Bowl Game representative Laura delaMontaigne talks to the Fox 5 morning crew

Question of the day, what does wiener dog racing have to do with college football? Find out this Saturday at the 13th annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals at Qualcomm Stadium. The competition is actually a fund-raiser and awareness-building event for the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl & the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl games played in San Diego every December.

Early this morning fifteen hopeful wiener dogs and their owners held exhibition heats for the local Fox morning show. Many of the dogs looked better than they actually ran, all suited up with capes and even racing goggles.

The real action starts at 8:00am Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium. The 16 fastest dogs advance to the semi-finals which will be held during a Padres game at PETCO Park on September 1st.

If you think your dachshund has the goods, visit the Bowl Games Association website for entry details and register online.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Every December San Diego rolls out the red carpet for two deserving college football teams for the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl.

Many of my favorite memories growing up a sports fan in San Diego were watching Holiday Bowl games. Players like Barry Sanders, Steve Young, and Jim McMahon have turned in memorable performances at these games, so you’re likely to see a future NFL star on the field.

Tickets for the 32nd annual Pacific Life Holiday Bowl go on sale to the general public Friday, August 7th at 10 a.m. Tickets also can be purchased online at www.PacificLifeHolidayBowl.com, through TicketMaster at (619) 220-TIXS, or at any TicketMaster outlet.  Ticket prices increase $10 on November 1st so don’t delay.

The game kicks off at 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 30th at Qualcomm Stadium. The game matches teams from the Pacific-10 and Big 12 Conferences. The 2008 game featured a 42-31 Oregon Ducks victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in front of 59,106 fans and an ESPN national television audience.

Five of the last six games have sold out.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Par 4 #11 at Salt Creek

Saturday I took advantage of the warm summer weather and got out to Salt Creek Golf Club. This great links-style course is nestled into the foothills of Chula Vista, a suburb about 25 minutes from Downtown San Diego.

Golf for Normal People
I love the fact that the course is a challenge, and it is an authentic golf experience, but there is no pretense at Salt Creek. There are no snooty members, no overzealous Tiger wannabe’s, just working people who love the game and want a fun and challenging course they can afford.

Course Honors
Make no mistake though, this is a serious golf course, Golf Digest gave them 4 ½ Stars in their Best Places to Play 2008-2009. There is also a massive all-grass driving range with lights so you can hit balls until the wee-hours.

If you get a tee time after the morning haze lifts hole #1’s tee-box offers great views all the way to the Pacific Ocean and the Coronado Islands.

Rates
Rates vary from $35 – to- $95, if you call the club (619 482-4666) and mention that you saw this blog they will give you a special deal! Be sure to also look for great last minute specials, and the Players Club, a great value.

How to Get There
From the north it is best to use the new toll-road. It’s $3 each way and exact change is required. It was also loaded with cops, so don’t think your $6 just bought you a pass on the autobahn.

Conditions Right Now
Superintendent Rob Browns deserves some love for keeping the course in such great shape during the warm dry days of a San Diego summer. The course is in amazing condition.

How I Scored
Not a scorecard I want to frame, that’s for certain. Let’s put it this way, I went to the beach the following day and I can’t tell which location had me in more sand.

I had to scramble up a good back nine to break 100, and it seems like I was hitting out of a bunker on every other hole, but that’s links golf for you.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

The signature #4 at Sycuan

One of the most overlooked aspects of San Diego is our abundance of great golf courses. Despite perfect weather and an amazing selection of courses we are still not given our due credit as a golf destination.

I recently played a few rounds at the course where I learned the game, Sycuan Resort. The course is in great shape right now with the greens and fairways all in excellent condition.

The weather in San Diego has also been ideal for golf lately with temperatures in the upper 60’s at most of the inland courses and a nice little layer of clouds to keep us from getting farmer tans.

My cousin recently decided to take a contracting job in Baghdad, so I decided to treat him to perhaps his last round of golf ever a fun sendoff on the links.

Read the rest of this entry »

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Experts advise you to surf in San Diego!

Surfer Magazine just released their list of the ten best surf towns in America and San Diego’s Encinitas nabbed the number 3 spot.

The serious surfers at Surfer loved Encinitas’ laid-back surf culture, the quality of life (from the climate to abundance of cute girls) and the proximity to all of San Diego’s other great surf breaks.

If you’re just looking to get your feet wet and give surfing a try, some of those San Diego breaks are great for beginners.

Tags: encinitas, in the news, surfing

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

San Diego’s famed Surf Diva Surf School is the world’s number one surf school for women and I was lucky enough to brave the waters during a one-hour lesson.  For me, this was a major step.  I know I live in San Diego where surfing is like a form of breathing, but I’m from Nor Cal where you just don’t go in the ocean, so this wasn’t something I was accustomed to.

sand surfing is so easy

I started out with a safety lesson and introduction to the board.  Then, there was an on-land, or on-sand I should say, simulation of how to paddle, prep and pop into the perfect sideways stance for riding a wave into shore.  Easy enough…

Then my instructor guided me out into the water (well, she actually pulled me out… thankfully), turned me around so I was facing the shore and held me in place until the perfect wave came along.  Then I was off!  Paddle, prep, pop… fall.

So, I never “hung ten” like I had hoped, or actually even stood up for more than ten seconds, but the experience was so fun and totally worth it. 

I felt comfortable and safe learning in the gentle waters of La Jolla Shores and my instructor was so patient and really helpful.  Next time I’ll have to try one of Surf Diva’s two-day weekend or five-day weeklong clinics…watch out Kelly Slater, here I come!

I highly recommend Surf Diva to anyone who’s up for a fun challenge, but there are a number of other surf opportunities in San Diego too.

Oh yeah, and while Surf Diva does promote “girl power,” men and boys are definitely welcomed to come out for private or co-ed lessons.

Tags: la jolla, surfing, what to do

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon returns to San Diego this Sunday, May 31st, for the 12th year.  More than 20,000 people will participate in the 26.2-mile footrace through San Diego’s streets and highways as live bands perform for them on 26 stages along the course.

The race begins at 6:30 A.M. on the Sixth Avenue side of Balboa Park and ends at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.  Whether you have peeps in the race or not, you can participate by cheering on your fellow human beings from anywhere along the course as they reach for an extraordinary goal.

See the guy giving the thumbs up? Ryan Pascual: 427th place in '04 AND a winner.

While you’re out there cheering the runners on, look for the Running Elvi – a group of Elvis Presleys who turn up to run their blue suede shoes off each year.  And who knows what other spectacles may be running past this year?

See? I wasn't joking. Running Elvi!

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program, and in the past eleven years, participants in this event have raised $134 million (net).

One more thing: you’d better believe the marathon will tie up certain roads and freeways on Sunday, so expect detours if you’re traveling in the area.  (Or just bring your running shoes; what the heck?)  Check the official website for a complete list of road closures, alternate routes and anything else you want to know.

Tags: marathon, outdoors, San Diego Events, sports, summer

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Paraglider over Torrey Pines

OK, honestly, I’m not sure that I will ever be brave enough to do it, but I really enjoy going and watching the gliders at the Torrey Pines Gliderport!  I mean, are you kidding me?  Just this thin little sheet of fabric is all that is keeping you from plumetting to the ground?  Yeah, yeah, I know tons of people do it, but it is just going to take me a little while to work up the courage.  I really would actually like to try it out, because the views must be absolutely amazing (I wonder if they’d let me take my camera with me?).  I’ll just have to make it a 2010 New Years Resolution.

With amazing views up and down the coast, this is a fantastic location for those seeking the thrill of hangliding, paragliding, etc. as well as those of us who are just fine keeping our 2 feet planted on the ground.  The natural air currents shooting off the Torrey Pines cliffs make this a perfect location for gliders to cruise up and down the coast.  I think I counted as many as 10 parachutes/gliders up at once on my last visit.

Glider with La Jolla in the background

Got a significant other who loves adventure?  Non-pros can pay to go tandem with a professional.  Would this not make a memorable birthday, anniversary, or “just because” present?

Going tandem

The Gliderport is a little tricky to find.  It is just west of the UCSD campus in the La Jolla/Torrey Pines area.  You need to snake your way between some science buildings in order to get to the dirt parking lot.  So keep an eye out for the signs on N. Torrey Pines Blvd and you should be fine.

Tags: adventure, la jolla, Torrey Pines

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

My game time feast

One of my favorite things to do in spring and summer is to catch a baseball game at the San Diego Padres’ home stadium, PETCO Park.  It’s always a great time to take myself out to the ballgame, buy myself some peanuts and cracker jacks, and not care if I ever get back.  Well, I actually prefer if someone else buys me all of that, but this year it doesn’t matter so much because the ballpark is offering great deals on tickets, food and drinks.

The other night, I took advantage of the Padres 5 for $5 Value Meal, which included a hot dog, soda, peanuts, popcorn and a cookie for just $5!  Alright, I confess….
I substituted the soda for a 16-ounce beer
for and additional $5…totally worth it  : )

Tags: baseball, deals, sports, things to do

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

I kind of like visiting Petco Park when nobody is around — no baseball players messing up the field, no fans standing around making a big racket and blocking the impressive vistas of beautiful San Diego all around the stadium.  I can’t tell whether that’s a provocative statement or not; just a thought I had during my tour of Petco Park.  The home of the Padres was the groundbreaker in downtown San Diego’s neo-renaissance in the early part of the century (opening in 2004).  It’s another impressive landmark here in San Diego, and as with many of the attractions here, the closer you look, the more impressive it is.

What can you expect to learn on a tour of a mere baseball stadium?  A lot more than I expected, as it turns out.  On my tour, I was exposed to fascinating facts and trivia regarding the world of baseball, sports journalism, city planning, and Petco Park’s unique architecture; not to mention some good baseball gossip.  I would love to go into some of my tour guide’s act here, but this is one instance when you really have to be there.

"All right, team - let's hustle on out there and buy some swag!"

Walking around in the Padres’ house when the Padres aren’t home really emphasizes the vastness and versatility of the structure, which could easily double as a small city complete with restaurants, parks, museums and a sandy beach.

Bleachers On the Beach

Yes, a park and a sandy beach! Ever tried “Park In the Park?”  $5 will get you into a game and onto a nice patch of grass as well as grant you more access to the stadium than you might think.  Bleacher seats cost $9 and include access to a sandlot in right field.  It’s a great option for moms and dads who don’t want to spend the game wrangling kids back into their seats.

The park is wide open to views of the playing field, and if you’re a wanderer like me, you can enjoy a game from almost any vantage point in the joint.  (The many premium lounges, suites and boxes will cost you, though.)

Walk-up tours are available to the public Tuesday through Sunday.  Adults are $9, seniors $6, children under 13 $5, and active military $8, with discounts for groups of 25 or more.

On evening game days, a game ticket plus an Early Bird Tour ticket will get you inside the park an hour before the gates open so you can get to know your ballpark before the game.

Tags: baseball, behind-the-scenes, Petco Park, sightseeing, sports, tour

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...