Online registration with early bird pricing is now open for the 46th SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle multisport race, according to a news release.

Produced by and for the benefit of Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, the event is set for May 18.

Participants can register as individuals, pairs, or teams at PPPBend.com.

Held each May, the Pole Pedal Paddle has been a tradition in Central Oregon since 1976 and annually attracts thousands of competitors from throughout the Northwest and beyond. The PPP is also a critical fundraiser for MBSEF, a Central Oregon nonprofit that “creates opportunities through competitive snow sports programs to support athletes in achieving their individual athletic, academic, and personal goals.”

The multi-sport race will stretch from the slopes of Mt. Bachelor to the new finishing area at Bend’s Riverbend Park. The race’s legs include alpine and cross-country skiing, cycling, running, and paddling.

Athletes of all ages compete in divisions ranging in skill level from novice to elite, and either individually or as part of a pair or team.

“The SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle is an enduring tradition that celebrates the outdoors, active living, and the unique character of Central Oregon,” said Amy Tarnow, executive director of MBSEF.

“A big part of the draw is that the race not only showcases the skills of elite athletes, but it also brings together competitors of all ages and skill levels in the spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition. But the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle has remained a can’t-miss event for nearly a half-century because it is more than just a race. It’s a testament to the vitality of the Pacific Northwest and Central Oregon’s passion for an active lifestyle.”

The PPP legs include downhill skiing or snowboarding on the Leeway Run at Mt. Bachelor; an 8-kilometer cross-country ski on Bachelor’s nordic trail system; a 22-mile road bike ride from Bachelor to Bend; a 5-mile run along the Deschutes River Trail; a 1.5-mile paddle along the Deschutes; and a half-mile “sprint” to the new finish area at Riverbend Park.

Also new this year, the paddle-to-sprint transition will be located at Farewell Bend Park.

Last year, Bend’s Jesse Thomas won his fourth PPP elite individual men’s title in a time of 1 hour, 52 minutes, 54 seconds. Alayna Sonnesyn, of Stratton, Vermont, won the women’s elite individual race, holding off five-time champion Zoe Roy, of Bend, to finish in 2:14:08.

Discounted early bird registration is available through April 7, ranging from $55 per person for 12-and-under teams to $125 for elite athletes.

For more information or to register for the SELCO Pole Pedal Paddle event, visit www.pppbend.com.