(2013 – 2016)
California 100
Rivers for Change produced the inaugural California 100 in 2013. It was the first ultra marathon paddle race on the West Coast and helped spotlight an incredible paddling resource in California: the Sacramento River. Working with a number of other organizations and many dedicated volunteers, racers paddled 100 miles straight, from Redding, California to Chico, California. It was epic!
Associated Cal 100 events included a set of 4 ultra-distance specific training sessions in the months leading to the race; a community paddle inviting all levels of paddlers to join us on the river; and a clean-up after the race to give back to the river for hosting us.
In the four years that we produced the race, we made so many great friends, met so many awesome paddlers, and introduced hundreds of new paddlers to the Sacramento River.
California 100 racers spent a combined 3,625.25 hours paddling 27,287 river miles on the Sac River. 27,287 miles!
Thank you to all the racers, sponsors, and volunteers who made these events such a success for us! Go here to view photos and blogs from the 2013-2016 California 100.
Rivers for Change has passed the event onto the California River Quest. Inspired by Rivers for Change’s California 100, the Yukon River Quest, and other paddle events, an intrepid team of West Coast paddlers created the California River Quest to provide opportunities for people to play on rivers as they prepare for their Quest on the Sacramento River – 25-mile Challenge Quest, 50-mile Ultra-Marathon Quest, 100-mile Endurance Quest or Speed Quest sprint races.
California Native Plant Society
(2012-2015)
RFC co-hosted a Community Paddle with the California Native Plant Society for several years with their Rare Plant Treasure Hunt program. Plant enthusiasts and paddlers alike searched for rare native plants in areas accessible only by water. You can read more about one of these outings here.
River To Reel
(2012 – 2017)
For six year, RFC hosted the River to Reel with the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) in Nevada City, California. The event helped kick off the Wild and Scenic Film Festival each year and gave participants an opportunity to paddle and learn about the Yuba Watershed with SYRCL’s River Science team. Check out a recap from a past River to Reel.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
On Tour (2016)
In 2016 Rivers For Change hosted a tour stop for the Wild & Scenic Film Festival. Spanning continents and coasts, this program was filled with breathtaking scenery, inspiring stories, and courageous conservationists. An evening of rivers, mountains, and wild landscapes that instill a deep appreciation and a sense of wonder for the natural world in all of us. View Facebook photos from the evening here.
Gorge Downwind Champs
(2015 – 2018)
The GDC is a week-long downwind paddling festival for OC’s, Surfski’s, and SUP’s held annually in the Columbia River Gorge. Rivers for Change was a co-organizer and non-profit beneficiary for the first three years of the event from 2015-2018. You can read about the 2018 event on our blog.
Cow Patty Pageant
(2013-2015)
Rivers for Change ran this popular and classic local race on the Estero Americano in Vally Ford, CA for 3 years. In addition to supporting RFC programming, the race benefited the Sonoma Land Trust and the Valley Ford Volunteer Fire Dept. Read all about this fun event and view past photos on our Blog.
