Xterra race continues to give back to Sisters

An athletic event that was once Scott Buckles’ dream is now heading successfully toward its fourth year. Buckles began the Sisters High Cascades Off Road Triathlon with $10,000 seed money — half from Sisters Athletic Club and half from the Sisters Rotary Club.

Last week, he returned the Rotary Club’s investment and gave the club an additional $2,500. He had already paid back the Athletic Club. Each year, Buckles plans to donate money to Rotary to show his appreciation for getting him started financially and for volunteering on the day of the race.

“My thanks to all you again,” Buckles told Rotarians. “We can’t do it without all the help.”

The event has now grown into what Buckles hoped for: It promotes the area to visitors and gives money back to the community. Last August, the triathlon attracted 165 top-notch athletes from more than 15 states.

“All of a sudden it turns into a $20,000 payday. It all stays here,” said Buckles of the potential income the growing event can raise for Rotary.

In past years, Buckles participated in poorly organized races. So he took matters into his own hands and organized the Sisters High Cascades Off Road Triathlon. The event at Suttle Lake includes a swim across the lake, a mountain bike race on the hilly terrain around the lake and a trail run. The race is part of the Nissan Xterra Points Series which consists of more than 50 races across the United States.

Buckles said the reason for the success of the event lies in community support. His original paid sponsors are still on board with the race and get good name recognition at the event. Buckles adds there are some unsung helpers too. For example, Hoyt’s Hardware gave lumber for bike racks so the event doesn’t have the cost of renting them each year. One supporter even offered to store the racks in his barn.

In 2006, there will be a couple of new additions to the event. Camp Davidson, on Suttle Lake’s west shore, will participate to help house participants and provide parking.

“Without parking spots, we literally have no event,” said Buckles of the limited parking space available at Suttle Lake. He hopes Camp Davidson’s participation will give them good exposure for their facility.

Also, instead of a one-day event, the triathlon will be a two-day event on the weekend of August 19 and 20.

Buckles is already planning ahead for this coming summer.

“The bigger it gets, the more volunteers we need,” said Buckles. He provides lunch, a T-shirt and “fun” for the volunteers. He hopes for 60 volunteers this summer, which would be an increase from past races.

Buckles’ day job is as a real estate appraiser. But each summer, he and his wife donate hundreds of hours to coordinate the race. The Buckles organize every detail from helping to find lodging for the athletes, to organizing meals, permits, plotting the race course and coordinating the volunteers.

Buckles has not yet paid himself for this job but joked this year he might at least reimburse himself for gas. He said the race is now a “well-oiled machine.” However, someday he would like to “pass the torch.”

“I hope that it continues to get bigger,” said Buckles. “I want the event to promote Sisters.”