Oregon Adaptive Sports

In three weeks, OAS athletes, volunteers, and staff will head out for another Cycle Oregon Rally.

It's a week many of us look forward to all year. We're grateful for partners like , who work alongside us to make this experience possible and help ensure more people can enjoy the adventure.

We can't wait to hit the road!

Image Description: Two people pause with their cycles at a scenic overlook above Crater Lake. One person stands and waves at the camera while another sits in a recumbent handcycle along a stone wall overlooking the lake and surrounding cliffs.

The past couple of weeks have brought smoky skies, changing conditions, and more program cancellations than we'd like.

We know those cancellations can be disappointing, and we're incredibly grateful to our athletes, volunteers, community, and staff for your patience and flexibility as we make decisions with everyone's safety in mind.

The outdoors are where we gather, but they aren't what makes OAS a community. Community means something different to everyone. To us, it's the people who continue to show up for one another, even when the weather changes our plans.

We're looking forward to getting everyone back outside together! We'll continue making decisions with everyone's safety in mind. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as conditions change.

Image Description: Viewed from behind, a person rides a three-wheeled recumbent cycle down a winding dirt trail through a pine forest. Another rider on a similar cycle is farther ahead on the trail.

One of our goals this summer has been simple: create more opportunities to get outside!

That commitment has taken shape in a few exciting ways, including the expansion of Community Golf to Sunriver Resort and the launch of our weekly Community Paddling program.

Last night, golfers of all experience levels came together for another evening on the Meadows Course at Sunriver. Whether someone was taking their first swing or working on a skill they've been building all season, there was plenty of encouragement, learning, and laughter along the way.

A special thank you to the golf professionals at Resort who joined us last night. Thank you for sharing your time, your expertise, and your enthusiasm with our athletes. From helping golfers around the course to offering personalized instruction and encouragement, you made a memorable evening even better.

Image Descriptions: ID1 A group of golfers practices on a driving range under a clear blue sky. Golf bags line the grass while participants take swings with mountain views in the distance. ID2 A golfer sits in his wheelchair beside a golf ball while an instructor kneels to place a tee in the grass. Golf clubs and practice balls rest nearby on the driving range. ID3 A young golfer prepares to hit a ball while an instructor stands nearby with a pile of golf balls, offering guidance on the driving range. ID4 A young golfer sits in an adaptive golf cart and swings a club on the driving range. Golf balls are scattered across the grass with trees and mountains in the background.

In case you missed this month's e-news, we'd love to re-introduce you to Braden!

Braden has been part of the OAS community since 2012. Even while growing up overseas in Indonesia, China, and Thailand, he returned to Bend each summer to spend time outside with OAS.

Now living in Central Oregon, you'll find him riding, skiing, exploring, and serving as one of our Ambassadors of Stoke.

As a nonspeaking adult with profound autism, Braden has found the outdoors to be a place where he connects with the people and places he loves most. His family shared that finding opportunities to connect with others has not always been easy, but recreation has become a powerful way for Braden to express himself, build relationships, and be part of a community where he is welcomed and understood.

Over the past 14 years, Braden has become a familiar face in the OAS community, and today we're proud to have him representing that community as one of our Ambassadors of Stoke.

Image Description: On the left, Braden stands outdoors wearing a yellow life jacket, black shorts, and sunglasses. On the right, a black-and-white photo shows Braden riding a mountain bike. A blue-tinted forest fills the background, with an orange mountain-line graphic running across the center. White text at the top reads, "O-A-S Ambassador of Stoke:" and large orange text below reads, "Braden Boll."

Last week, OAS welcomed veterans from across the country to Bend through our partnership with Team Semper Fi, Semper Fi & America's Fund .

Over several days, participants explored Central Oregon by gravel bike, from quiet forest roads to well-earned coffee stops. The week offered space to challenge themselves, experience a new landscape, and connect with other veterans through outdoor recreation.

Partnerships like this are another important part of our mission, creating opportunities that bring people from across the country together through adaptive and inclusive outdoor recreation.

Image Descriptions: ID1: A group of 7 cyclists gathers in a parking lot before a gravel ride. ID2: A cyclist wearing a blue patterned shirt rides along a forest trail with a person riding an adaptive handcycle behind them. Dust rises from the trail as they travel through a stand of pine trees. ID3: A cyclist wearing an orange helmet, a white, blue, and red Team Semper Fi cycling jersey, light-colored shorts, and black gloves rides a blue mountain bike along a forest trail. Another cyclist follows behind as dust rises from the trail. ID4: One person bends over an upside-down blue mountain bike while making an adjustment, as another person stands nearby watching. Three other cyclists wait in the background among pine trees, including one wearing a white Team Semper Fi jersey.

The 7th Annual First Chair Gala is coming up on Thursday, October 8th, and we're already counting down to one of the most impactful nights of the year for OAS.

Wait... what exactly is First Chair?

First Chair is Oregon Adaptive Sports' annual fundraising gala, bringing together athletes, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and supporters for an evening that celebrates our community while raising the funds that make year-round adaptive outdoor recreation possible.

It's a night of great food, meaningful stories, an incredible auction, and a room full of people who believe everyone deserves access to the outdoors.

If you'd like to learn more about the event, visit the First Chair page on our website to explore past auctions, photos, and what the evening is all about.

Tickets go on sale August 13th. With a limited number available each year, we encourage anyone interested to learn more and mark their calendar!

Image Descriptions: ID1 A volunteer wearing ski goggles and a name tag smiles while greeting guests inside the First Chair Gala. People gather in conversation around her as attendees arrive. ID2 Tables are set for dinner inside the First Chair Gala venue. Wooden mountain decorations and floral arrangements frame the stage at the front of the room. ID3 Guests greet one another outside the First Chair Gala venue while others gather and visit in the background beneath string lights. ID4 2 guests greet one another at a table at the First Chair Gala venue beneath string lights. ID5 A large floral arrangement sits beneath an "UNLOAD HERE" sign with vintage skis nearby. A decorative ski lift safety sign reading "Lift Ski Tips" is displayed at the base of the arrangement.