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SEPT/OCT 2018
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Bend is a mountain town and always will be. The Scandinavians moved here for lumber jobs in the 40’s. These Nord’s
came with their love of skiing. Before Mt Bachelor was established they Nordic skied everywhere on their long wooden
skis they built or brought from Europe, they formed ski clubs, started ski races and even built ski hill jumps for competi-
tion. Once Mt Bachelor opened in 1958, the mountain scene turned to the slopes. Nordic was still important at the time,
but the opportunity to ride up a lift changed Bend forever.
58 years later, the Bend Whitewater Park opened and included man-controlled surf wave. This wave has changed the
outdoor culture of Bend significantly. A once obscure group of surfers are now visible on a daily basis. You have famous
surfers down there like Gerry Lopez, surfing transplants from Hawaii, Australia, and Florida just to name a few. Some
longtime Bend surfers have no uses for the wave and have never tried it (it doesn’t feel like the real thing or it’s always
crowded they say) and there is actually a learning curve different from a natural ocean wave. Some surfers do both and
use it for training for the real thing. Others, only go to the coast, Hawaii, Mexico, or Indo just to name a few. Most of these
surfers moved to Bend for different reasons, but they still brought their love of surfing that is a lifelong passion.
Many of these adult surfers have passed down this passion to their children and now a whole new generation of “river
rats” are developing their skills. First, the groms start out diving for treasures that the tourists drop into the river in the safe
passage. Next, they star t boogie boarding in the wave, and now some are destroying the wave with surfing skills quickly
learned. It appears the younger you are (with no fear and more agility) the quicker the learning curve.
For most Bend surfers, they are just down there building community, having fun and mostly ignoring that they are a tourist
attraction in the summer months. in the winter the wave is a “cleaner” or “green” wave to surf and no waiting time. The
Bend wave culture is much different than real ocean surfing. Here in Bend, surfers realize there is only one wave and one
person at a time. There is patience, encouragements, tips are freely given out, and bad attitudes are frowned upon.
One this is for sure, Bend’s Surf culture is rising!
Neil Korn
14-year-old Kai Huggin is a lucky kid. His family’s lifestyle revolves around surf-
ing, snowboarding, skateboarding, fishing, camping, and travel. Kai is very hum-
ble and I’m sure he realizes he lives a “blessed” life. Kai’s passion for board
sports plus his natural athletic ability is getting him noticed. In September he
starts his first year in high school. He know’s he needs to pull the grades,
but how do you keep a kid like this from staring out the window daydreaming
about his last surf trip to Mexico? Dream on Kai..
P: Scott Huggin