Kabush and Trebon dab while cresting this climb at the USGP Deschutes Brewery Day 2. © Cyclocross Magazine
BEND, OREGON – Bowen Sports Performance will host its third annual CXmas Party on Thursday evening, December 5, 2013, prior to a weekend of cyclocross racing in Bend. The fundraiser will feature the “Art of Cyclocross” photography exhibit, a Q&A with professional cyclists and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit the non-profit CXmas Junior Fund which awards travel stipends to selected Oregon junior cyclists who will attend the US Cyclocross National Championships.
“The CXmas Party is the highlight of the year for us because it gives us a chance to give back,” says Bart Bowen. “It’s gratifying to see it growing bigger each year, not just in terms of how much money we raise, but also because of how it has supported the community. After two years of helping juniors attend nationals, we’re seeing those same kids come back and grow, level upon level, and really develop into great athletes. And every year, we can touch a few more, and keep more juniors involved in a sport they can enjoy their entire lives.”
Last year’s CXmas Party raised over $2,500 which was combined with proceeds from the Future Cross cyclocross race in September to help four juniors attend the US Cyclocross Nationals in Wisconsin last January. This year’s national championships will be held in Boulder, Colo., January 8-12, 2014.
“I really appreciate all the time and hard work the Bowen Sports Performance team and volunteers put in to help Oregon kids like me have the experience of traveling to cyclocross nationals in Madison,” says Lance Haidet, who was a CXmas Junior Fund recipient last year. “I feel honored to have such a supportive community.”
There will also be a fundraising event at 5pm on Saturday for Haidet’s trip to EuroCrossCamp as well. He added, “This cyclocross season has already been amazing for me. Racing for Bear Development Team and being coached by Chris Burnham, has given me the chance to be faster than I have ever been. They have been extremely supportive in getting me to the larger UCI races that I have needed to attend to accumulate the points I need to race at the next level . The hard work of both my team and I, has paid off, and I have been offered the opportunity to be apart of this year’s Eurocross Camp.”
“This will be the 11th year in a row that Geoff Proctor, the camp director, has been gracious enough to take the United State’s fastest UCI Junior, U23, and Pro racers across the pond to Belgium for two weeks. We will be racing both Namur and Zolder World Cups, Loenhout bPost bank trofee and Baal bPost GP Sven Nys, as well as Diegem Superprestige. In all five of these races I will be up against the World’s fastest racers, and some of the World’s hardest courses and conditions. These two weeks over Christmas time will be a complete immersion into pure European cyclocross. The racing, training, and learning experience of a lifetime. The majority of the racers who have attended the camp in the past are now racing at the highest level over here in the United States. It has been my dream to attend this camp ever since my dad got me into racing at age 12. Your generous support will help to achieve my dream.”
To find out more on Lance, check out CXM’s Issue 20 profile of the young racer!
The CXmas Party kicks off a weekend of cyclocross action, including the UCI-sanctioned Deschutes Brewery Cup on Saturday, December 7, and the finale of the Cross Crusade series on Sunday, December 8. Doors open at Bowen Sports Performance for the CXmas Party at 6:30 p.m., and there is a suggested minimum donation of $5 at the door. Bowen Sports Performance is located at 225 NE Lafayette Avenue in Bend.
