If there’s one thing Central Oregon loves, it’s volleyball. The volleyball community in Central Oregon has been continuously growing, and with it, the opportunities to compete. This past year, members of the community came together to form the High Desert Volleyball Association, one of Central Oregon’s newest 501(c)(3) nonprofits. The nonprofit was born out of […]
Outside Features
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Jack Ryan: From Paralyzed to Peaks
Jack Ryan is the only person with a spinal cord injuryto summit Mount Whitney
“I had a goal in mind, I’m gonna walk out of this hospital. That’s the only goal.” Jack Ryan is defined by grit, determination and unwavering will. His life has unfolded through bold adventures, intense sports and even guiding surfers in Nicaragua. That all took shape before a life-threatening injury radically transformed everything. He faced […]
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Still Flying at 52
Justin Homan’s Journey from FMX Legend to training the next generation
I train hard, but I’ve also had the consequences of it too. I’ve broken femurs. I have a paralyzed leg still… I have friends that are dead and I have friends that are paralyzed.” Justin Homan is a true FMX (freestyle motocross) legend. In an extreme sport where riders launch 200+ pound dirt bikes dozens […]
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Gillam Working His Way up the Rugby Ladder
Local rugby player, recently selected to represent the U.S. in a tournament in Mexico and fresh off playing for a New Zealand club, is making his presence known in the sport
In August, Jupiter Gillam is heading to college in North Carolina. However, the air miles he’ll earn moving across the country, and coming home for holidays and visits, are a drop in the bucket compared to those he’s racked up since graduating from Mountain View High School in 2024. “I just wanted to get out […]
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From the NFL to Bend Oregon
Cornelius Edison’s Next Chapter Is All About Community
Dream the impossible. Where did I come from? Where am I now? Where are we going?” Cornelius Edison has already done what a lot of athletes grow up imagining. He dreamt the impossible and then lived it. His dream was to make it to the NFL, and he made it happen through discipline, determination and […]
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COTA Opens New Mountain Bike Trails At Wanoga Sno-Park
2 out of the planned 5 downhill trails have been completed and are open to the public starting July 9th.
The Wanoga Downhill Trails project, which has been years in the making, broke ground in mid-June and plans to add a total of 5 trails of the Wanoga Sno-Park Complex. Two out of the planned 5 trails will be open to the public starting Wednesday, July 9, which will include an advanced/black downhill flow trail […]
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New Downhill Mountain Bike Trails
Wanoga Downhill is being created by some of the best in the sport
Work is underway for a new mountain biking playground. Wanoga Downhill trails are being crafted by the Central Oregon Trail Alliance with input from some elite athletes including Carson Storch, a world-class freeride and slopestyle mountain biker as well as Dusty Wygle, a high-flying freeride mountain biker known for daring tricks. The trails are near […]
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Bend Dirt Fest
Get dirty, Bend: New event combines competition, camaraderie and dusty trails
Let’s talk dirty. The inaugural Bend Dirt Fest, organized by longtime endurance event director Mike Ripley and his company, Mudslinger Events, rolls into town on Friday, July 12, offering a mix of trail running, gravel grinding, and mountain biking fun—with a distinct local vibe. The Bend Dirt Fest is a spiritual successor to one of […]
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Cancellation of Oregon High Desert Classics Disappoints Locals
Show officials say it’s “just a pause” for a year due to low registrations
If you’ve driven down the northeast section of Hamby Road in late July, you’ve probably noticed the colorful show rings and throngs of horses and riders at J Bar J Boys Ranch. This year, those grounds will be empty for only the second time in decades as the Oregon High Desert Classics horse show, slated […]
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The Hunt for Sustainably Sourced (By You) Food
Morel Foraging in Central Oregon
If you like the idea of eating sustainably harvested, local food, and also love cooking, and maybe even hiking, then keep reading. This article is for you. I want to share some tips on mushroom hunting, specifically for morels, here in central Oregon. Mushroom hunting is a family friendly activity, and due to the variety […]
