How Flash Foxy is Making the Outdoors More Accessible for Trail Lovers
Photo credit: Julie A Hotz. Graphic Artist: Khristina Rhead
Trail running has experienced an explosion in popularity in the past few years. Despite its popularity, there’s been one problem plaguing the sport- it can be really hard to find other people to run with. Inspired to make it easier to build a community around trail running, Flash Foxy, a company committed to making the outdoors more accessible for women and genderqueer folks, worked hard to build a space where runners could come together and meet others like them. What was born out of their efforts is Trailfest, a festival dedicated to trail and mountain running, which took place for the first time in Mammoth Lakes, California, this June.
“After meeting people and talking to other climbers and folks who were into running, [we] were finding that it’s really hard to meet people who trail run,” said Lou Bank, the Events and Operations Associate for Flash Foxy. “Because everyone just goes to the mountains alone. But sometimes you want to meet new friends who are into your weird hobby, so we wanted to make this space where people of all different skill levels could come and be in a space together and talk about how they like being outside.”
Since 2014, Flash Foxy has sought to provide virtual spaces where women and genderqueer individuals can explore and embrace the sport of rock climbing. They hosted their first rock climbing festival in Bishop, California, in 2016, and since then have expanded their offerings to include educational programs. Each festival includes scholarships, mutual aid opportunities, community partnerships, and outreach to help individuals feel at home in the outdoors.
Flash Foxy planned Trailfest, which took place on the weekend of June 24th, with the goal of bringing together women and genderqueer runners for a unique trail running experience. The event featured partnerships with running brand companies like Adidas Terrex, REI Co-Op, Arc’teryx, Scarpa, and Patagonia. Working with some of the running community’s most recognized brands allowed Flash Foxy to break down one of the key barriers to the sport of trail and mountain running - the cost. Often, it’s hard for athletes to get the gear they need to be successful on the trail. Dedicated trail sneakers can cost well over a hundred dollars, while hydration packs and clothing made of high-tech fabric can make the sport prohibitively expensive for those looking to start. During the event, sponsors brought clothing, shoes, and other trail running essentials for festival participants to test drive on the trails.
The event also welcomed several pro athletes who sought to demystify and enhance the sport of trail and mountain running for over 40 participants and 10 volunteers. Each day included both high-mileage meetup opportunities and low-mileage meet ups that empowered runners and athletes to blaze their own trail and build communities. Runners were able to learn about a range of trail running topics, from nutrition to downhill running form, and to immediately apply what they learned to their own trail running practice on group runs.
“We had volunteers work with folks as they were forming their running groups to make sure each group had a sweeper and discussed pacing before they headed out,” Bank said. “We left it up to folks to figure out what worked for them, and it seemed to work really well.”
“I think everyone found groups they felt comfortable [with] and were stoked to go out with. And everyone came back with so many stunning photos!”
When runners weren’t testing out gear or running, they were welcome to participate in panel discussions, workshops, and a film festival that connected them to the diverse and historic world of trail running. Community partners for the event included Indigenous Women Hike and Friends of the Inyo, an organization dedicated to preserving the Eastern Sierra and the lands of the Paiute, Shoshone and Timbisha people. “As an organization we try to give back to local care funds,” Bank said. “For example, we donated $5 from every ticket sale to Indigenous Women Hike which they can use to provide gear, trips and other resources to their community.” Those contributions, which include extra complimentary items in addition to monetary donations, aim to ensure that access to the outdoors is equitable to individuals of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
A commitment to local care funds is a thread that runs through each of Flash Foxy’s events. Each festival concludes with a stewardship project on Sundays, which helps the attendees give back to the communities and lands they had the privilege to play and connect on during the festival. After the morning seminars and trail runs, attendees of Trailfest teamed up with Friends of the Inyo to clean up trash on the trail and leave it better than they found it.
For more information on Flash Foxy and their calendar of trail running and rock climbing festivals, check out their website at Flashfoxy.com or their Instagram @heyflashfoxy.
