The Air Force Academy Falcons football team dominates the sports scene, and there are also competitive baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer teams. Call for schedules and ticket information (tel. 800/666-USAF or 719/472-1895; www.goairforcefalcons.com).
Auto Racing -- The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (tel. 719/685-4400; www.ppihc.com), known as the "Race to the Clouds," takes place annually in late June or early July. An international field of drivers negotiates the hairpin turns of the final 12 1/3 miles of the Pikes Peak Highway to the top of the 14,110-foot mountain. On the way to the top, there are 156 turns (many of them of the hairpin variety), 2,000-foot cliffs, and no guardrails.
Baseball -- The Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League, the AAA farm team for the Colorado Rockies of Denver, play a full 144-game season, with 72 home games at Sky Sox Stadium, 4385 Tutt Blvd., off Barnes Road east of Powers Boulevard (tel. 719/597-1449; www.skysox.com). The season runs from April to Labor Day. Tickets cost $7 to $9.
Hockey -- In addition to Air Force Academy hockey, the World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd. (tel. 719/477-2100; www.worldarena.com), is home to the Colorado College Tigers (tel. 719/389-6324; www.cctigers.com).
Rodeo -- Held annually since 1941, the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo (tel. 719/635-3547; www.coloradospringsrodeo.com), which takes place in mid-July, is a major stop on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. Its purse of more than $150,000 makes it the second-largest rodeo in Colorado, after Denver's National Western Stock Show. Events are at the Norris-Penrose Events Center, 945 W. Rio Grande St. Various events around the city, including a parade and a street breakfast, mark the rodeo.
