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INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY, OCT. 4
Remember walking to school? Well, five Chicago area schools were recently awarded mini-grants to revive
this nearly extinct rite of passage on Oct. 4, International Walk to School Day.
Three Oaks School in Cary, Edna M. Rollins School in Aurora, Karel Havlicek Elementary School in
Berwyn, Hawthorne Elementary School in Elmhurst, and Nicholson Specialty School for Science and Mathematics in Englewood received Walk to School Day mini-grants from Safe Routes to School, a
program of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.
The grants provide $500 to each school to encourage as many students, parents and teachers as possible to
walk to school that day. The principals of the winning schools said they sought the mini grants to extend the benefits of Walk to School Day – such as improving student health and focus in the classroom as well as
lessen automobile congestion – throughout the year.
"Vehicular traffic is a nightmare," said Chuck Freiberger, principal of Hawthorne Elementary School in
Elmhurst. "Many parents are reluctant to have their children walk for both real and perceived reasons" he
wrote in the school's winning application. "This event might encourage some of them to give walking or bicycling a try."
Like most of the grant winners, Hawthorne will spend its $500 cash award on refreshments and materials to promote the event, plus raffle prizes as an incentive to boost participation.
Schools also receive up to 400 Clif Z-Bar health and energy snacks, a large outdoor banner, Walk to School Day carrying signs, 10 Walk to School Day T-shirts and safety vests for volunteers or raffle prizes,
Walk to School Day stickers for the entire school, a free one-day Safe Routes to School Training Course for the school district, plus technical assistance.
For Havlicek Elementary in Berwyn, the event will be used to kick off the school's weekly walking club. Part of the grant will go toward a Walk to School Day breakfast for parents and children, plus walking
shoes for children whose families cannot afford them.
The program is co-sponsored by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Cook County Department of
Public Health, American Heart Association, Safe Kids Chicago, Clif Bar, Walk Across Illinois and the League of Illinois Bicyclists.
Now in its ninth year, International Walk to School Day is expected to include 3,000 schools across the country and dozens of schools in the Chicago area.
The idea is to walk to school together with a purpose – to promote health, safety, physical activity and concern for the environment. Walkers from the United States will join children and adults in 36 countries
around the world. The Wednesday event is part of a week of festivities celebrating International Walk to School Week.
For additional information, visit these websites: International Walk to School in the USA, www.walktoschool.org; International Walk to School Week, www.iwalktoschool .org; and Partnership for a Walkable America, www.walkableamerica.org.
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MEMORIAL RIDE & WALK IN CHICAGO OCT. 8
Ride or walk along Chicago's lakefront to memorialize loved ones victimized by aggressive driving. The Dick Herron Ride and Walk, named after a Chicago bicyclist killed in a crash, is open to all.
The October 8 ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the lakefront path at North Avenue. Participation is donation-based and supports two programs of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.
Proceeds can be directed to the Dick Herron Memorial Fund, which helps young people build self-confidence through bike building. or toward Drive With Care, a coordinated regional campaign that
convenes government and civic representatives to make streets safer for all users.
Register and contribute to the initiative of your choice at www.biketraffic.org or call the Chicagoland
Bicycle Federation at 312/427-3325, Ext. 237. Further event details are available at www.biketraffic.org.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation was founded in 1985 to improve the bicycling environment in the seven-county Chicago region. With more than 6,000 members, CBF promotes bicycle safety, education
and facilities and encourages the use of the bicycle as an energy-efficient, economical and nonpolluting form of transportation and as a healthful and enjoyable form of recreation.
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QUAD CITIES TO HOST NATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM OCT. 19-22
The 18th National Trails Symposium is set for October 19-22 in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois. The National Trails Symposium is sponsored by American Trails, a national, nonprofit organization working on
behalf of all trail interests, with state and local sponsors.
The symposium provides an opportunity for greenways and trails advocates, managers, planners and users,
outdoor product providers, as well as conservationists, private landowners, and tourism and business interests to come together. The symposium addresses both non-motorized and motorized issues concerning
trails and greenways nationwide.
The symposium will be held at the RiverCenter Convention Center in Davenport, Iowa, and will feature
cutting-edge workshops and educational sessions delivered by respected national and local experts. The symposium will feature more than 60 presentations, exhibits, field trips, hands-on workshops and an expo of
more than 100 vendors.
The Quad Cities area is located right on the Mississippi River and is made up of the cities of Davenport and
Bettendorf, Iowa; Rock Island and Moline/East Moline in Illinois; and surrounding communities.
The Quad Cities has a highly developed riverfront trail system that connects the region. These connections
have resulted from partnering to cross the physical barrier of one of the world's greatest rivers and to cross the political boundaries of scores of governmental units.
The Quad Cities is at the crossroads of the American Discovery Trail, Mississippi River Trail, Great River Trail, Grand Illinois Trail and Hennepin Canal Trail.
The outings will showcase many of the best trails and natural lands in the region. The centerpiece is the RiverWay, a scenic corridor stretching 65 miles along both sides of the Mississippi River. It features
riverside parks, trails, natural areas and overlooks, art and historical sites, unifying themes and attractive and
consistent way-finding entrances. In addition, the riverfront trails are a part of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail and the Headwaters to Gulf Mississippi River Trail.
For additional information about the National Trails Symposium, e-mail American Trails at symposium@americantrails.org or call 530/547-2060 or the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors
Center at 800/747-7800. Visit the American Trails website at www.AmericanTrails.org for up-to-date information.
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PORTION OF ST. PAUL'S GATEWAY TRAIL CLOSED
A portion of the Gateway State Trail in North St. Paul, Minnesota, is closed due to construction and expected to reopen in early November.
The trail is closed from the Hadley Avenue trailhead east to Jamaca Avenue for the construction of a trail underpass at Washington County Highway 12 east of Mahtomedi. This underpass will separate trail users
from the highway traffic. As part of the project, there will be a connection to the county bikeway on the north side of Highway 12. No detour is available during construction.
Another trail closure is currently in place where the Gateway County Trail crosses McKnight Road in North St. Paul. A trail-widening project from Highway 12 to Washington County Road 15 is also planned for this fall.
Information on all Gateway Trail projects will be posted on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
For more information, contact Dan Breva, DNR Trails and Waterways Division, 651/772-7937.
The Gateway State Trail is a 18.3-mile-long multiple use trail starting in St. Paul. The paved trail cuts
through urban areas, parks, lakes, wetlands and fields in Ramsey and Washington counties. It provides access to other trails in Phalen-Keller Regional Park and connects to Stillwater.
The 9.7 miles of the Gateway between I-694 and at Pine Point Parkng is groomed for cross-country skiing in the winter. Motorized vehicles are not permitted anywhere on the trail. For more information, go to www.gatewaytrailmn.org.
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FIRST CAT SKI RACE SERIES STARTS IN OCTOBER
The first ever Classic All-Terrain (CAT) Ski race and tour series, including a world championship, starts this month, courtesy of CAT Ski inventor Dale Niggemann.
The series of races held in Wisconsin welcomes CAT skiers of all abilities, including those who have never tried the dryland equipment or have limited experience cross-country skiing.
Each event will include clinics for beginners to advanced CAT skiers, noncompetitive tours to practice and most of the events will offer two race distances.
Each event will also have CAT Ski merchandise as prizes.
"These events will be an opportunity for you to talk with fellow CAT skiers and help promote the sport of
cross-country skiing year-round," Niggemann said.
Four years ago, Niggemann started marketing his sliding platform and bindings concept that allows users to
traverse across virtually any surface, including trails, dry pavement and sandy beaches.
Because CAT Skis simulate classic cross-country skiing ("Or as CAT skiers like to say, cross-country
skiing simulates CAT skiing," according to Niggemann), many skiers have taken to CAT skiing as a workout option during the nonwinter months.
Niggemann sees the introduction of a race series as a way to broaden the appeal of CAT skiing and demonstrate it can be a year-round sport all its own.
"You can be a founder of a new and growing sport that promotes life-long physical fitness," he said. "CAT
skiing has the potential to support our healthy habit of cross-country skiing when there is no snow."
Each CAT Ski series event will offer gently rolling terrain for beginners and courses for experienced CAT skiers "looking to burn mega calories and fine-tune their cardiovascular system," Niggemann said.
CAT Ski clinic/race series events
• Oct. 1: Clinic/Race, Blackhawk Ski Club, Madison, Wis., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact Tom Klien, 262/965-4144;
• Oct. 7: Demo/Race at Lapham Peak, Dousman, Wis., Bicycle Doctor, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact Tom Klien, 262/965-4144;
• Oct. 21: Clinic/Race, Warm-up for the World Championships, Standing Rocks Park, Stevens Point, Wis., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Dale Niggemann, 800/380-8412;
• Nov. 4: Clinic/Race, World Champ-ionships, Standing Rocks Park, Stevens Point, Wis., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Dale Niggemann, 800/380-8412.
The schedule at each event will be as follows:
9 a.m.: CAT Ski Beginner Clinic
10 a.m.: Cat Ski Advanced Clinic, Short Race/Tour, gently rolling terrain, 3-5K
11:30: Long Race/Tour, gently rolling to steep terrain, 5-10K.
Other CAT Ski clinics
• Nov. 11-13: Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Expo, Minneapolis, Minn. For times, contact Niggemann, 800/380-8412;
• Nov. 18: Olsen Forest Preserve, Rockford, Ill., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Contact Chuck Wallin, 815/398-3235.
For more information about CAT skiing an upcoming events, go to www.catskier.com.
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FREE CXC 'GET YOUR NORDIC ON' CLINICS
Central Cross Country Ski Association (CXC Skiing) is offering free "Get Your Nordic On" ski clinics to all
levels of skiers (juniors, seniors, masters and citizen) at Weaver Lake Elementary School in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
The clinics will be led by CXC team athletes Caitlin Compton and Matt Liebsch and held in conjunction with Pioneer Midwest Ski Shop on Sunday, October 1, and Sunday, October 8.
The clinics will start at 5:30 p.m. and include dry land and roller skiing drills for both skate and classic skiers.
CXC Skiing, based in Hayward, Wisconsin, oversees youth programs; supports the Junior Olympic
Qualifying system, Central Collegiate Ski Association, and Senior/Master skiing; provides education for athletes, coaches and officials; coordinates competitions; and is the Midwest pipeline to the U.S. Ski Team.
For more information, see www.cxcskiing.org or call 715/462-9911.
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BIRKIE FOUNDATION BEGINS WORK ON NEW CLASSIC-ONLY SKI TRAIL
HAYWARD, Wis. – The board of directors for the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) recently
approved the creation of a new cross-country ski trail for classic skiers. Construction of the 9K trail was set to begin in early September. As of late August, volunteers David G. Nelson and Jack Moin had marked the
course with GPS technology.
The new trail will begin at the Cable Union Airport, parallel the existing Birkie Trail, and merge back into the Birkie Trail at Timber Trail Road in Bayfield County.
"This is a win-win for classic and skate skiers," ABSF Executive Director Ned Zuelsdorff said. "Classic
skiers will get better tracks throughout the season and on race day, and skate skiers will experience less congestion and more space."
Zuelsdorff said the new classic trail would be groomed 16 feet wide with six classic tracks set at the start and narrowing gradually to four tracks after one kilometer.
"The course would go over the same elevations, but with more gradual climbs and descents than the existing
course," he said. "There will be fewer places where classic skiers will have to herringbone up hills."
Zuelsdorff said the change allows for the addition of another skate lane on the existing Birkie Trail as well as the creation of skater and classic divisions on race day.
"This is an exciting addition that will change the future of the American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet ski races," Zuelsdorff said. "We think it will entice more skiers and participants."
The ABSF is awaiting DNR approval of a stormwater permit for excavation. In the meantime, removal of trees on the trail was to begin.
If the first segment goes well, there is the potential to lengthen the classic trail to Highway OO in Seeley and
beyond. The new trail would create three loops, which Zuelsdorff said would foster greater trail use by trail runners and recreational skiers.
Asked whether the new classic ski trail will be ready February 24, 2007, race, Zuelsdorff said, "We will have to see how it all comes together this year. The board of directors has not yet made a decision as to
whether to use it for the 2007 race."
More than 7,000 skiers are expected to register for the February 22-24, 2007, Birkie. For more
information about the North America's largest cross-country ski race, log on to www.birkie.com, e-mail birkie@birkie.com or call 715/634-5025.
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TWIN CITIES' RIDE AND GLIDE CLUB CLASSES START NOV. 7
The Ride and Glide Bike and Ski Club, now in its 11th year, will again provide cross-country skiing instruction to skiers, cyclists and other fitness enthusiasts in the Twin Cities area.
Informal group roller skiing began in September, continues through October, and the first organized class is November 7. Sign up early because the classes typically fill up and some people are turned away.
The club organizes structured workouts using technique drills so participants can get instruction and a workout at the same time.
The group began with the purpose of giving cyclists a cross-training option over the winter months. Many
good skiers attend to find other skiers to ski and train with, but beginners and "never-evers" are welcome too.
Fees are $55 for new members and $45 for returning members. The club offers discounts for early City of Lakes Loppet registration (our club championship). For further information, please check out our website.
The club is working to increase snowmaking and lighting of ski trails at Wirth Park and is spearheading efforts to get lights and snowmaking at Lake Elmo and other sites in the east metro.
For more information, go to www.rideandglide.bizland.com.
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