APR/MAY 2018
DREW RUANA PODIUMS TWICE AT
BOULDERING NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Drew Ruana, Redmond, WA native,
traveled to Salt Lake City and competed
in two different national bouldering
championships. At the first, February
2nd, Drew competed against the best
adult bouldering climbers in the US. Just
turning 18, it was Drew’s first national
competition where he was eligible to
climb in the Open Division. Drew ended
up third out of dozens of seasoned
and pro climbers. The second week,
and Drew’s final Nationals as a junior,
was February 9th at the Salt Lake City
Convention Center. He placed third
again against the best in the country. For
his incredible talents, steady personality,
and fierce competitiveness, Drew picked
up new sponsor, The North Face. Drew
Ruana is on the Vertical World Team
based in Washington and graced the
cover of the inaugural issue of Outdoor
Central Oregon.
TACTICS SNOW TEAM TAKES TO THE
ROAD FOR FILMING PROJECTS
The Tactics Snow Team has hit the road for various filming projects. Sprinkle in a few fun
contests here and there and you have a very busy team schedule. Nora Beck is filming
with TooHard, an all girls crew of rippers. Gabe Ferguson and Jared Elston have been
in Austria for the past few weeks filming for #thebetamovie, which is a new film from
Snowboard Mag. Demetri Bales will be featured in next season’s Absinthe film and has
been spending a lot of time between SLC and areas of Canada. Justin Norman, previously
a Bend l ocal, now lives in Ferndale, WA and has been working as a tattoo artist and riding
Stevens and Mt. Baker.
JACK STRANG, RUNNER, NORDIC
SKIER, B-BALLER, AND NOW
PHOTOGRAPHER
Summit Freshman Jack Strang has
been running for some time now as
well as Nordic skiing with MBSEF.
In the winter, Jack Nordic skis, but
possessed some pretty decent
skills on the hardwood. With not
alot of time to work on his basket-
ball game, Jack just shoots around
when he has free time. In the
spring he will run for the Summit
Track Team for the first time. Most
people don’t know Jack has an
“artsy” side to him. This past First Friday, Jack had his first ever photo opening. School and
teammate friends of Jack’s came to see his show as well as family, friends, and people
from the running community. It was an endless line of hugs and congratulations all night.
Jack took over a wall inside of Foot Zone and displayed his fantastic photography. Much
of his works center around nature, wildlife and a few photos mixed in from family trips
around the world. Of course, there was the eclipse from last summer, mountain scenes
from Central Oregon, and a classic night shot of the Eiffel Tower. Jack’s photography is
well beyond his years, his running and skiing are really starting to blossom. Jack Strang
has a bright future and is a true student athlete that the Bend community can be proud of.
7
MARIO MENDOZA WINS 100K USA
NATIONAL TRAIL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bend runner Mario Mendoza traveled
to Bandera, Texas for the USA National
100k Trail National Championships.
Mario has been on fire lately, racking up
some impressive wins. In the end Mario
broke the tape and took national title.
By winning, he also punched the Golden
Ticket to the Western States Trail Run-
ning Championships to be held June 23-
24. This 100k race is the world’s oldest
and come with a lot of prestige. The trail
race is from Squaw Valley, CA to Auburn,
CA and climbs a total of 18,000 thousand feet and descends 23,000 thousand feet.
Mario will skip the Trail World Championships in Poland because of scheduling conflicts.
Look for Mario’s feature interview in this publication coming early summer.
INDOOR BIKE PARKING AT THE
CRANE SHED COMMONS IS
OUTSTANDING
The newest, spiffiest, and well
thought out office building in
Bend includes indoor bike park-
ing. Downstairs, in the lobby,
the new Crane Shed Commons
office building was designed with
bike commuting in mind. The
designers took it a step further
and added room for a double
decker bike parking. Parking
includes room for approximately
thirty bikes and ample lockers.
There aren’t showers right at the
parking, but there could be else-
where in the offices. Presently,
Sony Video occupies the top
three floors of the CSC. There is
still space in the first and second
floors for some cool businesses to move in. The
location is prime and I’m sure the rent is also
prime, but everything is right there including lots of
car parking for the wintery weather when biking it
too dangerous.
BIG SKY PARK MASTER PLAN IS
DREAM COME TRUE
For many bikers in Bend, the Master Plan
that includes a new Bend Bike Park is a
dream come true. The 50-acre bike park
includes a strider course, pump track, slope-
style course, skills course, bike trials area
and a jump course. The bike park is being
designed to be enjoyed by cyclists from
beginner to advanced skill levels.
Bend Park and Recreation staff is working
with local bike shredders for the best park
features. This group includes bike shop
owners and staff, event promoters, Central
Oregon Trail Association (COTA), Bend
Endurance Academy (BEA), Mount Bachelor
Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF) and
other skills clinic representatives, profes-
sional riders and other community members.
BMX, a group that has used its privately-run track at Big Sky Park for many years, is also
involved.
The permit processes are underway and construction could begin this summer and be
completed by the end of the year or early in 2019