Bend
Bend, Oregon

This year, the 32nd annual Pole Pedal Paddle will be held May 17th 2008 in outdoorsy Bend, Oregon. The Les Schwab Amphitheater area will host a day-long festival of various foods, music, sponsor booths and don't forget, all the cheering and spectating of the Pole Pedal Paddle participants.

RACE TO SUPPORT MBSEF

All proceeds generated from the event will be going to Mt Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. MBSEF is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports amateur alpine, snowboard, cross-country, and cycling training for junior athletes. The main objective is to assist junior athletes in achieving their individual athletic, academic, and personal goals.

THE RACE

Pole Pedal Paddle is Central Oregon's premiere mulit-sporting event. It's a relay race, with six legs that include alpine skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biking, running, canoe/kayaking and sprinting to the finish! You can do it all yourself or be part of team (or pair). We invite you to take part in the festivities and enjoy the magnificent sites of Central Oregon.

* The first leg is the Ski/Snowboard, which starts at the top of Mt Bachelor's Pine Marten chair lift with a mad dash uphill to put on your skis or snowboard. The skiers and snowboarders will race to the West Village Lodge where the exchange will take place.
* In the Nordic leg you can use the skate or classic techniques to ski around the parking lot and onto the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center's groomed trail system for 8 km. The change to cycling takes place in front of the Nordic Lodge parking area.
* The Bike Leg is a beautiful ride into Bend along scenic Century Drive for 22 miles - the majority being a descent, except the one uphill stretch after the Sunriver junction. The biker then proceeds to Colorado Avenue for the next exchange point.
* The Run Leg leaves the exchange point and heads towards the scenic running trail along the Deschutes River. After completing the 10k course the runner passes the lanyard to the canoe/kayak participant.
* The Canoe/Kayak Leg paddles upstream from put-in point for 1/2 mile on the Deschutes River to Healy Bridge then back downstream for 3/4 mile, then back upstream for 1/4 mile to the sprint exchange.
* The final Sprint Leg is along the grassy banks of the river to the Finish Arena from the Canoe/Kayak take-out, is approximately 1/3 mile in length.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

If you are experiencing Pole Pedal Paddle for the first time or you're a seasoned vet then Greatoutdoors.com is the place to come to get information on competing, volunteering or just want to watch friends and family participate. In the near future we will be offering photos, videos, blogs, forums and athlete profiles on Greatoutdoors.com so keep on checking back with us.

Join the Social Network : http://bendppp2008.ning.com/

Official Website: http://www.greatoutdoors.com/published/2008-pole-pedal-paddle

Added by polepeddlepaddle on March 20, 2008