4
ABOUT THE COVER:
PUBLISHER’S NOTE|
This time around I decided to let Tyler Eklund step in and write most of my publisher’s note. Tyler is an incredible young man. When
you see him at the mountain shredding he always has the biggest smile. Josh Dirksen started his race as a way to help Tyler and
his family deal with some of the ongoing costs of his care. Tyler has taught us all a valuable life lesson; we shouldn’t sit around
feeling sorry for him, because he’s not feeling sorry for himself. Tyler’s out there living his life to the fullest. Every day Tyler wakes
up is an adventure and he’s not looking back, he’s looking forward.
My parents have always been the outdoors type and have always loved going skiing, so I got started at a pretty young age. My
parents got me my first pair of skis when I was 4 years old, but I started snowboarding at the age of 6, after my dad had knee sur-
gery and found snowboarding to be easier on his knee. I was 14 when I started getting more serious about competing and seeing
where snowboarding could take me. It was April 1st 2007 and I was at a USASA National Championships at Northstar Resort
near Lake Tahoe. I fell during training and broke the C-3 vertebrae in my neck. I was airlifted to Reno and underwent emergency
surgery, I am currently paralyzed from my shoulders down and not able to breathe on my own, but I don’t let it stop me from going
back onto the mountain and doing what I love. This year marks the tenth year for the Dirksen Derby and I couldn’t be more happy
to be celebrating it with the rad people who came and supported me ten years ago; it was only a one day event and now it’s 3
days of awesomeness.
Josh and his family put in so much to make sure it turns out perfect and man have they done a hell of a job. Every year it gets bet-
ter and better, I can’t thank everyone enough for the support and love.
Tyler Eklund
Some believe in climate change, others do not. This
summer as we experienced a heavy wildfire season,
I set out to shoot this image of Will Dennis on a
mountain top with the setting smoky sun. I knew
very well some might say, “hey, there is no snow”, but
my intention was to create an image based around
climate change and how the near future might look
like this mid winter; a hot, dry, burning landscape. If
you believe in climate change, count your blessings
for the current state of snow. If you don’t believe in
climate change, keep on keeping on.
-Pete Alport
1443 NW Juniper Street
Bend, OR 97701
(541) 241-0305
PUBLISHER
Neil Korn
[email protected]
EDITOR
Chris Shredwards
[email protected]
We can’t thank you enough for all the encouragement and kind words about our premier
issue of Outdoor CO. This has been three years in the making. Stepping our game up and
rebranding has been received well beyond our imagination. If nobody reads a publication, it
has no purpose. We know you are reading and we know we are connecting with you. The
fact that we make each issue to have a profound lasting effect on the Bend athletic culture
is our mission.
Let’s keep making history together! Welcome to winter...happy shredding!
Neil Korn
FOR THOSE ABOUT RIDE, WE SALUTE YOU
MALCOLM YOUNG
1953-2017
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brian Zager
[email protected]
CONTENTS|
6NEWS
8GET2KNOW
10PRODUCTS
12WINTER ATHLETES
20HEALTH | COLORFUL VEGAN
22POSTER| CARSON STORCH
24ART| GREGORY FIELDS
25FISHING | FILM
26GALLERY| 10 YEARS OF THE
DIRKSEN DERBY
32WINTER PRODUCT PREVIEW
36HERBALIST
37CANNABIS COLUMN
38COMMUNITY
40EVENTS
SALES MANAGER
Mason Otis
[email protected]
(802) 734-5873
Contributing Writers
Kelly Maer
Dr. Oliver Wisco
Martin James
Pete Alport
Tyler Eklund
Anthony Accinelli
Edmond Wadeson
Senior Contributing Photographers
Mike Albright
Pete Alport
Jesse Polay
Contributing Photographers
Gillian Rathbun
Bill Warburton
Adam Brown
Smugmug/USSA Team
Red Bull Photo Pool
Meg McMahon
The Dirksen Family Photo Album
ekhartyoga.com
Tyler Orton
Edmond Wadeson
Nick Gannaway
For advertising please contact our
Sales Manager, Mason Otis.