The Sports Backers recently announced the first-annual Movement Makers: National Active Living Summit to be held in Richmond from May 17-19, 2017. Movement Makers provides individuals and organizations an opportunity to learn how to encourage and support physical activity initiatives in their communities.

“Organizations across the country are developing movements to promote physical activity to make their communities healthier, and our national active living conference ‘Movement Makers’ is named for the people behind these efforts,” said Jeff McIntyre, Director of Active RVA for Sports Backers. “Movement Makers will present an outstanding opportunity to learn from national leaders in active living and health equity. We are excited to host this national summit with a great list of guest speakers and active learning opportunities.”

Movement Makers will address all sectors involved in promoting physical activity to positively impact the health of local communities. From schools to workplaces to streets to parks to neighborhoods to businesses, participants will engage in strategies for creating options for physical activity. Individual health, community health, and economic health will come together at Movement Makers to create healthier, more active communities across the nation.

The Movement Makers summit brings together experts and leaders from a variety of fields, including bike/pedestrian infrastructure, health equity, workplace wellness, public health, and obesity prevention. With nationally recognized keynote speakers, special breakout sessions, activity tours, and how-to demonstrations, Movement Makers supports active living practitioners as they learn how to make their communities more active and thus healthier.

Movement Makers takes place in the lead up to Dominion Riverrock, the nation’s largest outdoor sports and lifestyle festival. Dominion Riverrock provides a diverse backdrop of fun, outdoor-themed fitness opportunities that make physical activity exciting and accessible.

Our friends at the Richmond chapter of the American Alpine Club are hosting the Adventure Film Festival this weekend. It looks like a sweet lineup of adventure/outdoors-focused flicks, so I wanted to pass along the details.

From the event’s Facebook page: Come join your local American Alpine Club to enjoy the Best of Series from the Adventure Film Festival presented by Fjallraven and Intrepid Travel at the Byrd Theatre on Saturday, November 5 from 1pm-4pm.

$10 Tickets at the Door; $5 Beers from Avery Brewery for sale; and Raffle Tickets for some great prizes

Click here for tickets.

To see some of the past great work, check out trailers from the AFF’s past few years here https://vimeo.com/adventurefilm

Well, let’s be honest: The time is long past to begin training for this, but should you be in the James River Park System tomorrow (possibly taking part in Blue Sky Fund’s Hike for Kids) keep your eyes open for this cool event.

An “Otillo”-style event in Europe.

Sponsored by Swim RVA, the first annual Swim-Run–VA event takes place tomorrow down the fall line of the James River in downtown Richmond. Swim–Run–VA is the first “Otillo Style” swimrun event to come to Virginia and just the second in the United States.

Swimrun is a fast-growing endurance sport between two predefined points along a set course of cross country runs and open water swims without stopping in between. SwimRun races are team events with 2 athletes per team. Teams can be either all male, all female or gender mixed.

Athletes on the same team have to be within 10 meters of each other at all times. Racers can use any gear they deem necessary but must start and finish the race with all gear with which they started.

The spirit of SwimRun is based on teamwork, motivation, fun and passion. The sport was conceived in 2006 when ÖTILLÖ (meaning “Island to Island”) was held for the first time in Sweden. The concept of SwimRun was a challenge between a group of friends to race across the Stockholm archipelago, running over the islands and swimming between them. The race concept has grown all over Europe and the original is now the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship.

ÖTILLÖ as an organization celebrates its 11th year anniversary this year. The race will start at 3Sports in the River Road Shopping center near the Huguenot Bridge. Racers will enter their first swim on the south side of the bridge at Huguenot Flatwater Park. The race will continue to Chapel Island where the racers will exit their final swim of the day and race to the finish near Tredegar American Civil War Center.

Blue Sky Fund kids on a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Credit: Blue Sky Fund

If you’ve got a hole in your schedule for the upcoming weekend, I’ve got an event your outdoorsy family will love.

The Blue Sky Fund is an East End-based nonprofit which seeks to enrich the lives of Richmond’s urban youth through transformational experiences in the outdoors. One of its annual fundraisers is the Hike for Kids, and it’s happening this Saturday!

Choose between 5ish-, 10ish- and 17ish-mile hikes, all starting and ending at Legend Brewery in Manchester and employing the world famous James River Park System trails. There’ll be a party with food, beer, music, a raffle and much more at the finish line. The cost is only $35, and kids 12 and under hike for free!

Don’t think your 5-year-old can handle a 5-mile hike? The short hike is an out and back on Buttermilk Trail; turn around whenever the little tyke gets tired and get the party started early!

Check out the event page for more info on this one-of-a-kind event.

To celebrate Richmond’s urban trail system and popular craft brewery culture, Sports Backers announced recently the second annual Trails and Ales trail run and craft beer festival, set for Saturday, September 24. The event will take place in Manchester at W. 10th Street and Semmes Avenue (adjacent to the SunTrust Mortgage offices) at 4:30 p.m.

Registration for Trails and Ales is now open with a block of the first 250 spots open at a special rate of $30 for the Pint Glass course (5k distance) and $40 for the Tall Boy course (8-mile distance). Overall registration will be capped at 1,000 participants.

In conjunction with the trail run, will be the Trails and Ales Craft Beer Festival, highlighting the culture of craft brewing that continues to rise in the Richmond region. Beers and ciders from local breweries, including Stone Brewing, Trapezium Brewing Co., Buskey Hard Cider, South Street Brewery, and Wild Wolf Brewing Company, will be available at the festival and race participants will receive a stainless steel finisher cup and one drink ticket to be redeemed at the festival. There will also be food trucks, beverages available for purchase, and music. Friends, family, and spectators are also invited to take part in the festival.

Both the Tall Boy and Pint Glass courses will be on the scenic Buttermilk and North Bank trails in the James River Park System. The Tall Boy course pairs medium to high climbs with smooth paths along the river and a fun finish, while the Pint Glass course has lower mileage compared to its 8-mile companion, but shares the same earthy aromas, scenic views, and exciting finish.

Participants will have the opportunity to donate to support the RVA MORE Trail Maintenance Fund as part of Trails and Ales. All event donations will help with the cost of bridge materials and equipment for volunteer trail work in the City of Richmond to be used in the ongoing efforts to protect RVA’s urban trail system.

Click here for more information and registration for Trails and Ales. Once the first 250 spots have been claimed, registration will re-open at a later date with a higher fee for both distances.

Preparedness in the outdoors is one of the most important considerations when hitting the trail. Preparedness can include proper gear selection, knowing the weather forecast, or letting someone know where you’ll be in the woods. One essential part of being prepared for outdoor adventure is to have first aid training. If your adventure buddy gets injured, you may be the only one who can help them!

This guy could have used a few pointers. But he figured it out eventually.

In response to this need, our friends at REI have partnered with the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS and the James River Park System to offer a two-day course that will teach the wilderness medicine skills needed to go exploring in the wilderness with confidence. These courses will be offered during two different sessions this summer. The first course is Saturday and Sunday, July 9^th and 10^th. The second course is Saturday and Sunday, September 10^th and 11^th. You will learn skills and abilities to make sound decisions in emergency situations. From the Patient Assessment System through traumatic, medical, and environmental emergencies, you’ll experience a wide variety of topics designed to prepare you to act if an accident occurs. This course is ideal for trip leaders, camp staff, outdoor enthusiasts and individuals in remote locations. The course begins at 9 a.m. each day and runs through 6pm, with a 1-hour break midday. Minimum age is 16 years old. No prerequisites. The cost is $225 for REI members, and $255 for non-members.

July 9^th and 10^th WFA Class

https://www.rei.com/events/wilderness-first-aid-with-wmi-rei/richmond/135731

September 10^th and 11^th WFA Class

https://www.rei.com/events/wilderness-first-aid-with-wmi-rei/richmond/135732

All questions may be directed to Max Posner, REI Richmond Outdoor Programs and Outreach Market Coordinator Email:mposner@rei.com

Attention local filmmakers: this September, “James River Week will once again include Films on the Floodwall, a free community film screening organized by the James River Advisory Council, James River Outdoor Coalition, and James River Association on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 6 p.m.. The event is held at Diversity Park in the James River Park System and films are projected onto the floodwall. Budding auteurs are encouraged to submit original films to be screened at the event.

Last year’s ‘Films on the Floodwall’ featured a number of local short films. Most were James River related.

Film submissions will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on August 28. Submitted films will be reviewed and filmmakers will be notified if their movie is selected for screening. Selected films will be screened at Films on the Floodwall Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 6:00 pm.

Films should feature the James River or one of its tributaries and include at least one of the following subjects: Conservation; Parks and Public Spaces; Outdoor Recreation; Wildlife and Ecosystems; Aesthetics.

Filmmakers may submit more than one film. Films must be original and created after January 1, 2016. By submitting a film, each filmmaker represents the film submitted is original work that does not infringe on the copyright or intellectual property right of another party, and each filmmaker agrees to indemnify Films on the Floodwall and its organizers from all liability arising from any alleged infringement in this regard. All forms of footage, including audio, video, and photos, not produced by the filmmaker(s) must be credited to the original producer. The filmmaker(s) retains ownership rights to the submitted film and grants the organizers of Films on the Floodwall permission to screen the film and recognize the filmmaker(s) during the event.

Please submit films to Justin Doyle of the James River Association via email at jdoyle@jrava.org or on a

DVD via mail: Films on the Floodwall

c/o James River Association

4833 Old Main Street

Richmond, Va. 23231

Please contact Justin Doyle of the James River Association at jdoyle@jrava.org if you have any questions.

Volunteers at a previous James River Regional Cleanup. Credit: JRAC

Online registration is now open for the annual James River Regional Cleanup scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Volunteers can select from 17 different cleanup sites throughout the James River watershed. Visit www.jrac-va.org to sign up.

Now in its 17th year, the cleanup is a tremendous regional effort, led by the James River Advisory Council. JRAC provides a forum for the diverse interests along the James River in Central Virginia and engages the public about issues and challenges facing the river. JRAC’s vision is a healthy, beautiful, economically vital and accessible James River that is cared for by a diverse and engaged community that acts on its behalf.

JRAC’s membership includes representatives from local jurisdictions, businesses and industry, civic organizations and individuals. By leading discussions about the river, and hosting regional events and programs, the council sets the tone for positive and interactive relationships among partners throughout the region.

Each year, volunteers remove hundreds of bags of trash and recyclable materials from the James and its tributaries. The cleanup is open to individuals, families, groups, boaters and paddlers. Bring water and gloves, and wear closed-toe shoes.

For more information, call 804-748-1567 or email info@jrac-va.org.

The jumping dogs will be lucky if they see this much sun at the 2016 Riverrock festival. Credit: Dominion Riverrock

The Sports Backers yesterday announced schedule and course updates for Dominion Riverrock in preparation for Saturday’s predicted heavy rains.

Red Bull Berm Burners will now take place tonight (Friday, May 20) at 6 p.m. for both amateur and pro riders. Due to the change, registered participants will be offered a refund of their entry fee. Participants are still encouraged to come tonight at 6 p.m. to compete on the specially-built short track, and free walk-up registration will also be available on site. The event will consist of qualifying, finals, and awards for both amateur and pro riders.

The James River Scramble 10k Trail Run and Urban Assault Mountain Bike Ride, scheduled for Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, and the Bust the Banks Trail Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, May 22, at 8 a.m., will all take place as scheduled with rerouted courses to preserve the trails in the James River Park System. The new courses for each event will embrace the variety of trails and routes available in Richmond outside of the JRPS, including the Virginia Capital Trail, Canal Walk, Flood Wall, Ancarrow’s Landing, and Forest Hill Park, and will provide a unique outdoor experience to participants of each event.

The James River Scramble map can be found here<http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/1080736640/>, the Urban Assault map can be found here<http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1080167766>, and the Bust the Banks map is available here<http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/1081833092/>.

“We are excited to be able to hold these events as scheduled, as they help make Dominion Riverrock such a great celebration of Richmond’s outdoor lifestyle,” said Megan Schultz, event director for Dominion Riverrock. “Participant safety is extremely important, as is protecting the integrity of the trails in the James River Park System. We’ve worked closely with event staff and trail managers to come up with new courses for each event and believe they will offer great experiences for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.”

Due to the Urban Assault course change, the course will be a roughly 12.5 mile loop and the 20-mile course option will not be available. Refunds will be offered to registered participants who choose not to ride the new course. Because of the shortened course, prize money will not be available. The event will have a new start line location at Tredegar Street and 7th Street.

In addition to these event changes, the YogaROCK session scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. has been canceled. Registered participants have the option of a refund or switching to attend the session on Sunday at 11 a.m. There are no changes to Sunday’s class.

All other events and concerts are on as scheduled. For the most up-to-date schedule, please check the Dominion Riverrock website. ‘LIKE’ the Dominion Riverrock Facebook page. And follow @RiverrockRVA on Twitter and Instagram. The Dominion Riverrock mobile app is also available for download in the iTunes app store<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dominion-riverrock/id526265517?ls=1&mt=8> and Google Play store<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dominion.riverrock>.