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North America
At Fat Tire Tours, all of our tours have been designed with you, our guest, in mind. In 1999 Founder David Mebane created Bullfrog Bike Tours with a goal of bridging the gap between English-speaking travelers and Paris with a simple three-hour bicycle tour. On the first day of tours in 1999, Bullfrog Bike Tours didn’t welcome a single guest, but that changed very quickly. Though Paris boasted endless competing attractions and options for guests, David’s commitment to providing superior customer service with a focus on giving each customer the fantastic, private, and personal experience they sought quickly set him out from the crowd. As the tours grew in size and popularity, the company built a team obsessed with finding ways to grow and improve. That growth came in the way of several new brands and just as many new locations. Over the next 11 years, now operating as Fat Tire Bike Tours, the business grew to multiple European markets and four domestic locations. Fat Tire Bike Tours introduced three sister brands specializing in Segway Tours, walking tours, and skip-the-line tours. As the company grew in concept, it also grew in reach, eventually welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests globally on an annual basis. In 2015, all of the brands were consolidated into Fat Tire Tours. We are incredibly proud of the cities in which we operate, and feel strongly that they should be protected and preserved so that future generations may experience just as much enjoyment from them as we do. With this in mind, we always strive to offer the most environmentally friendly and sustainable tours possible. Today, with locations across Europe and the United States, the mission remains: to provide safe, fun, and unforgettable experiences through superior customer service that creates memories and smiles that last a lifetime.
AYSO - American Youth Soccer Organization is a nonprofit and the oldest national youth soccer program in the United States. Beginning with only nine teams by a handful of soccer enthusiasts, AYSO was established in 1964 out of a garage in Torrance, California, in an effort to ensure that American kids have the opportunity to be introduced to the beautiful game of soccer. More than 50 years later, AYSO now has thriving programs for kids and adults in nearly 900 communities all over the country – and internationally in the Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago – over eight million AYSO alumni, and a name that’s recognized nationwide. AYSO runs on volunteer power This means registered volunteers run the local AYSO programs all over the country. Additionally, our National Board of Directors, National President, as well as every coach, referee, and Regional Commissioner – the list goes on – is a volunteer. Due to the thousands of volunteers throughout the U.S. donating their time every season, AYSO is as successful and far-reaching as it is today. AYSO’s Six Philosophies are principles that separate AYSO from other sports organizations. These tenets were created to provide a positive, fair and fun soccer experience for all our players. AYSO’s goal is for kids and adults to play soccer, so they mandate that every player on every team must play at least 50 percent of every game. Each year, they form new teams as evenly balanced as possible, providing a stronger learning experience for teams as they play teams comprised of similar ability. It also allows for each player to experience playing with a wide variety of teammates of different skill levels. If you want to play soccer, AYSO welcomes you and gives all youth and adults the opportunity to register and play. A coach can be one of the most influential people in a player’s life, so AYSO requires they create a positive experience for every player in AYSO. Additionally, encouraging player’s effort leads to greater enjoyment, improved skills and stronger motivation in players. They strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and their programs are designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO. All players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities, both individually and as members of a team, to maximize their enjoyment of the game.
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