If there was ever any doubt that Bend can host and be party to a great sports event, it was laid to rest on Sunday at the U.S. National Cyclocross (Cross) Championships. The venue, racing and crowds were terrific. And from an outsider’s point of view it looked as if the event organization was close to flawless.
Of course there is the sport of Cross which luckily, unlike bicycle road racing, is easy for non-cyclists to understand and more intriguing to them because the racing is over mud and ice and gook and…well you know it’s a dirty world out there for Cross racers.
Dirty for riders but apparently profitable for local merchants, restaurants and lodging establishments. Speaking of the latter, I know of two local vacation home rental businesses that rented every property on their books to Cross teams and people here to watch the races.
The event’s major sponsors seemed happy. I ran into Deschutes Brewing chief Gary Fish at the Saturday races and he was effusive in his praise for the event. Looking over the part of the course laid out on the Brewery property he laughed: “it’ll give our landscapers something to work on this spring.”
Best of all, there was a lot of good energy at the races-Bend energy. Locals came out to support the riders with their cheers, support local food vendors with their purchases and welcome athletes from all over the country.
What struck many longtime Bend people interested in self-propelled sports is the change in attitude among our local tourism agencies regarding outdoor sports events. Time was when their attitude towards self-propelled sports and events featuring those sports was patronizing at best. Sports to them were golf and shopping. Honestly, shopping was always a top tourism priority.
Thankfully at least one new person in the tourism promotion game, Doug Laplaca of Visit Bend, knows the value of events like the Cross nationals, the national road cycling championships and the Cascade Cycling Classic.
Now how about trying for the national cross-country running championships, the national mountain bike championships, etc? Bend has the potential of becoming the go-to self-propelled sports events capitol of the U.S.
This article appears in Dec 10-16, 2009.
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couldn’t agree more, Woody. the event was really fun.
Ho-hum. Let me know when we get an NFL team.
Right on…Bend really needs to do anything and everything to court these venues. This town is perfect for these events. We were there all four days and the comments from locals and visitors was all positive….visitors loved the attitude of the merchants….we need this. Retail shopping is not the answer to promote Bend…..sports is. The community is filled with talented athletes who chose to live here because of what nature has given us here….lets take it to another level and welcome and court these events. GREAT CYCLOCROSS….
As usual Robert is right on the mark…but here’s a suggestion to attract not just world class athletes and fans thereof, but regular folks who love the outdoors and love to visit venues that cater to the ‘mean’ athlete [as in ‘regression to the mean’ or as my less forgiving friends say woosies like me]:
Make this an even greater bicycling mecca by working out an arrangement with the canal owners to improve the canal service roads sufficiently to allow cyclists to use them and work with the legislature to provide tort indemnity to owners so that the use becomes viable…this enormous widespread network of flat off-road ways to see the region would be an amazing draw as well as a great way for locals to travel about…eventually some could be paved to make them routes for skinny tired bikes.
All good comments,, even the ho-hum NFL comment.
Gerald,, you are no Wussie, you like R.W. have an excellent point,, an infrastructure for bicycles along the canals would help not only the commuters and visiting tourists whom would rather ride,, but would also help the homeless and low income folks that are forced to ride through the winter.
-More support for the local shelters and bicycle co-ops would be cool too.
Great attitudes not only support a community and tourism,, but can help a nation recover from a recession… it all starts with us, the individuals.
Thank you Cyclo-Cross Nat’s for coming to Bend..
Thank you all for being positive!
Woosie Boy: Excellent idea, if the irrigation companies could ever be persuaded to go for it.
Canals are a great idea. I have often wondered why the town has not added some dedicated bike path extension from the River Trail where it gets you to town on first street but does not connect to the trail south of town. So many locals and visitors use this trail only to be dumped onto some of the busiest street. Have sent numberous letters about this to city officials, but never a reply.
Dean,, You are a voice we need… One point already covered by Mr. Miller isthat the Irrigation Co.’s will be hardly persuaded,, but it is not such an irrational idea as they would like us to believe… voices at City Hall CAN be heard and a path system along the canals would be an affordable alternative to fixing the problem we have now which would be to widen the streets to make room for an eight foot “Bike Lane” on each side of SO many streets.
The growth here in Bend will only continue, boom or no boom, recession or no recession, and the need for an alternative route for cyclists and pedestrians will only grow too.
Let us all meet at City Hall and give BPAC some back up on this!!
I have been a City Councilor for a year now and don’t remember getting any letters about this. Excellent ideas though! On the ‘Bicycle and Planned Trail System Map’ I have, which I think is on the City’s website, the River Trail is listed as existing with a gap from 1st St. Rapids to Drake Park listed as ‘planned’. So… It’ll happen, I’m not sure when though. THANKS to everyone who showed up for the Cross Nats!! Bend is definitely Bike Town, USA!
Well said Woody!