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Sports Briefs: Youth football teams on a roll

Both the Whistler Saints and Sea to Sky Titans are on a roll at the start of the North Shore Football League regular season and remain undefeated, while the Minor League Titans are continuing to struggle.
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Both the Whistler Saints and Sea to Sky Titans are on a roll at the start of the North Shore Football League regular season and remain undefeated, while the Minor League Titans are continuing to struggle.

The Whistler Saints play in the Flag Football League, which is open to youths aged eight and nine years old. It's a non-contact league with nine players on a smaller field. They are now 2-0 after besting the North Vancouver Packers over the weekend. Dane Kirkegaard scored on the opening drive, and touchdowns were added later by Trenton Schumann and Liam Forsyth. Beynon McKeen and Sabin Feagan-Dixon each added a two-point conversion. Josh McKenzie made a key interception as well en-route to a 22-6 win.

The Sea to Sky Titans play in Pee Wee, which is a full-contact league that plays by NFL rules for youths aged 10 and 11. They now have a record of 2-0-1 this season after beating the North Vancouver 49ers 20-16 in a come-from-behind victory. Devon Bailey had a touchdown and two-point conversion, and Luke Haasen scored the game-winner, while quarterback Adam Klimchuck-Brown added a pair of two-point conversions.

One tier up in the Minor Division for players aged 12 and 13, the Sea to Sky Titans are still looking for their first win after losing 43-18 against the North Vancouver 49ers on Sunday. Hunter Vernor returned the opening kickoff for the touchdown and Jack Forsyth and Hunter Vernor added touchdowns late in the game, but the hole was too deep at that point to climb out.

Walk-A-Mile supports Women's Centre

The average person can walk a mile in around 20 minutes, but try it in stilettos. This Sunday, Sept. 23 is the third annual Walk-A-Mile in Her Shoes event, hosted by the Whistler Children's Centre. The event, which is held around North America, was created to raise awareness of issues such as rape, sexual assault and gender violence, while raising money to assist women that are victims of abuse.

The event encourages men to walk a mile in women's shoes, raising money for the Howe Sound Women's Centre and the newly created Whistler Women's Centre at the Whistler Community Services Society.

To take part, men can meet at Moguls Café in the village at 10 a.m. The walk starts at 11 a.m., followed by prizes and refreshment. Participants are asked to collect pledges for their walk, and bring along friends and family.

Nanaimo's Smith makes history at World Cup Finals

Nanaimo's Steve Smith built on his third place finish at the World Championships with his first ever World Cup win at the finals in Hafjell, Norway. With consistent results all season, he finished the year ranked fourth overall.

"I am so happy right now," Smith told Canadian Cyclist. "I have never won a World Cup before, it has been a dream of mine. I had no idea when I was running how it was going. The wind was such a bad headwind. The track is so fast but it didn't feel like I could go any faster because that headwind was so hard, but everyone had the same. I am so stoked."

Smith races for Devinci Global Racing, which swept the podium with George Branningan of New Zealand in second and Nick Beer of South Africa in third. The overall title went to American Aaron Gwin, who was unable to race after a big crash in training.

On the women's side, Revelstoke's Casey Brown narrowly missed a spot in the top three, but managed to finish in the prize money in fourth overall. The top three were Rachel Atherton of Great Britain and Emmeline Ragot and Morgane Charre of France.

Busy fall ahead for events

While September is no longer an official "Month of Pain," there's still some pain to be had through the end of the month and into October.

Sept. 22 — Whistler Spirit Run presented by Rio Tinto Alcan. The little race that could returns to Whistler Olympic Park on Sept. 22 with a classic cross-country race event open to schools, clubs and individuals. The courses range from the 1km Family Fun Run to the 6km/8km men's and women's cross-country events. As well there is a 4x2km relay to finish the day. For more, visit www.whistlerspiritrun.com.

Sept. 22 — Squamish Super Spartan. This is an obstacle course style race based in Squamish with a 12km course and a more than a dozen challenges from start to finish. For more, visit www.spartanrace.com.

Sept. 30 — The 27th annual Rubble Creek Classic. This classic trail run starts at the Cheakamus Lake parking lot and finishes on the other side of Black Tusk at Garibaldi Park, weighing in at just over 24km. The run up Helm Creek is steep and technical in sections, but the views across the Cinder Flats and around Black Tusk are the best of any trail run in the region. It finishes with a long descent (over 10km) down the Rubble Creek Trail. For more, visit en.escaperoute.ca/events/rubblecreek.aspx.

October 22 — The Whistler 50 ultra and relay returns, organized by BC Athletics. This is a 50-mile ultra race for solo runners, or a relay you can do with four or eight team members. The course is comprised of two loops, one 7km and the other 13km, mainly followed the Valley Trail system. The benefit is that runners get to hang out with their teams before heading to the handoff points in two nearby locations — the Passive House at Lost Lake and Whistler Olympic Plaza. As well, ultra runners will pass their supporters to get bottles and food eight times over the course of the run. Last year the race took place in early November, but organizers moved it up by two weeks to try and get some warmer weather. For more, visit www.bcathletics.org/whistler50.

October 25 — WORCA's Halloween Toonie Ride. This is an after dark ride with mandatory headlamps. Details TBA.

Alex Pro, other canadians on Red Bull Rampage rider list

Red Bull released its list of riders confirmed for the return of the Red Bull Rampage mountain bike freeride event taking place in Utah in October, basing their selections off World Freeride Mountain Bike Tour standings and the last event in 2010.

Whistler's Brandon Semenuk, who won the event in 2008 and is ranked second on the world tour this year, is on the competitor list, as is Alex Prochazka, who was 11th in 2010. Other Canadians include Anthony Messere, Brett Rheeder, Casey Groves, Geoff Bulevich, Kurt Sorge and Darren Berrecloth.

For more on the event, which will likely be broadcast live this year, visit www.redbullusa.com.