Going Extreme with Oregon Sports

Oregon, while being well known for the states traditional sports, has an ever growing and thriving extreme sports fascination. In the national spotlight Oregon is recognized for its professional and academic sports teams. From the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Portland Trail Blazers, Canadian Hockey League's (CHL) Portland Winterhawks, to the University of Oregon's Ducks college football or the Oregon State Beavers college baseball. Also, not to be overlooked, is the states endeavors in up and coming national sports. Oregon is also home to the Portland LumberJax for the National Lacrosse League (NLL), and is bidding to be the home of the next Major League Soccer (MLS) team. But as sports go in Oregon, that's just the beginning.

You cannot talk about extreme sports, without bringing up BMX biking or skateboarding. With just about 90 skate parks statewide there is no shortage of space for these active sports. From the infamous skate park located under the Burnside Bridge, to the nearly 3,000 square feet of the most visited park in the Northwest located in Newberg. Whether you're there to attempt to show off your skills, or simply to watch, you're bound to see some amazing tricks, but the well designed concrete parks are not the only attractions that bring extreme sports to the state.

The state of Oregon is also very well known for its scenic beauty, and with its beauty comes amazing potential for extreme sports. From the mountain tops, to the rivers and down to the beaches, the landscape doesn't disappoint. Try climbing Mt. Hood above 1000 feet, or take your skis or snowboard and attempt to master over 2,600 acres of skiable terrain. If you ever drop by Dallas in Oregon, take a chance at water skiing, wakeboarding or world-class windsurfing on the Columbia river. Maybe you're not looking to be on the water. Try renting a Sport UTV and taking on the largest area of dunes in the country. In 1972, 32k+ acres of dunes, forest, and lakes were put aside for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Almost 50 miles are waiting to be conquered.

Extreme sports may not have the clout of major league athletics, but they are attracting more people year by year. The summer and winter X Games are a testament to that, going on to their 15^th season. Its exciting to see alternative sports being pushed to their limits and breaking new records every year, and its a safe bet to believe Oregon will always be a top destination to see these historic moments happen.