Inaugural Bend Dirt Fest a Big Success

The inaugural Bend Dirt Fest exceeded expectations this past Saturday, attracting more than 120 competitors to the scenic trails of Deschutes National Forest. Despite only a few months of planning, the event showcased a half-marathon trail run, a 54-mile gravel grinder, and a 36-mile mountain bike course, all designed to celebrate the adventurous spirit of Bend, Oregon

Race organizer Mike Ripley, owner of Mudslinger Events, expressed his enthusiasm for the event's success. “The foundation has been laid for a monster event in 2026,” he stated. “The goal was to create an event that embraced the adventure of Bend, where someone could roll out of bed, go run a half, grab their bike, and have a great day.”

The Bend Dirt Fest replaced the previously scheduled Oregon 24 mountain biking event, which faced cancellation due to U.S. Forest Service restrictions on dispersed camping. Ripley quickly pivoted to create the Bend Dirt Fest, ensuring that participants could still enjoy a thrilling day of racing. “Ideally, we would launch an event like this in the winter to build excitement and allow participants to plan their trips,” he added. “However, despite the late start, it was a hit.”

Participants included local athletes and visitors alike, with Grace Perkins, a Bend resident, finishing as the top woman in the half-marathon with a time of 1:35:13.9. “I’m surprised Bend doesn’t have more events like this because everyone does so many different activities,” Perkins noted. “It is fun to have a multisport event where you can have a team and get all the activities going.”

The races commenced at the Athletic Club of Bend, utilizing singletrack trails and dirt roads. The gravel race featured nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain over the first 30 miles, while the mountain bike course included over 3,000 feet of climbing in the first 22 miles. Matthew Bird, a 29-year-old from Adelaide, Australia, took home the win in the gravel grinder with a time of 2:35:08.4. Kristina Gray, 54, from Sherwood, secured the fastest women’s gravel time at 3:16:24.2.

In the mountain biking category, Joe Giannetto, 35, from Bend, claimed victory with a time of 2:21:33.6, finishing nearly seven minutes ahead of his closest competitor. Maya Holzman, 41, also from Bend, recorded the fastest women’s mountain bike time at 3:03:41.

Ripley reflected on the event’s success, stating, “It was super successful. I couldn’t be more stoked with it. Next week, we have the High Cascades 100, our biggest event, and I’m excited to see how it unfolds.”

The Bend Dirt Fest has set the stage for future growth, promising to become a staple in the multi-sport event calendar for years to come.

Link to 2025 Bend Dirt Fest Results: https://my.raceresult.com/334125/results