Ride Noho teaches cyclists to ride in the peloton.

Fantasy retreats extend beyond the mainstream sports

If you're like me, you grew up dreaming of following in the footsteps of heroes from the "Big Four" sports. I followed the fortunes of many favorites, including Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox, Joe Namath of the New York Jets, Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Willis Reed of the Knicks and Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins (don't ask about the New York-Boston conflict -- it's complicated). And if I had a chance today to attend an adult "fantasy" sports camp with any of these greats, I'd jump at it.

But as I grew older, different sports began to catch my fancy.
And there are plenty whose heroes come from outside the traditional ball-and-stick variety. There's running (Bill Rogers), cycling (Greg LeMond), NASCAR (Dale Earnhardt Sr.), mountaineering (Sir Edmund Hilary) or golf (Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus), to name same. Fortunately, there are a number of adult sports camps that also cater to these pursuits. Here's a sampling of some favorites:

Super strider
ZAP Fitness Foundation, North Carolina
(828-295-6198; zapfitness.com)

Everyone knows how to run, right? One foot in front of the other. But if you're looking to taking your running game to the next level, consider ZAP Fitness in the hill country of western North Carolina. The ZAP concept is elegant -- create a place for elite and aspiring runners to train in a mutually supportive atmosphere. Wannabe striders can attend programs ranging from customized weekend retreats to weeklong camps, and they'll find plenty of role models. ZAP's elite runners live here year-round, and are all candidates for the Olympic and national teams. Established in early 2002, the center is set on 68 wooded acres outside Blowing Rock and is designed to show you where you're at currently as a runner and what you need to do to improve.

The running philosophy at ZAP is refreshingly simple. "The secret is there is no secret," says head coach Peter Rea, quoting John Parker's Once a Runner. "We are a nation of instant gratification, and running is a sport that flies in the face of instant gratification. The 'secret' in running is that to truly realize potential, you have to train hard, intelligently and over the long term."

Surf's up
Witch's Rock Surf Camp, Costa Rica
(witchsrocksurfcamp.com)

Intrigued by surfing at Mavericks? Well, think again. (remember, the waves at the West Coast hot spot top out at over 50 feet!) Instead, start small and work your way up. Witch's Rock Surf Camp will get you pointed in the right direction. Though described as a "boutique surf resort," surfers of all abilities can build on their skill set. The camp's surf instructors are International Surfing Association certified and experienced lifeguards. Plus, Witch's Rock supplies the boards, and the water is warm -- no small consideration for those living north of the Mason-Dixon Line!

"This is an awesome place for both beginning and experienced surfers," says Michael Brown of Massachusetts. "Beginners learn right at the headquarters on Tamarindo Beach, while experienced surfers go on day trips with surf guides. The day trips are awesome, and you surf at spots you would never find yourself, because it is very easy to get lost in Costa Rica."
 
Ain't life Grand
Exum Mountain Guides, Wyoming
(307-733-2297; exumguides.com)

Chances are you won't get to Tibet to tackle Everest. But you can get a world-class education in mountaineering and a similar rush by ascending one of North America's most distinctive peaks, the 13,700-foot Grand Teton, with Exum Mountain Guides. Before you attempt the Grand, you must pass two days of rigorous training, which includes instruction on fundamental climbing techniques as well as the intricacies of climbing ropes, "free rappelling," stemming and a crash course in climbing jargon. Day 3 is a stunning seven-mile hike to the Lower Saddle. Day 4 starts at 3 a.m., but you won't mind once you're looking out over all of Idaho and Wyoming from the Grand's summit before lunchtime.

"Climbing gets you so out of your daily routine and so into something totally different, and requires so much focus," says Sean O'Connor of New Hampshire. "It really was a vacation from the real world.

"One great thing was the way they acclimatized you to climbing while you were acclimatizing yourself to the altitude. Each day we worked toward something -- basic skills the first day, rappelling the second -- so that we felt pretty comfortable in our abilities (and the guide's) to climb the Grand."

If Jackson Hole isn't on your must-see list, another great option for fledgling alpinists is the Colorado Mountain School (800-836-4008; totalclimbing.com).
 
Free your heel
North American Telemark Organization, Vermont
(1-800-835-3404; totalclimbing.com)

Sometime during the early 20th century, skiing split into two disciplines -- downhill (or alpine) and Nordic. Telemark skiing brings them back together. More than a quarter-century ago, Dickie Hall, founder of the North American Telemark Organization, jump-started today's thriving free-heel movement by establishing a Telemark school at New England's retro-ski area, Mad River Glen in Vermont. These days, the 53-year-old, who lives in Waitsfield, Vt., runs numerous clinics through NATO at Mad River Glen and around the world. The Telemark turn works as well on groomed trails as it does in the backcountry, so your options are limitless (especially if those skyrocketing lift-ticket prices are burning a hole in your wallet). And you won't find a better quad-burning workout. Guaranteed.

"This sport is the perfect fit for the modern outdoor enthusiast, because it's so versatile," says Hall. "To be able to have the freedom and fun of Nordic skiing, the adventure of going anywhere in any direction, and then being able to enjoy coming down the mountain with the control and thrill of alpine skiing."

Get along, little doggie!
Bob King's Cowboy School, Arizona
(1-866-771-7358; cowboyschool.net)

Saddle up, friends. While Clint Eastwood or Gary Cooper may be the quintessential cinematic cowboys, there's more to taming the Open West than packing a trusty six-shooter. It's truly a way of life. At Bob King's Cowboy School, legend meets reality. King believes in building his cowboys from the ground up, and you'll get a "hands-on" experience, starting with lessons in the partnership between horse and rider, and continuing through cattle work, various roping techniques and range management. Classes are intentionally kept small (rarely more than four students per instructor), ensuring that each participant gets personal attention.

"This is a great place to improve riding skills, and learn the skills of a working cowboy -- doctoring cattle, branding, roping, herding cattle," says Michael Brown of Massachusetts. "Bob King really knows his stuff, from cowboying to horse whispering."
 
Pedal power
Ride Noho, Massachusetts
(888-817-6646; ridenoho.com)

In the western Massachusetts college town of Northampton, you'll find some of the best cycling roads east of the Mississippi. You'll also find Ride Noho, a fixed-base bicycle tour company run by Aldo Tiboni and Elaine Formica (both racers) that offers some of the best instructional camps anywhere, from first-timers to intermediates, including a popular "women's-only" camp.

"I learned such great bike handling skills," says Judy DiRubio of Massachusetts. "I've been road riding for 30 years, but not in many group rides. We practiced pace lines, double pace lines, echelon pace lines. It was amazing. I learned in a tense situation to control my own bike and not worry about the other bikes. We learned how to watch the body in a pace line and not the back wheel, to judge the pace of the line, how to 'feather' the brakes, or to sit upright to slow in a pace line and not lose momentum. Plus, there are great restaurants out there."

Which, after a full day in the saddle, is a welcome treat! Elite cyclists looking for something more challenging should consider Summit Cycling Camps in Dillon, Colo. (970.468.1035; summitcyclingcamps.com) adjacent to Copper and Breckenridge ski resorts.

Start your engines
Randy Baker's SpeedTech Auto Racing School, various locations
(877-807-7333; speedtech500.com)

Those who feel the need for speed (and love going in circles) can satisfy their appetite at any one of Baker's schools. The 2008 schedule includes classes at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga.; Richmond (Va.) International Raceway; Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. (45 minutes from Cincinnati); Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway; North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, N.C.; and Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. (just north of Charlotte). Just be sure to bring your nerve -- and your lead foot.

"It's not a follow-the-leader experience like some of the other schools," says Katherine Clark of North Carolina. "You're out there by yourself in a real NASCAR car, going as fast as you can, turning laps and having the time of your life. Once you do it, you want to do it again and again. Totally addicting."

Fore!
PGA Tour Players Experience, Florida
(1-800-766-7939; pgatourexperiences.com)

What duffer, or even scratch golfer, hasn't entertained fantasies of playing Augusta National? A course such as that, sadly, is off limits to most. But TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the home of PGA Tour headquarters and The Players Championship, is open to resort guests. The Players Experience will put you in the shoes of a PGA Tour professional, with access to the "players only" section of the clubhouse (including locker rooms, lounge and bar) and a chance to test your golf skills on Pete Dye's legendary Stadium Course. You'll even get your own caddy.

"We're providing access to the inaccessible," says Dave Pillsbury, president of PGA Tour properties. "We're having a lot of fun playing off the historic elitism of the sport. We're breaking that down. No one else is doing what we're doing. Nothing else gives you the depth and the texture of what we're offering here. It's a 12-month fan-activation tool. It's all about creating magical experiences."

He's right. And if you birdie the infamous island green on No. 17, you'll have stories to tell for a lifetime.
 
Zen and the art of fitness
Kripalu Fitness Challenge (a k a. Yoga Camp), Massachusetts
(866-200-5203; kripalu.org)

The Fitness Challenge is just one of many superb programs offered by the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, but it's one of the more comprehensive. The idea is to revitalize your fitness routine by incorporating yoga and meditation, accentuating nutrition, and focusing on core strength, cardiovascular health and flexibility. In addition to eating right, massage and "positional therapy," the program features strength training, cardio classes, cycling, hiking, swimming, kayaking and yoga sessions.

"Sounds a lot like camp? Well, we even slept in bunk beds, with rooms assigned by gender," says Jess Ingram, a cyclist from eastern Massachusetts who opted for dormitory accommodations. "The highlights included the amazing food, nutrition lectures by a recent Everest hiker gone vegan, and healing arts such as massages and energy work. I was hoping for a rest week and instead found boot camp, but loved every moment of it."