Categories
Uncategorized

Professional Snowmobiler Ross Robinson Talks CBD For Athletes

CBD For Athletes Like Ross Robinson 

Ross Robinson grew up snowmobiling. He doesn’t remember his first time on a snowmobile, but getting out on the snow at a young age sparked a passion in Ross that continues to this day. As a professional athlete and Ablis fan, Ross also knows the benefit of CBD for athletes. 

“I used to ride double in front of my dad when I was really young,” he said, “but I didn’t really get hooked on it until I was a teenager and was big enough to ride my own snowmobile.” 

When Ross entered his teens, it was “game on,” he says. Now he’s in his mid-20s and is an established professional snowmobiler and content creator. He often works with companies like Lynx Snowmobiles to create content for his followers (on YouTube, he has 19k followers; on Instagram, his follower count is almost 57k).

“I’ve really enjoyed creating fun and engaging content for my followers,” Ross said. “That’s where my focus will be for the foreseeable future, both in and out of the snowmobile world.” 

Ross highlights fellow snowmobilers in “509 Sled Update,” a YouTube show that showcases insane clips of professionals snowmobiling (also known as sledding). Most of Ross’s content revolves around snowmobiling, but he hopes to branch out into other similar sports. 

Taking His Skills Off The Slopes

As an opportunity hunter, you never know where he might go once something seizes his interest—just as he’s done with his snowmobiling career. 

After learning the ropes from his father and traversing the slopes on his own as a teen, Ross took his snowmobiling to the next level and spent six seasons working at Burandt’s Backcountry Adventure (BBA). This, he says, was “really the springboard for a lot of opportunities in my career.” 

He began working at BBA as a support guide, then spent time running his own groups as a lead guide. During his last few seasons working at Burandt’s, Ross managed the brand’s media alongside his guide duties. Unfortunately, the time commitment of being a lead guide kept him from his other passion: hitting the slopes on a snowmobile wherever, whenever. 

Ross posted a video on his YouTube channel sharing the ins and outs of his choice to leave BBA for new opportunities, but ultimately, he chose to combine his media experience with his love for snowmobiling to embark on a new career path: working for himself, creating really cool content. 

“My biggest accomplishment [to date] is being at a point where I can put together cool projects and make them happen, usually while getting paid in the process,” Ross said. “That’s what I hope to continue to do for years to come.” 

During his snowmobiling career thus far, Ross has explored multiple places across North America, along with excursions overseas to Sweden and Chile. Chile was especially unique, he says, because of the culture and the time of year—While it was 100 degrees at home, he was riding in fresh snow, discovering new zones. 

CBD For Athletes Helps To Reset

Now, Ross stays busy creating content, sharing highlights from the snowmobiling world, and dropping bits of knowledge about all things sledding. He even has a podcast in the works. Each morning, he says, he kicks off the day with something that puts him in the right mindset: Ablis CBD & MCT in his coffee.  

“The variety of products Ablis has is a big win for me,” Ross said. “Whenever I need a refresh, I’ll enjoy an infused sparkling water, and then I’ll use some muscle rub after a session at the gym or a day in the mountains.” Ross is a perfect example of CBD for athletes used to both renew and recover. 

When he’s not out on the snow, Ross takes time to watch actions sports (usually to gain future project inspiration and to plan future adventures), catching up with friends, and occasionally grabbing the Xbox controller to remind everyone that he still can “dominate on the sticks” like back in his teenage days. 

Of course, Ross is still dominating it on the slopes like he did when he was a teen, too. Out there in the mountains, it’s just “myself, my sled, and endless terrain,” he said. That’s really part of the appeal. 

“[Snowmobilers] have the freedom to go wherever our skills can take us, traversing massive ridgelines, climbing up steep and dark creek bottoms,” Ross said. “The exploration is endless, and it’s exploration at 30 miles per hour while flying and jumping off everything imaginable.”  

See Ross Robinson in action on his Instagram or YouTube

Categories
Uncategorized

Beer Guide: The Best of Bend, OR Breweries

Although I may not frequent Bend’s breweries as much as I used to before becoming a dad several years ago, I have many great memories exploring Bend’s brew scene with friends and family. If you’re in the area and have time for a few great beers—even if you can’t tell an IPA from a Pilsner—here are six of my favorite local breweries to stop and enjoy a drink.

Bend, OR: Birthplace of Craft Brews

The brewery scene in Bend is one of the reasons why craft beer has exploded across the country. Not to pat ourselves on the back, but this is the town where it all started with the first initial craft breweries. You won’t see Deschutes on my list (although I love them, I love these six breweries more), but a lot of people credit them for pioneering craft beer as a whole. 

Fun fact: Bend’s heavy involvement in craft brewing acted as inspiration to Jim and Max Bendis when they decided to create Ablis CBD with the same craft mindset—small batches, high quality, and small community. This helped shape the ethos of Ablis…and it helped Bend make a name for itself as the city with top-notch craft breweries.

There are plenty of craft beers now created in Bend, but it’s neat to know that there are a few that were here from the start. If you want to see where the craft brewery boom began, visit Bend! I personally consider this the beer mecca of America…and trust me, it’s worth a pilgrimage. 

6 Great Breweries to Experience in Bend 

A lot of the breweries in town are really about the experience. They have the whole shebang: food, drinks, events. Here are a few of my favorites that I recommend putting at the top of your Bend, OR brewery bucket list. (Have a few brews and try to say that ten times fast!).

1. Silver Moon Brewing

24 NW Greenwood Ave, Bend, OR

MAP IT

This local brewery’s tagline says it all: “Same Great Beer. Same S***ty Location.” It’s what they’re known for. Although the exterior of Silver Moon looks like it could be a dive bar, it’s one of the best tasting rooms in town. 

They call it “the Moon”. 

The walls of the Moon have seen a lot since the building first opened in the 50s—It’s been everything from a furniture store to a machine shop with a strip bar (!!). Its unusual history only adds to Silver Moon’s awesome atmosphere as a down-to-earth, small-town brewery that packs a punch in every sip. 

Jam-packed with random knowledge? Mark your calendar for “Trivia on the Moon”, but keep an eye out for the competition: My Ablis friends, Chad and Parker. They were “year-long champs” in 2020 (mainly because they won the last game before the weekly event was put on hiatus due to COVID-19, and nobody had an opportunity to dethrone them!). 

If you’re hungry, they have great food here (I like to order the fried pickles with their house-made ranch). Our team at Ablis has also collaborated on a few beverages with Silver Moon Brewing in the past, but even if that wasn’t the case, they’d still be my favorite brewery in Bend. 

Go to drink: Mango Pale Ale

Visit Silver Moon Brewing

2. Bend Brewing Company

1019 NW Brooks St, Bend OR

MAP IT

When things warm up in Oregon, I’d suggest hitting the patio at my second favorite brewery, which just so happens to be the second-oldest brewery in town: Bend Brewing Company. They have a smaller, local feel, which is one of my favorite things about them. 

At Bend Brewing, you’ll find rotating brews (give them a phone call to find out what’s currently on tap) and a great atmosphere for drinking beer with your friends. 

Go to drink: Tropic Pines IPA

Visit Bend Brewing Company

3. Crux Fermentation Project

1441 SW Chandler Ave. #100, Bend, OR 

MAP IT

This tucked-away pub is really something special: a brewery restaurant experience like no other. They have a very well-maintained craft focus, and when you dine in the pub, you’re able to walk right past the different tanks and things they use to brew their beer. 

Crux definitely creates amazing drinks—Probably because the people who started it was passionate about the beer above all else. Pro tip: If you see the El Santo stand in their courtyard, grab a bite to eat. You won’t regret it!

Go to drink: Battlestar

Visit Crux Fermentation Project

4. 10 Barrel Brewing Co.

West Side — 1135 NW Galveston Ave

MAP IT

East Side — 62950 NE 18th St 

MAP IT

They may have “sold out” to Anheuser-Busch, but in my eyes, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. simply pursued their dreams and won out by becoming the bigger brewery that they always wanted to be. At the end of the day, they kept their spirit and culture when they joined forces with Anheuser-Busch, and they continue to feel like a small-town brew pub even if they’re technically owned by “the big guys” 

10 Barrel loves to bring the community together with events and great brews on tap at their two locations: West Side and East Side. If you have to choose just one, I’d suggest heading to my favorite: the East location, in the industrial district. 

Go to drink: Pearl IPA

Visit 10 Barrel Brewing Co.

5. Cascade Lakes Brewing Co.

1441 SW Chandler Ave. #100, Bend, OR 

MAP IT

This local brewery has been around for a long time. When I first started drinking, one of the first drinks I had was their Blond Bombshell! There’s no doubt that this brewery is a staple in my life and in Bend, OR. 

They started out in Central Oregon in 1994 and haven’t stopped brewing delicious beer since. Although their brewpub in Bend isn’t open right now, you can still visit their Redmond location for patio dining and great beer. 

Go to drink: Blonde Bombshell

Visit Cascade Lakes Brewing

6. Wild Ride Brewing

332 SW 5th St., Redmond, OR

MAP IT

Wild Ride is a little outside of Bend, close to where I live in Redmond. The owner, Brian Mitchell, is interested in producing the best product possible, which I believe he does. I love the beers that Wild Ride has created so far. 

For a long time, this was Redmond’s only brewery. It was opened in 2014 by three friends who simply loved beer, and although none of them knew anything about brewing, they’ve found brewmasters that continue to create award-winning beers for Wild Ride Brewing. 

Go to drink: 3 Sisters American Red Ale 

Visit Wild Ride Brewing

Awesome Beer Events in Oregon 

Zwickelmania — All across Oregon

If you can’t tell, we’re really passionate about beer here in Oregon. “Zwickelmania” is named after a “Zwickel”: the port on a bright tank, which carbonates the beer. Visitors can go in and out of the breweries tasting samples, which is a great way to get a taste of the Bend brewery scene (almost all of the breweries in town participate). 

Bend Brewfest — Bend, OR 

This craft beer festival offers some of the best beers in the country, as well as the best beers in our city. Bend Brewfest is three days with craft beer, food trucks, live music, and good times. It’s located right across from the Deschutes River in the Old Mill District, which is an awesome area that’s also filled with different shops and restaurants you can enjoy, too. 

Tentatively scheduled for August 19-21, 2021

Bend Ale Trail 

If you still have time to explore, trek the “largest beer trail in the West”. You can download a “passport” from their website, then visit a few participating breweries to receive a prize. Visit Bend began the Bend Ale Trail in 2010 with 6 breweries, and has since expanded to include 22 breweries. 

When you’re traversing the trail or visiting one of my six favorite breweries, remember to have fun, stay safe, and keep an eye out for Ablis CBD on the menu. We always love partnering on new creations with our local breweries. 

Cheers, friends! 

Categories
About Us Uncategorized

An Epic Twelve Hours in Bend, Oregon with Max Bendis

By Max Bendis

With everything that has happened this year and so many states going back into lockdown, I can’t help but daydream about going places and doing things.

Remember having plans?

This year has definitely made me appreciate the little things like walking around town or sitting in a coffee shop, so my best day includes a good balance of memorable activities and life’s little pleasures. 

That’s why I decided to dream up what the best day in Bend, Oregon would look like. I hope this list inspires you to plan an epic day in Bend, too!

8 AM

First things first, caffeine! 

Backporch Coffee is my go-to for that daily fix, and you’ll need it for the day ahead. It’s a great spot to sit and enjoy a killer roast and take it easy for a few minutes.

They have several locations and they’re all great, so take your pick. If you prefer to stay home, you can buy their beans online.

9 AM

After you’ve become sufficiently caffeinated, shuttle up the hill to pick from one of Bend’s great mountain bike trails. Phil’s Trailhead is about 6 miles out and back and is a local favorite. 

In the winter months, I like to head out to Horse Ridge or Cline Butte to avoid a ton of snowfall. If you’re not into mountain biking, Pilot Butte is a great hike to view the city from up high.

12 PM

Time to get some food, and there’s no better spot than The Bite Tumalo. This food cart lot is home to some of my favorites like Heidi’s Grilled Cheesery.

Related: Top 10 Things To Do in Bend, Oregon

1 PM

In the summer months, there’s no better way to spend an afternoon in Bend than with a float down the Deschutes River. It winds right through Downtown Bend and is one of the best ways to see the city.

In the cooler months, go for a walk downtown in the Old Mill District. The Old Mill District is Bend’s historic area of town. Once an industrial area full of mills (hence the name), it now houses some of the best shops and eateries Bend has to offer. I recommend grabbing a beer at Brown Owl.

4 PM

For a brew with a view, Crux Fermentation Project is a perfect spot to wind down after an active morning on the trails and the river. The mountain views and open-air vibe make for a memorable evening and a perfect place to watch the sunset. And their beers are fantastic. 

6 PM

Dinner at Brother Jon’s is where my ideal day would take me. Their Peppersteak Sandwich is one of my all-time favorite bites in town, and I eat it regularly. 

Related: The Last Blockbuster on Earth is in Bend, Oregon

8 PM

Concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheatre in the summertime or the Volcanic Theatre Pub are some of my most missed events of this year. 

Bend has a pretty great music scene for a small town, and I have missed supporting local bands like Strange Rover during the pandemic. 

10 PM

For a nightcap, I’d head into Cascade West Grub & Ale House, which is my favorite dive bar in town. 

Their menu is great for late-night bites as well. You’ll want to stay until last call at this place.

If you make it home before last call, finish your night off with popcorn and a classic rented from the last blockbuster on earth, only in Bend. 

I’m so looking forward to when this epic day in Bend is possible again. For now, buying merch online and ordering take-out are great ways to support your local favorites and help keep Bend alive! 

Keep reading: The Last Blockbuster on Earth