Category Archives: Recreation and Outdoors
Register now for Adult Winter Softball/Basketball Tournaments & Corporate Games
Register by December 2 for the second annual Winter Softball/ Basketball Tournaments to be held December 10 and 11 at local Ventura gyms. The tournaments are open to all teams and players who took part in City of Ventura Adult Sports Leagues for basketball and softball in 2016. Tournament divisions include:
- Men’s Basketball – C, D & 6-foot-and-under Divisions
- Men’s & Coed Softball – Novice & Rec Divisions
Get easy to fill and save Winter Tournament Team Rosters, rules and format information at www.teamsideline.com/ventura or call 658-4743.
Early registration for Corporate Games continues as new and returning companies prepare for the 28th annual business-to-business team-sports competitions scheduled from March 25 to May 6, 2017. Companies of similar size choose from over 25 events to earn individual player medals and team trophies in such traditional sports as softball, basketball and volleyball and non-traditional contests for Speed Scrabble, Bocce and MB2 Kart Racing. Companies register in 5 divisions:
For more information, go to www.venturacorporategames.org or call 658-4738 or e-mail [email protected].
Casitas Crew-zers offer adult rowing workouts
Casitas Rowing has started a new group of rowers because of popular demand! The Casitas Crew-zers will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30am allowing adults who cannot make the usual early morning workouts a chance to get out on amazing Lake Casitas in a sculling boat. This group has long been needed and requested in our community, perfect for retirees, night owls and moms who want a chance to work out after getting the kids off to school. Contact www.casitasrowing.org for more info.
Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour
Darren Gonser is a 16 year veteran of the Arthritis foundation California Coast Classic Bicycle Tour. This is the 16th year and he has participated in all of them.
The Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic Bike Tour is a scenic bike ride that takes place over 8 days and covers 525 miles along the coast on Highway 1 that benefits the Arthritis Foundation by raising vital funds needed to find a cure for arthritis.. The Tour starts in San Francisco and ends up in Los Angeles with a stopover in Ventura.
This ride has already raised over $1 million to benefit the 50 million adults and 300,000 suffering from arthritis!
Photos by By John Ferritto
4th annual Ventura Marathon and Beach Party
“I did it”
Mark your calendars for the 4th annual Ventura Marathon and Beach Party on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th and 11th at the Ventura Pier.
Aside from the marathon, there will be a half-marathon, a 5K, bike rides, a K9 Shuffle (dog walk) and an adventure/obstacle race. The beach party expo features live music (seven bands), MadeWest beer garden and dozens of exhibitors ranging from arts and crafts to health and fitness.
The flat and fast marathon course is a certified Boston Marathon qualifier and delivers an epic experience with a beachfront finish at the historic Ventura Pier. Race co-founder Josh Spiker said, “We are really excited about the new K9 Shuffle and the Adventure Race which will add to the weekend-long experience. These events are meant more for locals as the marathon and half tend to bring in thousands of out-of-towners.”
Anyone and everyone is welcome, from walkers to runners of all ages! The race will benefit several local charities including Humane Society Ventura County, Autism Society Ventura County and Alex’s Lemonade Stand, among others.
For more information and to register, please visit: www.venturamarathon.com.
Jason Romero strikes twice and local product Ben Silva once to seal the deal for Fusion
by Polo Ascencio
Last year the inaugural Ventura County Cup presented by the Ventura County Star, had a lot of drama from minute the first kick until the end in overtime with Fusion coming from behind and taking the inaugural VC Cup.
This year the only real drama happened when the lights when out as VC Fusion players and coaches celebrated a 3-0 victory.
The first 15 minutes went by with no real opportunities, from minute 16 until minute 25 Los Conejos had a few clear chances. But as he has done all year, Tyler Blackmer or as he is known now “Pink Floyd” a clear reference of him being “The Wall”, kept the score at zero with a couple of very good stops.
From minute 25 on it was all “Orange and Blue”, Fusion kept coming hard at Hasenthals back field and on the 33rd minute of play, Jason Romero took a ball going around one, two and three defenders on top of the box and going against his own run took a shot to the right of the Conejo keeper finding the net.
Just two minutes later Romero again and at about the same spot he took the find the net and the 1-0, took another one but this time in the form of a free kick. Romero took it as if nobody was watching and all the Conejos goalie could do was stretch and have the ball go to the back of the net as he just touched it, making it 2-0.
Second half more of Fusion attacking as if they were the ones down by a deuce, but it wasn’t until the 87 minute that Ben Silva took a shot from well outside the box and this time Hasenthals keeper did’nt even move, ball kissed the net Fusion goes up 3-0 and thats how the 2nd annual Ventura County Cup was won by the “Pride of the 805”.
Explore nature with the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy at Family Fun Day
Paul Meehan, gives his kids Claire and John a lift at the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy’s Big Rock Nature Preserve. Photo by Kyle Sparks.
On Saturday, August 6, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC) will host Family Fun Day at their Big Rock Nature Preserve from 10 a.m. – 12. This free, family-friendly, open-to-the-public outdoor event will include nature-themed crafts, an environmental scavenger hunt and a biologist-led hike along the banks of the Ventura River.
“It has been several months since our generous volunteers helped us plant the 500 trees that are taking root at our Big Rock Preserve and we are eager to show off our work,” said Derek Poultney, VHC Executive Director.
Family Fun Day is appropriate for people of all ages but children must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees should wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and bring a water bottle. Please note that the trails at Big Rock Preserve are not stroller friendly. There is no cost to attend but reservations are strongly encouraged. To RSVP, visit www.venturahillsides.org and click on the Events tab.
VHC is seeking support for future outdoor educational programming. For more information, contact VHC Development Director, Adrienne Stephens at 643-8044 or [email protected].
New play equipment to be installed in various city parks this summer
This summer will see new play equipment in many of our city parks. Many of our city play structures are very old (up to 30 years) and even dangerous for kids to play on, or don’t meet new State requirements that require soft rubberized areas under some equipment (monkey bars and jungle gyms for instance). So some will be eliminated and not replaced because of the cost of installing “fall zones” under them. Plans to replace many of the structures has been in the works for 10 years. The new equipment has bright primary colors that appeal to little kids.
The total cost of the equipment and installation at the eight parks to be improved is approximately $575,000.00. The contractor is playground specialist Dave Bang & Associates who was chosen through a competitive bidding process.
The parks that will be receiving new play equipment are Arroyo Verde Park, Juanamaria Park, Camino Real Park, Chumash Park, Marion Cannon Park, Blanche Reynolds Park and Belaire Linear Park.
Learn about visiting Ventura’s sister city – Loreto, Mexico
Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula.
For the first time since former Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann officially exchanged keys to the city with Loreto, Mexico, in 2015, the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee is inviting Venturans to travel with them to explore their sister city.
Planning is underway for biannual visits to Loreto including hotel and non-stop flights from LAX. These trips are meant to promote and strengthen the sister city relationship between the cities, and the cost of the trip includes a donation to support the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee whose objectives include collaboration on tourism, culture, education, environment, and business initiatives.
Loreto is a small city of approximately 17,000 people that sits on the east coast of Baja California, facing the Sea of Cortez. It was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula and is the starting point for the historic El Camino Real corridor that follows north along the ancient route of the Spanish missions.
Loreto is also home to Loreto Bay National Park where Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina Islands are home to over 800 species of marine life. With breathtaking cliffs, spectacular beaches and dramatic rock formations, these islands are a perfect landscape for the ecologically-minded or those who delight in a vast array of marine life.
For more information, visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity. Trip inquiries should be directed to Stephen Joyce with Ventura Travel Professionals at 805-218-1962.
For more information on, or to join the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee contact Fiorella Calderoni at [email protected] or visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity.
Outrigger Canoe Competition Saturday June 11th the Ventura Harbor
Photos by George Robertson
Outrigger canoe clubs from San Diego to San Francisco on Saturday. This annual event is sponsored by Hokuloa a Ventura based Outrigger Canoe Club. 800-1000 individuals from 18 clubs each with 4-6 canoes competed in this event.
