Outdoor Retailer - January 2021 - 36

Feature .01
GROUPS/NONPROFITS

RIDE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

WHERE TO FIND THEM: rideforracialjustice.org,

@rideforracialjustice
RELEVANT ISSUES: Diversifying cycling and racing
NEEDS: A bike sponsor as well as cleats, helmets,
pedals, and more gear
Last summer, lifelong cyclist Marcus Robinson
confided in his friend Neal Henderson, a cycling coach, that, after the death of George
Floyd, he didn't feel safe as a Black man riding his bike. So, in June, Henderson and some
other cyclists organized a group ride-the
Ride for Racial Justice-in Denver to support
Robinson. More than 100 cyclists showed up.
A second ride in Boulder, Colorado, drew an
even larger group, a third ride in Fort Collins,
Colorado, attracted more than 300 riders, and
a fourth in Colorado Springs was also a success. Soon after, the group became an official
nonprofit with a five-member board of cyclists
dedicated to diversifying the sport.
In November, Ride for Racial Justice announced a partnership with SBT GRVL,
one of the world's premiere gravel races, in
Steamboat Springs. The new program offers
25 guaranteed spots for Black, indigenous, and
people of color (BIPOC) cyclists at the starting
line of the 2021 race, slated for August.
" In all the years I've raced my bicycle,
there's only been one or two of us in the cat or
on the velodrome, " Robinson says. " Now, all
these years later, I'm part of a groundswell
toward diversity in cycling. It's not just an ad
in print, but we'll actually have athletes at a
start line proving to the world that we're here.
We've always been here. We love this sport
too. We're important. "

Ride for Racial Justice
co-founder Marcus
Robinson at the first ride
in Denver, June 2020

WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE

WHERE TO FIND THEM: winterwildlands.org,

@winterwildlandsalliance
RELEVANT ISSUES: Stewarding the backcountry
and greater environment
NEEDS: New members, both at the corporate and
individuals levels
The Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) is
one nonprofit with the advocacy stamina
of 100-plus grassroots environmental and
backcountry organizations. Since 2000, it
has been the unifying voice for skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders, winter mountaineers,

36 OUTDOOR RETAILER

/ January 2021

and other backcountry adventurers. WWA's
partners include Friends of the Inyo in Bishop,
California;Wyoming Wilderness Association;
Backcountry Babes; Ice Axe Expeditions; and
even REI and Patagonia.
Along with advocating for policy at the federal level to protect recreation spaces, WWA is
championing ethical practices within the community. This winter, it introduced the Ski Kind
Backcountry Responsibility Code and toolkit.
Executive Director Todd Walton says, " With
the growth in backcountry participants-who

have a wide variety of users and experience levels-we were having conversations about how
to address the impact. "
WWA also runs a snow school program for
33,000 kids and hosts the Backcountry Film
Festival, now in its 16th year and embracing
its new virtual platform, including a screening
during Outdooor Retailer Winter Online.

HIKING MY FEELINGS

WHERE TO FIND THEM: hikingmyfeelings.org,

@hikingmyfeelings

Previous page: Carlo Nasisse; this page from top, Marcus Robinson

Winter Wildlands Alliance
ambassador Brody Leven
ski tours in Utah.

http://www.rideforracialjustice.org http://www.winterwildlands.org http://www.hikingmyfeelings.org

Outdoor Retailer - January 2021

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