Main Menu

2021 Beaver State Fling Canceled

2021 Beaver State Fling Canceled

Storm Damage and Pandemic Uncertainty Force Difficult Decision

Monday, April 5, 2021 - 16:46

Storm damage and pandemic restrictions left BSF organizers uncertain about the availability of the course for the 2021 event. Photo: PDGA Media / Alyssa Van Lanen

Due to course damage and safety concerns after a detrimental weather event, as well as uncertainty about the state of the pandemic at the time of the event, the PDGA, in conjunction with local tournament staff, has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Beaver State Fling.

The fourth stop on the 2021 PDGA National Tour, which was set for June 10-13, featured the fan and player-favorite East and West courses on the hallowed grounds of Milo McIver State Park.

On February 12, 2021, snow and ice began to fall around the Portland, Oregon metro area. After several days of the same, thousands had lost power, and downed trees littered the usually-scenic landscape. When park officials were finally able to get out to Milo McIver State Park to assess the damage, they were shocked at what they found. Milo looked like a logging project had moved through the park, and it took them almost three weeks to even clear the park roads for further assessment.

Currently, the Riverbend day-use area, which includes the disc golf courses, remains closed as a safety precaution while crews work to clear the storm damage and is not expected to be open until late May, at the earliest. To add to the situation, the park is still not issuing special use permits due to the uncertainty of the state of the pandemic at the time of the event. 

Amid continued uncertainty regarding the availability of the park and the condition of the courses, the expressed concerns about the ability to run the event to its full potential were too glaring to ignore and the PDGA worked with local tournament directors Jeff Mittl and Jeff Hagerty to come to this difficult decision.

“This is heartbreaking,” said PDGA Director of Operations, Mike Downes. “I’ll never forget the first time I walked onto the property of the East and West courses at Milo. The place just had a magical feeling to it, and anyone that has been there knows exactly what I am talking about. From the numerous PDGA NT Champions that have been crowned there, to its involvement in one of the most competitive Pro World Championships to date, Milo is a one-of-a-kind disc golf destination. Our heart aches not just for the Oregon scene, but for the entire disc golf community.”

While we are disappointed that the Beaver State Fling (BSF) will not be a part of the PDGA National Tour this year, we are grateful for our event hosts, who, since 2009, have worked diligently to build the courses, assemble a rock star staff, raise payouts, and create a memorable experience to showcase elite-level professional disc golf.

The PDGA shares the disappointment of the ever-strengthening Portland disc golf community and regrets the impact on players and fans but the safety of our members must come first and foremost.

As for the National Tour itself, the PDGA looks forward to the remaining four events, resuming with the Dynamic Discs Open in late April.

This isn’t ‘goodbye’ to the BSF; it is just a ‘see you later.’

For now, however, the next Beaver State Fling Champions will have to wait just a little while longer.

Comments