sports

TRIBAL TRIBUTE – A large crowd of Ice Festivarians rose to their feet at the Ouray Community Center last Saturday evening to honor Jeff Lowe (seated, raising a glass), the visionary climber and founder of the Ouray Ice Festival. In honor of Lowe’s contributions to the Ice Fest over the years, long-time friend and fellow climber Jim Donini introduced the Jeff Lowe Award, which will be given annually from now on to someone who has volunteered significant time and talents to the Fest’s success. The first annual Jeff Lowe Award appropriately went to Bill Whitt, the co-founder of the Ouray Ice Park. (Photo by Samantha Wright)
“My church is out there on the ice. In the mountains. I am a religious fanatic. I am very much a fundamentalist outdoorsman.”

SHELDON KERR prepared to ski a beautiful line to the Arctic Ocean and flag a cod fisherman down for a ride home. (Photo courtesy of Mark Allen)
From jaw-dropping cliff drops to shower-curtain wall descents, Gannett has embarked on a lifetime journey to “save our snow."

INES PAPERT rested her hand as she worked her way toward the top of the Elite Mixed Climbing Competition route on Saturday; she went on to win 1st Place in the Women’s Division. (Photo by William Woody)
Almost every contender managed the lower portion of the climb and many exhibited jaw-dropping, head-scratching feats of strength and flexibility as they figured out how to tackle the complexities a...
TRAINING AT ALTITUDE – Ferguson at Machu Picchu. (Courtesy photo)
The 57-year-old retired school teacher from Austin, Texas (now a city councilor in Ouray) has run marathons in all 50 states, and all seven continents. So far, in his lifetime, he’s bagged a total ...
GOING UP – An ice climber worked his way up a sliver of ice in Ouray Ice Park on Sunday, Dec. 23, one day after the park’s opening. Dozens of climbers swarmed the site. The 18th Annual Ouray Ice Festival takes place Jan. 10-13. (Photo by William Woody)
Ice climbers from around the world are flocking to Ouray in anticipation of the 18th Annual Ouray Ice Festival, Thursday, Jan. 10- Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.
You can look at all kinds of stats to judge a team, but when a team rallies around a coach recovering from leukemia, it’s immeasurable. And that’s why the Colts may now be the team to beat in the p...
Local athletes basked in the glow of the sports spotlight in 2012, as our little corner of southwest Colorado established once again that it yields big athletic talent.
STORMING TO THE FRONT - U.S. Team veteran Seth Wescott, No. 29, held off the competition in the World Cup SBX men's individual finals during a Telluride blizzard on Friday. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
Despite no natural snow to speak of, Telluride again hosted the elite World Cup for ski- and snowboardcross athletes last week.
The NFL must get serious about player safety and Commissioner Roger Goodell knows it.

CLASSIC WIN – Telluride’s Rachel Hampton, racing for the Durango Nordic Ski Club, topped the women’s field in a United States Ski Association 5k classic race on Grand Mesa Sunday. The THS senior also took her F0J class (18-19 year olds) in the National Rankings List competition, which was moved from Summit County to the snowy, and very cold, track at Skyway. High temp for the day was 4 degrees Fahrenheit. (Photo by Peter Shelton)
With the only snow in the state, the Grand Mesa Nordic Council stepped up to host two days of USSA-sanctioned nordic races last weekend.

HANG TIME – Ridgway High School graduate Lauren Hagemeyer, No. 7 attacking the ball above, capped her collegiate volleyball career at BYU-Hawaii with a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament and second-team All-America honors. (Courtesy photo)
RHS grad Lauren Hagemeyer capped a successful collegiate volleyball career with a trip to the NCAA Division II tournament and second-team All-America honors.
After David Stern handed down ‘sanctions’ to the Spurs last week for resting key players, it’s a wonder Stern allows coaches to make any decisions on their own.
"This is truly a special group of student-athletes that we have at THS. I am very proud of them.”

TOP RUNNER – Pia Falkowski found her pace amidst fellow cross-country competitors, and earned a place of honor on the Ouray High School cross-country team. (Photo by David Emory)
The San Juan Basin League recognized two Ouray High School athletes and one OHS coach in its fall sport All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-Conference lineup.
Is the Colorado Rockies Owner/Chief Executive Officer Dick Monfort being cheap or does he really have faith that Walt Weiss, who was named the Rockies new manager last week, can turn this fledgling...
BORN TO RUN - (From left to right) Jordan Lankes, Morgan Karow, Anna Smith, Emery Barry, and Morgan Watkinson trained at Telluride High School's Judy Long Field on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for this Saturday's 5K run in Telluride Town park. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
Teams of girls ages 8-12 from Durango, Pagosa Springs, Dolores, Nucla, Naturita, Norwood, and Telluride, who all began their twice-a-week after-school training sessions when school started earlier ...

CHALLENGING – A 25-foot-tall climbing tower installed at the Ouray Ice Park last Saturday will present competitors with a steely new challenge at the 18th Annual Ouray Ice Festival, set for Jan. 10-13, 2013. (Photo by Samantha Wright)
A 3.5 ton, 25-foot tall steel structure, painted powder blue to blend in with the ice, will serve as a launching pad for the Ouray Ice Festival’s future.
HARD-FOUGHT - Lady Miner Erin Keane (#15) went up for a block against Ignacio in the first round of regional play at Telluride's Minerdome on Saturday morning; Telluride won the game, 3-1. (Photo by Brett Schreckengost)
With regional volleyball on a roll, Norwood and Telluride teams head to State Tourney in Denver
Telluride Harriers bring Home Gold, Silver and Bronze from State XC Championship.

PRECISE – Telluride senior Sarah Wontrobski leaped into a back-set attempt during the Lady Miners' 2A-District 3 Tournament opener Saturday in Ignacio against Nucla, as Lady Mustangs Macaela Morris (7) and Kelsey Brune (5) kept watch for a dump over the net. Now 16-6 overall, Telluride High School swept Norwood High School (25-16, 25-11, 29-27) and rallied past Mancos (20-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-13, 15-9) inside Ignacio Junior High's gymnasium, then moved into Ignacio High School Gymnasium for the finale – and 25-20, 25-15, 25-12 sweep – of Dolores. Earning the right to host this weekend's Region G action in the MinerDome, Telluride will be joined by D-3 third-place Ignacio and D-5 runners-up Meeker. (Photo by Joel Priest)
A fired-up Telluride Lady Miners varsity volleyball team dug deep over the weekend, producing three emotional wins at the Class 2A District 3 tournament to claim the title of District Champions.
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DISCUS THROWER Lance Brooks competed in the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo by Steve DeAutremont)

RESEARCH ASSISTANTS – Ridgway High School students (left to right) Jack Middleton, Abel Lannan and Tashi Hackett presented the results of their research on possible sister cities to Ridgway Town Council last week. Mountain towns in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Dominican Republic made the cut. Next step: contact. (Photo by Peter Shelton)

MAIN STREET GELATO – A+Y Design Gallery owners Adam and Yesenia Duncan offered up gelato samples from behind their Italian-imported gelato case Monday morning. Along with unique furniture and fine art, the two offer 22 flavors of locally-made gelato. (Photo by Gus Jarvis)

BUILDING OPTIMISM – Tom How (left) and Daniel Key of Sjoden Wood Designs worked on a new home in the Cobble Creek Golf Community Tuesday morning. The spec home is being built under the direction of contractor Bert Welz, who said he’s optimistic for the region’s construction trade. (Photo by William Woody)

GROWTH INVESTMENT – Students took advantage of a "living classroom" at the Telluride School's new Grow Dome this spring. The Dome, which will be open to the public for tours Wednesday, May 22, was funded in part by a Telluride Medical Center's Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. (Courtesy photos)

HEADED TO PLAYOFFS - Montrose High Shoo0l's Jake Kastendieck fielded a ground ball last Saturday during the team’s 10-0 victory over Woodland Park. The Indians advance to the state 4A quarterfinals this Friday at Cherokee Trail High School against Valor Christian. (Photo by William Woody)

PINHEADS, PIXELLATED – The Pinhead Institute holds its annual fundraiser, entitled Minecraft Mania,at the Sheridan Opera House this Sunday, May 19. (Courtesy photo)

TELLURIDE IN 1910 – A hypothetical model of the main street facades, made up of buildings throughout the region, the television producers are proposing to build for the production of "When Calls the Heart." (Courtesy image)
