Get ready, Eugene, because there is a new magazine in town. Oregon Outdoor, or O2, officially released its first issue on Thursday May 7, at a launch party held at Oakshire Brewing Public House.
The house was packed. As soon as I walked in, I was surrounded by a constant murmur of excited conversation over the rhythmic sound of a live band performing. Ready to greet me with a copy of the issue, along with other giveaways, was the editor of Oregon Outdoor, Kyle Hentschel.
“The turnout has been bigger than I thought it would be,” Hentschel said.
Though the entire staff of the magazine is a part of the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon, the publication is not associated with the university. Therefore, the staff chose to have their launch event at a location where they could draw in both students and outdoor activists from the greater Eugene area.
“We figured the microbrew culture is the place to be to reach (our key demographic),” Hentschel explained. “We were able to get Oregon Paddle Sports and Simply Cycle to come in and table (the event). It just seemed like a web of the same type of person who would enjoy the magazine.”
Outside of the restaurant, I ventured over to the Oregon Paddle Sports table. Owner Ken Rodgers was there because he believed that Oregon Outdoor was a perfect fit with his company.
“Just look at the cover,” he said, pointing to a copy of the pilot issue. “There’s a kayak on it.”
Oregon Paddle Sports is conveniently located near Fern Ridge Lake, so they are able to allow customers to take their equipment for a test run. They have a “demo day” coming up on May 17, at Fern Ridge, where the public can try out their equipment for free. “We’re going to have about forty canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards out there,” Rodgers said.
The Oregon Outdoor launch party was definitely a success. Manager of Oakshire Brewing public house, Meridy Wheeler, was extremely impressed.
“Most of the people I see here are new faces,” she said. “Good job to Kyle and Megan [from Oregon Outdoor] for getting the word out.”
Wheeler also mentioned that both Oakshire Brewing and Oregon Outdoor are community businesses, and she enjoyed having the two support one another.
Eugene residents can expect to find the publication all over town.
“We’re going to put them in the hubs of campus,” Hentschel said. “Another one of our goals is to have it be a community thing. So, (they will be) in local outdoor retailers, yoga studios, gyms, rock walls and that kind of thing.”
The staff is comprised of storytellers and outdoor enthusiasts, who are looking to share tales and photographs of adventure, whether it be Oregon based or international. Hentschel explained, “It’s Pacific Northwest and beyond.”

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The staff of Oregon Outdoor Magazine chose to have their launch event at a location where they could draw in both students and outdoor activists from the greater Eugene area. (Creative Commons Archive)