Banff Mountainย Film Festival,ย Rahlveโ€™s Banzai Tour,ย VetFit,ย 39th Annualย The Great Ski Race,ย Santa Cruz Paddle Festival,ย Run Rugged Trail Camp


Banff Mountainย Film Festival

Feb. 20, 21, & 22, 2015 โ€” Santa Cruz

The 2015 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will exhilarate you with amazing big-screen stories. Journey to exotic locations, paddle the wildest waters, and climb the highest peaks.

Join UCSC Recreation when the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour brings the spirit of outdoor adventure to Santa Cruz, at theย Rio Theatre on February 20, 21, 22 at 7pm.ย Celebrate theย 25th Anniversaryย of bringing this event to Santa Cruz while also celebrating theย 50th Anniversary of UC Santa Cruz.

Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.comย or in person at Bicycle Trip in Santa Cruz. Different films will be shown each night so join in for one or all three shows.

This event benefits the UCSC Wilderness Orientation Scholarship Fund. recreation.ucsc.edu/banff.html

For more dates and venues throughout California, visitย banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour/listings/cities.aspx?cat=NA&location=us&region=CA.

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Rahlveโ€™s Banzai Tour

Feb. 21-22, 2015 โ€” Alpine Meadows
March 7-8, 2015 โ€” Kirkwood
March 14-15, 2015 โ€” Sugar Bowl Resort

The Rahlvesโ€™ Banzai Tour (RBT) is racing in its purest formโ€”big mountain freeride meets ski / boarder-cross action! Taking place at three Lake Tahoe, CA resorts, itโ€™s head to head action four at a time, top to bottom, down a wide open course over natural terrain and snow conditions. This is the ultimate test of ski and riding skills. Open entry for 18 years old and up. Come take part in the fun and find out what you are made of.

The solo timed qualifying run on Saturday ranks the Top 32 men ski / board and Top 16 women ski / board into brackets for Sundayโ€™s finals. The finals match up four competitors at a time with the top two in the round advancing until the remaining four battle it out for the Rahlvesโ€™ Banzai win.

RBT has more momentum than ever in its fifth season. Top skiers and snowboarders from North America will line up against Lake Tahoe area athletes laying it on the line to defend home turf and a cash purse at each event. Points are earned at all events and added up to crown male and female ski and snowboard Overall Banzai Champions for an additional pay out.

Daron Rahlves, Banzai Master, World Champion, USA Olympic ski racer, Winter X-Games Skier-X Champ and pro big mountain skier is the event organizer responsible for its growth and success with the help of host resorts, event partnerships and competitors. Daron is involved in the operation of the RBT, assisting competitors and mingling with the fans. At each event he takes a qualifying timed run, but doesnโ€™t compete head to head until the โ€œSuper Finalโ€ at his home resort, Sugar Bowl. March 15 is the day Daron puts his title of โ€œBanzai Masterโ€ on the line taking on the Men Ski Winners from each stop in a battle for winner-takes-all of $5,000.

Catch all the Banzai action and previews from TahoeTV at www.tahoetopia.com on the Rahlvesโ€™ Banzai Tour Channel.

The Silver Belt Race first took place in the 1940โ€™s at Sugar Bowl Resort and was re-born in 2009 in its current form. The Rahlvesโ€™ Banzai Tour builds on the success of that race. Show up at one or all events to compete or watch the action.

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VetFit

Feb. 28 through May 2, 2015 โ€” Monterey

Fleet Feet Monterey and the Veterans Transition Center of Monterey County (VTC) collaborates on this 10 week training program for homeless veterans on February 28. Launched last year and sporting a new name, this sessionโ€”sponsored by Mizunoโ€”will offer two levels for new and returning veterans who would like to train for a 5k or a 10k distance. The target race is Fleet Feetโ€™s Seascape race on May 2 in Aptos. As with the inaugural session, all participants will be provided with running shoes, technical shirts, coached workouts twice a week, and educational seminars on topics such as hydration and nutrition. Those interested in supporting VetFit can donate to Fleet Feetโ€™s โ€œAdopt an Athleteโ€ program:ย fleetfeetaptos.com/news/adopt-an-athlete-program-in-actionย or donate to the VTC:ย vtcmonterey.org

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39th Annualย The Great Ski Race

March 1, 2015 โ€” Tahoe City to Truckee

This historic 30K (18-mile) event begins at Tahoe Cross Country above Dollar Point in Tahoe City, winds through the forest and mountains of North Lake Tahoe, and ends at the Cottonwood Restaurant in Truckee. Every year, 800 to 1,100 ski racers, touring skiers, disabled athletes and snowshoers turn out for the race looking for achievement and adventure, or maybe just the famous finish-line party, which includes live music, a hot lunch, prizes, raffles, and beer for the age-qualified participants.

The Great Ski Raceยฎ course is machine-groomed for several days before the event. By the early morning of the race, a wide groomed track of sparkly corduroy courses through parts of the woods that few people ever see in winter. Most of the competitors skate-ski the route; but some of the hardiest ski on slightly wider classic skis using parallel grooves etched by the grooming machine into the trail. In 2010, two blind skiers bested the course.

The race is the primary fundraiser for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, a group of volunteer skiers and snowmobilers who locate lost people in the Sierra Nevada.

Race entries are $60 through February 14, then $70 until February 28, then $110 on March 1 (race day), and $25 for skiers 18 and under. Donations above and beyond these amounts to the Tahoe Nordic Search & Rescue Team are always appreciated (donations above and beyond race fees are tax-deductible; non-profit tax ID #94-2737988).ย thegreatskirace.com

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Santa Cruz Paddle Festival

March 13-15, 2015 โ€” Santa Cruz

Through the years the Santa Cruz Paddle Festival (SCPF) has held multiple World Championships for surf kayaking. These events have drawnย  competitors from all over the world; Ireland, Scotland, England, Portugal, Basque, Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, Australia, Jersey, are just to name a few.

This event now offers three distinct classes of surf kayakingโ€”International Class Kayak, High Performance Kayak and Waveskiโ€”as well as a SUP surfing competition at The Lane and a SUP race that starts at Cowells Beach, heads out towards the fabled Steamer Lane, and then loops back towards the Boardwalk. santacruzpaddlefest.com

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Run Rugged Trail Camp

March 27 – 29, 2015 โ€” Aptos

Fleet Feet is presenting a trail running camp in Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos March 27-29 that will be open to the public, but will also include many veterans. Featuring two nights of lodging at Camp Monte Toyon and three days of incredible trail running and educational seminars geared for all levels, Fleet Feetโ€™s โ€œRun Rugged Trail Campโ€ will host two VTC veterans and up to 40 veterans affiliated with Team Red White and Blue. While Team RWB often hosts similar camps primarily for veterans, this event is unique in that the majority of participants will be members of the general public and the veterans will be joining them. This format is a reflection of organizations such as the VTC and Team RWB striving to meet the changing needs of our newer veterans, who are seeking opportunities to integrate within their communities. The event is made possible by NorthFaceโ€™s Never Stop Exploringย  Award, which Fleet Feet Aptos owners Tina and Russ Coillot won this past December. This highly competitive award is given to a business in the United States or Canada that promotes being outside for members of the community. More information about the camp can be found here: fleetfeetaptos.com/runruggedcampย AS_Logo1