Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Way of Life
This place has always attracted extremes. Yes, Colorado has brought the world both
the guttural rants of Hunter S Thompson and Christian activist group Focus on the
Family, a strong opponent of same-sex marriage. Yet this diversity is nothing new.
Long ago, escaped slaves and beat-down Confederates picked up the pieces after the
Civil War; later right-wing militias were created alongside ecoterrorist plots. A sym-
bol of freedom, the state has drawn fortune seekers, nature-lovers and naysayers of
the status quo.
It's no myth. Colorado really does average 300 days of sun annually, and 300,000 people float down Color-
ado rivers every year.
A place with this many folks pulling in so many directions is bound to have some quirks -
witness the Emma Crawford Coffin Races or Frozen Dead Guy Days festival. Yet overall
tolerance is a lucky common trait. While voting fluctuates between red and blue, the gener-
al character of today's Coloradan is friendly, fortified by sunshine and eager for the great
outdoors.
QUICK GUIDE TO COLORADO SPORTS
As disparate as the many strands of Colorado may seem, everyone here has one thing in common: a palpable, and
some might say blind, passion for all things sport. Here are some facts worth knowing:
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If you're watching a local match in a sports bar, everyone - and we do mean everyone - roots for the home team.
This isn't one of those places where you can move and maintain past allegiances. Even newbies love their Broncos,
Nuggets, Rockies and Avs.
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Quarterback John Elway looms from billboards in the airport, peers down upon the interstate, and smiles and
winks from the morning paper. Why? One of America's great quarterbacks, Elway was the only one to lead the
Broncos to a Superbowl title, which he did twice, in 1998 and '99.
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Even many noncompetitive cyclists shave their legs. And most claim to have ridden with Ironman Dave Scott.
Lance Armstrong is a touchy subject.
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Everyone in Colorado is always in training for…something. It could be a triathlon (known simply as 'tri') where
they're gunning for their PB (personal best), prepping for ski season, or a grueling and highly technical 100-mile
ride before happy hour.
