D6
A DV EN T U R E SP ORTS
THE BULLETIN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012
Voreis Continued from D1 Voreis — who is now 38 and has lived in Bend for seven years — took up skateboarding at the age of 15, and dabbled in biking when he could find a friend’s bike to ride. “I broke a lot of kids’ bikes,” Voreis recalls. That can happen when you attempt things on bikes that have never been done before. Those early days on borrowed bikes were the start of Voreis’ path to becoming a pioneer of downhill and freeride mountain biking. He is now known as one of the best all-around mountain bikers in the world, and a driving force in the rapid evolution of the sport. Voreis travels across the nation each spring and summer on his AllRide Tour, promoting all disciplines of mountain biking and introducing kids to the sport. He also volunteers more than 100 hours a year helping build and maintain trails here with the Central Oregon Trail Alliance. When Kirt was still a teenager, his mother remarried, and his stepfather encouraged Kirt to follow his passions and escape his troubled childhood. “He changed me,” Kirt recalls. “With his tutelage and him opening my mind, he had passion. I didn’t realize I had passion for these sports.” By the age of 17, Voreis had moved on from skateboarding competitions to cross-country mountain bike racing. He became a professional downhill racer in 1994 after sending a tape of himself performing back flips on his BMX bike to the owner of Yeti Cycles. In 1996, Kirt had blossomed into a
Voreis travels across the nation each spring and summer on his AllRide Tour, promoting all disciplines of mountain biking and introducing kids to the sport. He also volunteers more than 100 hours a year helping build and maintain trails here with the Central Oregon Trail Alliance.
Andy Tullis / The Bulletin
Kirt Voreis flies through the air while speeding down the slalom course near Phil’s Trailhead in Bend on Tuesday.
top World Cup downhill and dual slalom racer. (Downhill races are time trials held on steep terrain, with highspeed descents and extended air time off jumps and other obstacles. Dual slalom races are head-to-head competitions down a course of berms, jumps and drops.) From 1998 to 2000, Voreis raced for the Mountain Dew/Specialized team alongside his friend and freeride legend Shaun Palmer. The two created a rabid following with their colorful personalities. By 2001, mountain bike racing had grown stale for Voreis. “I thought those guys didn’t have
skills, they just pedal,” he says. He reinvented himself by making a video called “Evolution,” which features him racing on the World Cup circuit AND performing freeride tricks. It was released before freeride videos became commonplace. As mountain biking began to shift toward freestyle riding in 2002, Voreis won several freestyle/dirt jump events and was filmed in many cutting-edge videos. Evolving with the sport, he re-branded himself as a freerider while he continued to race World Cup events. “By 2002, I was racing and travel-
ing the world and making a lot of money,” Voreis says. In 2003, Voreis started the AllRide Tour. The tour is now sponsored by Specialized, and Voreis says he averages more than 30,000 miles on the tour’s van each May through September. The goal of AllRide is to promote Specialized products — but also to get people into mountain biking. “Each year I get 400 to 600 people on bikes to test my products, and we have a junior racing team,” says Voreis, who quit racing in 2005. That same year Voreis and his wife
Lindsey moved to Bend from Southern California. Lindsey — who handles most of the business behind the AllRide Tour and guides rides for Cog Wild Mountain Bike Tours in Bend — was raised in Portland, and would travel to Black Butte for vacation when she was growing up. When she introduced Kirt to Central Oregon, he knew he had found home. “I realized what mountain biking should be — it was accessible to people,” Voreis says. “Other places are too steep. The trails ... we all work together and there’s a community.” Voreis is still an avid skateboarder, and he also enjoys snowboarding and kayaking. His favorite mountain bike trails include the McKenzie River Trail, South Fork, Flagline, and the slalom play loop at Phil’s Trailhead, which he builds and maintains. “There’s something about Bend, with everything here,” Voreis says. “I change my mind a lot, so it’s good.” — Reporter: 541-383-0318, mmorical@bendbulletin.com
A!"#$%&'# S()'%* C+,#$!+'
CELEBRATION!: Saturday, Sept. 29, 3 to 7 p.m., at Skyliner Lodge, 10 miles up Skyliner Road toward Tumalo Falls; activities include informative hikes and bike rides, a short program about forest restoration, followed by music and refreshments; learn about forest restoration and collaboration; get involved in the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project; contact 541-322-7129; klighthall@bendcable.com; www. deschutescollaborativeforest.org.
professionally coached dryland training sessions; contact ben@ bendenduranceacademy.org, www. BendEnduranceAcademy.org or 541-678-3864. BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY COMPETITION PROGRAM: Tuesdays through Sundays through May 1, times vary; ages 14-23; athletes are instructed in varying activities to improve their strength, technique, coordination, agility, aerobic and anaerobic capacities with the end goal being to successfully apply these skills to ski racing; transportation provided; contact ben@ bendenduranceacademy.org, www. BendEnduranceAcademy.org or 541-678-3864.
MULTISPORT
PADDLING
LEADMAN TRI: Saturday, Sept. 22; 7 a.m.; Bend; 250K distance is 5K swim, 223K bike, 22K run; 125 distance is 2.5K swim, 106K bike, 16.5K run; relay team option available; leadmantri.com. RIDE ROW RUN: Sunday, Sept. 23; in Maupin; 1-mile run, 26-mile loop bike ride in north Central Oregon, 3½-mile kayak down the Deschutes River, and then 5-mile run along the river to finish; solo event costs $60, relay is $85; starts at Imperial River Company; xdog@xdogevents.com; www.riderowrun.com. THE URBAN GPS ECO-CHALLENGE: Trips on paths and trails along Deschutes River through Old Mill District shops and Farewell Bend Park daily at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; like a scavenger hunt with clues and checkpoints; $65, includes guide, GPS and instruction, water, materials; 541-389-8359, 800-9622862; www.wanderlusttours.com.
PICKIN’ & PADDLIN’ SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: Wednesday, Sept. 19; boat and stand-up paddleboard demos available 4 to 7 p.m.; music begins at 7 p.m. at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe in Bend; fundraisers for the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance; 541-317-9407; laurel@tumalocreek. com. KAYAKING CLASSES: Sundays, 4-6 p.m.; for all ages; weekly classes and open pool; equipment provided to those who preregister, first come, first served otherwise; Cascade Swim Center, Redmond; $3; 541-548-7275; www.raprd.org
Please email Adventure Sports event information to sports@ bendbulletin.com or click on “Submit an Event” on our website at bendbulletin.com. Items are published on a spaceavailability basis, and should be submitted at least 10 days before the event.
CLIMBING BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: Wednesdays, 1:30 to 4 p.m., through Nov. 14; 10-week program designed for middle schoolers with little to no previous rock climbing experience; focus on proper climbing techniques and safety; transportation provided from area middle schools; contact mike@ bendenduranceacademy.org or www.BendEnduranceAcademy.org. BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY COMPETITION TEAM: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 6 p.m., through June 27; ages 10-18; focuses on bouldering with opportunities to compete in USA Climbing’s Bouldering Series; contact mike@ bendenduranceacademy.org or www.BendEnduranceAcademy.org. BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY DEVELOPMENT TEAM: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4 to 6 p.m., through Jan. 30; ages 10-18; for the climber looking to develop a solid foundation of movement and technical climbing skills; contact mike@bendenduranceacademy.org or www.BendEnduranceAcademy. org
CYCLING BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY CYCLOCROSS CAMP: Sept. 14-16; ages 11-18; run in combination with the Hood River Double Cross Races for a full weekend of skills, training and racing in the Gorge; $125 includes coaching, clinics, lodging, meals, race support and transportation; designed for riders of all abilities; contact bill@ bendenduranceacademy.org or www.BendEnduranceAcademy.org. BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY AFTER-SCHOOL MOUNTAIN BIKING: Wednesdays through Oct. 10; 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. for grades 3-5; 1 to 4:15 p.m. for grades 6-8; program encourages elementary and middle school kids to explore the trails and improve their cycling fitness and skills; contact bill@ bendenduranceacademy.org or www.BendEnduranceAcademy.org.
HIKING FOREST RESTORATION
NORDIC SKIING BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY FALL CONDITIONING PROGRAM: Wednesdays, 1 to 4:15 p.m., Oct. 10 to Nov. 11; ages 11-14; five-week program aims to improve strength, coordination and flexibility for the upcoming nordic ski season; transportation provided from area middle schools; contact ben@ bendenduranceacademy.org, www. BendEnduranceAcademy.org or 541-678-3864. BEND ENDURANCE ACADEMY NORDIC FALL LADIES: Tuesdays, 9:15 to 11:45 a.m., Sept. 18 to Nov. 6; for women ages 18 and older; designed for women who wish to improve their overall ski fitness this winter through organized and
ROLLER DERBY RENEGADE ROLLER DERBY: Practice with the Renegades Sundays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Bend’s Midtown Ballroom; drop-in fee of $7; loaner gear available; contact nmonroe94@gmail.com. PRACTICE WITH THE LAVA CITY ROLLER DOLLS ALL-FEMALE ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE: 3 to 5 p.m. on Sundays and 8-10 p.m. on Tuesdays; at Central Oregon Indoor Sports Center; $6 per session, $40 per month; deemoralizer@ lavacityrollerdolls.com or 541-306-7364.
RUNNING BIGFOOT ROAD RACE: Sunday, Sept. 16; 9 a.m.; Bend; Bigfoot 10K road race and Dirtyfoot 10K trail race both start at Seventh Mountain Resort and finish in Old Mill District; Littlefoot kids run; proceeds to Bend and La Pine high school cross-country teams; $30-$40 ($10 suggested donation for Littlefoot run); karistrang@gmail.com. FLAGLINE TRAIL FEST: Saturday,
Sept. 22; Flagline 50K, 8 a.m., USA Track & Field 50K Trail Championships, $60-$65; High Alpine Half, 9 a.m., $35-$45; Trail Fox Kids Run, $5; all races start and finish at Mt. Bachelor ski area; flaglinetrailfest.com. NOON TACO RUN: Wednesdays at noon; meet at FootZone; order a Taco Stand burrito before leaving and it will be ready upon return; teague@footzonebend.com; 541-317-3568. WEEKLY RUNS: Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fleet Feet Sports Bend, 1320 N.W. Galveston Ave.; 3 to 5 miles; two groups, different paces; 541-389-1601. PERFORMANCE RUNNING GROUP:
5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; with Max King; locations will vary; max@ footzonebend.com; 541-317-3568. REDMOND RUNNING GROUP: Weekly runs on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.; meet at 314 S.W. Seventh St. in Redmond for runs of 3 to 5 miles; all abilities welcome; free; pia@runaroundsports.com; 541-639-5953.
TEAM XTREME’S RUNNING CLUB IN REDMOND: Meets at 8 a.m. on Saturdays at Xtreme Fitness Center, 1717 N.E. Second St.; 2- to 5-mile run; free; 541-923-6662.
REDMOND OREGON RUNNING KLUB (RORK): Weekly run/walk; Saturdays at 8 a.m.; all levels welcome; free; for more information and to be added to a weekly email list, email Dan Edwards at rundanorun19@yahoo.com; follow Redmond Oregon Running Klub on Facebook.
CENTRAL OREGON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
Remodeling, Design, & Outdoor Living
SHOW September 22nd & 23rd
Century Events Center | 70 SW Century Drive | Bend, Oregon
Saturday, September 22nd • 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 23rd • 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Presented by:
Supporting Sponsors
A!"#$%&'# S()'%* -$ B'-#. Boating • Drag boat races scheduled for this weekend: The High Desert Showdown drag boat event is set for this Saturday and Sunday at Haystack Reservoir near Culver. The High Desert Showdown is part of the Columbia Drag Boat Association’s annual race schedule. Races begin at 9 a.m. each day. Admission is $10 on Saturday and $12 on Sunday, or $20 for a weekend pass. Coupons for $2 off admission are available at BiMart. Parking is $3 per day or $5
for the weekend. The CDBA gives competitors the opportunity to compete in closed-course, sanctioned drag boat racing at many of the finest racing facilities in Oregon, according to the organization’s website. The CDBA’s Northwest Nationals are scheduled for Dexter Reservoir in Lowell Sept. 22-23.
Climbing • Climbing event set for Smith Rock: The Northwest Region Craggin’ Classic is scheduled for Smith Rock State Park Sept. 14-16.
The event will be hosted by the American Alpine Club and Redpoint Climbers Supply. Friday, Sept. 14, will be registration and happy hour at The Depot in Terrebonne at 5 p.m. Saturday will include clinics and tours, and the Reel Rock Film Tour at 8 p.m. Sunday will include the CAMP USA Crushfest Comp, as well as a stewardship project. Entry fees range from $10 to $35. For more information, visit americanalpineclub.org and click on “events.” —Bulletin staff reports
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