The Sport of the People
Volkssporting offers organized walking, camaraderie
BY MEGAN KOPP
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What all of these walks have in common is that they are either free or very low cost,
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there are no age restrictions or categories, and all events are non-competitive.
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AS TRANSLATED from German, Hollman, from the shorter 10 kilometres Hollman first joined the organization
volkssporting is “the sport of the people.” It’s to the longer marathon distances of when he was stationed with the military
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OCKPHO simply getting a group of people together 42 kilometres or more. Hollman has friends in Germany in the mid-1970’s. He took a

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to walk (or sometimes bike, swim, or ski) a who walked from the Arctic Ocean to the shine to it because he loves walking and

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set distance. Sometimes there are themes pacific and then on to the Atlantic in a enjoys the social aspect of the sport. When
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involved (Canadian examples include walks special walk. Most walks in Alberta are in he moved back to Calgary in the 1980’s he
that pass in sight of a winery, cheese factory the shorter range of 10 to 11 kilometres. All became active at the national executive
or brewery). Some walks are self-guided walks are rated by incline (Level 1 – very little level before moving to Calgary where he
year-round; others are volksmarches or elevation gain/loss; Level 5 – significant ran a club here for 10 years. While he and
seasonal, organized walking events with elevation gain/loss over entire walk) and his wife used to volkssport every Sunday,
a group. type of ground surface (A – pavement all after 23,000 kilometres of walking, he’s
What all of these walks have in common the way, to E – difficult terrain with rocks, now whittled his participation down to two
is that they are either free or very low cost, roots, etc.). or three events a year.
there are no age restrictions or categories, Calgary has two self-guided, year-round The Calgary club disbanded when Hollman
and all events are non-competitive. walking events – one starting at the Talisman left the helm, although he still maintains the
Volkssporting started in Germany in the Centre (rated 1A) and one at the Eau Claire two year-round Calgary walk boxes and
1960’s to promote health and fitness. YMCA (rate 1A to 2A depending on route those in Canmore and Banff.
According to long-time volkssporter followed). Walkers simply go up to the That being said, he’s more than willing to
Joe Hollman, Alberta has a provincial information counter and ask for the “walk mentor a successor to re-kindle a
association which reports to Canadian box.” A registration book, instructions and Calgary club. Interested? Check out the
Volkssport Federation, headquartered in trail maps are located inside the box. There Volkssport Association of Alberta website at
Calgary. Canada is only one of approximately is no charge and anyone can participate, www.albertavolkssport.ca Hollman’s contact
30 countries affiliated with the International although you do need to register by signing information can be found in the calendar and
Volkssport Verband, located in Germany. in at the box. Membership in a volkssport events link under year-round events for Banff,
There are many different walks, says club is encouraged but not required Calgary and Canmore.
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www.CalgaryOutdoors.ca CALGARY >> WINTER 2008/2009 39
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