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NOV/DEC 2018
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NEWS|
BEND’S NEWEST WINTER SPORTS
RETAILER/CONSIGNER,
LATITUDE 44° SPORTS
Stand on Liquid, the Northwest’s largest independent retailer of stand up paddleboards,
announces the opening of Latitude 44° Sports, Bend’s newest winter sports retailer and
consignment shop.
Latitude 44 Sports will offer high quality selection of alpine and Nordic skis, snowboards,
boots, jackets, and winter sports accessories. They will provide consigners the best rates
and terms in Central Oregon, and a fun, customer-oriented, and clutter-free shopping
experience.
“The team at Stand on Liquid are passionate about paddleboards, but like many Central
Oregonians, we also downhill and Nordic ski and snowboard,” said Co-Owner Rob Mc-
Donald. “We love helping customers find the perfect paddleboard. Now, we’ll do the same
with customers seeking the right gear for their next outdoor adventure.”
This announcement comes prior to the 2018/2019 winter season, letting customers
know they have a new option to sell and buy quality winter gear. “There’s a ton of quality
gear in town,” adds Co-Owner Pat Widmer. “Our job is to help locals sell gear they no
longer need at the best prices possible. No junk.” said Widmer.
LOGE CAMP UPGRADES CONTINUE
AT A FAST PACE
Loge Camp is a unique experience that has broken the mold of the typical overnight
accommodation industry. When checking in, you are first offered a free beer. At reception
you’re greeted like it’s a family member coming to stay. Everything about Loge is based
on community. Every section of the grounds has communal fire pits and barbeques. Loge
now has all three western states covered. Loge can be found on the Washington Coast,
Bend and Mt. Shasta in Northern California. Each location was well thought out with
outdoor adventures bing the number one focus.
Loge Camp Bend is the largest location. So far 19 rooms of the 47 have been renovated
and have a boutique style. The thing that sets Loge apart is hammocks hanging from the
ceiling and bike racks in each room. There is also a Yeti cooler in each room rather than
your traditional mini fridge. This is designed for guest to fill the cooler and bring it with
them on an adventure free of charge. Ski and snowboard lockers are located outside the
rooms.
US SNOWBOARD TEAM DESCENDS
ON HOOD RIVER AND
THE FITZSIMONS SKATE HOUSE
In the summer, Mt Hood becomes a mecca for ski and snowboard camps. Olympic teams
share the same slopes as regular kids who are honing their skills. Famous pros can
be seen around Govy eating shaved ice, drinking a cold brew and skating ramps. This
past summer, the US Snowboard and Ski Team team decided to go to Hood River for a
barbeque at the Fitzsimons house. Hood River local Sean Fitzsimons, was chosen for the
US Snowboard Rookie Slope Team for this upcoming season. New members, seasoned
members as well as Olympic Gold Medalist Red Gerard all enjoyed burgers, dogs, sides
and soft beverages. The Fitzsimons yard is the skaters dream. A newer mini is the most
skated these days, a large vert ramp that a few well known pros have sessioned, and a
drop in ramp round it out. After eating, a skate session went off with the highlight being
Sean busting a nosebone over his other team members.
When completed, Loge Camp Bend will be the most unique outdoor sports experience
anywhere. There are the regular rooms, a hosel, tent and van camping that will include its
own bathrooms and showers. A pump track as well as rock bouldering areas are in the
plans. Camping will also have a fire pit and barbeque area. The Bend location will eventu-
ally house a bike shop, ski/snowboard shop, bar, and cafe.
SCHOOL SANCTIONED MOUNTAIN
BIKING TAKES OFF
(NICA Bend Composite Mountain Bike Team)
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) was founded in 2009 to develop
school based mountain biking programs for student athletes across the United States.
Oregon adopted NICA as a school based cycling program in 2017 under League Director
Heather Wolfgang with 2018 Oregon’s inaugural season.
The NICA mission is to get more kids on bikes and to promote youth development with
strong body, mind and character through the sport of mountain biking. The NICA program
is designed to promote lifelong cyclists with proper bike skills training and education high-
lighting respect, sportsmanship, fitness, trail etiquette, and self sufficiency.
Bend Composite Team is comprised of middle and high school students from vari-
ous schools until the program grows to become school based in Bend middle and high
schools. Practices are held Mondays and Thursdays at Phil’s Trailhead and are time
dependent based on season and daylight hours. Bend Composite has successfully par-
ticipated in two races thus far competing against composite teams from Rogue Valley/
Southern Oregon, Eugene, Corvallis, Tualatin Valley, Portland Metro, Salem, Newport and
Umpqua Valley.
Bend Composite is sponsored by Fulcrum Properties Group of Keller Williams and Direc-
tors Mortgage. Sponsorship has enabled the team to purchase race jerseys, use a mobile
app for all team communication including practice/race times and attendance, train
coaches, and purchase bike and safety equipment.
Middle and high school students interested in learning more about the Bend Composite
Team, wishing to check out a practice, or join the team in the future or those interested
in volunteering, coaching or supporting the team are encouraged to contact the team at
[email protected]
More information about NICA can be found at nationalmtb.org
More information about the Oregon League can be found at oregonmtb.org
KAI HUGGIN 4 TH IN PRO/AM AT
AGATE BEACH SURF CLASSIC
JACOB GUTHRIE 2 ND IN
NORTH WEST CUP
Bend biker Jacob Guthrie
placed second overall in the
Downhill Category 2 15-18
age group. The NW Cup
begins in the spring and
ends in mid summer. Most
of the races take place in
Washington so on Friday of
a race weekend the Guthrie
Family packs up the car for
the usual seven hour drive.
Jacob usually tries to get
some sleep. Most races
are Saturday and Sunday,
then back on the road
back to Bend Sunday after
awards. Along with doing
very well this season Jacob
has enjoyed racing on new
courses and making new
friends.
Mini-shred Arlie Connolly
placed fourth overall for the
season in Cat 2 age group
10-14.
CANCER BIKE OUT RAISES FUNDS
AND AWARENESS
This year was the 6th year for the Cancer Bike Out. They have raised over 25K for local
Bend Cancer (and other) charities over the years. In addition, Cancer Bike Out events
added a second event in Ashland a few years ago. The Rabbit Ears to Beers event is
another “mostly downhill” shuttle bike ride from the top of Mt Ashland to Caldera Brewing
in Ashland Oregon. Event founder Todd Wells says that there is some “Serious Fun” to be
had at both events and what is raised here stays here!
The 2019 Oregon Cancer Bike Out event will take place on October 5.
Find them on Facebook and visit: www.Cancerbikeout.org
Regular Junior division standout, and reigning Northwest Surf Jam Junior Champion, Kai
Huggin, from Bend Oregon created his own storyline during the Agate Beach Surf Classic
in the Pro/Am Division against a hungry field of surfers who all wanted to be a part of the
final. The last time that Kai surfed the Pro/Am division, he blended into the results midway
up the ladder. This time, Kai took out a fresh Channel Islands surfboard and rode it all the
way to the finals, making history in the process. “In the ten years that I have been run-
ning local events, no junior surfer has advanced all the way into the finals of the Pro/Am
division. This is a first,” said Kirk Tice, WSL BWT Head Judge. A fellow competitor added:
“Other juniors have performed well in past events in the Pro/Am, but those surfers were
unable to advance to the finals to compete for the championship trophy. This year we
have seen several younger competitors making headway into the Pro/Am division and Kai
is leading the charge. I am proud of Kai’s sustained effort, his exceptional performance,
and his surfing in general.”
No doubt, the time that Kai spends away from
the ocean, perfecting his rail work on the De-
schutes River Park wave and time snowboarding
has transferred into performance gains in the
Northwest. Kai hopes to take his game down to
Lower Trestles next year to represent Oregon
in the U.S. Surfing Championships to competes
against the nation’s best junior surfers. Based
on his performances this season, it seems that
Kai is determined to find success and to con-
tinue learning from the more seasoned competi-
tors with whom he surfs around the PNW. This
season Kai also placed 1st in the 13-15 Boys
Division and 2nd in the 16-18 Mens Division at
the Otter Rock ‘n Roll surf comp and 1st in the
13 to 17 year old division at the Cape Kiwanda
Longboard Classic.
Front row (student athletes): Bryce Raymond, Will Fogarty, Emma Cheeney, Jenna
Raymond, Jack Billowitz, Cooper Andrus. Not pictured: Ethan Campbell, Parker Hartley,
Natasha Visnack
Back row (coaches): Jon Fogarty, Dirk Hall, Steve Lamberdin, Debbi Mason, Layla Billow-
itz, Nora Barrett. Not pictured: Drew Holmes, Alex Rocco
DREW RUANA DESTROYS HIS FIRST
IFSC WORLD SPORT CLIMBING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Drew Ruana spent most of his summer climbing in Europe. Two of these weeks were
spent in Innsbruck, Austria at his first IFSC World Sport Climbing Championships. The
competition includes three events, (lead, speed, and bouldering) that will debut at the
Tokyo Olympics in 2020. 531 climbers from 57 countries competed in Innsbruck where
the climbing venue is known for many international climbing competitions.
Ruana, 19, lives in Redmond, WA where he climbs out of Vertical World. The family has a
second home in Redmond, OR where he climbs at Smith Rock when he has time. Drew
deferred his first year in college and is working at Vertical World and climbing everyday in
hopes of making the US Team in Tokyo. If his performance as a 19 year-old is any indica-
tion, he will make that team in 2020. In Innsbruck he placed 17th overall. (See gallery on
page 46).