Event Profiles

Ta-HOE NALU
August 15-17, Kings Beach

Who would have believed that a sport bred in Hawaii from surfing would end up in the high Sierra, and would eventually launch the entire SUP racing scene in California?

The first TA-HOE NALU took place in August 2007. Event producer, Ernie Brassard, made flyers and t-shirts, and gathered paddlers from Tahoe, Santa Cruz, San Diego and Baja. There was a reception party at Jake’s on the Lake in Tahoe City on Friday evening and the 34 paddlers raced the seven-mile stretch from Jake’s to Captain Jon’s the following morning.

From this small beginning there are now hundreds of SUP races nationwide each year. This year’s TA-HOE NALU will draw over 4000 spectators and up to 500 competitors from all over the globe. Two days of racing are scheduled for all ages and skill levels, with free demos and clinics for all. Come and enjoy the fun, family and high Sierra aloha at Kings Beach.
tahoenalu.com

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Dirt Inspires Trail Runs
August 25, Laguna Seca

The popular trail running series Dirt Inspires is returning to Fort Ord National Monument. There are two distances to choose from, a half-marathon and a five-mile run. The courses combine the best of backcountry and urban with the added novelty of being able to watch the action at Laguna Seca Raceway from the top of the hill in the expo area. Runners will enter BLM lands through a gate by Skyline Road and continue onto the roads and trails with expansive views to both the ocean and the Salinas Valley.

The start and finish of the race will take place at a location on top of a hill within the Laguna Seca Recreation Area overlooking the Raceway. “The BLM and National Monument lands feature some of the most scenic trails anywhere for runners of all abilities,” explained event director Penni Bengtson of Finish Line Productions.

Camping and RV accommodation is available on site, or runners can choose to take advantage of Monterey’s many motels and hotels.

Adventure Sports Journal is the title sponsor of this year’s event, and a portion of the proceeds from the race will support trail maintenance projects within the National Monument as well as backcountry organizations providing ongoing land stewardship.
dirtrailruns.com
finishlineproduction.com

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Radical Reels
September 27, Santa Cruz

The Radical Reels Tour runs every spring & 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 – 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 today’s top athletes and most talented adventure sport filmmakers.

Hosted by the Rio Theatre, the Radical Reels Tour screens in Santa Cruz on September 27 at 7pm at the Rio Theatre. For tickets and information visit riotheatre.com.

This stop is locally sponsored by FOX, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Epicenter Cycling, Velocity (Mount Hermon Adventure Park), Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Flip Flop Shops: Santa Cruz, Adventure Sports Journal, Good Times and SantaCruz.com.

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

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Northstar California Mountain Bike Racing

Northstar California presents mountain bike racing events that include cross-country, endurance, downhill and enduro formats. Still ahead for the 2014 season:

Cross-Country Mountain Bike Race Series #3
Saturday, August 9
This fun and recreational event concludes Northstar’s 2014 cross-country mountain bike race series, and is open to all ages and abilities with courses suitable for all skill levels. The top three in each division will be awarded at the conclusion of the race, with series winners also announced and awarded.

Enduro Mountain Bike Race Series #3 Livewire Classic Enduro
Saturday, August 30
This exciting race caps off the 2014 Northstar enduro series and is round 3 of the California Enduro Series. Northstar’s mountain bike park offers the perfect venue for their challenging enduro events which include untimed transfer stages requiring uphill pedaling and chair lift access to get to each timed downhill stage. The top three competitors in each division receive awards at the conclusion of the race, with series winners also announced and awarded.

Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series #5 Livewire Classic
Sunday, August 31
This wildly popular event is the finale for Northstar’s thrilling downhill race series, which offers more than 20 divisions for men, women and juniors to compete in. The top three competitors in each division receive awards at the conclusion of the race, with series winners also announced and awarded.

Not Competing?
Northstar California has everything you need for recreational summer mountain and road biking adventures. From beginner to advanced cross country and downhill mountain biking trails, lift access, bike rentals and bike shop services, you can find it at Northstar. Hiking also available. northstarcalifornia.com

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Biketoberfest
September 27, Fairfax

A Marin County’s premier bicycle event. Held in Fairfax CA, Biketoberfest is proud to be held at the birthplace of the mountain bike. The event caters to all bicyclists, including mountain bikers, roadies, BMX, cyclocross, fixed gear and transportation cyclists. The event draws over 5,000 cycling enthusiasts from all over Northern California and has great live music, bicycle vendors, and over 20 brewers serving 30+ beers! The event is held at Fair/Anselm Plaza, which is the most popular gathering place for on handmade bike show and brewfest rolled into one, Biketoberfest is and off-road cycling in Marin and it’s the home of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC), and Iron Springs Pub & Brewery.
BiketoberfestMarin.com

——————————————————————————————————————————–

Liv/giant Mermaid Triathlon and Duathlon
October 5, Capitola
The Liv/giant Triathlon and Duathlon Capitola boasts one of the best all women triathlons and duathlons on the West Coast. Beautiful Capitola Beach, the City of Capitola, and the surrounding community provides the perfect venue for an
ocean swim around the wharf, a fun and challenging bike ride, and a run on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Capitola Village. The October 6th event kicks off with the Olympic distance Mighty Mermaid swim wave at 7:20 a.m. The Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon start waves begin at 8:00a.m. and continue through 8:25a.m. Festivities include the mini Mermaid girls beach dash, a post race expo complete with a free photo booth, an awards ceremony, and lots of inspiring Mermaids experiencing the joy of crossing the finish line. For more information, visit mermaidseries.com.