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Methodist Home Skatepark, 3200 Shamrock Drive, 704-568-3363.
Extremes, 10930 Granite Street, 704-583-1444, www.extremes-usa.com.
Grayson Park, 750 Beal Street, 704-643-3405.
14. PADDLING Charlotte may be landlocked, but we're just a few hours away from some world-class rivers. You can take on exciting Class III and IV rapids (paddler-speak for intermediate and advanced) along the Nantahala, Chattooga and French Broad, all in the NC mountains. There are several Charlotte-area lakes, all of which have put-in areas for canoes and kayaks. For more information go to: www.parkandrec.com, click on "things to do," then "boating." County Park and Rec also offers canoe/kayak Instruction.
Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) is one of the largest commercial rafting operations around, offering a wide variety of rafting options. 13077 US 19 W, Bryson City, NC, www.noc.com.
Wildwater Ltd. is another popular whitewater rafting outfitter that serves the Nantahala. They also provide a variety rafting trips and training programs. Long Creek, SC, www.wildwaterrafting.com/nantahala.
The following facilities offer launch sites for canoes, kayaks and other non-motorized watercraft. No launch fees are required.
McDowell Nature Preserve (Lake Wylie), 704-588-5224.
Latta Plantation Nature Preserve (Mountain Island Lake), 704-875-1391.
Paddling/Boating Clubs and Organizations:
Carolina Canoe Club (www.carolinacanoeclub.com)
Carolina Kayak Polo (www.carolinakayakpolo.org)
Mecklenburg Paddlers (www.mrponline.org)
Kayaking at CPCC: Learn the basics of flatwater kayaking. www.cpcctraining.org/personal_interest
15. ROWING No longer just for snooty Ivy League students, the sport of rowing has been a part of the Catawba Yacht Club at Lake Wylie since 1991, which now offers several different rowing and instruction programs. Non-members can also join the CYC Masters team. This group competes in various regattas around the Southeast. Catawba Yacht Club, Lake Wylie, SC, 704-332-3032, www.catawbayc.org.
16. GO FLY A KITE Kiteboarding is one of the most adrenaline-inducing, testosterone-fueled sports around. Willing victims, er, participants are pulled through the water and sometimes 30 to 40 feet into the air at speeds of up to 30 mph via a giant kite while strapped to a wakeboard. The skills required to maneuver successfully combine elements of sailing, surfing, skiing and kite-flying. And best of all, one of the hottest locations in the world to go kiteboarding is Cape Hatteras along the southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks. There, you'll find REAL Kiteboarding, which offers a variety of instructional programs and gear.
REAL Kiteboarding, Buxton, NC 27920, 866-REAL-Kite, www.realkiteboarding.com.
17. BADMINTON Badminton — that odd cross between volleyball and tennis — is no longer just a game played in the backyard by neighborhood kids. Today it's an Olympic sport with national and international organizations, and tournaments held all over the country. And Charlotte has also gotten in on the shuttlecock craze with the Charlotte Badminton Club, which usually practices at Latta Park and the Marion Diehl Center, and holds annual competitions. For more information, check out:
www.charlottebadminton.org
18. BROOMBALL What the hell is broomball? I'm glad you asked. Although similar to hockey, players wear sponge-like rubber-sole shoes instead of skates to give them a better grip on the ice. Instead of a hockey stick, players use a "broom," which is basically a stick with a flat, wide head made from aluminum. Players use the broom to hit 5-inch rubber balls in the goal. The rules are similar to hockey, in that there are five players and a goalkeeper on each team. Carolina Broomball plays Sundays at Eastland Mall Ice House between 6:15 and 8:15pm. For more details, check out Carolina Broomball at: www.carolinabroomball.com
19. CLIMBING If your idea of a good time is hanging off the face of a cliff while thousands of feet in the air, then you're in luck, because Charlotte is just a short drive from some of the country's best rock climbing locales. If you'd like a little practice first before tackling an actual mountain, check out Inner Peaks Climbing Center where experienced instructors will teach you all about climbing safety and equipment. Once you're ready to scale real-life rocks, check out the websites below for information about great NC mountains including Stone Mountain, and Crowder's Mountain, which is 1,385-feet tall, has over 150 climbing routes and is only 30 minutes south of Charlotte.
Carolina Climbers Coalition, www.carolinaclimbers.org.
NC Bouldering, www.ncbouldering.com.
Crowder's Mountain State Park, www.crowdersmountain.com.
Inner Peaks, 704-844-6677, www.innerpeaks.com.
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Calendar
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Fred Armisen: Comedy For Musicians But Everyone Is Welcome @ N.C. Music Factory -
Coach Conroy's All Sports Camp @ Chestnut Square Park
- Thu., June 19, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Mon., July 7, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Tue., July 8, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Wed., July 9, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Thu., July 10, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Mon., July 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Tue., July 22, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Wed., July 23, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and Thu., July 24, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
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Queen Charlotte Fair @ Route 29 Pavilion
- Mondays-Sundays. Continues through July 5
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Coveted Luxury Watches
- Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Continues through Dec. 30
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AllMachines
- Through Dec. 30, 12-9 p.m.
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The Listings 1
Novello evenings, Nutcracker, The Eyes of God
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There´s A TV In My Dvd Player!
CL's picks of the best television on DVD
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How's business? 3
Fifty local business owners tell how they're really doing in these tough economic times
