Allegheny Sport and Outdoor Film Festival: We Ride

WE RIDE is a documentary about three strong cyclists from the non profit organization Pittsburgh Youth Leadership endeavoring to cycle across America in 15 to 18 days. This is an extreme pace that requires a daily average of about 160 miles per day. The trip leader, Cody, is an inspiring figure. He is always there for the kids in the program as a father figure, friend and mentor. He’s had a difficult upbringing as a victim of abuse, homelessness and the loss of his mother to substance abuse when he was just nine years old. Despite these hardships Cody is a strong and caring leader to the kids in the PYL program and to the other two kids on this trip, Cruz and Chago Bradbury. Cruz and Chago, 16 and 18, are as close as brothers can be, they do everything together.

The film explores the spectacular beauty of America and the unique feel of the States that were cycled through, including California, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. The film highlights the joy and challenges of cycling in an immersive way that brings the viewer into the moment and provides an intimate perspective into the daily life of the riders. Will they reach their goal and make it from Ocean to Ocean? Find out in the thrilling documentary epic, “We Ride.”

This feature presentation will be preceeded by the following short films: TO BE THE MAN (3 mins): A glimpse inside the mind of Gagz, aka Michael Gagliardi, while he battles for his 5th consecutive win at Loopy Looper 12-hour Endurance Race. SLIDING (4 mins): A female athlete skips the crowded ski slopes to traverse the Swiss Alps on her sled... headfirst. THE FLIGHT OF THE DRAGONFLIES (27 mins): Eight fifty year old women, totally different from each other, made a decision against the advice of their entire environment: Form a synchronized swimming group. named themselves "Mariburruntzis". "Dragonflies" in Basque, an animal that, while not being aquatic, makes its life around water. Around the age of 60, with an uncertain job future and a good number of physical discomforts and diseases, they decide to embark on another adventure: to attend perhaps, their last championship. SOUL FLYERS: A WINGSUIT TRIP TO REUNION ISLAND (18 mins): 20 years after the creation of the first-generation Soul Flyers team by Reunion Island native Loïc Jean-Albert, new-generation team members Fred Fugen and Vincent Cotte return to the island where it all began, to keep the Soul Flyers spirit alive.

Directed by Dan Finegold