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Interest in watersports is growing along with the city's dedi cation to developing the waterfront. There are three kayak friendly spots on the West Side alone: the Downtown Boathouse at Pier 26 (they offer free introductory paddling on warm weather weekends through October 15, first come first serve basis!. Chelsea Piers at Pier 60 and the 79th Street Boat Basin. The Manhattan Kayak Company has teamed up with Chelsea Piers to offer four-hour paddle basics courses: two hours in a pool and two on the river. Expert paddler Eric Stiller will teach you how to use your legs, hips, and torso to power your kayak. Price: $1 50 for the course plus a one-hour short tour (includes Chelsea Piers day fee). Once you've mastered that you can go on tours, from short jaunts into the harbor to an around-the-island workout. Call 21 2-336-6078. (See "Reclaiming Rivers" for more Hudson River activities.) ADVENTURE RACE IN THE CATSKILLS Aspiring adventure racers can try the one-day Eventure-Adventure Challenge on 30 August. Teams of two tackle five miles of cross-country running, 12 miles of trail biking and two miles of canoeing at the Holiday Mountain Ski Area in Bridgeville. The race, part of the Sullivan County Catskills Competition Series, is organized by the New York Triathlon Club. Team entry fee: $100. For an entry form, call 91 4-247-0271 . E-mail: samsun@ulster.net. For more Catskills events, see http://co.sullivan.ny.us. WINDSURF NAPEAGUE HARBOR High wind and shallow water make this a top windsurfing spot. Experts come from near and far to cruise the clean water, and it's a great place to learn, too. Rentals and lessons are avail able from Main Beach Surf and Sport in Wainscott (51 6-537-2716, www.mainbeach.coml. They're a full-service water sports center and offer other fun stuff like sea kayak clam bakes. Napeague Harbor is a pristine area-you can pull the clams right out of the sand (with a license) and eat them and locals want to keep it that way-so show respect. East of Amagansett, Long Island, 2.5 hours by car, 3 on the lIRR (trains depart from Penn Station). MOUNTAIN BIKE MT SNOW In summer, Vermont's Mt Snow is mountain biking mecca. The ski resort opened the country's first mountain bike school in 1988 and has 45 miles of single track, old town roads and ski trails. The breakdown: 25 percent beginner, 25 percent intermediate, 50 percent advanced. The new Nitro Express high-speed quad is run ning seven days a week from 3 July to 7 September. World class coaches give guided tours and mountain bike clinics. Rentals (Gary Fisher Big Sur and Level Betty FH2) are avail able at the main base area. The Mountain Bike Center (800- 245-SNOW) is open through 12 October, 9:30AM to 3:30PM. Trail access and bike lift service: $25. RIDE DOWNHILL AT SKI PLATTEKILL Ski Plattekill went year-round when some cyclists asked if they could ride on the mountain four years ago. Now the Mountain Biking Center (607-326-3500, www.plattekill.com) has 60 miles of trails (90 percent singletrack) covering novice to expert abilities. Plattekill hosts NORBA slalom and downhill races 11 -1 2 July and 8-9 August. On 3-4 October racers compete on a European-style downhill course in the finale "Screamin' Extreme." Velonews says Plattekill's courses are of "World Cup caliber." If you've never mountain bjked, but want to, try the begin ner package: lift ticket, bike, helmet, one-hour lesson and guide for $55. Trail access and bike lift service: $18. Rental shop carries full line of Fuji bikes. On route 30 outside Roxbury, New York. Lans Transportation (800-607-2753) has direct shuttle van service from Manhattan. There is also direct bus service from selected bike shops. Call Ski Plattekill for locations and times. KAYAK THE DElAWARE RIVER Learn to kayak on the Upper Delaware River with the family-owned Wild & Scenic River Tours (800-836-0366, 91 4-557-8783). The river is perfect for learning-rapids don't go past Class II. Wild & Scenic offers basic instruction on land. They have the most stable kayaks around-Old Town Otters and Kiwi Keowes, which don't roll easily. The protected Delaware is one of the cleanest rivers in the East, providing drinking water for 20 million people-from Manhattan to Philadelphia and beyond. "Right now I see a bald eagle nesting across the river from our camp ground, " says owner Jules Robinson on the telephone. The area is home to the largest nest ing population of bald eagles on the East Coast. A 2.5-hour drive from Manhattan on route 97 in Barryville, New York.