The Summer Olympics have gotten even more exciting for outdoor adventure lovers, as the Games now feature surfing, sport climbing, and even kiteboarding. These join our lineup of traditional favorites, like mountain biking, distance running, and triathlon. ��If you plan to watch the Olympics, you may want to check out the outdoor recreation sports that we all love. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the schedule and broadcast times for some of our favorite events.

Road Cycling

Medal Events: July 27, August 3, August 4

Fans of the Tour de France get to watch their sport early—road cycling’s individual time trial is on Saturday, July 27,�� with both the men’s and women’s medal rounds. You can stream the even live on Peacock or on NBCOlympics.com starting at 6:30 A.M. MST. Part of the event will also be broadcast live on USA Network starting at 8:45 MST.

The road races are later in the Games: the men’s road race is on Saturday, August 3 and the women’s road race is on Sunday, August 4. Both events will begin streaming early: the men’s race begins at 3 A.M. MST and the women’s race begins at 6 A.M. MST. NBC Network will also broadcast segments of both races.

Surfing

Medal Events: July 30

The Olympic surfing competition is occurring thousands of miles from Paris on the island of Tahiti at the famed Teahupo’o, one of the heaviest waves on earth. Qualifying rounds for men and women start on Saturday, July 27. The second and third rounds fall on the following days, before the medal rounds occur on Tuesday, July 30 at 3:45 P.M. MST. To watch the surfing action you will need to stream them online.

Mountain Biking

Medal Events: July 28, July 29

Mountain biking will be held at Elancourt Hill, a park about 25 miles southwest of downtown Paris. The women’s race is on Sunday, July 27 at 6 A.M. MST. The men’s race is Monday, July 28 at 6 A.M. MST. Both events will be streamed online, and the men’s race will receive coverage on USA Network at 6:40 A.M. MST.

Skateboarding

Medal Events: July 27, July 28, August 6, August 7

After a successful debut at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, skateboarding is back on the Olympic Program. men’s street finals are on Saturday, July 27 at 9 A.M. MST and women’s are on Sunday, July 28 at 9 A.M. MST. Both finals will be aired on streaming, and the events will also be shown on NBC Network and CNBC.

Skateboarding’s park competition will air later in the Games; women’s finals are on Tuesday, August 6 at 9:30 A.M. MST and will be streamed and aired on E! Network. The men’s park finals are on Wednesday, August 7 at 9:30 A.M. and will be aired on streaming and on USA Network.

Triathlon

Medal Events: July 30, July 31, August 5

The men’s individual triathlon airs Tuesday, July 30 at 12 A.M. MST on streaming platforms and on USA Network. The race will also be rebroadcast on NBC Network at 8 A.M. MST. The women’s individual triathlon airs Wednesday, July 31 at 12 A.M. MST on streaming and USA Network. It will be rebroadcast at 8:45 A.M. MST on NBC Network.

Team relay triathlon will occur on Monday, August 5. The race will be broadcast at 12 A.M. MST on streaming and USA Network, and it will be replayed at 7 P.M. on NBC Network.

Sport Climbing

Medal Events: August 7, August 8, August 9, August 10

Sport climbing returns to the Olympie lineup with a combined lead climbing and bouldering competition, and a separate speed climbing event. The finals for women’s speed climbing are on Wednesday, August 7 at 4:35 A.M. MST and the men’s finals are Thursday, August 8 at 4:35 A.M. MST. Both events will be streamed, and the men’s finals will also be shown on E! Network. The men’s combined finals are on Friday, August 9 at 2:15 A.M. MST on E! Network and streaming platforms. The women’s combined final is on Saturday, August 10 at 2:15 A.M. MST on E! and streaming platforms.

Canoeing/Kayaking

Medal Events: July 28, July 29, July 31, August 1, August 5, August 8, August 9, August 10

The canoeing discipline encompasses the whitewater kayaking events, as well as more traditional races like canoe sprints. Between qualifying and medal rounds, there are paddling races ever day of the Games except for Friday, August 2. The first medal event is women’s�� kayaking slalom on Sunday, July 28 at 9:35 A.M. MST. It will be shown on streaming and USA Network. Men’s canoe slalom is on Monday, July 29 at 9:20 A.M. MST on E! Network and streaming platforms. Women’s canoe slalom finals are on Wednesday, July 31 at 9:25 A.M. MST on USA Network and streaming. Men’s kayaking slalom is Thursday, August 1 at 9:30 A.M. on E! Network and streaming; it will also be rebroadcast at 10:30 P.M. on NBC Network.

The newest event, Kayak Cross, holds its finals on Monday, August 5 at 7:30 A.M. MST and will be shown on USA Network and on streaming platforms. It will also be rebroadcast on NBC Network at 4 P.M. MST.

Canoe and Kayak sprint will hold its finals on Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10 at 5:15 A.M. MST on E! Network and streaming; both races will be rebroadcast at 4 P.M. on NBC Network.

Windsurfing/Kiteboarding

Medal Events: August 1, August 2,��

Kiteboarding makes its Olympic debut under the sailing discipline, which also encompasses windsurfing. The windsurfing finals will be held Friday, August 2 at 4 A.M. MST and the event will only be available over streaming platforms. Kitesurfing holds its early rounds from August 4-7, and the medal races for men and women will occur on Thursday, August 8. Both races will only be available on streaming platforms.

Open Water Swimming

Medal Events: August 7, August 8

Yep, the best open-water swimmers are going to dive into the Seine River and hopefully avoid whatever bacteria floats in the waterway. The women’s 10-kilometer open water swimming race is on Wednesday, August 7 at 11:30 P.M. MST on USA Network and streaming. The men’s race is Thursday, August 8 at 11:30 P.M. MST on USA Network and streaming.

Running

There’s a glut of track and field events to watch, and you can find a detailed schedule . If you want to catch all of the sprint and distance, events we suggest tuning in from Friday, August 2 through Saturday, August 20. The men’s marathon final is Saturday, August 10 at 12 A.M. MST on USA Network and streaming—it will be rebroadcast at 9 A.M. MST on NBC Network and streaming. The women’s marathon is Sunday, August 11 at 12 A.M. MST on USA Network and streaming, and it will also be rebroadcast at 9 A.M. MST on NBC Network.

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A few weeks ago, Emily Fisher was riding in a brand-new Defender 130 with a bunch of teenagers when she decided to run a quick poll. The question was simple: if it weren’t for getting a ride in this vehicle, would you be here? The kids thought for a minute. Then, one by one, they shook their heads.

Fisher is the executive director of (YSA), a nonprofit that helps get kids outside and improves access to sports programming in northern Utah. The teens she was with were participants of the learn-to-sail program YSA runs each spring. They came from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from longtime locals to recent immigrants from Venezuela. Several of the group were there on scholarship. If YSA hadn’t been able to give them a ride, they said, they’d probably be at home, scrolling on their phones; they had no other way to get to the lake.

“These are students who would never have this opportunity if we couldn’t provide transportation,” Fisher says. In fact, watersports of pretty much any kind would have remained out of reach.

That’s why YSA exists: to make sure local kids of all backgrounds can experience the wonder and empowerment of outdoor sports, from mountain biking and sailing to skiing and snowboarding. Much of YSA’s work involves awarding scholarships, lending gear, and shuttling kids to and from trailheads, put-ins, and ski destinations. This last piece—the transportation—has historically been the trickiest to provide. Which is where that customized new Defender comes in.

It’s a vehicle Fisher never imagined her small nonprofit owning—let alone receiving for free.

The Grand Prize

When Fisher first learned about the Defender Service Awards Presented by CHASE, she knew YSA had to apply. The competition is designed to support hardworking nonprofits across the United States and Canada. This year, it included an award category specifically for Outdoor Accessibility and Education. Fisher was sure YSA would be a perfect fit.

But the competition was fierce and the stakes were high. After a first round of internal selection and a second round of community voting, six winners would ultimately be awarded a total of $32,500 and a brand-new customized Defender 130. The money would be nice, of course, but Fisher had her eyes on that car.

At this point, YSA didn’t have a single vehicle to call its own—pretty wild, considering that such a huge part of the nonprofit’s mission involves providing transportation.

“Almost every week, we’re picking up kids from four to five different schools and bringing them to sports programming across the Wasatch Range,” Fisher says. During the 2023–2024 school year alone, the nonprofit had to rent 234 vehicles. Each one cost $400 on average. Which meant a lot of the organization’s limited funds were going to transportation costs.

So, when the 2023 Defender Service Awards came along, Fisher and her team dropped everything to apply. It paid off: after weeks spent creating a video, galvanizing community support, and biting their nails during the intense public voting period, they won the grand prize. Last March, the check hit their bank account and the Defender landed on their doorstep.

“I still can’t believe we won it,” Fisher says. “It doesn’t feel real.”

A Dream Come True

Every time Fisher steps into her office parking lot these days, she has to pinch herself. The new Defender 130 is custom wrapped, featuring YSA’s bold logo. The roof rack is fitted for skis, and the back tailgate sports a huge bike rack. The vehicle has eight seats, maximizing efficiency on each trip. The whole thing is rugged, kitted out, state of the art. It’s meticulously customized for YSA’s mission. It’s everything Fisher could have hoped for.

While the YSA team did host a few events to celebrate the vehicle’s arrival—including a party at Deer Valley Ski Resort that was attended by Lindsey Vonn—they mostly just focused on getting the vehicle integrated into their operation. They shook some hands, thanked their community, brought the car home, and got right to work.

The Hardest-Working Car in the Wasatch

Some days, YSA uses the Defender to cover three programs at once. The roomy cargo space easily fits heaps of life jackets and other gear for spring sailing courses, and the tailgate rack accommodates up to six bikes. On busy weekends, YSA uses the Defender to make up to 14 trips per day. Few SUVs work harder.

Having the car has already allowed YSA to dramatically cut back on its vehicle rentals. And since every dollar the nonprofit saves goes directly back into funding scholarships, that means tons more kids will be able to participate in programs this fall and winter.

“Right now, over the course of a four-week program, we’re saving $1,200 [by using the Defender in lieu of a rental],” Fisher says. It costs YSA around $200 to fund a kid’s winter ski program, so that $1,200 in savings means six more kids will be able to ski on scholarship this year. The Defender is, quite literally, a gift that keeps on giving.

This winter, the vehicle will likely pay even greater dividends. Capable, reliable, and equipped with four-wheel drive, the car handles snowy mountain roads effortlessly.

“It’s funny—it’ll be sunny all week, but it always seems to be super snowy every weekend we have to shuttle kids to our programs. It’s definitely winter driving up there,” Fisher says. “This car is really built for our environment, and we’re excited to have it to transport these kids safely.”

A touch of amazement still lingers in Fisher’s voice when she says this, as if it all still seems too good to be true.

“No one gets into nonprofit work to make money. You don’t expect a lot of support—you just do it because you’re passionate about it.” Fisher says. “But then something like this happens. And it’s just been incredible.”

To learn more about the Defender Service Awards Presented by CHASE or to nominate a worthy nonprofit in this year’s contest, visit .

Learn More About the Defender Service Awards

embraces the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed, highly desirable, and seriously durable. A modern-day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. A beacon of liberty since 1948, Defender supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust. The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover—a mark of trust built on 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability. Defender is designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands, alongside Range Rover, Discovery, and Jaguar.

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Two years after retiring from competition, snowboarding icon Shaun White faces a fascinating juncture in his career as he pours his energy into a range of projects that will extend and redefine his legacy.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker, celebrated adventure photographer, and elite climber Jimmy Chin is enjoying an extraordinary run of success and also feeling more thankful than ever for the mentors who helped him navigate his early path into the mountains.

In the wake of the Oscar-nominated biopic that chronicled her incredible open-water swim from Cuba to Florida, Diana Nyad is on a new mission: to convince all of us that we should never, ever give up on our dreams.

These three inspiring figures are among the 25 speakers who will be sharing their stories at the , a celebration of outdoor culture that brings together major musical acts (Thundercat, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird), riveting adventure films, a professional bouldering competition, yoga and fitness classes, climbing walls, and a broad range of interactive demos and exhibits from leading sports and wellness brands. The festival is taking place in downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park, June 1-2, with the speaker series located inside the Denver Art Museum, just across the street.

Other speakers include Protect Our Winters founder Jeremy Jones, climate activist and fashion model Quannah ChasingHorse, bestselling adventure author Kevin Fedarko, and wildlife ecologist and TV host . The full lineup of panel conversations, keynote addresses, and interviews is below and you can learn about what’s happening across the festival at . Single-day General Admission and VIP tickets are still . Of special note: Kids under 12 are free.

Saturday, June 1

Shaun White’s Next Twist

1:00 p.m.-2:00PM

Since retiring from competition in 2022, the three-time Olympic gold medalist and snowboarding icon Shaun White has been busier than ever. In the last two years, he has launched the snowboarding and snowboard culture brand Whitespace, partnered with two billionaire sports team owners to purchase We Are Camp, the snowboarding camp��he attended while growing up, and teamed up with Park City, Utah’s High West Distillery for Protect the West, an initiative to raise $1 million for organizations like Protect Our Winters that are dedicated to preserving Western landscapes. In this conversation with Dhani Jones, a former NFL linebacker who has become an adventure TV host, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist, Shaun will share his unbounded excitement for the next phase of his life and career, and explain how the lessons he learned on the halfpipe continue to guide him.

Journeys of Purpose with Jeremy Jones, Quannah ChasingHorse, and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

2:15PM – 3:15PM

Jeremy Jones was the king of freeride snowboarding when he started noticing shifts in the mountains that revealed the dire threats of climate change. After struggling for a way to respond, he founded Protect Our Winters, which has become an influential force in the outdoor industry and on Capitol Hill for policies to safeguard our planet.

Quannah ChasingHorse is from Eagle Village, Alaska, and dreamed of being a model since she was six years old. She is also a fourth-generation land protector fighting for her homelands and her people’s way of life. After her activism got her noticed by a talent scout, she went on to work with top global fashion houses and has used modeling as a platform to uphold and uplift her Indigenous values and peoples.

When Rae Wynn-Grant was a little girl, she loved nature TV shows and envisioned working as a scientist in the Amazon and the African savannah. But when she got to college, she initially hated her ecology courses because she felt out of place as a Black woman who’d never been camping. Her path to becoming a renowned wildlife ecologist, chronicled in her new memoir, Wild Life, has been marked by unexpected challenges, expectations she had to leave behind, and an enduring courage to pursue her passion.

In this conversation, moderated by Gloria Schoch, senior director of global impact for the VF Corporation, Jeremy, Quannah, and Rae will share the lessons they learned along their journeys and offer insights on how we can find our way from caring about something to truly making a difference.

A 750-Mile Walk Across the Grand Canyon with Kevin Fedarko

3:30PM – 4:30PM

A few years after quitting his job to pursue the ill-advised ambition of becoming a whitewater guide on the Colorado River, journalist Kevin Fedarko was approached by his best friend, National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse, on foot, across the heart of the Grand Canyon, a 750-mile odyssey that McBride promised would be “a walk in the park.”

Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed, unaware that the tiny cluster of experts who had actually completed the trek (for which there is no trail) billed it as “the toughest hike in the world.” In this presentation, Fedarko, the author of the beloved bestseller The Emerald Mile, delivers the story behind his latest book, A Walk in the Park. Join him for a rollicking and poignant account of an epic misadventure, a singular portrait of a sublime place, and a deeply moving plea for the preservation of America’s greatest natural treasure.

Seeing Beyond: Deaf Mountaineers Shayna Unger and Scott Lehmann’s Bid for the Seven Summits

4:45PM – 5:45PM

Some 460 people have stood on top of all of the so-called Seven Summits—the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. None of them were deaf. Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger are aiming to be the first. They were both born into multigenerational deaf families and raised in the deaf community. Growing up, they faced limited access to outdoor education due to communication barriers. It wasn’t until after college that they taught themselves to climb by studying YouTube videos and communicating with other mountaineers using paper and pen. Over the last decade, they have climbed some of the world’s highest peaks, including, last spring, Mount Everest and neighboring Lhotse back to back in 26 hours. This May, they reached the top of Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest mountain. In this presentation they will share stories from their incredible journeys and discuss their mission to change global perceptions of deaf people, pave a more inclusive and accessible path to exploration, and inspire a new generation of deaf and hard-of-hearing adventurers. Over the last decade, deaf mountaineers Scott Lehmann and Shayna Unger have climbed some of the world’s highest peaks. Hear stories from their incredible journeys—and learn more about their mission to pave a more inclusive and accessible path to exploration.

The Audacious Candidacy of Caroline Gleich

6:00PM – 7:00PM

Caroline Gleich has always been an underdog. Along her path to becoming a world-renowned ski mountaineer, skeptics regularly questioned her skills and success even as she summited Mount Everest with a torn ACL and later became the first woman to complete all 90 ski descents in The Chuting Gallery, the cult-classic guidebook to Utah’s Wasatch Range. Her emergence as an outspoken activist for environmental and social justice, including testimony on climate change before Congress, has earned her both praise and scorn. Now she is attempting the boldest climb of her life: running for United States Senate to represent Utah. In this conversation with Luis Benitez, a former international mountain guide who serves as the Chief Impact Officer at Trust for Public Lands and is one of the most powerful political voices of��the outdoor industry’s political movement, Caroline will discuss how the determination that propelled her athletic career is fueling her passion for public service.

Sunday, June 2

Never Ever Give Up with Diana Nyad

1:00PM – 2:00PM

Diana Nyad is a storyteller, not a lecturer. She will take us on a journey of high adventure, team commitment, and the grit behind her historic swim from Cuba to Florida.

���ϳԹ��� Forever with Caroline Paul and Juliet Starret

2:15PM – 3:15PM

Caroline Paul has embraced risk since childhood, when she attempted to break the world record in crawling at age 13. As an adult, she has completed whitewater first descents around the world, worked as a firefighter in San Francisco, and now pilots, paragliders,��and gyrocopters. Along the way, she authored seven books, including The Gutsy Girl, a New York Times��bestseller that encourages a new generation to go outside and practice bravery, increasing the confidence and leadership skills needed for a happy, healthy adulthood. At the ���ϳԹ��� Festival, Caroline will present the fascinating, surprising, and sometimes hilarious science that links an outdoor life with fulfillment and longevity, all uncovered while reporting her latest book, Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking, How Outdoor ���ϳԹ��� Improves Our Lives as We Age.

Juliet Starrett is a lifelong athlete, adventurer, entrepreneur, attorney, author, and podcaster whose mission is to inspire people to move more. She and her husband, Kelly, are pioneers in mobility training, having worked with pro-athletes, Olympians, and Navy Seals. Through their coaching program, The Ready State, they are empowering everyday athletes to be active throughout their lives, helping us feel great and function better as we age. Their 2023 New York Times��bestselling book, Built to Move, is an all-in-one guide for simple but powerful practices that will dramatically improve the way your body feels and prolong your expected lifespan. Juliet will share wisdom that can be transformative for everyone from professional athletes to gym haters and everyone in between.

In Search of a Quiet Mind with Cory Richards and Katie Arnold

3:30PM – 4:30PM

Renowned climber and National Geographic��photographer Cory Richards spent his career pursuing high-risk expeditions around the world, becoming the first and only American to reach the summit of one of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks in winter. He captured that effort and the aftermath of his team’s harrowing experience in the award-winning documentary Cold. But for years, Cory kept his real journey out of his story: the violence of his childhood, along with his grief, addiction, and mental illness. Now, as he prepares for the release of his forthcoming memoir, The Color of Everything,��Richards examines the power of the stories we tell by sharing a deeper, more nuanced, and hopeful understanding of how his early trauma drove him to seek such heights.

When elite trail runner and bestselling author Katie Arnold shattered her leg in a remote river canyon, it was the beginning of a test—of her body, her spirit, and her marriage. Her years-long recovery process led her to a search for stillness through a Zen practice. In her recently released second book, Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World, she recounts her learnings from a tumultuous time that spurred a deep examination of the possibilities of a well-lived life.

In this conversation moderated by ���ϳԹ��� contributing editor Florence Williams, whose latest book, Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey, won the 2023 PEN/E.O. Wilson Award for Literary Science Writing, Cory and Katie will discuss the winding pathways that eventually led them to places of peace and understanding.

​​The New Storytellers with Sofia Jaramillo, Jody Potts-Joseph, and Wawa Gatheru

4:45PM – 5:45PM

In this conversation, guided by Princess Daazhraii Johnson, an Emmy-nominated screenwriter and former Creative Producer for the Peabody award-winning PBS Kids series Molly of Denali, a group of innovative and passionate storytellers will discuss how they are creating space for voices and perspectives that have long been overlooked by mainstream outdoor culture.

Sofia Jaramillo is a Colombian-American documentary photographer whose work focuses on the intersection of the environment and people. She is a National Geographic Explorer, co-founder of Mountains of Color Film Festival, and is currently directing a fine art photography project called A New Winter. Her mission is to tell the stories she wished she’d seen as a kid.

Jody Potts-Joseph is Han Gwich’in and lives in Eagle Village, Alaska, where she is an active hunter, fisher, trapper, and dog musher. She is a cast member of National Geographic Channel’s Life Below Zero: First Alaskans and provides consultation to fashion brands working with Native Peoples.

Wawa Gatheru is GenZ climate activist passionate about bringing empathetic and accessible climate communication to the mainstream. She is the founder of Black Girl Environmentalist, the largest Black youth-led climate organization in the country and the only national organization dedicated to addressing the pipeline and pathway issue for Black girls, women, and gender expansive individuals in the climate sector.

Mentoring in the Mountains with Jimmy Chin, Conrad Anker, and Malik Martin

6:00PM – 7:00PM

Climbers and mountaineers have a reputation as brash characters—mavericks and renegades with big egos who do things their own way. But at the heart of the climbing community are deep friendships that only come from shared experiences in wild and dangerous places. Wisdom and skills are shared in the form of mentorships that can last a lifetime. Legendary alpinist Conrad Anker has been part of this band for decades, benefiting from the lessons of the greats that showed him the way and passing them on to new members. This includes Jimmy Chin, who he began inviting on expeditions in the Himalayas more than 20 years ago, and Malik Martin, who was a relatively new climber from Memphis, Tennessee, when Conrad brought him on an ice climbing trip in 2020. In this conversation between three generations of athletes and storytellers, moderated by veteran journalist Tracy Ross, we will hear how the bonds they’ve made in the mountains have defined their lives and given them their purpose.

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���ϳԹ��� Festival

Denver, Colorado

June 1–2, 2024

The vision for the new , which takes over downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park for a weekend at the beginning of June, is to create a first-of-its-kind gathering for people who love the outdoors. (The event is put on by ���ϳԹ��� Inc., this magazine’s parent company, in partnership with the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and Visit Denver.) The fest brings together live music, adventure films, speakers, a pro climbing competition, skills clinics, and the latest gear.

Musical headliners Thundercat and Fleet Foxes are joined by lineup of athletes and changemakers like Oscar-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin, distance-swimming legend Diana Nyad, model and climate-justice advocate Quannah ChasingHorse, and snowboarding icon and Protect Our Winters founder Jeremy Jones. Festival experiences include climbing walls, yoga and tai chi classes, cold plunges, cycling challenges, endurance and strength clinics, and a kids’ zone featuring hands-on nature and science exhibitions.

The Denver Art Museum, adjacent to Civic Center Park, is hosting the festival’s Film x Ideas series. Its new exhibit, Biophilia: Nature Reimagined, puts 80-plus works by photographers, architects, and designers on display. The aptly named Art Hotel (from $263), two blocks from the main festival entrance, has its own impressive collection. Need to get in some training? Ride or run the 32-mile South Platte River Trail through the city. Festival tickets from $39; free for kids 12 and under

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How does Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person to summit Mount Everest, use sound to “see” his next hold when rock climbing? What does it feel like to slackline between a pair of hot-air balloons floating thousands of feet above the earth? And how does Quannah Chasinghorse’s connection to traditional ways of experiencing the natural world help her balance her work as a model, conservationist, and indigenous right activist?

The answers to these questions and many other revelations from the leading edge of outdoor adventure come to life in 21 vibrant films on June 1 and 2�� at the in Denver. A first-of-its-kind event, the ���ϳԹ��� Festival is a celebration of outdoor culture featuring live music, speakers like Diana Nyad and Jimmy Chin, three climbing walls, bouldering competitions, gear demos, a kids’ zone, yoga, and numerous interactive exhibits from popular outdoor and wellness brands. It takes place in downtown Denver’s Civic Center Park, with the film lineup screening across the street at the Denver Art Museum.

Curated by producers and editors from , the film program shines a light on emerging filmmakers and storytelling by athletes and adventurers from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Latino, disabled, and other underrepresented communities. The films range in length from 7 to 90 minutes, with live panel discussions and filmmaker Q&A’s.

Watch the trailer for the ���ϳԹ��� Festival film program.

Here’s the don’t-miss lineup and trailers for the film program at the ���ϳԹ��� Festival on June 1-2, screening both days from 1p.m to 7 p.m.

For ticket, lineup, and other information, visit . ���ϳԹ���+ members receive exclusive access to VIP concert viewing, food and drink at a private hospitality tent, and other benefits at the festival.

Saturday, June 1

Feature Film: Wade in the Water

: A Journey into Black Surfing and Aquatic Culture reclaims the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing. Braiding historical accounts with modern-day testimonials, the film dismantles the racial barriers of conventional surf culture, delves into the overlooked history of Black surfing’s legacy, and honors its current movement—inspiring the next generation of Black surfers. This showing includes a discussion with director David Mesfin.

Film Shorts: ���ϳԹ���

: In a sport known for its lack of diversity, Dennis Ranalter has defied the odds and risen to become an exceptional freeride skier recognized and respected around the world.

: Mountain biker Georgia Astle explores what can happen when you’re able to silence your thoughts and put matter over mind to achieve great things.

: Sid Gopinath and his father embark on a weeklong camping trip to explore Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Along the way, they talk about Prabha’s immigration experience, how memories are made (and forgotten) over the course of a lifetime, and what it means to watch each other grow older.

: Walking on Clouds reveals the breathtaking and dizzying highline crossing between two hot air balloons above the city of Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

: With the right guides, a little push, and buoyant optimism, two teenage brothers from the Líl̓wat Nation realize a journey to ski Ts̓zil — a sacred mountain on their territory.

Film Shorts: Journeys

: Soundscape features Erik Weihenmayer, a global adventure athlete and author who is fully blind, as he ascends a massive alpine rock face deep in the Sierra Nevada.

: For conservationist and angler Jr Rodriguez to become “like the pictures he saw in magazines,” he had to leave behind what he loved the most.

: Waterfall Hunters follows three Costa Ricans—Javier, Jimmy and Miguel—as they seek to find, document, and inspire others to preserve invaluable ecosystems and habitats in the Costa Rican jungle.

: Jamie Logan—a pioneering alpinist—has climbed some of the most dangerous climbs in the world, but nothing felt as life-threatening as admitting that, at age 69, she wanted to begin living as a woman.

Sunday, June 2

Feature Film: Ashima

One of the world’s youngest elite rock climbers, Ashima Shiraishi spent her formative years breaking numerous age-based climbing milestones, spurred on by her number one fan and coach, her father, Poppo, a retired Butoh dancer and avant-garde performer with no formal climbing experience. When these New Yorkers travel to South Africa to conquer a V14 boulder problem, father and daughter must face their interpersonal struggles in tandem with the challenging ascent. This showing includes a discussion with director Kenji Tsukamoto.

Film Shorts: Community

Breath of Gloster: Peyton Thomas created the Equitable Action Run Toward Health to give a voice to the community of Gloster, Mississippi, in a grassroots fight against the wood pellet biomass industry. Breath of Gloster illustrates the dangers that this industry poses to human health, and tells the story of a race that was about more than just miles.

: Over 100 million of us don’t have outdoor spaces close to where we live. So REI Co-op is partnering with community-led organizations like the Friends of Anacostia Park to help get more people ���ϳԹ��� in 5 minutes or less.

: In Alaska, the community comes together to create music with Yo-Yo Ma as a critical part of collective healing and radical hope for the future.

: In 2022, as several states across the country passed anti LGBTQ+ legislation, trans trail runner Perry Cohen refused to sit idly by. By forming a trail running team of trans men with an aim to compete in states passing hateful legislation, Perry and his team express the freedom to be themselves on and off the trail.

: This is a film about Atlanta-based artist Michi Meko, a postmodern cartographer and artist who lives within the parallels and meridians of two distinct worlds—the Urban and the Rural.

Film Shorts: Discovery

: Fueled by an unwavering love and responsibility for the land, Hän Gwich’in 20-year-old Quannah Chasinghorse and her mother Jody Potts-Joseph are taking a stand to defend their sacred homelands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

: This short chronicles Apayauq Reitan’s historic quest to become the first openly transgender woman to compete in the legendary Iditarod sled dog race across Alaska.

Film Shorts: Resilience

: On October 5th, 2022, a group of para-cyclists and adaptive athletes set out to ride Utah’s White Rim Trail in a day with the hope of creating awareness around people with disabilities and growing a more inclusive cycling community.

: After surviving a near fatal cougar attack while cycling, Izzy Sederbaum overcame anxiety and anti-trans hate by rediscovering the joy of biking and promoting diversity and inclusion in the sport.

: A tale of resilience and grit, this short traces the aftermath of an attempted rescue on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington in 1982.

���ϳԹ��� is grateful to our partners at��,��, and�� for their support in curating this lineup.

The post The Most Inspiring ���ϳԹ��� Films Right Now appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

If we could put together a dream gathering for the outdoor community, what would it look like?

That was the big question that a team at ���ϳԹ��� asked a couple years ago. Now we are thrilled to have the answer: the . This June 1-2 in Denver’s Civic Center Park we are hosting a one-of-a-kind event that mashes up incredible live music, gripping adventure films, provocative speakers, outdoor sports competitions and skills clinics, and the latest outdoor gear. We can’t wait for it to start—and we really hope you’ll join us.

We also want you to understand what we’re hoping to achieve. Our goal is to create the definitive annual gathering celebrating outdoor culture. That’s why we partnered with and to build so many different elements into the ���ϳԹ��� Festival. We want this to be an inclusive space where we can all turn away from our screens and reconnect with ourselves, each other, and nature. And we believe that Civic Center Park offers an ideal venue to mix the spirit of outdoor adventure with the rhythm and art of urban life.

We started with music because of its unique power to bring people together, and we are delighted to be featuring a diverse lineup of headline acts: , , , , , and . In the coming weeks, we’ll be announcing additional artists that will invite an even broader range of sounds and styles to our main stage.

From the moment we began imagining the ���ϳԹ��� Festival into existence, we knew we had to bring together a collection of inspiring personalities—the kinds of exceptional athletes, adventurers, and changemakers that motivate all of us to think bigger and do more to improve the health of people and the planet. That vision led us to build a dynamic lineup of speakers that features ultra-competitors like record-breaking swimmer and champion climber , gifted storytellers like wildlife ecologist and filmmaker and photographer , and passionate activists like Native climate justice advocate and fashion model Quannah ChasingHorse and Protect Our Winters founder .

There has been an explosion of incredible documentaries about outdoor sports and culture in recent years, so we partnered with Telluride’s , the , and the to curate a riveting selection of adventure films that will spotlight a new wave of outdoor leaders.

We also wanted to offer opportunities for deeper learning at the festival, which led us to collaborate with outdoor industry partners to craft a series of to-be-announced conversations with innovators and thought leaders. These sessions will enable industry professionals to share and explore effective strategies for creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for brands and consumers.

By design, the ���ϳԹ��� Festival will compel attendees to get active. The festival grounds will include a climbing wall from The North Face featuring elite athletes competing, as well as an accessible climbing wall from Adaptive ���ϳԹ���s for individuals with physical disabilities. You’ll also find yoga and wellness experiences, kid-focused activities from Denver’s Museum of Nature and Science (the festival is free for kids 12 and under), and tons more throughout the weekend.

And, of course, we wanted to showcase the best new outdoor gear. We’ll have demos and editor recommendations, along with the latest findings from the ���ϳԹ��� Lab @ CU Denver, a state-of-the-art gear testing facility.

Across the ���ϳԹ��� Festival, we are taking steps to minimize our environmental impact. This includes a commitment to avoiding single-use plastic. Through a partnership with , every beverage purchase will be served in a reusable cup, which will be collected, sanitized, and put back into use. We’re encouraging attendees to bring their own bottle or hydration bladder, and we’ll have cool water refill stations across Civic Center Park. We’re also working with food vendors who prioritize plant-based, locally-sourced delectables and serve them on plastic-free, compostable servingware, which we will collect and deliver to local composting facilities.

Ultimately, we believe the ���ϳԹ��� Festival can serve as a rallying point for the outdoor community—a celebratory space where we will find a deeper level of joy and purpose in our relationships to the outdoors.

If that sounds like your kind of happening, check out our growing lineup, find out how you can participate, and buy your tickets now at .

The post The ���ϳԹ��� Festival Is the Gathering the Outdoor Community Needs appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

What do you get when you gather people in the name of camaraderie, adventure, and dedication to service? Destination Defender. and got to experience a weekend of excitement when they attended this year’s event at Iron Horse Ranch in Somerville, Texas. Watch what happened and read about the 2023 Defender Service Awards.

Defender embraces the impossible. A modern-day hero that anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. Learn more at��.

The post The Ultimate ���ϳԹ��� Weekend appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

��The ultimate celebration of adventure lifestyle took place at the legendary Iron Horse Ranch in Somerville, Texas this fall. Destination Defender delivered an exciting line-up of outdoor activities, live music, delicious food, off-road experiences, and a heart-felt recognition of nonprofit service. Learn more about Destination Defender and meet the winners of the 2023 Defender Service Awards.

Defender embraces the impossible. A modern-day hero that anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. Learn more at��.

The post A Celebration of the ���ϳԹ��� Lifestyle appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

What do you get when you gather people in the name of camaraderie, adventure, and dedication to service? Destination Defender 2023, held earlier this month at Iron Horse Ranch in Somerville, Texas. The weekend-long event celebrates the iconic Defender, a vehicle made to embrace the impossible, with a legacy of supporting the people and nonprofit organizations that do the same. That’s why Destination Defender pairs pure adventure with pure selflessness, putting the unsung heroes of our communities front and center where they belong.

During the November weekend, Defender enthusiasts gathered to experience a variety of outdoor activities like kayaking and mountain biking, sample flavorful dishes prepared by special guest chefs, hear live music by top artists like Fitz and the Tantrums, and master off-road skills courtesy of a closed course and a fleet of Defenders.

Just like Defender itself, the weekend was a perfect blend of heart-pumping adventure and refined living—all brought to life over two action-packed days. Each day started with yoga, trail runs, and breakfast burritos, and then rolled right into the high-action activities: off-road driving, fitness challenges, mountain biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and more. If you wanted to challenge yourself, there were options everywhere you turned. In between, attendees enjoyed interactive cooking demos, slackline performances, panel discussions, and popup jam sessions at the smokehouse. Every evening, the nights filled with concerts and, on Saturday, an epic drone light show.

That’s where the fun starts at Destination Defender, but definitely not where it ends. The gathering also included the much-anticipated announcement of the 2023 Defender Service Awards winners. The Defender Service Awards program, now in its third year, rewards U.S. and Canadian nonprofits that give back to their communities in unique and effective ways. For the six category winners, it’s a game changer: they get a customized Defender 130 and $25,000 cash from the category sponsor. Finalists make out pretty well too, with a $5,000 prize courtesy of presenting sponsor CHASE and $2,500 from premier sponsor Warner Bros. Discovery.

This year, more than 600 organizations submitted video entries for the awards. After an intensely competitive round of public voting, the following nonprofits took top honors at the awards gala on November 11.

Youth Sports Alliance, Utah

Category: Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award, presented by ���ϳԹ��� Interactive

Is there anything more important than getting kids outside? The thinks not, because overwhelming evidence shows that active kids do better in life—physically, emotionally, socially, and financially. To that end, the nonprofit provides winter sports programs and scholarships for young athletes in the northern Utah area, benefiting more than 2,000 children each year. And that number is set to grow. With the Defender 130, expanding access to the outdoors gets a lot easier, says Emily Fisher, executive director at Youth Sports Alliance. “Being able to offer transportation and move mountain bikes, skis, and other gear removes a significant barrier to participation,” Fisher says. It will also save on vehicle rental costs, the nonprofit’s biggest expense until now, says Fisher, enabling YSA to put more money into growing programs.

Manitoba Underdogs Rescue, Manitoba

Category: Animal, Wildlife, and Marine Welfare Award, presented by Animal Planet

The good news: This Canadian canine rescue organization helps hundreds of dogs find homes each year. The bad: Conditions can be extreme in the harsh Manitoba winters—and rescuing dogs doesn’t have an off-season. It’s imperative that volunteers can travel safely through snow and cold, says Jessica Hansen, executive director of . The solution: Defender 130, with its adjustable suspension and four-wheel-drive traction, will ensure rescuers can reach dogs in need in all conditions. Plus, says Hansen, “The Defender’s powerful engine and sturdy suspension serve dual purposes for us. When traveling alongside our cargo van, the Defender’s all-wheel drive and horsepower will aid in recovering the van should it fall victim to tricky road conditions. And the vehicle’s robust build can handle the substantial weight of dog food for communities in need.”

Kairos ���ϳԹ���s, Florida

Category: Community Services Award, presented by ei3

Empowerment doesn’t get any better than this. This Florida-based group uses art, performance, and music to help participants who are differently abled find their talents and thrive in a welcoming, inclusive environment. The most popular activity every week? “Thursday Serve days,” during which these remarkable people rally to visit nursing homes, work at animal shelters, and support food banks. With the Defender 130’s eight-person capacity, says executive director Heather Subbert, can transport an entire service group and still have room for a wheelchair or walker, thanks to the Defender’s superior cargo capacity.

Squamish Search and Rescue Society, British Columbia

Category: Search, Rescue, and Emergency Support Services Award, presented by PELICAN

For the , reaching people in need is made doubly difficult by the region’s remote, rough backcountry terrain. But that doesn’t stop these SAR experts from trying—and now they’ll be much better equipped to succeed. “We believe that the Defender 130’s advanced off-road capabilities, exceptional ground clearance, and four-wheel-drive system will enable us to navigate challenging terrain more efficiently and reach victims faster and more safely,” says team member Nathalie White. “Ultimately, it will expand our reach to even more remote locations during emergency situations.”

Honour House Society, British Columbia

Category: Veteran and Civil Servant Outreach Award, presented by Hearts and Science��

In the past, when Canadian veterans came to Vancouver for medical treatment, they struggled to find an affordable place to stay. Now, they can reside at , a free refuge that houses patients and their families. And at Honour Ranch, a remote refuge on 120 acres of primal British Columbian land, veterans get free PTSD treatment. But accessing and managing the ranch requires a dependable all-conditions vehicle, which the nonprofit hasn’t had—until now. With the Defender 130, says volunteer and veteran Dave Hodgson, “I can fix problems like water leaks and frozen pipes without getting stuck myself.”

Charleston Animal Society, South Carolina

Category: 2021 and 2022 Defender Service Award Honoree

The first two years of the Defender Service Awards revealed this truth: there are a lot of nonprofits doing incredible work that’s deserving of a Defender. So a new category in 2023 recognizes finalists from the past two years who were eligible to win a special category recognizing their hard work and dedication. took home the inaugural prize, winning a customized Defender 130. Founded in 1874, Charleston Animal Society was the first animal welfare organization in South Carolina and one of the first in the nation. Its mission has not changed in some 150 years: prevent cruelty to animals. “The vehicle’s all-terrain performance and welcome cargo capacity will help us reach animals in remote areas and transport them to safety,” says Bryant Taylor, the nonprofit’s emergency response and preparedness director. “We are regularly called upon by other animal organizations to help move animals out of harm’s way when they are impacted by cruelty, neglect, dangerous hurricanes, flooding, and other storms,” Taylor explains. “Also, as the nation continues to deal with a nationwide veterinary shortage, we will use the Defender to transport animals in need of medical care.”

Up Next: Award Winner’s Weekend

Now it’s time for each of these deserving nonprofits to meet their customized Defender 130. At Award Winner’s Weekend in early February 2024, at the Land Rover Experience Center at the Biltmore Estate, the six nonprofits will gather for an unveiling of their newly wrapped vehicles. But before they hit the road, they’ll get schooled in off-roading. The winners will complete an immersive off-roading lesson to equip them with all the skills they’ll need to put the vehicles to work serving their communities.

Defender embraces the impossible. A modern-day hero that anticipates the future. Available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. Learn more at .

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Are you ready to embark on your next cycling adventure? (AKA “Hoppers”) invites you to experience the thrill of exploration, camaraderie, and raw beauty of Northern California’s hidden landscapes. Dive into the world of unconventional, grassroots bike racing, where adventure knows no bounds.

Hoppers are held monthly, starting in January through late May each year and they have long attracted top pros seeking early season training. While drawing an experienced and competitive field, the events also welcome riders who are new to gravel touring and have become “must do” events for Northern Californians seeking fun and challenging adventures.

A Unique Cycling Experience

Hoppers are the longest running gravel/mixed terrain adventure series, making the series a true pioneer in the field. Founded in 1998 by Miguel Crawford (2023 Gravel Hall of Fame Inductee), the events called for a variety of bike types which helped spark interest in “gravel riding” and inspired the creation of a new genre of bikes.��

Unlike your typical cycling event, Hoppers are a celebration of the spirit of adventure and pursuit of the unknown. From elite athletes to those newer to gravel riding, everyone is welcome to test their mettle in these one-of-a-kind adventures. Hoppers encourage self-reliance. It’s important to be self-sufficient; able to navigate using the downloadable GPS routes, capable of fixing a flat, and willing to push yourself. This isn’t your average race; it’s an adventure that pushes your boundaries and inspires independence.

As Ted King asked and answered, “What is the Grasshopper ���ϳԹ��� Series? It’s everything that’s right about bike riding as we know it! It’s fun, it’s camaraderie, it’s mass start, it’s gravel, and it’s badass.”

The Grasshopper ���ϳԹ��� Series Offers:

• Scenic Diversity:�� Participants traverse a variety of terrains; winding backroads, gravel paths, and dirt tracks. Discover breathtaking vistas, serene forests, and remote routes that you won’t find on a conventional race course.
• Unparalleled Support:�� From roaming course marshalls to provide assistance if needed, pre-ride videos to educate you on the course, well-stocked rest stops providing Skratch hydration and assorted snacks (be sure to stop for the hot grilled cheese), and a post-ride party with food and drinks, the Hoppers are a full immersion experience!��
• Inclusive Community: Join a passionate community of riders that shares your love for cycling and exploration. Hoppers are as much about forging new friendships as they are about pedaling through uncharted territory. All levels of riders, from those new to gravel to World Cup pros, are welcome and neither USA Cycling nor UCI licenses are required; everyone is able to register! Podiums for male, female and non-binary categories are offered and all participants are celebrated.
• Financial Support to Non-Profits: ��A portion of each registration is donated to a variety of nonprofits working to improve lives and the communities where Hoppers are held. Organizations receiving financial support from the 2024 Hoppers include the NorCal Interscholastic Cycling League, Redwood Trails Alliance, ���ϳԹ��� Therapy Foundation, Be Good Foundation, Redwood Forest Foundation and various high school mountain bike teams who will be helping with event rest stops.

Join the ���ϳԹ��� Today!

Whether you’re a cycling enthusiast seeking a new challenge or an adventurer at heart looking to connect with like-minded individuals, Hoppers promise an unforgettable experience. Register for a 2024 Hopper event and embark on the journey of a lifetime! Explore NorCal secret routes, test your limits, and connect with the adventure-loving community that makes Hoppers truly special. It’s not just a race: it’s an experience you’ll treasure forever!��

All the details and registration info: ��

Follow the action: @grasshopperadventureseries

The post Discover the Grasshopper ���ϳԹ��� Series: A Pioneer in Gravel/Mixed Terrain ���ϳԹ���s appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.