May 25, 2008 (Bend, Oregon) – Over its 32-year history, Bend, Oregon’s annual Pole-Paddle-Pedal competition has seen its individual class dominated by cross-country ski racers. This year was no different as Oregon X-C ski team members, and Bend residents, Marshall Greene and Sarah Max topped the men’s and women’s field.

It was win number three in a row for Greene who completed the five-segment (alpine ski, x-c ski, bike, run and paddle) race in 1:45:04. Second place went to fellow Oregon X-C team member Zach Violett in 1:47:38.

For her part, Max moved up from a second place finish last year behind former U.S. Ski Team member of Olympian Suzanne King to win in 2:03:39. After four consecutive wins, King passed on this year’s race as she prepared to spend time working with young women in Kenya this summer.

King is but one in a list of former U.S. Ski Team members and Olympians to win the PPP. Others include multi-time winners Ben Husaby, Dan Simoneau, and Justin Wadsworth.

Over 2,800 people competed in the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation sponsored event which begins with a LeMans start on foot to awaiting alpine skis on the slope of Mt Bachelor. After a short downhill ski, competitors transition to a 6.4km cross-country ski followed by a 35-kilometer ride from the Mt Bachelor ski area to Bend where they make a short 1-kilometer paddle followed by an 8-kilometer run to the finish.

For full results go to www.mbsef.org and click on Pole-Paddle-Pedal.