Early bird pricing for the 45th SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle — the country’s top multi-multisport event – is nearing its April 1 deadline. The event, which has been contested each May in Bend since 1976, is scheduled for May 13. Participants can register as individuals, pairs, or teams at PPPBend.com.
Discounted early bird registration is available until April 1, and ranges from $50 for 12 and under teams to $115 for elite athletes. Registration will remain open until May 10, or until the field is full, with higher pricing.
Held each May, the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle has been a tradition in Central Oregon tradition 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 includes alpine and cross-country skiing, cycling, running, and kayaking, and stretches from the slopes of Mt. Bachelor to the finish line in Bend’s Old Mill District. Athletes of all ages compete in divisions ranging in skill level from novice to elite, and either individually or as part of a team.
“Registration for the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle has been strong so far, and this will surely be another memorable year in what is a beloved tradition in Central Oregon,” said Amy Tarnow, executive director of the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation. “We hope that everyone who wants to participate will, and the best way to ensure a spot in the field is to register now.”
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 8-kilometer cross-country leg winds around the West Village parking lot before taking skiers through Mt. bachelor’s vast Nordic trial system, finishing near the Nordic Center.
Bike leg: The 22-mile, mostly downhill bike leg takes riders from the West Village parking lot down Century Drive to the edge of Bend, finishing at the Athletic Club of Bend.
Run leg: Departing from the Athletic Club of Bend, competitors will run a 5-mile singletrack trail along the Deschutes River, finishing at Riverbend Park. Kids teams (under 12 years) will compete on a shortened course.
Canoe/Kayak leg: The 1½-mile leg will begin at Riverbend Park and then head upstream on the Deschutes River for ½ mile, before heading downstream for ¾ mile. A final ¼-mile upstream segment brings paddlers to the finish at Riverbend Park.
Sprint leg: Starting at the paddle finish in Riverbed Park, the 1-mile sprint leg features a course that follows the paved path along the Deschutes River, taking participants to the finish line in the Old Mill District.
For more information or to register for the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle, visit www.pppbend.com.
About the 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.
