"Volkssports" are organized non-competitive walking, biking, swimming, skating, and skiing events created to appeal to people of all ages. Volkssporting promotes physical fitness, fun, and wholesome recreation in a safe environment.
Everyone travels at his or her own pace because events are non-competitive. Thus, volkssporting is an excellent activieyt for the entire family.
International Sport
Volkssporting is an international family sports activity that began in Germany in 1968. Rules established by the Internationaler Volkssport Verband (IVV) encourage everyone to participate and feel like a winner. Since the founding of IVV, more than 21 countries have joined. The first event held in the United States was in 1976 in Fredericksburg, Texas. The American Volkssport Association (AVA) is the national organizaton with headquarters in Universal City, Texas.
A volkssport event is a leisurely walk or other activity that follows a pre-marked trail, often in scenic or historic places such as parks or historical city areas. A local YMCA, school, or motel swimming pool is used for swim events. Some volkssport clubs sponsor skating or skiing events in their area depending on weather and availability of trails and/or skating arenas.
Volkssport events usually take place on weekends or in conjunction with a three-day holiday. In addition, many AVA clubs sponsor Year Round Events (YRE). YREs or seasonal events can be walked whenever the start point is open for business. Often this is year round except for major holiday closings.
Informational flyers are prepared by the club promoting the event. These flyers include the date, time, start point, directions to the start point, and other important details. The AVA publishes "The Starting Point," an annual listing of all YREs and seasonal club events. Information is also available online at www.ava.org.
THE EVENTS
Walk Events Walk events are
1) Short Walk - 10 kilometers
2) Medium Walk - 20 kilometers
3) Long Walks - 30+ kilometersAn average walker will be able to complete a 10 kilometer event in approximately 2 hours.
Bike Events These events are a minimum of 25 kilometers in length.
Swim Events These events are 300 meters in length. It is not necessaary to swim the 300 meters. Participants may complete the event by walking in the water.
Ski and Skate Events Most of these events are 10 kilometers in length.-------------------------------------
Insurance Waiver/Start Card Participants in all volkssport events are required to complete a start card and sign an insurance waiver prior to starting the event. The start card is used to record checkpoint activity and is returned upon completion of the event.
Volkssport Fees A standard fee of $3.00 is usually charged for an event and/or distance stamp entered into the participant's record book(s). Of the fee, $1.25 is sent to the AVA to help offset administrative costs. Many clubs allow events to be completed at no cost if the participant does not maintain event or distance record books.
Awards Program An Event and/or Distance Book may be perchased to keep a record. Upon completion of an Event or Distance Book participants receive and IVV pin, certificate and patch. Event awards are earned upon the completion of 10, 30 and 50 events and continue in increments of 25 events. All events, i.e. walk, swim, bike, ski and skate, are recorded in the Event Book. Walk Event distance awards are given upon the completion of increments of 500 kilometers. A separate Distance Book can be purchased for recording bike kilometers. There are no Distance Books for swim, ski, and skate events. Each book costs the participant $5.00.
50 State and 51 Capital Walks Many volkssporters have set a goal to participate in a 10k walk in all states of the United States. Some who have reached their goal have now set a new goal to walk in all state capitals and Washington, D.C.
The Capital City Wanderers We are the Capital City Wanderers Walking Club, Inc. (CCWWC) of Montgomery, Alabama.
CCWWC was formed in 1983 and incorporated in 1998. Membership is open to all.
The club sponsors volkssport events throughout the state of Alabama. CCWWC sponsors eight year round Walk Events. Montgomery and Birmingham have two. There is one each in Huntsville, Montevallo, Selma and Tuscaloosa. These events may be walked any day of the year. Details of each may be obtained by sending a request and a sef-addressed envelope to:
CCWWC, Inc.
Helen Addison
6980 Lowetown Road
McCalla, AL 35111or go to Schedule and click on the individual walk.
CCWWC usually holds bimonthly meetings. These meetings are scheduled at the convenience of club officers. Members may request a meeting by writing the club president at the club address.
Join Us! Membership in CCWWC is open to all. Annual dues are $5.00 (single or family). The membership year runs the calendare year, January 1 to December 31. An AVA Newcomer's Kit is provided at a cost of $5.00 to all new members. The only athletic gear needed is a good pair of walking shoes. To become a member, print out the membership application , (you will need Adobe reader to download it) (or send your name, address, telephone number and email address) and send a check for $5 made out to CCWWC to Capital City Wanderers, P.O. Box 210911, Montgomery, AL 36121.
Point of Contact (POC):
Helen Addison
6980 Lowetown Road
McCalla, AL 35111
Website: www.WalkAlabama.org
Last modified Jan. 25, 2008.