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Calgary Stampede

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Things to do in Calgary

Bull riding

You’ve watched the action at Stampede, wonder how hard it could really be and now you fancy a go. Look no further than Calgary’s bull-riding school Fantasy Adventure Bull Riding, run by Australian cowboy Joe Messina on a working rodeo ranch just 15 minutes from Downtown. You’ll meet the animals, practise on a mechanical simulator, then have the opportunity to strap onto a 900kg (2,000lb) bucking bull. Get this far and you’re eligible to ride a live bull.

Tel: (403) 681 3577.
Website: www.fantasyadventurebullriding.com

Skiing and snowboarding

You don’t even have to leave Calgary’s city limits to strap on your skis or snowboard. Canada Olympic Park is perfect for an evening on the slopes to practise your turns before you hit the big mountains. You can also bobsleigh, hurl yourself off the ski jump or try cross-country skiing. If the sight of the Rockies is too tempting, Banff and Lake Louise have world-class ski resorts with bucketloads of powder.

Websites: www.winsportcanada.ca/cop ; www.skibig3.com

Ice skating

Canada isn’t renowned for its balmy winters, but cold weather means there are plenty of outdoor ice rinks. In downtown Calgary, you can skate at Olympic Plaza (originally the medal presentation site during the 1988 Winter Olympics) from mid-November to mid-March. For a more natural ice experience, glide on the frozen lagoons at Bowness and Prince’s Island Parks. Apart from Olympic Plaza, outdoor rinks are typically open from December to February.

Website: www.calgary.ca/parks

Walking and cycling

Calgary has a whopping 700km (453 miles) of pathways for pedestrians and cyclists and 7,800 hectares (19,300 acres) of parkland. Walk, cycle or rollerblade along the banks of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, or hike the trails in Nose Hill Park, where you might spot deer or coyotes. Fish Creek Provincial Park is Canada’s largest urban park and is home to a large variety of birds and mammals, including beavers, bald eagles and white-tailed deer.

Website: www.calgary.ca/parks ; www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/fishcreek

Fly fishing

Calgary’s position on the Bow River means you don’t have to travel far to fly fish. The river is considered one of the world’s best spots for trout fishing. Anglers have a good chance of catching good-sized brown and rainbow trout in the Lower Bow River near Downtown, which is said to hold an astonishing 2,500 trouts per mile. It’s not uncommon to hook a 50cm-plus (20-inch) fish. Local guides can help you bag your trophy trout.

Tel: (403) 470 3474.
Website: www.bowriverflyfishing.com

Rafting and tubing

Come summer, Calgary experiences scorching hot days, and a wonderful way to cool off is to float on the water. For a super gentle trip, tubing on the Elbow River is relaxing and undemanding. A popular, four-hour float-rafting route is from Bowness Park to Calgary Zoo on the Bow River. You can hire floater rafts and tubes from a few operators in town.

Lazy Day Raft Rentals
Tel: (403) 258 0575.
Website: www.lazydayraftrentals.com

Calgary Outdoor Centre
Tel: (403) 220 5038.
Website: www.calgaryoutdoorcentre.ca

Watching ice hockey

Join in the roar of over 19,000 fans in the Saddledome (named for its saddle-shaped roof) as they cheer on their city’s NHL ice-hockey team, the Calgary Flames. Games against arch rivals the Edmonton Oilers are especially fiery. The Saddledome is also home to Western Hockey League team the Calgary Hitmen as well as the Calgary Roughnecks professional lacrosse team. It doubles up as a major concert venue.

Tel: (403) 777 4646.
Websites: www.scotiabanksaddledome.com ; http://flames.nhl.com

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