Website News

The 25th Annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival is just around the bend: May 17th and 18th. If you were there last year, you witnessed kayaking take an interesting turn and become airborne. The crowd loved it! What will they do next? If you are new to this event, here's the skinny: everyone is invited! Watch local boaters compete and show off their skills, meet other river enthusiasts, learn more about river recreation in our area, take part in any of the free educational clinics offered, join the complimentary BBQ at Lockaby Campground sponsored by Next Adventure. *Experienced boaters-(up to class IV rapids) sign up and participate. Here's a short clip, available on Google Video, documenting last year's event. Enjoy! And we'll see you on the river. (Map)

Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival 24: Photos

The 2007-2008 season reflected the biggest turn out for Hood Series in years. We especially saw an increase in freestyle skiers! My favorite part of being the Series Director is watching competitors make friends, increase their confidence, and improve their skills all throughout the season.

Throughout the entire season, Next Adventure has been kicking down schwag. At our last competition, Jacob Riddell was awarded goggles. At the beginning of the season he was telling me how bad he needed new goggles...well by the end of the season, he actually got two new pairs! Also that day, Adam Kays scooped up a snow shovel! Perfect for Adam. I can see him now hiking to some sweet spot, building a kicker with is dad and friends! Finally to top off an awesome season, Kent Callister went home with a Technine jib-board. Kent lives up to the saying "Attitude is Everything!" He had a great attitude no matter the conditions and always encouraged other competitors.

I could never run Hood Series by myself. It takes the support of volunteers, judges, course setters, time keepers and many more. Even though many events were rescheduled due to too much snow, the groomers came through for us providing 15 safe, fun, professional snow venues. Last but not least...I want to thank Deek, Bryan, Ginnette and the rest of the amazing staff at Next Adventure for all your support. Thank you for believing in Hood Series and encouraging us in our adventures on the snow!

~Paula Matosin
USASA Hood Series Director

[Hood Series 2008 Photos]
[Hood Series 2008 Video Clips]

It has been an amazing winter on Mt. Hood! Even the most seasoned veterans will tell you they haven't seen snow like this in years. These are the kind of days that many of us Next Adventure employees live for. With work, school, family and other obligations it can be tough to get to the mountain and ride as often as we want to- for some of us, that is everyday. One thing that makes it possible is night skiing at Ski Bowl. Ski Bowl is our nation's largest night ski area, open every day of the week as late as 10pm (11pm on weekends), and is just a little closer than the rest so, perfect for those evenings after work or school. Oh, and don't forget Ladies Night on Tuesdays- ladies ski for only $13 bucks! Click the Ski Bowl logo to see their hours of operation and explore their site.

This weekend, Sunday February 10th, was another Slopestlye event of the USASA Hood Series at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Saturday evening before the Slopestyle Paula, Hood Series director and all-around-awesome lady, sent out emails to let everyone know "The Slopestyle [was] on!!" thanks to Mt. Hood Meadow's park crew and groomers who reshaped the snow-saturated course that night.

The extra effort of Meadow's staff, officials and volunteers has been crucial to the success of this series. The number of participants is steady in the 40's and 50's with a wide range of competitors- guys, gals, young and young at heart. If you are interested in participating, contact Paula for details.

Stay tuned for pictures from this Slopestyle and updates on upcoming events.

Check out Hood Series '08 photos cnotributed by Kris Goodwillie and Paul Kays and Video coverage also courtesy of Paul Kays.

The last few events of the USASA "Hood Series" have been sweet success. The turn out for the Half Pipe and Slopestyle was really impressive with the number of participants reaching the 40'-50's.

The BoarderX, scheduled to take place Sunday Feb.3, was cancelled due to the epic amount of snowfall. So much that the groomers have to focus all their attention on the runs- and who can complain about that. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming events or contact Paula Matosin, Hood Series Director.

Check out this year's photos from the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Half Pipe and Slopestyle - thanks to Paul Kays and Kris Goodwillie- and don't miss out on the video clips uploaded to Google video- also courtesy of Paul Kays.

The 2007 PDX Kayaker Film festival was another great success! With great video entries, a solid judging panel (a.k.a. the Academy), and support from the community it was a good time for all. The proceeds reached over $1400 dollars which was donated to American Whitewater. A big shout out to the sponsors who donated gear and everyone who bought tickets! The all ages show was also a success and thanks to all of you who attended. With the top three films; "New Line", "Good Lines", and "The Middle White Salmon" battling it out for the top spot it was Thereon Jordan’s "Good Lines" that won the $350 purse prize. All the videos will be on Jason Rackley’s web page www.oregonkayaking .net for people to view. A special thanks to Bliss Stick kayaks for donating the grand prize in the raffle, which was a Bliss Stick boat of choice! Thanks again to the PDX Kayaker community for their continued support of the Film Festival and everyone else that made this year’s event better than ever!

Check out pics from the festival...

Team Next Adventure/Ragged Energy

All photos are courtesy of www.bigblueadventure.com who were the organizers of the race.

Hi, I am team Next Adventure/Ragged Energy. I was a lonely solo participant in this rather gruelling event. But, alas I did prevail and finshed intact with only a few cuts, bruises and stings! I actually placed third in the solo class. Not bad for a 53 year old, 4 weeks out of knee surgery. I would like to thank Bryan and Deek of Next Adventure for helping to sponsor me and making this possible. I hope that I did them proud. On to the race!

The race was centered in the Oakriddge Oregon area and involved 70 miles of mountain biking, 20 miles of trekking and 15 miles of kayaking. ( numbers are valid if you did not get lost ).

From the start (our bikes and kayaks were staged the night before ) we were shuttled and dropped of in the woods and had to run to the first checkpoint to get the info for the race, then run to the next checkpoint to get our bikes.

Off we went for about 45 miles of rather hairy single track to the drop off then a run to an island checkpoint. During this wet ordeal I step on a yellow jacket nest in a wood pile and proceeded to get myself stung about 50 times. I was not sure of the potential outcome so I popped all the Benydryl I had in my med kit and continued on, itching along the way.

In the middle of the first biking section they added a little bonus event. Jumping in the cold Willamette to snag a hanging cargo net. Which you then climbed up to read a number. Then climb down and swim back in the rather cold and fast flowing water.

Next came 15 miles of kayaking as the sunset and the stars came out. Pretty marvelous site and the most enjoyable part of the race besides finishing.

Then night had fallen and off for the trekking section – mostly uphill to get to our bikes again. We had to pretty well carry our bikes on a part of this last section up about 800 feet of steep rock scramble to the top of a peak and then down the other side. I did not bike that part – out of my league and I love life- whatever I may have left.

Ahh, but in the final leg of the race I joined up with Team Manny ( good beer ) and we rode together. We stop at a junction and did not open the map all the way which lead to a bad route error that cost us an extra 12 miles and 2000 feet. Not what you wanted to do near the end of a 24 hour race. We were doing fine in position up till then, Oooppps.

But alas we did make it to the finish to a good stash of iced beer and a long and tired drive home.

Just in time to plan for the next 24 race Sept 15 http://4thdar.com/24hourar.aspx

Team Nike the first place team (left) and Myself getting my 3^rd place beer mug (right).

By: Gary Dunkley
Thanks Gary!! Way to Go!!