The Pole Pedal Paddle is Central Oregon's largest multi-sport race, run every May since 1976, sending roughly 3,100 competitors through alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and a 20-mile bike ride at Mt. Bachelor before a run, kayak leg and sprint finish through downtown Bend to the Deschutes River.
The Pole Pedal Paddle began in 1976 as a way to link Mt.
Few multi-sport races anywhere combine winter and summer disciplines in a single course the way this one does, starting with a downhill ski or snowboard run at Mt
Bachelor, moving into a 6-kilometer Nordic ski leg, then a 20-mile road bike ride down from the mountain into Bend, followed by a 5-mile run, a 1
mile kayak or paddleboard leg on the Deschutes River, and finally a half-mile sprint to the finish, all completed solo or split among a team
As the largest annual fundraiser for the Mt
Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, the race directly funds athletic programs for more than 800 young athletes each year, giving the event's roughly 3,100 participants a direct stake in Central Oregon's youth ski and outdoor sports development
The race's six-leg structure
moving from alpine skiing at the top of Mt
Bachelor down through Nordic skiing
running and paddling to a sprint finish in downtown Bend
has remained the event's format since 1976
deliberately tracing a route from mountain snow to valley river in a single continuous competition
Dates TBA · Usually May
For Pole Pedal Paddle, plan transport around the exact Bend venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Technical athletic layers suited to transitioning between snow-sport and warm-weather disciplines in a single morning, since Mt. Bachelor's slopes and Bend's valley floor can differ...
Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.
For Pole Pedal Paddle, stay near the part of Bend you will actually use, with reliable return transport.
Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.
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Pole Pedal Paddle is listed for May · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Bend, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Bend, OR
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