Tomorrow the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation’s Cap2Cap ride will go off for the 11th straight year. For the previous 10 the event had two start/finish lines: one in Williamsburg and one in Richmond at Rocketts Landing.

This year VCTF Executive Director Beth Weisbrod told me, they decided to consolidate the event at a single location at the Charles City County Courthouse– “which was a bit of a risk,” she said. “But we hope it will up the party factor, to have one big party as opposed to two smaller ones.”

The Virginia Capital Trail where it crosses Parrish Hill Creek: Credit: VDOT

Weisbrod said they should hit their goal of 2,000 or so participants riding one of four distances: 100, 60, 25 and 15 miles. Not quite the 2015 record of 2,400 riders but not bad at all considering the trail itself has been open since October 2015.

Now that the Jamestown-to-Richmond trail is complete, Weisbrod said that the mission of the VCTF has morphed from one of overseeing promotion of the trail to “promotion, enhancement and continued development…and let’s throw some maintenance in there, cause we’re doing some of that, too.”

No longer just a cheerleader for the trail’s completion, the VCTF now works to provide amenities like  bike racks, bike fix-it stations, benches, and rain shelters, Weisbrod said. All of those — 35 “non-sign amenities” — are currently in the works for different sections of the 55-mile trail and should in by late summer.

The group also has installed 9 trail counters in different locations along the path, which will help with resource allocation once they have a long period of reliable data.

“These numbers are absolute gold. The more trends we can discern, the more valuable they’ll become,” she said.

If you live in Richmond and you haven’t checked out the Virginia Capital Trail yet, head down to the Richmond trailhead at Great Shiplock Park (at the intersection of Pear and Dock Streets) with a bike and head west. Jamestown is just about 55 miles away…

The Sports Backers announced the full schedule of events for Dominion Riverrock today. The nation’s largest outdoor sports and music festival is May 20-22 this year and features several new events and challenges to go along with all of the usual favorites, such as trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, bouldering, freestyle biking, and ultimate air dogs. Riverrock will once again be capped off by free concerts, with food carts, interactive vendor booths, and Sierra Nevada craft beer available all weekend.

Bouldering is one of the many spectator-friendly events at Dominion Riverrock. Credit: Dave Parrish

New this year is the Bust the Banks Half, a trail half marathon, that will take place on Sunday, May 22 at 8 a.m. Bust the Banks will have participants take on Richmond’s urban singletrack on foot on a challenging 13.1 mile course alongside rapids and rocks with amazing views of the city skyline. In addition, the James River Scramble 10k Trail Run presented by Goal Zero will have a new start time, taking place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 21. Trail running enthusiasts can also take part in the new ‘Trail Takedown’ challenge, which awards a special medal (along with bragging rights) to finishers of both the James River Scramble 10k Trail Run and Bust the Banks Half.

The 5Point Film Festival On the Road film series will kick off the weekend on Thursday, May 19 at the Byrd Theatre with a series of 12 to 14 short documentary adventure films. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and films will run from 6:30–8:30.

Click here for the full schedule of events. The full band lineup will be released tomorrow, February 9, at 10:00am.

With all the build up to and recovery from the recent snow, you may have missed this: Richmond’s own Environmental Film Festival starts tonight and runs through February 7 at venues all over the city. We wrote about the event here a few days back, when the entire schedule of movies and events was not yet finalized. For the full list, check out the EFF website.

The Times-Dispatch previewed one of those movies over the weekend, with Colleen Curran’s piece about Overburden, “the story of a fiery, pro-coal right-winger and a tenacious, environmentalist grandmother as they take on the most dangerous coal company in America,” then-Richmond-based Massey Energy. Overburden will be shown on Feb. 6.

And in Friday’s T-D, outdoors columnist Tee Clarkson gave us a rundown on a number of the EFF movies. Tonight’s kick-off film may interest local backyard food growers. Plant this Movie will be shown at the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library and starts at 6:30 p.m. The documentary explores urban farming throughout the U.S. and worldwide. The 83-minute film will be followed by a 15-minute presentation on urban gardening in Richmond.

Click here for full the schedule of movies. Suffice it to say, if you’re interested in the natural world at all, there’s a good chance you’ll find a film that interests you.

Organizers are pleased to announce the sixth annual RVA Environmental Film Festival to be held on the first week of February 1-7. The Enrichmond Foundation, Capital Region Land Conservancy, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Falls of the James Group – Sierra Club have been working together to make sure this year’s festival is the best yet, with many films designed to raise awareness of environmental issues relative to all residents of our planet — and to Richmond citizens in particular. As with last year, all of the festival’s events are free and open to the public.

Although the full week’s schedule will not officially be released until a time closer to the festival, organizers have announced the first part of the children’s portion of the festival.

Back by popular demand, the 2016 RVA EFF will include a children’s portion at the historic Byrd Theater in Carytown, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, beginning with The Lorax, hopefully inspiring some new environmentalists and re-igniting the hope of older ones. Continuing at 10:30 am, there will be a screening of Disney’s Monkey Kingdom, a documentary that follows a newborn monkey and its mother as they struggle to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of the Temple Troop, a dynamic group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins found deep in the storied jungles of South Asia. With starring voice-over from Tina Fey, this received a huge audience response when it was released earlier this year.

Festival organizers have extended the festival to a full week and will include venues all over the region, including evenings at the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Visual Arts Center of Richmond, as well as Richmond’s Main Library, Chesterfield County’s North Courthouse Road Library, and Henrico County’s Tuckahoe Library. Many of the films are not only new but area premieres.

Festival sponsors include the James River Association, Slow Food RVA, Relay Foods, Sunflower Solar/Old Dominion Energy, Watershed Architects, Sierra Club Foundation, Enrichmond Foundation, Capital Region Land Conservancy, Whole Foods Market, VA Sun, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, University of Richmond, Rice Center-Virginia Commonwealth University, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Visual Arts Center of Richmond, RichmondOutside.com, WCVE,and the Byrd Theatre.

For more information on the Festival, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, visit www.rvaenvironmentalfilmfestival.com.

Information about the films, guests, speakers, and specific schedules for each day will be made available as the event nears. However, the following films have been confirmed:

Plant this Movie — A comprehensive look at the international urban agriculture movement which vividly illustrates, the ingredients for scaling up urban farming and reconnecting people to the food we eat are now all around us. The movement provides hope that people across the nation and the world that they will once again have access to healthier, locally grown food, using the land near where they live as a primary source.

Living Green — profiles Jen Jensen the unsung pioneering landscape architect who became one of America’s most influential urban designers and early conservationists, shaping the Midwest’s physical and cultural landscape in an enduring way. Footage includes photos, interviews of Jensen himself. Jens Jensen is hailed as a pioneer of sustainable design and a champion of native species.

Thule Tuvalu — Two places at the edge of our planet are making headlines due to climate change: Thule, Greenland, because of record ice melts there, and Tuvalu, a remote Pacific island nation which is on the verge of sinking as sea levels rise. Inhabitants of both Thule and Tuvalu are looking into an uncertain future.

Easy Like Water — In rural Bangladesh, 20 million people may be washed away by mid-century, Floating schools turn the front lines of climate change into a community of learning. Boat schools using modern technology are bringing education to kids, especially girls, who might otherwise never get a chance to go to school.

Shark Loves the Amazon — Can twenty-one million people and the rainforest share the same space? With levels of deforestation approaching the point of no return at an alarming rate, Mark London, also known as “Shark”, poses a provocative alternative to the age-old mantra, “leave the forest untouched.”

End of the Line — Where have all the fish gone? We’ve eaten them! Fishing is occurring at an unsustainable rate. Technological advances, political indecisiveness, and commercial interests in the fishing industry have produced a culture where fish stocks are being exploited beyond their capacity to regenerate. Commercial fish may become extinct within our lifetimes.

Monkey Kingdom — A Disneynature film, a spectacular tale set among ancient ruins in the storied jungles of South Asia. Maya, a clever and resourceful monkey, strives to keep her son, Kip, safe through unexpected and perilous adventures. Amazing footage captures all the magic and surprises of their magnificent world.

Bat City Bat City USA — A fascinating, close-up glimpse of the world’s largest urban bat colony amid colorful downtown Austin, Texas. The film reveals how the bats moved into the downtown Congress Avenue Bridge and survived eradication plans by hostile residents. Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, convinces residents of the benefits of the bats.

This Changes Everything — This film, inspired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller, presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing, and beyond.  Klein builds to her most controversial and exciting idea: that we can seize the existential crisis of climate change to transform our failed economic system into something radically better.

Overburden — The story of a fiery, pro-coal right-winger and a tenacious, environmentalist grandmother as they take on the most dangerous coal company in America. These two lives intertwine as they unite to rebuild their fractured community. Decades after Harlan County, W.VA filming the coal industry is facing extinction, and with an increase in alternative energy and the work of these two courageous women, the epicenter of change may just come from the most unexpected place, the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains.

Yes Men are Revolting — For 20 years the notorious Yes Men dressed in thrift-store suits and with a lack of shame have lied their way into business events and government functions determined to expose the dangers of letting greed run our world. These iconoclastic activists stage outrageous and hilarious hoaxes to draw international attention to corporate crimes against humanity and the environment while sending a hopeful message about fighting for change.

How to Change the World — In 1971 a small group of activists set sail from Vancouver, Canada in an old fishing boat. Their mission was to stop Nixon’s atomic test bomb in Amchitka, Alaska. Chronicling this untold story at the birth of the modern environmental movement and with access to dramatic archive footage unseen for over 40 years, the film centers on eco-hero Robert Hunter and his part in the creation of the global organization we now know as Greenpeace.

I ran into Mike Baum, Executive Director of Keep Virginia Beautiful a while back, and our conversation reminded me of the cool event his group sponsors every year that’s coming up. On Saturday, Jan. 30th KVB will hold its 2nd annual Shiver in the River at Historic Tredegar. This year the event has three components: a community clean-up; a brand new 5K run/walk; and the James River Jump.

Last year’s event was very popular. Credit: Phil Riggan/Richmond.com

Shiver in the River starts with a clean-up along the James, surrounding areas and in respective neighborhoods, where participants will give 60 minutes of their time to pick up trash and beautify the community. The inaugural 5K follows the clean-up. Here all ages are welcome to run or walk while enjoying the beauty of the river area. Then those daring enough to brave the frigid James will splash into the chilly river. For those who enjoy staying warm, Shiver In The River attendees will celebrate in the “Winter Festival” at Tredegar with heated tents, food and beverage trucks, and entertainment.

“This is an exciting mission-centric event,” said Baum, “our goal is to raise awareness of the impact litter has on our environment and that it’s up to us to change our behavior and make a difference.”

Shiver in the River is a fundraising event supporting KVB’s programs that focus on litter prevention, recycling, beautification and environmental education. Incentives will be provided to participants based on their level of fundraising, with a minimum of $75 needed to receive the coveted Shiver in the River long-sleeve t-shirt. For added fun, participants will be encouraged to wear costumes or clothing that represents them and their group. For more information and to register, check out www.ShiverInTheRiver.com.

If you don’t have plans for this Saturday, our friends at the Blue Sky Fund (in conjunction with Sweetwater and New Belgium breweries) are putting on a fundraiser that lovers of tacky lights and craft beer should really enjoy.  Tickets are still available!

Craft beer makes lights like these seem less tacky, no?

Here’s the info from their Eventbrite page:

Please join Blue Sky Fund, New Belgium and Sweet Water breweries as we take an adventure through some of RVA’s tackiest lights and stop off to drink crafty beers at some of your favorite watering holes!  Tickets are $40 and include a boxed dinner from Savory Grain, transportation, New Belgium and Sweet Water goodies, a concert at The Camel, and a donation to Blue Sky Fund!

Schedule:

5-5:30 p.m.: Passengers check-in at The Camel

6: Bus departs from The Camel to view some crafty lights

7:30-8:30: stop at Capital Ale House Innsbrook to re-fuel

8:30-9:30: tour more crafty lights en route back to The Camel

9:30: The after-party starts with James Justin & Co at The Camel!

ALL event proceeds benefit Blue Sky Fund.  We’re excited for a fun night and hope you can join us!

It’s amazing to think that the Monument Avenue 10k has been around for going on 17 years. If the race is a must for your yearly running calendar, today is a good day: Registration is open for the 2016 event, named one of the country’s top 10 running races by USA Today. And for today only, registrants can save $3 by using the special Cyber Monday promo code ITSHERE on any 10k registration. The offer is valid until 11:59pm for the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k, Virginia 529 Kids Run, and YMCA 10k Training Team.

The 10k will utilize block registration and youth pricing for the first time, with the opening block taking the first 7,500 entries. Starting December 1, the rate will be $30 for adults and $20 for youth under the age of 14. Overall registration will also be capped at 30,000.

All participants who complete the 10k will again receive a custom event medal to recognize their accomplishment of finishing the race.

Registration is also open for the Virginia 529 Kids Run and the YMCA 10k Training Team, a 10-week program designed to prepare runners and walkers alike for the Monument Avenue 10k. The YMCA 10k Training Team kicks off on January 30 at 18 locations in the Richmond area, with a $55 fee during the first block. Registration includes entry into the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k.

Once the first 7,500 spots have been claimed, registration will re-open at a later date with a $35 fee for adults and $25 fee for youth under the age of 14, along with a $60 fee for the YMCA 10k Training Team. The Virginia 529 Kids Run entry fee is $15 through January 31, 2016, and rises to $20 on February 1.

The leaves are falling as the season turns and daylight is getting sparse. Cooler air is settling in among Virginia’s water, and the James River is getting colder. November is a beautiful month to spend time in Richmond’s urban park system, and we are excited to celebrate the second annual King of the James!  King of the James is a triathlon highlighting the mountain sports found in the city’s core, with trail running, mountain biking, and whitewater kayaking

The secret has been uncovered for some time now regarding the gem Richmond is for outdoor enthusiasts, with its miles of singletrack and some damn good whitewater… but sometimes we forget how accessible it is to indulge for a ride or paddle in the park on a daily basis. Being able to have a number of mountain sports in your backyard is a rarity; but here in Richmond, we have it all day, everyday and can literally play outside 365 days a year.

King of the James is the perfect way to test your ability in the mountains all while staying close to home here in the city. The tour of Richmond’s finest begins by tackling an awesome trail run in Forest Hill Park, followed by a ride on the backbone of the city’s mountain bike scene via the Buttermilk Trail and Northbank Trail, and culminating with a paddle down Richmond’s notorious whitewater on the James River.  Although each individual leg of King of the James is not an endurance feat, linking all three back-to-back will get even the most seasoned athletes’ heart pumping.

This could be you during King of the James.

In 2014, Adam Tremper was crowned King and has been one of the events larger-than-life advocates.

“The King of the James is special because it encompasses some of the best things about Richmond into one event, competitive and friendly at the same time,” Tremper said.

Although there is a healthy dose of trash talking among the competitive outdoorsmen and women, King of the James stresses that we are all in it together. If you see someone in need, stop and help. The event also demands respect by all participants to be mindful of the trail users who are just out enjoying our beautiful oasis by moving aside and practicing park etiquette. “King of the James has it all!  Can’t wait to make a run at the throne again this year,” Tremper added.

Sunday is going to be a good day.  If you’re looking to watch some of the event, come out and join us! Some key locations to spend time in the park and witness King of the James are at the Reedy Creek crossing on the trail in Forest Hill Park, just downstream of Crossroads Coffee and Beer. The downhill at Texas Beach on the Northbank trail and Hollywood or Pipeline Rapids on the James River.

There can only be one – King of the James!

‘King of the James’ is an individual, multi-sport event. It can be raced as an individual or a three-person team, with each team member choosing a leg — run, bike or paddle. Individuals must be able to complete the course by possessing the skills of an EXPERIENCED trail runner, EXPERIENCED mountain biker, and EXPERIENCED whitewater kayaker.  This is an extremely difficult course, with many hazards, and requires stamina as well as in-depth knowledge of all three sports.  The course is subject to a variety of changing variables associated with being held in an ever changing outdoor environment.  Please take this into consideration.  If there is any question on your part, about completing any of the disciplines, please do not attempt ‘King of the James’. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE the difficulty of the ‘King of the James’.

If you happen to be driving past Pony Pasture tomorrow around 3:30 p.m., there’s a good chance you’ll see something no one’s ever seen before: an interscholastic standup paddleboard competition.

“I’m pretty sure this is the first one anywhere,” said Ben Moore, Riverside Outfitters‘ head standup paddleboard guide and the organizer of tomorrow’s race.

It’ll be Trinity Episcopal versus Collegiate in a slalom time trial that starts in the slack water above Pony Pasture rapid and ends around the takeout steps at Pony Pasture Park. The racers — about 10 from each school — will have to navigate the rapids and buoys anchored in the water (thus the slalom classification) for what what Moore estimates will be about a two-minute time trial.

“It’s an open high school paddleboard race,” Moore said, meaning any school could enter, but right now Trinity Episcopal and Collegiate are the only area schools with organized SUP programs. Moore said they might be the only two in the country. “I did some research (when he was helping Trinity start its team), and I couldn’t find any others.”

But Moore has bigger plans for interscholastic SUPing in the region. He said it looks like St. Christopher’s will start a program soon, and his hope this winter is to approach the Richmond Public Schools about getting kids into the sport.

“I’m really passionate about getting it into RPS,” he said, noting the work Richmond Cycling Corps has done developing a high school cycling team at Armstrong HS.

Moore said he’d love to have as many people as possible come watch tomorrow. It’s a spectator-friendly course — you can take in the whole time trial from the bank without having to move. And who doesn’t want to see a real American first?

(And in the meantime, check out the above video by RO contributor Elli Morris on Trinity Episcopal’s groundbreaking HS SUP team. Click here to read her article about it.)