Online registration with early bird pricing is now open for the 46th SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle – the Pacific Northwest’s top multi-multisport event. Produced by and for the benefit of Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, the annual event is set for May 18. Participants can register as individuals, pairs, or teams at PPPBend.com.
Held each May, the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle has been a tradition in Central Oregon since 1976 and annually attracts thousands of competitors from throughout the Northwest and beyond. The SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle is also a critical fundraiser for MBSEF, a Central Oregon nonprofit that creates opportunities through competitive snow sports programs to support athletes in achieving their individual athletic, academic, and personal goals.
The multi-sport race will stretch from the slopes of Mt. Bachelor to the new finishing area at Bend’s Riverbend Park. The race features legs that include alpine and cross-country skiing, cycling, running, and paddling. Athletes of all ages compete in divisions ranging in skill level from novice to elite, and either individually or as part of a pair or team.
“The SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle is an enduring tradition that celebrates the outdoors, active living, and the unique character of Central Oregon,” said Amy Tarnow, executive director of the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. “A big part of the draw is that the race not only showcases the skills of elite athletes, but it also brings together competitors of all ages and skill levels in the spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition. But the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle has remained a can’t-miss event for nearly a half-century because it is more than just a race. It’s a testament to the vitality of the Pacific Northwest and Central Oregon’s passion for an active lifestyle.”
The individual Pole Pedal Paddle legs include:
Alpine leg: Beginning at the top of Mt. Bachelor’s Red Chair, participants sprint 200 feet uphill to their waiting skis or snowboards, then proceed down the LeeWay run to the base of the mountain near the West Village Lodge.
Nordic leg: The cross-country leg is an 8-kilometer skate ski that winds around the West Village parking lot before taking skiers through Mt. Bachelor’s Nordic trail system, finishing near the Nordic Center.
Bike leg: The 22-mile, mostly downhill bike leg takes riders from the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Lodge parking area down Century Drive to the Athletic Club of Bend.
Run leg: Departing from the Athletic Club of Bend and finishing at Riverbend Park, competitors run a 5-mile course that includes dirt, pavement, pavers, and multiple bridges along the Deschutes River. Whether competing individually or as part of a pair, competitors aged 12 and younger can run a shortened course.
Canoe/Kayak/SUP leg: The 1½-mile leg begins at Riverbend Park with a ½-mile downstream paddle on the Deschutes River, and then heads upstream for 1 mile to the leg finish at Farewell Bend Park.
Sprint leg: Starting at the paddle finish at Farewell Bend Park, sprinters will run nearly a half mile across a bridge over the Deschutes River to the new finish area at Riverbend Park.
Discounted early bird registration is available through April 7, ranging from $55 per person for 12 and under teams to $125 for elite athletes. For more information or to register for the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle, visit www.pppbend.com.
About Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation:
The Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities through competitive snow sports programs to support Central Oregon athletes in achieving their individual athletic, academic, and personal goals. Its vision is to positively impact the life of every athlete it serves. For more information on MBSEF and its programs, visit www.mbsef.org.
