The Rider of the Quiet Path
Stratton Matteson Legacy
At 28, the Bend-based activist is proving that "being the change" starts with a quiet, grounded internal compass.
The Horizon Weaver
Grounded purpose.
Higher elevation.
Stratton Matteson was a lover of snow and an impassioned professional backcountry snowboarder. He was also an advocate for more Earth-centric ways of pursuing outdoor adventure.
In his early 20s, Stratton looked to the future and saw the disappearance of the sport he loved due to the predicted impacts of climate change. He decided to do something—seemingly small for the world, but life changing for him—to cause less harm. He sold his van and started going everywhere by bike.
He would eventually become known not just as a remarkable, pioneering splitboarder, but also as the face of “bike-to-board.” For a half-dozen years, Stratton was a memorable sight in central Oregon and around the Pacific Northwest, pedaling his bike cheerfully through all manner of weather to get to the snow-covered slopes where he felt most alive.
Stratton shared his stoke through his popular social media channels and several films, including “Shift” and “Sierra to Baker: A Bike-to-Board Journey.” In this way, thousands of people participated in his spectacular and joy-filled wanderings, and were inspired to contemplate how they might also live more gently on the planet while having fun doing it.
When he died in 2026, at age 28, in an avalanche in British Columbia, Stratton left behind a legacy of love, friendship, devotion to place and planet, moral beauty, and a radiant, wide-hearted embrace of life. His knowledge that all of us, human and other-than-human, are inextricably entangled and interdependent with each other, guided his life and actions. We—his family, friends, and loved ones—keep his ethos alive in our hearts and through various channels, including this website and a Stratton Matteson Legacy Fund that supports projects embodying his vision.
Projects and Work
Stratton’s Work.
Stratton believed in leading through action, a philosophy that beautifully shaped his professional endeavors and creative output.
Press and Features
Spreading the Spark.
Stratton’s unique path as a mountain athlete and dedicated environmentalist caught the attention of those who value grit, purpose, and authentic living.
Honoring His Legacy
Stratton’s Legacy Fund.
The purpose of the Stratton Legacy Fund is to carry forward Stratton’s Earth-centered vision and values. Through the projects and people the fund supports, hIs style of direct, high-spirited engagement with life will live on, inspiring others to live more lightly, to cherish and protect the natural world, and to do it all with a sense of play and curiosity.
The Stratton Legacy Fund will focus on human-powered travel, transport, and livelihood; knowledge, love and use of native plants; and outdoor adventure aligned with care for all Earth inhabitants.
The fund is managed by Stratton’s family. Your contribution to keeping Stratton’s vision alive in the world is deeply appreciated.
Stay in Touch
Reach out to our Community.
Whether you want to collaborate on a cause Stratton loved, share how his journey inspired you, or simply connect with the family, we would love to hear from you. Your stories and support keep his beautiful spark alive and moving forward in the world.