BY KAREN BOSSICK
Films celebrating bicyclists who have overcome challenges to embrace their sport will be shown tonight as part of four days of Rebecca’s Private Idaho.
The free screenings will be offered from 5 to 7:30 p.m. tonight—Thursday, Aug. 31—at the Limelight Hotel in Ketchum. Reserve your spot by emailing https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adventure-for-all-queer-gravel-and-giant-bicycles-film-night-tickets-694094283687?aff=oddtdtcreator.
- “Experience the Adirondacks” tells the story of four young men with autism overcoming a lifetime of pre-perceived impossibilities. The film received awards at nine international film festivals, including Cannes and Film Only Film Festival.
- “BAAR” is an inspiring story of a young man with Down’s Syndrome who overcomes life’s challenges with love, leadership and kindness.
- “FINISH” follows the story of Riley, an autistic man with Tourette Syndrome, who competes in a world-class gravel race a year after learning to ride a bike.
- “Making our Space: Unbound and Beyond” follows three women as they prepare for the 2022 Unbound Gravel ride while sharing the experience of living on the margins of cycling and everyday life.
The films are presented by Rebecca Rusch’s Be Good Foundation, which seeks to enrich communities by using the bicycle as a catalyst for healing and empowerment. The films are provided by Giant athlete Abi Robbins and Adventure For All, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding inclusive opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental exceptionalities.
Rebecca’s Private Idaho, founded by seven-time world champion mountain bike rider Rebecca Rusch 11 years ago, offers four days of racing and riding over 200 miles of gravel surrounding Sun Valley from Aug. 31-Sept. 3. It’s been rated a top Five Gravel Event by Global Cycling Network and one of the 25 Best Bike Rides in the World by Outside Magazine.
Four days of riding culminates in thee bucket-list gravel race for everyone from Tater Tots and French Fries to elite cyclists which starts at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, at Sun Valley's Festival Meadows. The top race features 103 miles of racing up Trail Creek Summit with 6,300 feet of elevation gain with the finish line at Sun Valley’s Festival Meadows that afternoon.