“The Mentor Program” organized by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife allows a child age 9-13 to hunt with another licensed adult hunter. This program allowed my  9-year old son to shoot his first deer during the 2011 hunting season.

As we neared the end of hunting season, time was running out.  I took  two days off from work and pulled my son out of school with hopes that he would get a shot at a an Oregon black tail.  I had saved one of my favorite areas for this purpose.

The drive out to the secret spot was silent that morning. I just kept thinking of all the days my son and I had spent in the field, and the many miles we had walked. It was the fourth quarter and we needed to score.

The rain I had hoped for came, but it was not enough to quiet down the mile and a half walk we were about to endure.

Our destination was a high ridge with a great vantage point on both sides. Just before we arrived at the familiar oak tree where we sat and scanned the open slopes with binoculars, through the hazy fog, I noticed four deer out feeding, then to my surprise, a fifth deer stepped out.

He was a giant. I grabbed my range finder and measured the distance between us and the large buck. He was out of range, and the ground was to open to stalk him without being detected.  It was all I could do to keep my son under control with the big buck in our sights. I tried to explain to him why we could not shoot the deer right now, but at his young age, it was hard for him to understand.

We sat back down and stayed still for an hour giving the deer time to feed up into the canyon, so that we could maneuver and get above them.

Climbing to the next vantage point, we found a nice flat area to rest and have lunch. I took off my backpack and binoculars and proceeded to eat, my son and I trying to figure out what to do next.

I suggested we go to the last saddle and glass the canyon if we didn’t see anything, we would come back tomorrow and try for the big deer we had seen earlier in the morning.

I left my pack there for the three-hundred-yard climb to the saddle. On top of the ridge, we were hidden from the canyon. Every so often, I would scan the terrain. I did not see anything moving in the remote canyon. After about 30 minutes, I returned to my backpack.

Not looking forward to the long hike out, we were back at the lunch location. I was cleaning up when I glanced over my shoulder towards the saddle where we were just standing, and to my surprise a deer stood  watching us.

I quickly picked up my binoculars and saw that it was a doe. However, I noticed movement below the doe and another deer walked into view. A few seconds, later a third appeared, and this was a good legal buck.

“Grifin, that’s your deer, “I said to my son.

We scrambled into position. I quietly slid my backpack in front of him.  The few seconds that it took him to find the deer in the scope seemed like an hour.  I waited for the rifle to go off. As soon as I heard the report of the rifle, I could hear the impact on the deer. It was a perfect first shot.

Walking up to the deer, we were all smiles and my emotions were at an all time high. After some hugs, high fives and photos, it was time for the hard part. It took us 45 minutes to bone out the meat  and load it onto my pack frame. My son and I replayed the story over and over on our pack out and ride home.

I was very proud of him and enjoyed the opportunity that Oregon Fish and Game provided for this experience. My son is already planning his next year’s hunt with dreams of a bigger buck.

Almost a month has already passed us in the shortened 2011-12 NBA season and the Portland Trailblazers have seen how they fair against early competition, only winning two games on the road within the first four weeks of action. Since Brandon Roy was forced into early retirement by his degenerating knees late last year, the Blazers seemed to be in turmoil. But a bright future is in store for them, naming Gerald Wallace, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby, Raymond Felton, and LaMarcus Aldridge to the All-Star ballot, the most in the Western Conference.  Aldridge is also a finalist to represent USA in the Summer Olympics in London. While it looks as things are looking up for the Blazers in the near future, here is what is happening around the rest of the league.

Kevin Durant is already considered “second to none” in the NBA as far as the MVP award goes.  The Oklahoma City Forward is averaging 26 points per game while shooting just under 50 percent from the field.  The Thunder look to own the Northwest division throughout the season, while the 13-3 Bulls are taking over the East led by the current MVP Derrick Rose.  The surprise team thus far is the Philidelphia Sixers, who got knocked out of the playoffs by the Heat in 5 games last year. I’m looking for them to make a return to the playoffs with the leadership of Andre Iguodala and the emergence of rising stars such as Evan Turner and Jrue Holliday. If they continue their teamwork, we might be watching them in the second or third round this spring.

I see all of the usual contenders in the playoff picture this year such as the Lakers, Celtics, and Heat. But I believe there are new kids on the block. The Clippers, with Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin, and new guards Chris Paul and Chauncy Billips, are comparable to last year’s Bulls team. They are young, quick, and solid on both ends of the floor. Don’t be surprised if they finish above the aging Lakers this year.

There has been enough trade talk about Dwight Howard leaving the Magic and it better happen. If it doesn’t by mid season, I think his numbers will continue to drop. The NBA rumor mill has been full of Howard talk. He must want to get out of Orlando. The New Jersey Nets have recently shown interest in the 6’11’’ 265lb. All-Star Center. This is the best place that he could go because he would team up with Deron Williams. Williams is one of the most talented point guards around but hasn’t had much go his way since he left the Jazz last year. The lethal one-two duo would boost the Atlantic division to the most competitive in the East.

2012 may be the Celtics last good year before they want to think about rebuilding. The big three are entering possibly their last year together as Kevin Garnett is approaching retirement. But I believe they will make one last run at the title, hopefully meeting the Heat again in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The reigning NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks are currently eighth in the West, and with almost an entirely new starting lineup surrounding Dirk Nowitzki, the production hasn’t quite met expectations. Veteran guard Vince Carter is now out indefinitely with a sprained left foot for the Mavs, and if they don’t look to make a big mid-season acquisition, they will have no chance in making it far in the playoffs, especially if they meet Portland in a first round rematch.

My NBA finals prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder over the Miami Heat in a 4-3 series. But we will see what the NBA gives us this year in the shortened 66 game season.

Staff writer

Medford Ore.—The Southern Oregon Spartans are in the playoffs again this year.  Known as the Rogue Valley Wranglers when they first started in 07, the Southern Oregon Spartans are rolling into the playoffs this year with a 31-13 record.
Having won six straight games and ten out of the last twelve the Spartans figure to be a problem for anybody in the playoffs.  Their main competition will be coming from the Seattle Totems who have handed the Spartans eight of their thirteen losses this year.
Home games for the Spartans are played at The Rrrink in the south end of Medford.  Going to the games is a great way to spend an evening.  Having never gone before this last weekend we had a blast watching the big hits and high octane offense that the Spartans bring to the table.
If you haven’t made a game yet this year there are only four home games left in the regular season.  Be sure to get to The Rrrink early though because the last few games have all been sellout crowds.  For more information please visit www.sospartans.com

Staff writer

Glendale, Ariz. – Auburn freshman running back Micheal Dyer stole the show, leading the Auburn  Tigers over the  Oregon Ducks in the BCS National championship game.

Most  people  were tuning into the National Championship Game in early January expecting to see Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton or Oregon Heisman Trophy runner up LaMichael James have a big play to change the game for their team.  But no one could have had predicted that Dyer would produce a run that will be on highlight reels for years to come.
With  less  than  two minutes left in the fourth quarter, everybody stopped-  at least for a brief second.Then Dyer, seeing his coaches urging him to run, realized that no whistle had been blown. The run–originally a seven yard gain– turned into 37 yards in an instant.  Defensive back Eddie Pleasant made the hit but failed to get Dyer to touch the ground.  After Dyer’s spectacular run he ran for sixteen more to set up the ball on the one yard line and the Tigers kicked a field goal as time expired to win the game 22-19.
Most of the game was full of miscues and blown third down conversions.  The last five minutes however more than made up for it.  With Auburn driving, the Ducks Casey Mathews, son of the 1980s NFL linebacker Clay Mathews, knocked the ball away from Newton which allowed Oregon to get right back into it.
Down by eight, Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas threw a shovel pass to James for a touchdown then converted the two point conversion with a pass to Jeff Maehl and the game seemed to be headed to overtime.  That’s when Dyer had his big run that led to the field goal that ended the game.
“When it comes down to a field goal at the last second, you can always point to play here, a play there, but it really doesn’t do much for you.  We’re a forward-thinking operation, and we’ll learn from this thing and move forward.” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said according to ESPN.com.
Although the scoreboard didn’t reflect the score that most people were anticipating, both offenses put up good numbers.                  Thomas threw for 363 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, nearly 100 yards more than Newton’s 265 yards although Newton had 1 less interception.            Maehl had 133 yards on 9 receptions with 81 coming on a big play early in the game, which was also the longest play from scrimmage in BCS Championship game history.
The big letdown for Oregon was James, he only rushed for 49 yards, and the team only gained us75 yards on the ground after averaging more than 300 on the season.

Staff Writer

Jen Minor.

Counting down the seconds till I drop with an ear to ear nervous smile, I wonder if they can tell how nervous I am. Pioneer Square is cluttered by onlookers, supporters, friends, bright colored rain jackets and neon sunglasses reflecting the snow. It’s my last hit. I’ve got to make it count.

One… two… three… drop.

My names Jen Minor, 19, and I’m a journalism student at Rogue Community College who made it into Fuel TV’s Cricket Campus Rail Jam snowboarding finals, held May 28 at Pioneer Square in Portland.

I qualified for finals in Corvallis last Friday. To my astonishment, three days later I received the email invite to the finals in Portland — my chance to compete for a $1,000 cash prize, a FuelTV interview, and wide recognition! So my boyfriend Sam saved $200 to drive me in the last few days. I can’t believe it all came together.

It feels odd getting this chance. I’m giddy all over. In one perspective it’s just a rail competition. What chance do I have against sponsored girls, or pros? I’m just a small town girl snowboarder, who grew up riding Mt. Ashland, a mountain many don’t know exists, with ghetto boxes and crooked rails, can I actually make something out of this? Is a career in snowboarding attainable?

“Hey everyone!” the announcer said. “Welcome to the Cricket Campus Rail Jam finals! These guys and girls are the best of the best on the West coast all packed into one final. Every competitor here has worked hard just to be in the finals in Portland, right here in pioneer square. Give em’ a hand!”

I’m soaked from helmet to boots. My hair is such a mess.

“Alright Ladies you ready?” the announcer barked into the microphone. “Go ahead and drop!”

Excited. Nervous. Feeling sick. Stoked. Really nervous. Alright, I’ve got this. I can do it! Straighten out the board… drop and ollie. I’m on the rail. I’m doing it… no, no, no… Ouch, my ribs! I guess not. Right to the ribs on top of the middle double-kinked rail. So embarrassed. This is gonna hurt later. It’s alright, just get up and laugh it off. It’ll be okay, I thought.

The pouring rain never ceased.

“Why the rail first?” I thought and unstrapped my green Flux bindings. Smiling, I stood up, raced over and anxiously waited on the scaffolding stairs. Water logged, sprinting up rickety rusty scaffolding to slide the boxes again, my soggy hair slaps my face.

That moment on the box is like you’re frozen in time gliding down the box, your muscles pressing to stay on. In three seconds the end comes into focus. The board’s base touches down. Focus and adrenaline block out white noise. Sublimely, thousands of people watching, blaring music, announcers, judges and photographers (the white noise) disappear. You glide down the box in slow motion, and the rest is a paused movie. But once you land, the play button is pressed and all the white noise reappears. The clapping, cheering masses, camera flashes, announcers, and the rain drops play as the movie continues.

I stare into the saturated crowd before me, sponging up the atmosphere. Sam is waving, blowing kisses, shouting my name, Mike and his girl friend are bundled in jackets, drowned, trying to stay dry and yelling at the top of their lungs. I wait my turn, I’m ready, ready to drop.

I focus. Count to three. Here goes.

One… two… three… drop.

Leaning to the side, over my front left binding, I pressed as hard as I could to stay in a nose slide on the rainbow down box. The rain drenched me, my board, and the box. The slippery rainy box didn’t equal out as I wanted it to. “I’m coming off to early, no!” I thought falling to the bottom of the landing in the transformed snow-slush. I thought to myself again. “Just laugh”. Slush hitting my face, engulfing my boots and bindings, I hurriedly unstrapped my board.

(After hitting features, it’s important to move out of the landing. Since its jam format, riders can take as many runs as time allows.)

By the time I opened my eyes Sam was on the phone getting directions to our friends. When I realized I failed at staying awake and secondly we were finally driving amongst Portland houses. “Wake up guys! We’re here!” I shouted almost yawning.

“Alright this time I’m going to try the gap to down box” I muttered to myself under my breath stepping up to the top drop-in. Flying down the drop-in, picking up speed, my heart beats faster, I turn my board into a back tail, my shoulders don’t follow my board and legs. Trying to remain calm, I can’t react fast enough. My butt slams on the box and I side out into the slush. Coating myself in the icy mess, I smile and just laugh. Oh, man, that was embarrassing, I think and pick myself up with the drive to get it right.

Running past the crowd at least ten times, and waiting in line to run up the stairs again. The rain drops are bigger, hitting harder. I’m having a blast talking to the others girls, enjoying myself and hoping to land my next trick.

Huffing and puffing and spitting everywhere, I show up to the registration booth in plenty of time. Register. I’m Number 24 and wait for my heat. Heat 2. I have 30 minutes to impress the judges and get as many drops as possible. The dark clouds roll in and bust open as my heat begins.

To my disappointment the announcer calls, “Last drop ladies, make it count!”

Dang it! I want more. I step up the last stair reaching the top of the scaffolding where only a few girls are left waiting. I wish I would have landed more tricks. I breathe deep, concentrated on visualizing my last trick, a switch nose slide on the rainbow box. Pioneer Square is still cluttered by random on lookers, supporters, my friends, bright colored rain jackets and neon sunglasses reflecting the snow. It’s my last hit… I’ve got to make it count… one… two… three… drop…

With all the heats are finished, the announcer called for attention. “The results are in! If you hear your bib number you’ve made it to the finals! So here we go: 1, 8, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22…”

The white noise pauses, I ollie onto the rail switch pressing over the nose as much as I can go, my heart beats faster and faster as I glide in slow motion, the bottom of the rail coming into focus.

“I’ve got it… I’ve got it!” And in less than one second, I slid into the slush again.

I got up smiling, walked to over to my boyfriend and hoped all the other tricks would be enough. He swooped me up, sopping wet, he hugged me tight and holding me, shouting: “I’m so proud of you Jen! You killed it!”

“…25, 28…”

So I didn’t make it to the finals in Portland, but I gave it my all. It was one of the best experiences so far. My friends were right there cheering me on and I was snowboarding in downtown Portland. Even though I fell on some of my tricks, the difference between me and the other girls wasn’t much. Looking back at all the photos, I did my best, even in the drenching rain, and I realized it doesn’t matter if you’re from a small town, it only matters how you get there.

Longboarder takes a spill. (Photo by Jen Minor.)

Spectators wrapped in coats gathered atop the windy hill on April 11 to watch Riverside RCC student Jim Schmidt, age 22, compete in the Burnin’ Thane Slide Competition on Sunday, atop Medford’s Cherry Lane.

Schmidt and fellow long boarders suited up to get their longest slide, best run, and best trick on Medford’s Cherry Lane.

Today he wore a shiny red helmet with pieces of cutting board glued to yellow gloves and his favorite beanie given to him by his mom. “It’s thrilling, good exercise, the perfect escape from everyday stresses, totally mind-freeing,” he said. “It’s so fun.”

Today he wore a shiny red helmet with pieces of cutting board glued to yellow gloves and his favorite beanie given to him by his mom. Competitors lined the hill and stared down at the winding road before them. Judges looked for control, speed, number of tricks and over all style in judging best run. As riders boarded down the hill, spectators awed. Trick variation followed with gasps, nasty falls and cheering spectators.

Before long a Medford police cruiser arrived at the scene. The police officer explained that this was a private road and illegal to long-board without permission. The officer simply asked the long-boarders to move a few streets over or to find a public road. All hopped in cars and speed away to a new location off McAndrews Rd. — which the riders had nick-named “Battle of the Turns.”

The new spot proved better-suited for the Longest Slide and Best Trick competitions after all. A long straightaway created an opportunity for enhanced speed and board control.

Eli Otter of Ashland won Best Run with his unique style, variety of tricks and board control. Ian McGregor and Derrick Scholar tied for Longest Slide, both around 45 feet. Bret Chapmen won Best Trick with a high-speed helmet slide of 25 feet — with his hands behind his back.

Schmidt did not place, but he doesn’t mind. “It just makes your day to get out and ride. It’s about progressing, taking your time and just having fun.”

541longboarding and Jack’s Board House worked together to make the event possible. Locals came, shredded, progressed and experienced the slide competition. They are always looking for more riders, so if you want to join Schmidt to “go do some hills and have some fun,” visit 541longboarding.com for more information.

BY JEN MINOR
BYLINE STAFF

On a Saturday night, Southern Oregon’s own roller derby girls and their team, the Bunnies, laced up their quad skates to battle Coos Bay’s finest Roller derby girls: the Rockin’ Roulettes. The crowd cheered endlessly. Loyal fans waved horns, bells, whistles and clever signs. Loud bellows echoed from the beer garden. Fierce and robust, with glued mustaches, torn fishnet tights, and fire-red sleeveless tank tops, the Rockin’ Roulettes were tanks – eager to pulverize the competition. With their bunny ears poking out from helmets, cotton tails bobbing on shredded black skirts, matching red ripped shirts, lipstick and striped knee-highs of every color, the Southern Oregon Bunnies were smoldering vixens ready to hex some voodoo.

“Eye of the Tiger” blasted from amongst the crowd. Number 1000 B.C., “DinoGirl,” and Number 110, “Jeneralchos,” are Rogue Community College students Jane Piper, 21, and Jenna Renfro, 24, playing for the Southern Oregon Bunnies. They skated shoulder-to-shoulder and sling teammates to the front of the pack. They skate lean, agile and swift. Roller derby is a simple, intense, physical and tactical game with penalties for illegal moves – like an elbow to the face. Renfro, excited and red in the face, proclaimed: “It takes guts and strength. And if you are not falling a little bit, you are not putting enough effort into it.”

The goal of roller derby is to score as many points as possible during a “jam.” If jammers pass all the pivots and blockers first they are lead jammer. When it was Dinogirl’s turn to be jammer, she donned a sparkly helmet for protection as she maneuvered through the pack. Speeding by, she managed to steal the lead spot. Gasping for air, Jane Piper said

“Oh, my gosh!” Piper said, gasping for air. “I can’t even think what it’s like because of all the adrenaline. I just go for it!”

The packs of girls exchanged piercing looks, focusing before the referee blew the whistle. Five girls skated from each team. Four out of five were blockers and one a pivot. The pivot set a fast pace so the enemy jammer couldn’t pass. Once all the girls in the pack passed the starting line the whistle for the jammers blew. The jammers raced off. Dinogirl cut in front with speed and approached the pack. She looked for a helpful push amongst teammate Jeneralchos.

“NoPantsCoco” (playing for the Rockin’ Roulettes) hurdled towards the front but it was too late. Shoved, Dinogirl broke through the pack first and racked up points until she began slapping her hands on her hips, signaling the referees to officially end the jam. Each jam consisted anywhere from two to five minutes, packed into two thirty-minute periods.

This particular Saturday night, Coos Bay was looking for their chance to even the score. Aggressiveness and the desire to win gleamed in the sweat that dripped from the Rockin’ Roulettes’ flushed faces. They leapt 19 points to a score of 33 in the second period. Many bruises later – and thanks to speed, agility, tactics, and a couple of illegal elbows – the Southern Oregon Bunnies won with an outstanding final score of 136 points to 33.

“It’s so much fun and empowering,” Piper exclaimed. “I just love it!”

Next, the girls skate against rivals in Reno and are looking to recruit more skaters who love hard play and travel. Renfro has only been skating for a month and is stoked on the atmosphere. “These girls are like sisters to me or the closest friends I’ve ever had. More girls should just man up and do it!”

If you are interested in joining, contact the girls online at SouthernOregonRollerGirls.com.