|
|
|
How It Began | Types of Sports | Types of Events | Difficulty Ratings
Folkssports are LIFESPORTS
You're never too young, You're never too old
You choose the sport, You choose the place
You're never too big, You're never too small
You choose the distance, You choose the pace
You are always the winner!
I
n t h e B e g i n n i n g ...
Volkssport originated in southern Germany during the early 1960's. Originally competitive running events, the program lost its appeal to the general public.
The first noncompetitive event was held in Bobingen, a small town near Augsburg, Germany. In 1968 the Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV), or International Federation of Popular Sports, was founded by West Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria, as a union of nonprofit sports organizations to promote folkssport events. Today, there are 33 member nations, including the United States, Canada and much of Europe.
Folkssports started in the United States at Fredericksburg Texas in 1976. In June 1979, the American Volkssport Association was formally organized and officially recognized by the IVV.
In this same year (1979), the Hawley Volkssport Associates became the first AVA chartered club in Minnesota. As more clubs were formed, the Minnesota State Volkssport Association was chartered in 1986 to provide support to clubs within the state. Recently the MVA was deactivated for lack of leadership, but Minnesota clubs still meet to set an annual calendar of events to make sure dates don't overlap unless they are planned to at nearby locations.
Today there are events in all 50 states and 33 countries of the world.See the Events sections for more info about folkssports in Minnesota, the USA, and International.
F
o l k s s p o r t s F i t Y o u r I n t e
r e s t s
Volksmarch events usually cover a distance of 10 Kilometers (6.2 miles). ("March" is German for "walk" and pronounced as "marsh" so NSTT prefers to say folks-walk.) Participants walk, jog or run at their own pace over a marked route. A folks-walk is a family-oriented activity as well as an individual activity. Parents carry infants in backpacks or push them in strollers when the terrain permits. Both youngsters and senior citizens participate regularly. Folks-walks are held in a variety of settings--from city sidewalks to hilly wilderness areas. A volksmarch/folks-walk can usually be found in Minnesota on any weekend from April to November. There are also year-round events that can be walked almost any day of the year.
Volksbike events are organized rides covering a minimum distance of 25K (15 miles). The courses are selected for the average bicyclist and each participant goes at his/her own pace.
Volksswim events cover a minimum distance of 300 meters. Participants progress at their own pace and may use any combination of swimming strokes. Non-swimmers may usually walk the events. Rest stops are allowed, but participants must stay in the water.
Volksski events are held on cross-country trails selected for the pleasure of both the beginning and skilled skier. These events usually cover distances of 10K to 20K.
Other events--such as snowshoe and rollerskating--have also been held.
F
o l k s s p o r t s F i t Y o u r S c h e
d u l e
There are two basic types of events--weekend or daily.Weekend events are more traditional and encourage group participation and social interaction. You'll often find these scheduled with local community or festival activities.
Daily events, either Year-round Events (YREs) or for a season (Seasonals) are more flexible. They're great for the traveler, regular exercise, or those who work weekends. Starting times are flexible, too--usually several hours from early morning through mid-afternoon. No shotgun starts or big crowds to battle. You can finish as quickly or slowly as you wish as long as you're done by the time the event closes, usually in the late afternoon or early evening.
F
o l k s s p o r t s F i t Y o u r A b i l
i t y
Each event description lists a Trail Rating which gives you an idea of what to expect from the trail surface and terrain.For current trail conditions, it is best to call ahead to the park. Rainy or hot weather can make trails more difficult than usual. And you'll need to take into consideration your own personal health and comfort level.
The guidelines for our events are:
1 -- Easy, mostly paved and level.2 -- Moderately easy, some pavement, woodland and open field trails, some easy hills, may not be suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
3 -- Moderate, some difficult terrain, hills or steps, wheelchairs/strollers questionable.
4 -- More difficult, natural setting, steeper terrain, unsuitable for wheelchairs and strollers
5 -- A very difficult route, on rough fields, trails or roads. Steep hills, high altitude, very rough and uneven terrain, and steep or unstable inclines, unsuitable for any person who is not in good physical condition.
+ -- Slightly more difficult than the number rating listed.Be aware that weather conditions will cause a variance in the trail rating.
Let's GO!
Welcome | About Us | Events | News | Membership | Goodies | Contacts | Search-Map