Bend, Oregon : The Extended Dance Mix
This edition of 72 Hours takes you to the multisport training ground of the stars
By Jonathon Allen
Why Here, Why Now?
Maybe it's something in the water, or maybe there's a superathlete molecule in the air; more than likely, it's some magical property in the beer. Whatever the reason, Bend has become the porch of preference for some of mountain biking's biggest big dogs. Team Giant's Carl Decker and Adam Craig, Santa Cruz stunt pilot Kirt Vories, Maxxis-sponsored DHer April Lawyer and Shimano product spook Paul Thomasberg all hang their helmets here, and they're not alone. The U.S. cross-country ski team, winter biathlon team and a host of other Olympic and professional athletes all live in this former lumber-town-turned-gravity-sports mecca at the base of Mt. Bachelor in central Oregon. Straddling the banks of the Deschutes River with the Cascade Mountains to the west and Oregon's high-desert plateau to the east, Bend is a year-round playground for all species of adventure-sports athlete. The region's geographic variety makes it more than just another Durango or Moab. When riders like Craig and Decker aren't ripping up the area's vast network of singletrack, they're kayaking Class-IV rapids, clocking laps at the Nordic-skating track, or tearing around on dirt bikes searching for the perfect burrito-often, all in the same day.
CLICK HERE for full story (please note this is a large file and may take a few minutes to download depending on your connection).
|
