The Central Coast Peregrine Pathfinders was founded by residents of northern Santa Barbara county, California, who wanted activities which would provide "fitness, fun, and fellowship."  Daily exercise walking alone is good for the body, but we like companionship too.  Walking once a year for charity is worthwhile, but we wanted to have organized walks at least once a month.  We received our charter from the American Volkssport Association in August 1998.  Our members live in
 

Arroyo Grande, CA Avila Beach, CA Fresno, CA Grover Beach, CA Lemoore, CA Los Osos CA  Morro Bay, CA Paso Robles, CA Pismo Beach, CA Shell Beach, CA Solvang, CA Santa Barbara, CA Santa Maria, CA Vandenberg AFB, CA Ventura, CA Moreno Valley, CA Jacksonville, AL (formerly of Solvang, CA)

Volkssporting is a family oriented, noncompetitive sport.  It began in Germany several decades ago as a reaction against injuries suffered by competitive runners who pushed themselves too hard.  Soon, in addition to the usual 10 kilometer (6.2 mile) races, noncompetitive events sprung up.  Typically the start point for a volkssport walking event (a volksmarch) is open for four to six hours.  People can start any time during that window.  They can walk, jog, or run at their own pace as long as they finish by the posted closing time.  That is usually two and a half to three hours after the start point closes. Participants who pay a small fee receive commemorative medals or patches as awards and accumulate credit in the International Federation of Popular Sports (or Internationaler Volkssportverband -- IVV) award program.  Participants may walk for free if they choose.

Besides the volksmarch (walking) event, volkssports include bicycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, and roller skating/blading events. Similar rules apply for these other types of events.  All of these events are designed to promote fitness, fun,  fellowship.

The IVV awards program encourages people to keep walking by providing recognition for their efforts.  Volkssporters keep track of their events participated in and kilometers walked in passport sized booklets.  Awards (a pin, a small patch, and a certificate) are provided free of charge at regular intervals.  New to the sport?  The AVA has a "New Walker Program."  For $5 you can get

     Your first event book: Good for your first 10 event Achievement Award (a $5 value);
     Your first distance book: Good for your first 500 km Distance Award (a $5 value);
     Three coupons for free credit at events: so you can go to three events for free and still get
        IVV credit (a $9 value). These coupons are good only at events in the USA;
     A coupon for a free issue of the AVA's quarterly newspaper The American Wanderer (a $4
        value); and
     10% off your first AVA Specialties order.

The AVA sanctions events of all types in two basic formats:

Regular Event.  This event is only available during a one or two day period.  Usually they have morning starts on weekends; however, a few are held on weekday evenings.  You can learn about our upcoming events, or those of other other California clubs.

  Year-Round Event.  Unlike other volkssport events limited to one or two days with a set start/finish time, a Year-Round Event may be open daily, January through December. A seasonal event is like a Year-Round event, but is open less than a full calendar year.  The AVA's book Starting Point contains information on over 1,100 such events.  Follow these links to learn about our YREs by choosing from the links in the table below, or about current events of other California clubs.

We'd also like to acknowledge the support of the sponsors/partners who have helped our club out with donations, use of their facilities for start/finish points, or discount coupons for our participants.

If you have questions or wish to find out more about our club or about volkssports, you can e-mail us by clicking here.