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Recreation Articles

Health & Fitness 2014

The Big Beautiful Gym Grid (2014)

a rundown of local gyms and all they have to offer

Dance like nobody’s watching. This statement is cutesy, trite, and meant to be a metaphor. But darn it, I’m taking it literally, and that’s why I’ve spent almost every Saturday morning for the last two months at Zumba class ...

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Issue #245 Jan. 9, 2014

Into the Sky

annual ski jump fest returns

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Winter Fun 2013

What to Do at the New Pinehurst Park

If you want to ski, sled, snowboard, skate, or snowshoe in the Chippewa Valley, look no further than Pinehurst Park on Eau Claire’s north side. Over the past year a dedicated group of volunteers has put in countless hours transforming ...

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Catchin’ the Red Eye

IT’S A PRETTY UNIQUE THRILL to be skiing down a mountain, poles up bouncing off the fresh powder as you guide yourself through the pristine winter scene. For the last 40 years, the Red Eye Ski Club has pursued that exact feeling, taking trips ...

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Issue #239 Oct. 10, 2013

Bring Your Dead Out

zombies, plague stalk EC natives’ role-playing game

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Issue #237 Sept. 12, 2013

These Colors Do Run

Eau Claire’s Carson Park to host popular ColorDash 5K

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Issue #236 August 29, 2013

Back to School Bruise-A-Thon

free event launches 2013 roller derby season

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Issue #233 July 18, 2013

The Return of the Rock-N-Roll Kickball Classic

It’s back, baby. After a year hiatus, the much-begged-for Rock-n-Roll Kickball Classic will return this September in all its glory. The two day festival and kickball tournament will run Friday and Saturday Sept. 6-7 at Cinder City Park in Altoona ...

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Issue #232 July 4, 2013

The Search Is On

EC scavenger hunt will have you looking high and low

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Knocking Your Block Off

national kubb tourney brings lawn sport’s best to EC

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Issue #231 June 20, 2013

A Truly Ultimate Adventure

duo hits the road to document Ultimate Frisbee subculture on video

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New Place to Skate

skateboard plaza coming to Lakeshore Park

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Free-use Floatation

Every summer there are tragic headlines about deaths on some of the many waterways in Wisconsin, deaths that often are entirely preventable. A new loaner life jacket program is aimed at keeping these waterways safer ...

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Issue #230 June 6, 2013

A Grand Day to Bike

4th annual Nature Valley Grand Prix zips into Menomonie

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Over the Top

National Armwrestling Championship comes to Eau Claire

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Issue #229 May 23, 2013

Going for Gold

There’s gold in them thar hills” – and rivers and streams. Learn how to pan for gold at the Prospecting for Gold class Saturday, June 1, from 9:30 to 11:30am at the Wise Nature Center of the Beaver Creek Reserve near Fall Creek. Mike Wiersma ...

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Issue #228 May 9, 2013

Talkin' Playoffs

NCAA Softball Championship hits Carson Park

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Outdoor Adventures (Spring & Summer 2013)

A Wild Ride: local rivers pick up speed for kayakers in spring

Though the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers are usually pretty docile, when the snow starts to melt they pick up speed and make some kayakers pretty happy with some wild rides. We...

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Comin' Round the Mountain

A look at the thriving local off-road biking scene

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Issue #227 April 25, 2013

Navigating the Fairway

author finds golf-course owners defy stereotypes

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Time to De-trash the Forest

The heavy-duty junk – stuff like tires, appliances, and even hazardous waste – illegally dumped in the Eau Claire County Forest has prompted a heavy-duty cleanup. The Our...

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Issue #225 Mar. 28, 2013

Spinning the Globe

Harlem Globetrotters bring hoop hijinks to North High

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Issue #224 Mar. 14, 2013

Stepping Up

unique troupe taps into on 100-year-old dance rituals

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Issue #222 Feb. 14, 2013

Running with the Dogs

Beaver Creek Reserve offers a taste of dog sledding

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Issue #219 Dec. 27, 2012

Silver Mine Invitational #127

127th installment of North American Ski Jumping Contest

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Winter Fun 2012

Broomball Fever

a different take on hockey, without the skates

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The EC Curling Club: Sweep-Sweeping Away Since 1876

If you’re looking for something unique to do in the winter that is inside yet also on ice, check out curling. Curling is a very social winter sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities. The Eau Claire Curling Club is nothing new ...

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The Eau Claire Ski Club: Taking the Leap Since 1886

Eau Claire is naturally a great area for skiing, with its rich Scandinavian heritage, the abundance of hills, and the support of local businesses and media.

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Kids & Families - Winter 2012

Weather Permitting: Come and Play!

Parks & Rec puts on ice skating activities across EC

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Issue #215 Nov. 1, 2012

British adventurer to speak at The Grand Theatre

Some days I wish an old wizard would knock on my door and offer to take me on an adventure. Dave Cornthwaite did not wait for wizard tricks to spark his imagination. He stepped out his front door and starting going on adventures all on his own ...

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Outdoor Adventures (Fall/Winter 2012)

4 Radical Regions to Climb Rocks

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3 Sweet Places to Pitch a Tent

we asked local experts, and this is where they recommend

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6 Stellar Spots to Stride and Ride

we asked local experts, and this is where they recommend

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4 Awesome Locales to Paddle in the Fall

we asked local experts, and this is where they recommend

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Unknown Territory

journeying from Boyd Park to New Orleans by kayak

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Rethinking Our Rivers

River Videos

a collection of videos to keep you rolling down the river

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Fall Harvest 2012

Take a Hike

see the leaves, feel the sun, suck some of the crisp autumn air

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Issue #209 Aug. 9, 2012

Not Really Northwoods?

our area was once much more prairie than forest

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Issue #208 July 26, 2012

A Cut Above

U.S. Chainsaw Sculpture Championships return to EC

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Issue # 206 June 28, 2012

Two-wheel Parking

Every tried to wrangle your bike lock around a massive tree trunk? Or wandered aimlessly looking for a rack, only to settle for a sign or a railing? Put your frustrations aside, because there will (likely) soon be a standard amount of space ...

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Pack the Park

outdoor series combines cardio and high fives

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Issue #203 May 17, 2012

Off to the Wood Tick Races

Red Zone Sports Bar pits tick against tick

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Issue #202 May 3, 2012

Local Supplier of Quality Kubb Sets Opens for Biz

Kubb Farm, a new local business, owned and operated by Aaron Ellringer, has got you covered for all your Kubb equipment needs. The strategic Nordic lawn game has swept the Chippewa Valley in recent years. But, that said, a kinda big problem for ...

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Wisconsin Bike Challenge Has been Issued!

If you want a fun, easy way to promote health, wellness, and bicycling in your home or workplace, then get signed up for the Wisconsin Bike Challenge. This four month long (May 1 – August 31) free event is for anyone who wants get rewarded for ...

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Outdoor Adventures 2011

Climbers Find Their Bliss Cliff Side

a beginner's guide to rock climbing

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Local Fishing Gear

believe it or not, great tackle is made right in our backyard

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Weekend Getaway Adventure Spots

four highly recommended locales outside the Chippewa Valley for recreation hounds

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Women in the Outdoors

Beaver Creek event encourages wilderness exposure

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Issue #201 Apr. 19, 2012

Touring Tiffany Bottoms

all aboard for a mini-train tour of a spectacular Wisconsin wetland

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Issue #196 Feb. 9, 2012

Indie Fitness

local trainer’s new DVD has Bon Iver on board

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Issue # 191, Nov. 25, 2011

Battling the Cyclocross

hardcore cyclists to invade town for multi-terrain race

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Issue #184, Aug. 18, 2011

Get Your Freak On

Warrior Dash-style ‘Freak 5k’ returns to Chippewa Falls

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Menomonie Native Joins the Major Leagues

It’s every athlete’s dream to play a professional sport, but rarely does this dream ever become a reality. Recently, local product and UW-Milwaukee player Cole Kraft signed with the Rockland Boulders.

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Saddled Up

Memorial High School has an Equestrian Team?

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Issue #182, July 21, 2011

Anyone Hankering for Winter? Free Skate It Up

Enjoy a winter activity without the below freezing temperatures and all the irritating white stuff on the ground. In fact, enjoy a winter activity during the summer heat!

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Eau Claire Express Want A Baseball History Center

If you know anything about Eau Claire’s history, you know that baseball is an important part of it. Eau Claire’s first minor league team, the Eau Claire Bears, was formed in 1933.

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Issue #180, June 23, 2011

Keep On Rollin'

the Roller Girls gear up for second season

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Issue #179 June 9th, 2011

Not Your Average Go-Kart

the Midwest Karting Assoc. takes it to another level

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Unprofessional Fishermen

local web video series brings fishing shows down to earth

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Nature Valley Grand Prix

huge bike race rushes back to downtown Menomonie

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Issue #177 May 12th, 2011

Menomonie Regatta

speedy boat race zooming towards Lake Menomin

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Giant Synchronized Kites!

local kite enthusiast’s dream of flying group takes ... flight

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Issue # 176 Apr. 28th, 2011

ValleyCat Version Five

area’s coolest bike race comes prowling back to town

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Issue #175 April 14th, 2011

Menards Hops on the Kubb Wagon

If you haven’t heard of Kubb, then you should probably educate yourself. The “Viking chess” game is one of the most popular lawn games in the Chippewa Valley, and its popularity is growing rapidly.

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Junior Links

a great opportunity to get youths involved in golf

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A Facelift for the Brickyard

Stout-area disc golf course gets a $30,000 revamp

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Either Oar: Oceanic Rower

Last year, a 22-year-old woman from Ohio oared her way across the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days to bring a spotlight on the worldwide need for clean drinking water. Now she’s coming to Eau Claire to stress the importance of the same issue.

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Climbers Find Their Bliss Cliff Side

a beginner's guide to rock climbing

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Local Fishing Gear

believe it or not, great tackle is made right in our backyard

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Weekend Getaway Adventure Spots

four highly recommended locales outside the Chippewa Valley for recreation hounds

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Women in the Outdoors

Beaver Creek event encourages wilderness exposure

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Issue #170 Feb. 3rd, 2011

New Locally Made Magazine About Kubb

The godfather of Eau Claire’s kubb frenzy, Eric Anderson, has created a new magazine called Kubbnation to celebrate all things kubb.

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Ice, Ice Boating

local father and daughter warm up to chilly sport

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New Eau Claire Horseshoe League Trots Into Town

Did you know Eau Claire has a horseshoe club? Well we do, apparently, and they’re in the process of recruiting new members.

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Punt Pass Kick Dominic

local teen wins NFL contest

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Eatery Embraces Wintery Events

The Waterfront Bar & Grill in Menomonie is hosting some great “kick-ice” recreational events this winter – for real; there will actually be a kickball tournament on the ice.

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