07 Jun WOW Fest: Get WOWed Starting Thursday
Register for weekend here now.
“Wow.” The interjection expresses excitement and surprise, amazement and awe. Perfect fit – yes, pun intended– for Telluride’s very first fitness festival, now in its third year.
W.O.W., which offers an enticing smorgasbord of ways to grow a spine, man up – yoga, kettle bell, Pilates, cycling, kids’ classes – is coming sooner than expected this year to venues near you. Instead of September, the event is now scheduled for June – Thursday, June 11 – Sunday, June 14 to be exact – and adding a greater focus on education with lectures on wellness and sports psychology by renowned experts in the field, including doctors and nutritionists.
“Holding the festival in June was always part of the plan,” said founder and organizer Becca Tudor. “And the name tweak came about organically. Instead of the nickname ‘Workout Weekend,’ WOW is now an acronym for ‘Weekend of Wellness.’’ But our mission remains the same: Inspire, Motivate, Educate and make Change.”
Becca Tudor lends her considerable muscle to WOW Festival
One goal of WOW: address and help change a neglected global epidemic and the social issue of our nation –depression and obesity, reflecting a pattern of behavior being passed down to younger generations.
Reports reveal every country, with the exception of sub-Saharan Africa, faces an alarming obesity rate, an increase of 82% globally in the past two decades. Middle Eastern countries are more obese than ever, experiencing a 100% increase since 1990.
So much for our much vaunted, often copied Western lifestyle.
It’s time for change.
Among the 2015 presenters with athletic dazzle:
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
“800 pounds of parents” directly inspired his prolific fitness career and Jonathan is a two-time Personal Trainer of the Year Award winner (ACE and IDEA). His book, “Abs Revealed,” is a modern, intelligent approach to abdominal training. As a fitness expert for Discovery Fit & Health he is host of the web series “Everyday Fitness with Jonathan Ross.” A former astronomer, Jonathan used to study stellar bodies. Now he builds them.
Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS
Todd Durkin
Todd is an internationally recognized performance coach, personal trainer, massage therapist, author, and speaker who motivates, educates, and inspires worldwide. The owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA, his team focuses on personal training, massage therapy, Pilates, yoga, sports performance training and nutrition to help transform the bodies, minds and spirits of a broad clientele.
Todd trains dozens of current NFL, MLB, & NBA athletes, including two Super Bowl MVP’s (Drew Brees & Aaron Rodgers), one NFL League MVP (LaDainian Tomlinson), two Heisman Trophy winners, and one Olympic Gold Medalist. Other notables include Darren Sproles, Kellen Winslow Jr., and Gerald McCoy.
Dr. Haley Perlus
Dr. Haley Perlus
With a Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology, numerous fitness and coaching certifications, former elite Alpine ski racer Haley is an expert at empowering athletes and teams of all types to achieve peak results. An adjunct professor at the UCCS, seminar leader at top sport and fitness conferences, consultant to National Team and Division I scholarship athletes, appointed Industry Leader by IHRSA.org, and four-time author, Haley knows how to motivate, educate, and inspire.
Hilaree O’Neill
Hilaree O’Neill
In 2012, Hilaree climbed Everest and its neighbor, Lhotse, within 24 hours in a climb sponsored by The North Face and National Geographic. In so doing, she joined an elite group of alpinists who possess the endurance to link two 8,000-meter peaks in a single push and became the sole woman to accomplish the feat. Named by Outside Magazine as one of the most adventurous women in sports, Hilaree has skied from the 8,000-meter Himalayan summit of Cho Oyu in Tibet, throughout the Andes, on volcanoes in the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia, and in the tight couloirs of Baffin Island. Through mountain exploration and skiing, Hilaree has truly lived the dream. Hilaree grew up in North Seattle, learning to ski at Stevens Pass. She currently resides with her family in Telluride, CO.
Dr. Peter Hackett
Dr. Peter Hackett
Dr. Peter Hackett is a world-renowned high altitude expert and altitude research pioneer. He is a leading authority on altitude illness, high altitude climbing, wilderness medicine, and the effects of altitude on people living and working in the mountains. Dr. Hackett is also a board certified Emergency Physician.
Peter has been at the frontier on altitude research, with years of experience in the Himalayas, Denali, South America, and in Colorado. He has also authored more than one hundred articles on altitude issues, edited six books and is respected internationally for his expertise. In addition to his extensive clinical and research experience, Peter’s recreational activities – high altitude mountaineering, skiing, and living at altitude – have served to enhance his knowledge of altitude physiology.
Dr. Peter Hackett directs all executive, clinical, research, and educational activities of the Institute for Altitude Medicine.
Kristin Taylor
Kristin Taylor
Kristin developed her yoga foundation through a dedicated Ashtanga yoga practice under the guidance of Victoria Laws, Annie Pace, and Tim Miller. She has also trained with Shiva Rea and the Samudra Global School of Living Yoga to receive her RYS 200hr Prana Flow® Energetic Vinyasa certification. As the co-owner of the Telluride Yoga Center, Kristin continues to dedicate her life to the study of yoga and finds true joy when sharing her discoveries with others.
For the complete list (and bios) of presenters, go here.
This year WOW will offer credits from the American Council on Exercise, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America and the National Strength and Conditioning Association to professionals who attend. WOW is also collaborating with the Telluride Medical Center to offer blood work, body mass index, biometrics and skin checks as part of the weekend’s events. The Aspen Club Spa will also organize a spectator-friendly competition of circuit-based high intensity interval training.
WOW also plans to give a portion of its proceeds to the Food Bank of the Rockies through Hi2T for Hunger, as well as to the Telluride Adaptive Sports Program and Telluride Academy.
“The overall goal of WOW is to bring in people who bridge the gap between those who appreciate what health is and what being active means and those who don’t,” explains Becca.
WOW is brought to you by locals Becca of Fuel Telluride (as mentioned above) and local businessman Albert Roer.
Becca has worked as a certified personal trainer and gyrotonic instructor for over 18 years. Her goal? To “identify with and educate my clients so they reach their highest potential in health, fitness, wellness and quality of life.”
Becca Tudor
The genesis of W.O.W. dates back about four years, when Becca and husband Narcis reminded themselves of one simple truth: physical (physiological and emotion) fitness is the key to success in whatever sports athletes in Telluride and beyond choose to follow.
Albert, president, Telluride Properties, and co-owner of the Telluride Yoga Center and the Telluride Yoga Festival, became a true believer in the efficacy of a regular yoga practice following an injury in 2005. He is also a devoted client of Becca’s, whose strengthening routines have helped to improve his skiing.
Albert Roer
Becca approached Albert with the idea for WOW about four years ago and in the blink of an eye it was all systems go.
That’s just the way Albert rolls.
For more information about Telluride WOW, visit telluride wow.com or call 970-708-1590.
To train with Becca, visit telluride fuel.com.
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