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🥇 Learn to climb like an Olympian

New sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Soda City style
Friarsgate Skatepark
The skatepark in Friarsgate is finished. | Photo by COLAtoday team
The Paris 2024 Olympics is featuring several new + newish sports: breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and 3x3 basketball. Let’s explore what you need to know about these new events and their rules.

Ah, we can just picture that Olympic podium and those shiny medals now.

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Filmmaker Dorian Warneck hits a grind at Owens Field.

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Photo by COLAtoday

Skateboarding

Skateboarding debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and it seems it’s here to stick. The world’s greatest skateboarders will compete in two disciplines across preliminary and final events: park + street skating.

Park goes down on a course featuring bends + bowls, and Olympians gather speed to get that sweet air.

Street takes place on a straight course with stairs, handrails, and other bells + whistles to make it look like the streets where skateboarding first began.

Ollie this way for this year’s Skateboarding events results.

Ready to ride? Here’s where you can channel your inner Thrasher in Cola:

Owens Field Skatepark, Rosewood | In 2009, the Tony Hawk Foundation awarded $25,000 to make this SC’s first concrete skatepark.

Friarsgate Skatepark, Irmo | After a three-year campaign, the Irmo Skate Park opened earlier this year.

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Capital City Climbing offers day passes and class options.

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Photo by Capital City Climbing

Sport Climbing

This new Olympic sport is going to rock your world. Similar to skateboarding, sport climbing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, it’s also here for the long haul.

This sport is hosted in three formats: bouldering, speed climbing, and lead climbing.

Sport climbing events will take place at Le Bourget between Monday. Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 10.

Psst — are you wondering what equipment is used to keep climbers safe? Check out this guide.

Feeling boulder? Here’s where you can harness your inner climber in Columbia, SC:

Capital City Climbing, Cayce | This climbing gym is the Midlands go to spot for bouldering and other training options.

Wild Adventures Rock Wall, Riverbanks Zoo | There’s no shortage of activities once you’re in Riverbanks Zoo, and rock climbing is one of them.
Pass the baton
Asked

This Gamecock Hall of Fame athlete was the starting point guard for the silver medal-winning 1972 Olympic men’s basketball team.
A. John Roche
B. Kevin Joyce
C. Brian Winters
D. Alex English
Swish
Columbia Fireflies
 
Events
Monday, Aug. 5
  • Stargazing at the Melton Observatory | Monday, Aug. 5 | USC campus | Free | Observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
  • Toucan Tuesday | Tuesday, Aug. 6 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Bring two non-perishable food for Harvest Hope Food Bank and you’ll receive buy-one get-one admission to the park.
Wednesday, Aug. 7
  • Yoga: Garden Asana | Wednesday, Aug. 7 | 8:15-9:15 a.m. | Gardener’s Outpost | $15 | An experienced instructor will guide you through a series of poses designed to improve your body and mind connection.
Thursday, Aug. 8
  • Spritz Mix Happy Hour | Thursday, Aug. 8 | 4-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | This relaxed drop-in series includes rotating DJ sets, a build-your-own spritz bar, one-of-a-kind art activities created by local artists, and playing cards.
Friday, Aug. 9
  • Garage Sale for Charity | Friday, Aug. 9-Saturday, Aug. 10 | Times vary | Shandon United Methodist Church | Free | The gymnasium will be filled with a wide variety of items, all organized and priced at unbeatable bargains.
Plan your week
Click here to have your event featured.
Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
 
Try this

5 spots to freshen up your happy hour

Two cocktail glasses clinking together with people out of frame holding them.
Smoked offers a unique rotation of cocktails including seasonal-inspired flavors and the bartender’s Drink of the Week. | Photo provided by LTC Hospitality
Is happy hour hopping a thing? We think yes. Whether you’re a devoted regular or the friend who’s “good with whatever,” happy hour on Main Street offers something for every weekday warrior.

Check out the lineup at some of our fave spots:
  • The Grand | Monday-Friday | 4-7 p.m. | $3 Peak Drift Golden Ale, $5 house liquors + select wine, $9 zucchini fries
  • Smoked | Monday-Friday | 4-6 p.m. | $15 half-dozen oysters and bubbles, $9 old-fashioned cocktails, $6 Peak Drift pours, $10 drink of the week by award-winning bartenders
  • Hanabi Hibachi and Sushi | Monday-Friday | 4-6 p.m. | Half-off all sushi, $12 sake flights, $3 Sapporo draft
  • Robinson Room | Wednesday | 4-7 p.m. | $5 select wines, small charcuterie boards + other food options
  • Urban Tiki | Wednesday-Friday | 4:30-7 p.m. | $7 classic tiki cocktails
Pro tip: Urban Tiki is located in The Grand’s basement, which also offers bowling and live music.
Be a happy hour hero
News Notes
Coming Soon
  • Chubby’s Burgers and Brewhouse, a Blythewood smash burger spot, is opening a second location at 106 Percival Road, near Forest Drive. The new site will replace the former Vampire Penguin. Take a look inside.
Opening
  • Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is opening its new location at 252-M Harbison Blvd. on Thursday, Aug. 8. The first 100 people in line at 11 a.m. can win free ice cream for a year.
Sports
  • Cock Hockey is set to hit the ice outdoors in the Queen City. USC’s defending AAU College Hockey national championship team will face off against the NC State Icepack outdoors at Truist Field in Charlotte on Saturday, Nov. 23. (Yahoo)
Cause
  • The City of Columbia is looking for volunteers for pedestrian and bicyclist counts. Volunteers provide vital data for traffic studies and help improve city planning. Counts occur on specified dates in September. Sign up today.
Olympics
  • The 2024 Summer Olympics are happening now in Paris, France — keep up with Team USA and some of our favorite local athletes via WLTX. Today’s events include women’s park skateboarding, men’s basketball, and soccer starting at 8:30 a.m.
Environmental
  • Two tires, a vacuum cleaner, fishing line, and “so many” wet wipes — that’s what the crew from Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits pulled out of the river during a recent cleanup with the Congaree River Keeper. Sign up for River Keeper cleanup info.
Listen
  • With fall football camp underway, who’s on the clock for the Gamecocks? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the USC football with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Older Adults
    • Calling all adults 55+: Explore what’s next in retirement by volunteering with AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP. Use your skills to enrich lives, gaining physical, mental, and social benefits. (You might even forge new friendships while helping someone to a doctor’s appointment.)*
     
    Plan Ahead

    🐦‍⬛ Peep these birds

    Historic Columbia’s August events
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    The gardens at the Hampton-Preston mansion in downtown Columbia. | Photo by COLAtoday
    The birds in the trees are singing and the garden is in late summer form, here are six Historic Columbia events coming up in August:

    Palladium Silent Auction Flash Sale | Monday, Aug. 5-Friday, Aug. 9 | Grab tickets for $40 for the annual event, happening on Thursday, Oct. 24.

    Knowledge at Noon | Wednesday, Aug. 7 | Get to know (Acting) Executive Director, Jeffrey Richardson.

    Birdwatching in the Gardens | Thursday, Aug. 8 | Join local birder John Tjaarda for a free, guided bird walk around the Hampton-Preston Gardens.

    Columbia Canopy Project Community Celebrations | Saturday, Aug. 10 | Historic Columbia and Columbia Green celebrate the Lower Waverly and Historic Waverly communities and unveil new signage.

    Flower Cutting | Thursday, Aug. 15 | This hands-on workshop uses a variety of seasonal flowers and foliage from Historic Columbia’s gardens.

    Congaree Vista Walking Tour | Sunday, Aug. 18 | Explore the district that was once home to cotton warehouses and railway stations.
    The Buy

    The Buy 8.05.24 (Affiliate)
    Bedsheets you won’t sweat through. We got you a deal on a sheet set that’s crisp, cool, and made with overheated sleepers in mind. Bonus: They’re also wrinkle-resistant and hypo-allergenic. Enjoy cooler nights, sleepers.
    More worth The Buy
     
    The Wrap
     
    David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

    Today’s edition by:
    David
    From the editor
    Happy 80th anniversary to local sporting goods store Todd and Moore. Not only has the crew there been supplying the equipment, they’ve been making sure local teams show up in style. Check out this customer with his 60 year old jersey.
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