A sneak peek at some of the season’s best events

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Ta-Hoe Nalu โ€ขย August 12-14, Kings Beach

Celebrating its tenth year, Ta-Hoe Nalu brings the feel of a traditional Hawaiian paddle festival to the spectacular Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Quickly becoming a must-do event for anyone associated with all forms of paddleboarding, Ta-Hoe Nalu was founded in 2007 by Ernie Brassard.

During the event, hundreds of competitors and thousands of spectators will help create a party atmosphere in the High Sierra. The three-day event begins on Friday afternoon with paddleboarding workshops, yoga and exhibits. Racing begins on Saturday morning and continues through to Sunday, with competitions in prone and stand-up paddling, as well as outrigger racing. Distances vary from the ten-mile long course event to two-mile beginner races.

Brassard had seen friends playing around on stand-up paddleboards so he purchased his own from Bob Pearson at Arrow Surfboards in Santa Cruz. After paddling the clear Tahoe waters a few times, he was soon hooked on this new way to enjoy the lake.

Brassard says, โ€œPearson was joking around one time. He says, โ€˜You know, maybe we should come up and do some kind of crossing and paddle on the lake.โ€™โ€

The idea stuck. Brassard mentioned it to a few people and Chris Thibaut, owner of Jakeโ€™s on the Lake restaurant in Tahoe City, offered to throw a party on the Friday night before the paddle. Brassard and Pearson put the word out, and the race was on. They were joined by friends from Santa Cruz and Southern California, to paddle the eight miles to Captain Jonโ€™s restaurant in Tahoe Vista.

โ€œWe had so much fun that year, that we said, โ€˜Weโ€™ve got to do this again.โ€™ And thatโ€™s how it all started.โ€ says Brassard. โ€œWe never expected to be doing this ten years later.โ€

tahoenalu.com


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Lost Sierra Electric Bike Festival โ€ขย August 27, Portola

Eco Bike Adventures has collaborated with trailblazing pioneers of the electric bike movement, creating an event that is focused on the electric bike experience.

The Lost Sierra Electric Bike Festival is a day of fun, competition, networking, and fellowship for all electric bike enthusiasts. The event offers something for everyone from competitions, exhibitions, and free demo rides and tours.

Competitive events include a trail race and a 100-meter drag race.

The trail race is similar in design to a mountain bike all-mountain race or a dirt bike trail race, testing the bike and its riders limits. The course is 10-12 miles of single track winding throughout Eco Bike Adventuresโ€™ 2,000-acre property. The top three finishers in each category (pedal assist open, throttle assist open, and kidsโ€™ trial) will be awarded so be prepared to strategize how to manage your battery, motor, and drivetrain so you can finish the race.

The electric bike version of a quarter-mile drag race, the drag race is a straight forward 100-meter off-road drag race against the clock and other racers. The top three finishers in each category will be awarded so expect to strategize how to manage your motor, drivetrain, and legs.

The festivalโ€™s free expo includes a Long Jump Challenge, Best in Show Ebike Build, Trail Tour Demos, and Ebike Demos. A buffet lunch will be served on the day of the event, followed by music to keeping the energy flowing all day.

There will be camping on site for a limited amount of reservations. Dry camping includes shower, toilet, central fire.

Free solar charging will be available at this family-oriented, pet friendly event.

ecobikeadv.com


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California Coast Classic โ€ขย September 4 – October 1,ย San Francisco to Los Angeles

Looking for new and fresh ideas to add to the bucket list? The Arthritis Foundationโ€™s 16th Annual California Coast Classic Bike Tour is calling! The California Coast Classic is one of the Arthritis Foundationโ€™s top fundraising events, as funds raised go to supporting extensive research and advocacy for arthritis, Americaโ€™s leading cause of disability. Arthritis affects over 50 million adults, or one out of five, including over 300,000 children.

The ride itself is a fully supported bike tour of Highway One from San Francisco to Los Angeles, equipped with fun-filled stops along the way. Beginner and experienced riders alike are invited to enjoy the Californiaโ€™s famous wineries, lighthouses and beaches. The ride will cover 525 miles of the countryโ€™s most famous coastline from September 24 through October 1.

Each dayโ€™s sights, sounds, and scents are local and different. After a catered, hot breakfast, riders set off at their own pace following a clearly marked route. Rest stops are available every 20 to 25 miles to refuel and relax. Roving SAG wagons and mechanical support ensure rider safety.

After each leg of the ride, riders camp for free in their own tents or stay in hotels at their own expense. Massages, mobile chargers, WiFi, hot showers, restrooms, and laundry are offered at campsites. Wine and beer tastings, sumptuous dinners, raffles, events and honoree presentations are also held nightly.

โ€œI was so excited about this adventure to cycle 525 miles of the most scenic coastal roads on this tiny planet of ours, raising money for a wonderful cause and the hope of making some new friends,โ€ said Gavin Hough, a first year rider in 2015 for Team Carter. โ€œI feel truly blessed with the adventures I have experienced, the new friends I have made, the generosity and support of the CCC family. My heart must have at least doubled in size.โ€

Register to take part in the 16th year of helping people living with arthritis and see why the California Coast Classic Bike Tour was voted one of the Top 30 Best Outdoor Vacations in the World. Space is limited to 250 riders, so sign up today!

californiacoastclassic.org


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SLOย Ultra โ€ขย September 10, San Luis Obispo

The inaugural SLO Ultra is a unique trail event running through the private Wild Cherry Canyon property on Californiaโ€™s scenic central coast near San Luis Obispo. Registration is now open for this highly anticipated event which features a 50-mile ultra race, marathon, half- marathon and 5-mile trail courses. Medals and awards will go to the top three athletes overall in all races. Additionally, the 50-mile race champions will be awarded a cash purse. The race is limited to 900 runners overall and is expected to sell out. A live Bluegrass Festival free to the public plus a BBQ featuring Firestone Walker brews available for purchase will cap off this day of celebration.

sloultra.com


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The Challenge Fondo โ€ขย September 10, Durham

The Challenge Fondo is accessible for cyclists of ALL abilities. All timed routes offer categories for adaptive athletes with upper or lower limb disabilities, vision or hearing impairments, handcyclists, recumbents and tandems (blind or sighted stokers) as well as the usual age-group categories for fully-able cyclists. Timed route options include hilly 100-, 65-, and 50-mile courses and a flat, fast 30-mile course. Also offered is a more leisurely flat 20-mile fun-ride (not timed). All riders receive an event t-shirt, well-stocked rest stops, on-road support, finisher souvenir, and post-ride meal and raffle. Timed riders compete for awards, prizes, and podium positions.

The eventโ€™s co-host, Ability First Sports, will have handcycles on-site for disabled athletes who would like to try one. Adaptive athletes interested in test-riding a handcycle can register separately for the 20-mile fun ride, a 5-mile test-ride or a parking lot demo.

Choose your challenge and get ready for a great day on the bike, knowing your entry fee supports efforts to make local roads safer for all cyclists and to encourage people of all ages and abilities to make bicycling a part of their healthy life choices.

chicovelo.org


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Battle of the Bay โ€ขย September 17-18, San Francisco

Bluerush is proud to host the Battle of the Bay / Watersport Festival, the largest event and expo of itโ€™s kind in Northern Californiaโ€™s San Francisco Bay Area.

This yearโ€™s event will include SUP, Prone Paddler, OC1 and OC2, and Surfski. The American Kiteboarding Association has picked this event to host their US National Kite Foil Championship and it will also be hosting the Northern California Windsurfing Championship. There will be various courses for each event.

Spectators can check out the latest merchandise and equipment from our Sponsors, meet the pros, learn about sports nutrition and even take a yoga class. The MC will entertain with music while also broadcasting the action of the racers as they paddle around Alcatraz and the Bay.

battleofthebay.com


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Granlibakken Tahoe & Endless Summer Yoga Retreat โ€ขย All Summer Long, Tahoe City

Summer at Lake Tahoe includes just about every activity, from hiking to the mountain tops to swimming in the deep lake water. Hiking, biking, swimming, running, paddle-boarding and boating are only some of the activities offered at Lake Tahoe. Between all of the action and motivation that the lake brings, itโ€™s important to take a moment and allow nature to bring its peace and harmony.

Boasting 74 acres of private forestry, Granlibakken Tahoe offers the perfect location for a Tahoe getaway. Located .5 mile from Tahoe City and one mile from Lake Tahoe, Granlibakken Tahoe makes it easy to relax after a full day of activity. From studio units to condos, Granlibakken Tahoe accommodates individual travelers and family vacations with ease.

Stay at Granlibakken Tahoe over Labor Day weekend and join the Endless Summer Yoga Retreat. Start or enhance a yoga practice with a complete weekend of daily yoga classes and meditation, live music and entertainment. Unwind from daily routines and allow the mountain breeze to soothe your mind, body and spirit.

granlibakken.com


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Radical Reels Tour

The Radical Reels Tour runs every spring and fall and spans North America, bringing a variety of mountain sport films to a wide range of viewers from hard-core outdoor adventurers to weekend warriors. Grab your tickets and hang on to your seat for the best jaw-dropping mountain sport films on skiing, boarding, climbing, biking, kayaking and more โ€“ all brought to life on the big screen.

Experience more than half a dozen wild action sports as seen through the eyes of some of todayโ€™s top athletes and most talented adventure sport filmmakers.

ASJ is proud to sponsor the Santa Cruz screening at the Rio Theatre on September 25 at 7pm. For tickets and information, visit riotheatre.com.

For more information on the Radical Reels Tour, including tour locations and dates, visit radicalreels.com.