Starting tomorrow The Frontier Project, in conjunction with Bike Walk RVA and the Sports Backers are rolling out a brand new contest called “Business for Biking.”

The idea behind Business for Biking, a friendly contest among Richmond-area businesses, is to promote active transportation habits and work environments. Tomorrow, May 16, is National Bike to Work Day, and the Frontier Project is asking for RVA companies to participate by signing up their business and as many employees as they can encourage to join and pledge to donate a decided upon amount, at the discretion of each company, to Bike Walk RVA.

The way it works is relatively simple: Employees log their round-trip commutes by bike into a system The Frontier Project provides each company each week through the end of June. Each commute equals a dollar figure donated to Bike Walk RVA on behalf of the company.

And as with any contest worth its salt, there will be prizes for the winners. Giant Bicycles will be awarding one men’s and one women’s bicycle to the leading bike commuters at the end of June, and for the business that has the highest percentage of employees biking to work, the Sports Backers will award a new bike rack. Couple those with a special blend of Blanchard’s Coffee and free professional development workshops from the Frontier Project, and you’ve got a real competition on your hands.

It’s a big day here at the RichmondOutside world headquarters. For the past few months, we’ve been working with the Sports Backers on a new mobile app for Dominion Riverrock. That app is now available for download on iPhone and Android devices. The app offers general event information, including the schedule and venue map, but also features interactive components as well.

iPhone users will be able to capture images with their phones, add captions and hashtags, then upload the images to a Dominion Riverrock social media map, which users can filter by hashtag. This map will show all of the photo activity happening during the festival and can also be viewed on the Dominion Riverrock website throughout the weekend. The Android version is more stripped down. It does not include the social media sharing option, but it does provide everything Riverrockers will need to navigate the largest outdoor sports and music festival in the country. Anyone that downloaded the festival app in 2013 will be prompted for an update.

Download the iPhone app here, or open the iTunes app store and search for ‘Dominion Riverrock.’ Adroid users can go here to download the app or open the Google Play store and search for ‘Dominion Riverrock.’

All 36 Virginia State Parks will celebrate Kids to Parks Day, this Saturday, May 17, with a wide variety of programs and activities for children and families. Kids to Parks Day, sponsored by the National Park Trust, is designed to get kids outdoors and into parks and to promote environmental stewardship and a healthy lifestyle.

Pocahontas State Park is the nearest state park to most Central Virginians. A day of activities at Pocahontas, in Chesterfield, will include a float fishing school led by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, a guided children’s bicycle trail ride conducted by the Friends of Pocahontas State Park and a program on birds of prey presented by Maymont Park. Most programs and activities are free (parking fees apply), but some activities may have fees. Each of the above activities has limited participation, so please call (804) 796-4255 to register.

At Powhatan State Park, there will be a number of ranger-led programs to participate in: Wildlife Encounters — 10:30 a.m. at the shelter between the park office and the playground; Guided Hike — noon. Meet at the E. Floyd Yates Conservation Area parking lot; Wild Exploration — 1:30 p.m. Meet at the Trailhead Parking area (follow state park road to where the paved road ends and turn left); Astronomy Night — 9 p.m. Meet at the Trailhead Parking area
(follow state park road to where the paved road ends and turn left). There are no fees for these programs, but parking fees apply. Please register by calling (804) 598-7148.

For the complete schedule of state park programs and events, visit: http://1.usa.gov/1ikHSfG. Some activities require pre-registration or additional fees.

Every year, it seems like, the Sports Backers dream up something new for Dominion Riverrock — the outdoor sports and music festival that returns to Brown’s Island next weekend. This year is no different, except that it’s Red Bull that did the dreaming.

The energy drink company, and promoter of insane outdoor physical feats, is bringing “Berm Burners” to Riverrock Saturday and Sunday (May 17 and 18) for its world premiere. The individual head-to-head pursuit, dirt-cycling competition, as a press release said, will test riders  “core abilities on a dirt cyclone of moto whoops housed between two fast, steep berms.”

Thirty professional riders will compete in the qualifying round, in a five-lap heat. Sixteen riders with the fastest heat times will then compete in the Red Bull Berm Burners Pro Finals, in a head-to-head format. In addition to the professional race, the Red Bull Berm Burners open amateur race will take place on May 18. Cyclists from all age groups and classes are welcome to enter. Race format for the qualifiers and finals will follow the same format as the professional race.

Red Bull has hired renowned pump track builder Dave King to construct the track. When I caught up with King working on a project in Pennsylvania last week, he described the concept as “pretty simple.”

Credit: Red Bull

“It’s gonna be an oval pump track….with pretty close to vertical berms and then to connect the berms there will be a series of rollers. (The) rideable surface is probably about 90 feet long, 30 feet across. It’s gonna be real tight. That’s kind of the whole point.””

King said the 150 tons of dirt he’ll need to create the track will be dropped off above Historic Tredegar this weekend, and he’ll get started on the construction on Sunday.

“I’ll just use a Bobcat and lay it out, then I’ll hand shape it,” he explained. “Then I have a plate compactor and an ATV with car tires. That helps roll everything in, makes it real smooth.”

The build will take about four days, he said. So be sure to check our Twitter and Instagram accounts. We’ll be out there starting Sunday taking pictures and checking on King’s progress.

A scene from last year’s East Coast Triathlon Festival.

Richmond is fast becoming the country’s endurance hotspot, and everyone better be ready. During the first weekend of May, Richmond will host two of the country’s premier endurance events on the same weekend: USA Cycling’s Collegiate Road Cycling National Championships and USA Triathlon’s Youth/Junior Elite East Coast Cup (aka East Coast Triathlon Festival).  These events will bring the country’s top junior and collegiate athletes to Richmond from almost every state in the country where they will compete head-to-head against the very best.

The United States’ future Olympians and professional athletes in the sport of triathlon and cycling will most likely come from these two fields. More so, these two events are a prelude to the 2015 Road World Cycling Championships, which will be one of the biggest events to ever touch down in Richmond, with the world’s best cyclists and thousands of spectators traveling to Richmond.

Richmond, stand up and take your place as the country’s endurance capital. Let’s not miss this opportunity to show the country (and in 2015, the world) why these events have chosen Richmond as their host. This is our chance to take this momentum and grow our lead even further while creating endless future opportunities.

The Collegiate Road National Championships will be held May 2-4 with events each day. The East Coast Triathlon Festival featuring the Youth/Junior Elite Triathlon East Coast Cup will be held May 4 with events for youth and adult amateurs in addition to the elite races throughout the day. Be at these events! Bring your family and your friends – especially those who do not quite get the endurance thing and show them what it is all about. Come out ready to cheer hard – bring your cow bells, face paint, and what have you and let’s show the world that endurance sports are to be spectated to the extreme just like its participants. 

Let’s also go beyond that and show an amazing amount of hospitality to these athletes, too. They will be easy to recognize – just look for the cleanly-shaven, chiseled legs ready to go to work in the race of their life. Strike up a conversation with them, ask what you can do to support them while in Richmond, wish them good luck, and, if nothing else, tell them you will be there on race day cheering them on!

Stand up Richmond and take your place.  Let’s all grab this opportunity, this victory, and run away with the crown, setting ourselves apart as the forerunner in the endurance world. Stand up Richmond – the time is now.

Back in February we reported that Endorphin Fitness was bringing the Liberty University Online Academy East Coast Triathlon Festival back to Richmond on the first weekend in May. Well, now that weekend is rapidly approaching and triathletes from all over the country are gearing up for the early-season event. The races take place at the Innsbrook Office Park in Glen Allen. The “Elite Cup” race is one of three national races in which youth and junior elite triathletes compete for a chance to qualify for the National Championships held in Ohio in August.

A scene from last year’s East Coast Triathlon Festival.

Now in its second year, the day of racing has become an early-season highlight for local and national triathletes. Michael Harlow, Endorphin Fitness founder, said he that about 750 elite junior athletes, amateur kids and adults will toe the line in three separate race formats. The races include a kid’s fun race for ages seven to 15; a super sprint distance for amateur youth and adults; and the headline youth/junior elite cup event. The elite race, which is a draft-legal, Olympic-style format, will draw the top 13 to 19 year olds from across the country and Canada. Harlow added that he expects more than 1,200 spectators and family members to watch the day’s activities.

This year’s event will also include a group of disabled athletes from United Athletics, an organization that pairs able-bodied athletes with individuals that require physical assistance. Last year’s East Coast Triathlon Festival brought athletes to Richmond from 33 states as well as 19 athletes from Canada.

Local paddler Patrick Griffin clued me in to this event, and it sounds really cool. On Thursday, May 22nd the James River Outdoor Coalition will be hosting the RVA premier of Patagonia’s documentary DamNation. The film will be projected on the side of the Floodwall at Floodwall Park in Manchester. Viewers are encouraged to come around 8:30 p.m. to mingle and grab a bite to eat from a local food truck and grab spot on the lawn.  The film will start promptly at 9 p.m. in order for it to be dark enough for the projection.

Ben Knight films the former Elwha Dam before its removal. Photo: Travis Rummel

Griffin said he and local filmmaker Melissa Lesh saw the film at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital about three weeks ago.

“After being blown away, we talked about the possibility of bringing the film to Richmond,” Griffin said.

“Joey Parent of the VCU Outdoor Adventure Program had recently suggested that JROC do more regular fundraisers in order to always have funds to help the park when necessary,” Griffin added. “This combined with Hunter Davis’ success with showing paddling and biking films in the city led me to the idea of hosting a DamNation premier as a JROC benefit.

The event is made possible through JROC, VCU OAP, Home on the James, and Aviva Rentals.  A donation of $5 recommended to help defray the cost of the show. Any extra money will be given to JROC.

Attention dirt jumpers, cyclocross racers, and mountain bikers — the challenge is set. On May 17, world-class fixed gear rider Addison Zawada will be among 30 professional cyclists from all disciplines to compete in Red Bull Berm Burners, a first-of-its kind, individual head-to-head pursuit, dirt-cycling competition taking place during Dominion Riverock.

Red Bull Berm Burners’ stripped-down pump track presents a unique challenge to all disciplines of riders, ultimately testing their core abilities on a dirt cyclone of moto whoops housed between two fast, steep berms. Influenced by BMX racing, track cycling, and motocross, the completed 100’ by 25’ oval course will feature pump track-style rollers leading into two nearly vertical six-foot berms. The race is open to 20’ BMX and 26’ and 29’ mountain bike wheels with both rigid and suspension frames, along with all other bike disciplines.

“You gotta be smooth on a pump track to go fast. How smooth are you when your best friend is breathing down your neck? Red Bull Berm Burners condenses the pressure and need to keep your cool and maintain your flow,” said fixed gear cyclist Austin Horse, whose expertise was crucial in advising the design of the unique track.

Thirty professional riders will compete in the qualifying round, in a five-lap heat. Sixteen riders with the fastest heat times will then compete in the Red Bull Berm Burners Pro Finals, in a head-to-head format.

In addition to the professional race, the Red Bull Berm Burners open amateur race will take place on May 18. Cyclists from all age groups and classes are welcome to enter. Race format for the qualifiers and finals will follow the same format as the professional race.

With Dominion Riverrock quickly approaching, the festival has announced a partnership with Walkabout Outfitter, an outdoor retailer set to open its doors in Carytown in May, to host the 5Point Film Festival On the Road at The Byrd Theatre on May 15.

Credit: Christian Melgard

The film festival will kick off the action-packed weekend with a series of 12-14 short documentary adventure films from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This event is free, and doors open to the public at 6:00 p.m.

The 5Point Film Festival On the Road series focuses on the outdoor industry’s inspirational stories and is dedicated to bringing communities together as one. With all the excitement and buzz surrounding Dominion Riverrock, 5Point film was excited to include Richmond in their On the Road series this year.

“Richmond is an outdoor-centric city that has gained so much steam as an outdoor destination over the past few years,” said Sarah Wood, executive director of the 5Point Film Festival. “We are very excited to introduce our On the Road series to a new community filled with outdoor enthusiasts.”

Walkabout Outfitter is the presenting sponsor of the 5Point Film Festival On the Road series at The Byrd Theatre.  Walkabout Outfitter will be entering the Richmond market in early May, opening a new retail store in Carytown in time for Dominion Riverrock.

“Partnering with the nation’s largest outdoor sports and music festival is a great opportunity to start to show ourselves as the outdoor store of choice in the region, get to know our local customers and support the local events,” said Wendy Stanley, Walkabout Outfitter’s development manager. “We’ve been serving the locals in Lexington, Roanoke and Harrisonburg and can’t wait to join Carytown!”

Credit: DPM Climbing

For more information on the 5Point Film Festival presented by Walkabout Outfitter, visit the Dominion Riverrock website. Dominion Riverrock, scheduled for May 16-18, 2014, is open to the public and is free to all spectators.  

About 5Point Film Festival

Established in 2008, 5Point Film is on a mission to inspire adventure of all kinds, to connect generations through shared experience, to engage passion with a conscience, and to educate through film. Creating various events, including an annual four-day film festival in Carbondale, CO and several events across the country, 5Point Film continues to deliver a unique film experience by drawing in passionate athletes, artists, filmmakers, films, and the community around short documentary films. 5Point also hosts various film events in the Roaring Fork Valley and organizes the Dream Project a student scholarship program for high school students. Visit www.5pointfilm.org for more information.

On May 10, the ninth Cap2Cap will go off, with bicyclists in Richmond and Williamsburg riding 100, 50 and 25 miles (and a family ride of 15 miles) to support the Virginia Capital Trail. And if history is any guide, the 9th Cap2Cap will be bigger than the 8th.

“The ride has grown every year,” said Beth Weisbrod, Executive Director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, the Cap2Cap organizer. “We’ve averaged around 10 percent growth…Last year we had a record 2,500 riders…and I think we’re going to end up growing yet again.”

It’s not just riders, she added, “Our sponsorships have grown, too, which I think is a big indicator of the reputation of the ride because a lot of people want to be involved with it.”

The Cap2Cap is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser, netting $140,000 last year, and it also serves to showcase the parts of Virginia that the still-under-construction Capital Trail will traverse. Riders who start the century ride in Richmond at Rocketts Landing will head east and ride to Williamsburg’s Chickahominy Riverfront Park before turning around. Williamsburg 100-milers will do the opposite ride. The shorter rides will stay closer to their respective start lines.

Weisbrod said she’s heartened that the returning rider/new rider split is currently about 50/50. People want to come back because they’ve enjoyed the experience — the ride, the rest stops, the afterparty — and new people hear about that and want to give it a try.

“People that do running races are sometimes hesitant to commit to a bike ride,” she said. “Maybe the numbers seem bigger, so where someone can visualize what it’s like to run a 10K, the idea of riding 25-miles on their bike is scary.

The Cap2Cap has become a popular spring bike ride — even with kids. Credit: Virginia Capital Trail

“It’s just a different kind of challenge to people who might not have done it before. But when you break it down and you say, well, you need to go at least 8 or 9 mph to stay upright, 25 miles is not that hard. That’s a two-and-a-half-hour effort with a rest stop in the middle of it. That doesn’t sound so scary.”