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GearFest to showcase recreational options

A KAYAK DEMONSTRATION at last year's GearFest.

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By Lauren Perl, Staff Writer 5:17 PM Thursday, October 1, 2009

Looking for some outdoor fun this weekend that won’t break the bank? GearFest 2009 is here, and people will get a chance to see the kind of recreational opportunities the Miami Valley has to offer.

The Saturday, Oct. 3, event at Eastwood MetroPark will give attendees the chance to explore everything from climbing to mountainboarding for free.

GearFest will offer visitors the opportunity to experience new sports with demonstrations and a variety of experts and vendors in the exhibitors’ village.

“The main purpose at GearFest is to showcase Dayton as a booming outdoor town and that there are a lot of opportunities for recreation right in our backyard,” said Tom Helbig, outdoor development and special events coordinator for the Five Rivers MetroParks. “We hope to take away the intimidation factor of outdoor sports by providing all the info in one place and letting folks know that all these opportunities are available to them.”

The event will feature snowboarders from Mad River Mountain, bike trail teams from Cleveland, white-water kayakers doing stunts, mountainboarders from Colorado, a cross-country mountain bike race, disc golf courses and more. On top of the sports and activities, camping and live music will round out the weekend. Tent camping is available Friday and Saturday for free — preregistration is encouraged but not mandatory. Walk-ups will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

“No previous skills are necessary to participate,” Helbig said. “We just encourage them to come with an open mind. We think the event has something for the complete novice to the more advanced outdoor person — that’s why we do the demos.”

Families coming out to GearFest are encouraged to check out the youth adventure zone. Five community organizations will be there to provide entertainment, including an animal interaction zone, creek exploration, crafts and demonstrations.

GearFest has a certain shock value to it, Helbig said, simply because guests are surprised at the kinds of sports that are featured at the event.

This is a great place to start learning about them and see what interests them, Helbig said.

The entertainment and activities offered on Saturday are numerous, but one of the early events that GearFest organizers are pushing is a community bike ride at 5:30 p.m. Friday from downtown Dayton to Eastwood MetroPark. The ride will begin at Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton.

For more information on GearFest, call (937) 275-PARK (7275), or visit the Web site at www.metroparks.org/GearFest/ThingsToDo.aspx.

Contact Lauren Perl at (937) 225-9366 or lperl@ DaytonDailyNews.com

How to go

What: GearFest 2009

Where: Eastwood MetroPark, 1385 Harshman Road, Dayton

When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

Cost: Free

More info: (937) 275-PARK (7275) or www.metroparks.org/GearFest/Home.aspx

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