(Elite runner Lyndy Davis, who qualified for the 2020 Olympics, training in Portland with her son in their KidRunner RUN. Davis set an official world record for running the fastest half marathon with a jogging stroller in 2019 | Photo courtesy of KidRunner)
Latitude 44 Sports, an outdoor sports retailer in the Century Center, and KidRunner, innovators of the world’s only multi-terrain stroller that allows an adult to experience a natural running form while pulling a child behind, have announced an exclusive partnership to provide KidRunner products to active parents in Bend.
Chosen as one of the 50 Best New Brands at the recent ISPO international sporting goods trade show in Munich, Germany, KidRunner was featured in the show’s Brand New Village, highlighting innovative products that remove barriers and encourage outdoor activity for people around the world.
“The reception for KidRunner was amazing,” says William Warne, the founder of Bend, Oregon-based KidRunner. “We spoke with hundreds of inspired athletes, retailers, wholesalers and thought leaders in the running community. Their response was universal. ‘KidRunner is the best-designed, best-performing and most versatile way to run with kids on the market. Period.’
People appreciated that for the first time, an innovative product connected running with parenting without compromising performance and freedom.”
Latitude 44 Sports is the exclusive retailer in Bend of KidRunner RUN and the newly released KidRunner SKI, an innovative sled designed for Nordic skiing. Both KidRunner RUN strollers and Kidrunner SKI sleds will be available for parents to rent and purchase.
“Our core mission at Latitude 44 Sports is to help customers find great outdoor gear,” says Latitude 44 Sports Co-Owner Rob McDonald. “KidRunner RUN and KidRunner SKI are fantastic, best-in-class products, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to represent the brand.”
Latitude 44 Sports and its sister company, Stand on Liquid, recently relocated to the Century Center on the west side of Bend. Conveniently located near outdoor recreation sites including the Deschutes River, the Cascade Lakes and Mt. Bachelor, the new shop curates a range of outdoor sports gear including stand-up paddle boards, skis and snowboards and select new products like KidRunner.
“Everything about KidRunner RUN and SKI has been thoughtfully constructed, from how it easily assembles to its streamlined look and feel; it’s the best product of its kind on the market,” says McDonald, who is excited to provide rentals of KidRunner equipment. “Visitors to Bend don’t need to pack their bulky gear or skip a workout. Plus, we’re confident that our demo-to-buy program will send runners and skiers home with new gear they’ll love.”
Warne believes the brick-and-mortar retail experience is evolving rapidly, and says the approach of Latitude 44 Sports in a competitive marketplace aligns with the partnership philosophies of KidRunner.
“We have always aligned with partners who share a passion for connecting people with the outdoors, sports and family,” says Warne. “Integrity and community are also at the cornerstone of everything KidRunner tries to do. Latitude 44 Sports reflects these principles in its commitment to bring high-quality, accessible outdoor and sports experiences to Bend and Central Oregon. We like the team’s creative, flexible approach to traditional retail by offering a range of new, overstock and secondary market brands without compromising quality and value to customers.”
