2025 Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Ride - 28th Annual!
- Date Thu 25th September 2025 - Sat 27th September 2025
- Time 5:30AM PDT
- Location Santa Cruz, California
- Price $600.00
- Races 1 race
- Distances Ultra
Event summary
Join us for the 28th Annual Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Ride, a thrilling three-day cycling adventure taking place from September 25 to September 27, 2025, in beautiful Santa Cruz, California! This fully supported ride spans an impressive 200 miles, bringing together cycling enthusiasts to raise funds for local youth organizations. The journey kicks off in Healdsburg and winds through breathtaking routes, including the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, before culminating in a festive Finish Line Party in Santa Cruz featuring music, delicious food, and a vibrant community atmosphere.
Participants can look forward to a range of distances each day, starting with a 51-mile ride on Day 1, followed by an exhilarating 88 miles on Day 2, and wrapping up with a scenic 64-mile journey on Day 3. Not only will you enjoy the camaraderie of fellow riders and the stunning California coastline, but your efforts will also directly support vital local initiatives. This year’s primary beneficiary is the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, dedicated to providing a safe and empowering environment for at-risk youth. With a registration fee of $600, participants are also encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $1,000 to maximize their impact. Space is limited to 100 riders,
Participants can look forward to a range of distances each day, starting with a 51-mile ride on Day 1, followed by an exhilarating 88 miles on Day 2, and wrapping up with a scenic 64-mile journey on Day 3. Not only will you enjoy the camaraderie of fellow riders and the stunning California coastline, but your efforts will also directly support vital local initiatives. This year’s primary beneficiary is the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy, dedicated to providing a safe and empowering environment for at-risk youth. With a registration fee of $600, participants are also encouraged to fundraise a minimum of $1,000 to maximize their impact. Space is limited to 100 riders,
Organiser's Description
The_ Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Ride_, celebrating its 28th year, is a fun fundraising event like no other. Proceeds go to local organizations serving the youth in our community. The Rotary Ride consists of a 3-day fully supported 200 mile ride culminating at a festive Finish Line Party featuring music, food, fun and friends.
Over the years we've raised more than $2,000,000 for local organizations! Each year we choose a primary beneficiary or cause to receive the largest percentage of the ride proceeds.
We are excited to announce that this year's Rotary Ride will focus on supporting the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy [https://www.aztecasyouthsocceracademy.org]. Azteca's mission is to reclaim the lives of at-risk youth that struggle with gangs, violence, poverty, and drugs in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. The academy was established to provide an alternative to gang involvement and violence, using soccer as a unifying and empowering tool.
[https://www.countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark.html]
Read more [https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/SantaCruzSunriseRotaryRide3Day/Page-15] about our partnership with Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy and how your generous support will be an investment impacting hundreds of children and their families providing positive benefit to our community for generations.
Our secondary beneficiaries this year include: SIENNA HOUSE [https://www.sienahouse.org], whose mission is to give new mothers experiencing homelessness a solid foundation as parents, and their babies the best start in life, by providing a supportive environment throughout pregnancy and a babys critical first year of development. And THE CABRILLO COLLEGE CHILDREN'S CENTER [https://www.cabrillo.edu/childrens-center/] a place to _Transform the Future Together, From Birth to Adulthood_ by offering a high-quality and diverse early care and education learning environment and a strong Early Childhood Workforce Development Program.
And, as always, the ride proceeds will support other youth organizations in our community through the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary [https://www.SantaCruzSunriseRotary.org] club's _Charities and Grants_ [https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwUHTqGPcNYMZmVweWJqaWNIYWc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-zP6o4pQYe9DnIAa3LGEq2A] and _High School Scholarship_ [http://scholarships.santacruzsunriserotary.org] programs.
The History of the Sunrise Rotary Ride, aka, _Jon & Ken's Most Excellent Adventure_
In 1997 Jon Sisk and Ken Whiting created a biking fundraiser that over the years has grown into our current 3-day adventure. Our ride begins in the heart of the wine country in Healdsburg and takes us through the beauty of the Russian River, Sonoma County wine country, Tomales Bay to San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge and down the coast to Santa Cruz. No large riding experience is needed, only a love for our beautiful state and a desire to have some fun while supporting youth in our community.
The ride is exceptionally well supported including all food, premier lodging, medical and sag. You can rest assured that you will be able to enjoy every bit of every day, while you do the ride that you want to do. The route incorporates rolling hills, some optional steeper hills, remote seaside riding and in-town riding. More seasoned riders can find great challenges each day, while entry level riders can build their experience and achieve their personal bests.
Day 1 We take a bus from Santa Cruz to Healdsburg and set out just before lunch to ride 51 miles to Rohnert Park. Along the way, a fabulous lunch is served at Rick Hofstetter's river-side chalet on the Russian River. Lodging is at the newly rebranded Hotel Centro Sonoma Wine Country, Tapestry by Hilton [https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stsrhup-hotel-centro-sonoma-wine-country/] A scrumptious spread of hand crafted hors d'oeuvres and beverages are served around the pool and hot tub at cocktail hour followed by a catered dinner and festivities.
Day 2 Get an early start for an 88 mile ride from Rohnert Park to Pacifica. Lunch is served in Sausalito just before you cross the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. From there we ride through San Francisco then on to Pacifica where we spend Friday night at the Pacifica Lighthouse Hotel [https://www.pacificalighthouse.com] at Rockaway Beach. Dinner and celebration of the day's accomplishments is at Nicks Restaurant [https://nicksrestaurant.net].
Day 3 64 Miles from Pacifica to Santa Cruz, culminating in a finish line party at West Coast Community Bank (formerly Santa Cruz County Bank) [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Santa+Cruz+County+Bank/@36.977358,-122.0258416,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x808e40266e480c09:0xbb73e877256c3d50!8m2!3d36.977305!4d-122.0253413] (75 River St. Santa Cruz) where we join up with family and friends (all are invited) for food, drink, music raffles and auctions. Guests are encouraged to arrive at the finish line party by 12:30pm. Riders will gather on the Riverwalk adjacent to the Kaiser Permanente / Santa Cruz Warriors Arena at 12:45pm and triumphantly ride into the party at 1:00pm.
And best of all, everything is included!
The ride brings together like-minded individuals committed to supporting our youth and provides great opportunities for fun and networking. This event is a fundraiser with an all-volunteer crew. 100% of donations and sponsorships100 go to the charities.
THE $600 REGISTRATION FEE COVERS ALL RIDER EXPENSES including transportation to Healdsburg, 2 nights premier lodging, all meals, snack stops, happy hours, sag and first aid support, the 2025 commemorative ride T-shirt and admittance to the Finish Line Party.
RIDERS ARE REQUIRED TO FUNDRAISE A MINIMUM OF $1000 (in addition to the $600 registration fee) 100% of which goes to our designated charities. As part of the registration process, you will be guided through the creation of a personal fundraising web page that you can use to support your fundraising efforts. Although $1,000 is the minimum riders commit to raise, most will far exceed that amount with our easy to use fundraising platform.
FOR TIPS ON HOW TO MOUNT AN EASY AND SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORT, check out our guide _Fundraising is as easy as 1, 2, 3._ [https://SunriseRotaryRide.org/Fundraising]
The Sunrise Rotary Ride is limited to only 100 participants and always sells out so sign up today!
Over the years we've raised more than $2,000,000 for local organizations! Each year we choose a primary beneficiary or cause to receive the largest percentage of the ride proceeds.
We are excited to announce that this year's Rotary Ride will focus on supporting the Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy [https://www.aztecasyouthsocceracademy.org]. Azteca's mission is to reclaim the lives of at-risk youth that struggle with gangs, violence, poverty, and drugs in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. The academy was established to provide an alternative to gang involvement and violence, using soccer as a unifying and empowering tool.
[https://www.countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark.html]
Read more [https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/SantaCruzSunriseRotaryRide3Day/Page-15] about our partnership with Aztecas Youth Soccer Academy and how your generous support will be an investment impacting hundreds of children and their families providing positive benefit to our community for generations.
Our secondary beneficiaries this year include: SIENNA HOUSE [https://www.sienahouse.org], whose mission is to give new mothers experiencing homelessness a solid foundation as parents, and their babies the best start in life, by providing a supportive environment throughout pregnancy and a babys critical first year of development. And THE CABRILLO COLLEGE CHILDREN'S CENTER [https://www.cabrillo.edu/childrens-center/] a place to _Transform the Future Together, From Birth to Adulthood_ by offering a high-quality and diverse early care and education learning environment and a strong Early Childhood Workforce Development Program.
And, as always, the ride proceeds will support other youth organizations in our community through the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary [https://www.SantaCruzSunriseRotary.org] club's _Charities and Grants_ [https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwUHTqGPcNYMZmVweWJqaWNIYWc/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-zP6o4pQYe9DnIAa3LGEq2A] and _High School Scholarship_ [http://scholarships.santacruzsunriserotary.org] programs.
The History of the Sunrise Rotary Ride, aka, _Jon & Ken's Most Excellent Adventure_
In 1997 Jon Sisk and Ken Whiting created a biking fundraiser that over the years has grown into our current 3-day adventure. Our ride begins in the heart of the wine country in Healdsburg and takes us through the beauty of the Russian River, Sonoma County wine country, Tomales Bay to San Francisco, over the Golden Gate Bridge and down the coast to Santa Cruz. No large riding experience is needed, only a love for our beautiful state and a desire to have some fun while supporting youth in our community.
The ride is exceptionally well supported including all food, premier lodging, medical and sag. You can rest assured that you will be able to enjoy every bit of every day, while you do the ride that you want to do. The route incorporates rolling hills, some optional steeper hills, remote seaside riding and in-town riding. More seasoned riders can find great challenges each day, while entry level riders can build their experience and achieve their personal bests.
Day 1 We take a bus from Santa Cruz to Healdsburg and set out just before lunch to ride 51 miles to Rohnert Park. Along the way, a fabulous lunch is served at Rick Hofstetter's river-side chalet on the Russian River. Lodging is at the newly rebranded Hotel Centro Sonoma Wine Country, Tapestry by Hilton [https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/stsrhup-hotel-centro-sonoma-wine-country/] A scrumptious spread of hand crafted hors d'oeuvres and beverages are served around the pool and hot tub at cocktail hour followed by a catered dinner and festivities.
Day 2 Get an early start for an 88 mile ride from Rohnert Park to Pacifica. Lunch is served in Sausalito just before you cross the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. From there we ride through San Francisco then on to Pacifica where we spend Friday night at the Pacifica Lighthouse Hotel [https://www.pacificalighthouse.com] at Rockaway Beach. Dinner and celebration of the day's accomplishments is at Nicks Restaurant [https://nicksrestaurant.net].
Day 3 64 Miles from Pacifica to Santa Cruz, culminating in a finish line party at West Coast Community Bank (formerly Santa Cruz County Bank) [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Santa+Cruz+County+Bank/@36.977358,-122.0258416,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x808e40266e480c09:0xbb73e877256c3d50!8m2!3d36.977305!4d-122.0253413] (75 River St. Santa Cruz) where we join up with family and friends (all are invited) for food, drink, music raffles and auctions. Guests are encouraged to arrive at the finish line party by 12:30pm. Riders will gather on the Riverwalk adjacent to the Kaiser Permanente / Santa Cruz Warriors Arena at 12:45pm and triumphantly ride into the party at 1:00pm.
And best of all, everything is included!
The ride brings together like-minded individuals committed to supporting our youth and provides great opportunities for fun and networking. This event is a fundraiser with an all-volunteer crew. 100% of donations and sponsorships100 go to the charities.
THE $600 REGISTRATION FEE COVERS ALL RIDER EXPENSES including transportation to Healdsburg, 2 nights premier lodging, all meals, snack stops, happy hours, sag and first aid support, the 2025 commemorative ride T-shirt and admittance to the Finish Line Party.
RIDERS ARE REQUIRED TO FUNDRAISE A MINIMUM OF $1000 (in addition to the $600 registration fee) 100% of which goes to our designated charities. As part of the registration process, you will be guided through the creation of a personal fundraising web page that you can use to support your fundraising efforts. Although $1,000 is the minimum riders commit to raise, most will far exceed that amount with our easy to use fundraising platform.
FOR TIPS ON HOW TO MOUNT AN EASY AND SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING EFFORT, check out our guide _Fundraising is as easy as 1, 2, 3._ [https://SunriseRotaryRide.org/Fundraising]
The Sunrise Rotary Ride is limited to only 100 participants and always sells out so sign up today!
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