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What are Volkssports?
Volkssports literally "popular" or "folk" sports are organized walking, swimming, bicycling, roller skating, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing events providing exercise that contributes to physical fitness.
Volkssporting originated in Germany and is now an international sport involving more than 20 countries. Volkssports started in the USA in 1976 in Fredericksburg, Texas and in 1979 the American Volkssport Association (AVA) was recognized internationally (IVV).
Who Can Participate?
Everyone!! All volkssport events are non-competitive and are to encourage everyone to participate in physical activity at their own pace. For example, start time for most walking and biking events is usually between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Finish time is usually by 4:00 PM.
Volkssporting includes people of ALL ages. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Some events are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Dogs on leashes are welcome on most walks as well.
What do you do?
Walks are the most common of volkssport events. Walks are rated in difficulty from 1 to 5, with a rating of 1 being fairly flat and on paved surfaces to a 5 being very difficult, steep hills, high altitude. To be a sanctioned event for AVA credit, the walk must be at least 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Many times a 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) option is available for those wishing to walk a shorter distance.
Most events are held on the weekends, but most walks available are called Year Round Walks (YRE). With a YRE walk arrangements have been made so that walkers can go any day of the year that the start point (usually a business) is open. Frequently, avid volkswalkers plan their vacations to coincide with walks in several states.
What does it cost?
All events are free. However, the International/National Volkssport Association offer optional achievement awards to those participants who wish to keep track of the number of events they have attended and the distance they have completed. The fee, usually $3.00 is paid at the event by participants who want to have IVV/AVA event credit.
After complete specific milestones, such as 10 events or 500 kilometers, participants send their record books to the AVA and receive a pin, patch and certificate at no additional cost.
Oregon has it's own special program called the Walk Oregon Challenge. For 2007, you can earn special patches for completing 8 walks featuring Oregon Festivals, Firehouses, Flowers and Forests.
How do you find out about Events and YRE walks?
A good way to find out about events is to join a local club. Clubs sponsor events in the area and often club members travel together to take part in events in other parts of the state.
Another way to find out about events in Oregon is to visit www.walkoregon.org or www.ava.org.
A monthly publication of events and volkssport news is available for $20.00 annually by subscribing to Northwest Walking Magazine. OTSVA Subscriptions, Jan Hagemeister, P.O. Box 1218, Albany, OR 97321.
To obtain a one year subscription for the bi-monthly newspaper that includes events all over the US, mail a check for $25.00 to The American Wanderer, 1001 Pat Brooker Road, Suit 203, Universal City, Texas 78148. |
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