Volkssport

Volksmarch Ribbon Cutting, Full Size 150K

Volksmarch Walkers, Full Size 109K

Herzlich Willkommen--Welcome to the Humboldt Volkssport Club which is a non-profit group organized to promote health, fitness and friendship through noncompetitive outdoor leisure activities such as walking. The Club organizes its events using the rules set down by the International Federation of Popular Sports, the IVV. The purpose of the Federation is to promote non-competitive popular sports events.

Volkssporters are a group of ordinary folk of all ages who enjoy walking as a recreational and social activity. Literally, “Volkssports” translates as people’s sports. Volkssport events are non competitive and without stress of speed or strains of endurance. Participants enjoy exercising at their own pace and everybody feels like a winner. Volksporting is international in scope, with over 20 member nations.

The object of the event is simple. Participants are invited to walk along the trail, generally 10 or 20 kilometres in length. There are check points, to serve as rest stops and as control stations, along the route. The registered participant is given a start card at the start point. The card is certified (stamped) at each check point and exchanged for the purchased award at the finish point.

The Humboldt and District Volkssport Club is a member of the Canadian Volkssport Federation to which all clubs belong and are automatically members of the I.V.V.(der International VolkksportverBand International Federation of Popular Sports). The I.V.V. was founded in 1968 by clubs from Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria. At that time volksrunning was blossoming in Germany but the obligatory times were such that an untrained athlete could do little to fulfill them(10 kms in the open country to be completed in 50 minutes). Thus many participants over exerted themselves. With this in mind the decision to omit the obligatory time of 50 minutes and to allow the participant to walk the entire 10 km at their own pace was made. Thus allowing participants the benefit of exercise without the stress of competition. Included in Volkssporting are bicycling/ swimming, cross country skiing and walking.

Twenty(20) countries are members of the I.V.V. A club member from any country is free to walk the sanctioned walks and be credited for the times and kilometers they walk. The Purpose of these walks is good health and great socializing. Humboldt has a great year round 10 km walk past many of our German architecture buildings and murals.