staging its Town to Summit mass start bike hill climb Saturday, June 18 beginning with a neutral roll-out mass start at 9 a.m. on Sun Valley Rd. next to the Perch.
Riders of all kinds of bikes are welcome—cross bike, road bike or mountain bike. The course measures 12.4 miles including 2.2 miles on the dirt right up to the summit of Trail Creek Road east of Sun Valley.
There will be a rolling mass start up the road until Sun Valley Clubhouse, where it’s “game on” the rest of the way.
Sign up at the Perch or Durance Cycleworks in Ketchum before 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Entry fee of $25 includes a one-day USA Cycling license. Cost is $15 if you already have a license.
The Perch will have a post-race party at 1 p.m. Saturday where food, refreshments and category awards (fastest Open male and female, fastest Junior male and female) will be provided. Last year there were 50 finishers, Richard Feldman cresting the hill in 45:31. Adrienne Leugers (54:54) paced gals.
Visit elephantsperch.com or call 726-3497 for details.
Soldier Mountain Smoker is Saturday
If you’re keen on qualifying for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country National Championships in July, you might want to take part in the Soldier Mountain Smoker cross-country race Saturday.
The Smoker is a qualifying event for the nationals.
Or you might want to ride just to enjoy springtime in the hills north of Fairfield. Smoker organizer Marc Driver said, “It’s very lush and green, beautiful scenery. If you haven’t ridden at SoldierMountain you ought to come over and try it.”
Co-sponsored by Broken Spoke Cycling of Boise, the Smoker is a Knobby Tire Series event on courses covering 23, 16 and 10 miles. Mountain bikers expect high-speed rolling double track and tight, technical sagebrush single track.
It all starts Saturday, June 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Soldier Mountain 10 miles north of Fairfield. USA Cycling classes including Pro, Category 1, 2 and 3 are featured. Register 30 minutes before your event at Soldier Mountain Lodge, or sign up at spondoro.com or knobbytireseries.com.
Driver said the annual Galena Grinder/Whit Henry Memorial is scheduled for Saturday, July 23 at Galena Lodge, after the end of the big weeklong event at Sun Valley.
Summer mountain bike camp to start for kids
Billy Olson of Sun Valley Road & Dirt is offering three one-week summer sessions of a mountain bike camp for kids ages 7-12 (and 6-year-olds who rip). The camps conducted by USA Cycling Certified Level 3 coaches are in their 10th year. Dates are June 20-24, July 11-15 and Aug. 8-12 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the CroyCanyonBMXPark three miles west of Hailey. Olson said, “We’ll cover bike handling, bike and trail etiquette and introduction to maintenance, but most importantly we’ll have fun.” Cost is $225 per week, or $600 per person for all three weeks. Scholarships are available. Contact billy@powerhouseidaho.com.
Registration for SVSEF is underway
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation has started registration for the 2011-12 ski season.
Registration is open for returning athletes for the following teams—Alpine: FIS, J1, J2, J3 and Post Grad; Cross Country: Comp, Prep and Post Grad; Freestyle: Comp and Prep; Snowboard: Comp and Prep.
The registration forms are available online at svsef.org, and listed under “Programs and Registration.” A $60 charge will be assessed for registration received or postmarked after June 30. Tuition payment is not required until Oct. 10, 2011, at which time 50% of the balance is due.
Registration for returning Devo athletes, as well as Alpine C-Home, C-Travel and new athletes will begin Aug. 1. Travel and/or tuition scholarships for returning athletes is offered beginning July 1.
For more information contact Jody at 726-4129 ext. 101.
Horse racing in Jerome
Spend your Father’s Day with an exciting afternoon of quarter horse racing at Jerome County Fairgrounds on Sunday, June 19. First post is 12 noon and grandstands open at 11 a.m. Covered seating, food and drink are available. And remember, LesBoisPark in Boise will resume live horse racing for the first time since 2008 on Saturday, July 2, through Aug. 13.
Master Gary Petersen, con-gratulating Kenny Pratt on passing his test for his 1st Poome black Belt. Pratt was tested this past weekend, at the Idaho Taeqwondo Training Center, in Boise.
Courtesy photo
