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Dirksen Derby Raises Money and Raises Stoke

The Dirksen Derby in Mt. Bachelor, Oregon is known for keeping it loose. For seven years it's offered same day sign-ups and welcomed the hundreds of inebriate hecklers that line its banks. Pros ride alongside amateurs and anyone willing to brave the ultra tight berms has place in the line-up. But its accessibility doesn't just extend to those better at partying than planning. Like snowboarding is your reason for existing, accessibility is Dirksen Derby's reason for existing.

With all the talk of building participation rates in the industry, this is an event that takes it to heart, because the event is a sit ski race first and a snowboard rally second. Tyler Eklund, a Bend local who suffered a devastating spinal injury in 2006, is the event's inspiration, co-organizer, and main beneficiary of the $20,000 raised this year. The non-profit he now works with, Oregon Adaptive Sports, provides resources to get disabled riders back sliding on snow again. Although the category was only 4 deep, the Sit Ski division owned the spotlight on a course that it was my goal not to fall on.

The hand-dug hell track is 40 seconds of berms, doubles, and 180+ degree snake coils spread over two parallel courses. Riders race both and compete based on their combined time. A separate 8 foot bomb-drop had the Derby Elites pro-division riders relying on brutal arm strength to make the gap to tranny. I know because I poached one for Snocon during the practice session.

The experience had me thinking about my life after paralysis and it's a relief knowing our community will be there to catch my fall.

Jake Blauvelt clears another hurdle in his adidas.