Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Sports Briefs: Squamish star in 100th Grey Cup

The 100th edition of the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup match-up takes place this Sunday in Toronto, with the home Argonauts playing host to the Calgary Stampeders.
sports_upcoming2

The 100th edition of the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup match-up takes place this Sunday in Toronto, with the home Argonauts playing host to the Calgary Stampeders.

There's a local angle to this story, and while people on the coast aren't particularly inclined to cheer for any Toronto sports team, maybe some will make an exception for offensive guard Joe Eppele — all 308 pounds of him — as the 25-year-old looks to win the CFL's top trophy.

Eppele played four years for the Washington State Cougars. His grades were good enough to be named to the All-Pac-10 Conference Academic Second-Team in three straight seasons. He was drafted by the Argos in 2010 and played in seven games during his rookie season. He's played in almost every game since, alternating with other offensive linemen. Go Argos?

Del Bosco out with shoulder injury

Chris Del Bosco's bid to win an Olympic podium in 2014 took a detour to the hospital this week after the 30-year-old X Games champion separated his shoulder during a training run at Nakiska. He immediately headed to Vail, Colorado for surgery, and is expected to be sidelined for two to three months.

His own goal is to be healthy for the Olympic test event in Sochi, Russia in February. If all goes well, he will be able to defend his world championship title in March as well.

"I've been in this situation before and I'm confident I know what it takes," said Del Bosco, who came back from a knee injury in 2010 to earn five podiums and place fourth in the Olympics. He has 17 World Cup medals since 2009, as well as medals from pro events and nationals.

Ski Callaghan open for XC skiing

The local cross-country ski season is getting a Thursday, Nov. 22 start, with plans to open a selection of trails at Ski Callaghan (Whistler Olympic Park trails and Callaghan Country Trails).

According to Ski Callaghan, early season conditions are "marginal" and only two trails will be open — the stadium loop and Neverland.

Ski Callaghan represent a combined 130km of cross-country and snowshoe trails when open at full capacity, and operate from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the week and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. As well, the trails will be open for night skiing on Wednesday evenings until 9 p.m., starting on Nov. 28 — with the exception of Dec. 26.

Today is also the last day to purchase early bird passes at a price of $225 per person, going up to $315 after 9 p.m. There are also rates for youth, families and to use the dog loop.

As well as Ski Callaghan passes, Dual area passes are available that also include the trails at Lost Lake in Whistler. A dual area pass is $359 until Nov. 23, going up to $450.

Meanwhile, opening day at Lost Lake Cross Country and Snowshoe Trails is generally weather dependent and there's no snow yet to speak of.

McMillan fifth in Fall Classic

Whistler's Ashley McMillan placed fifth in the last big run of the season on Sunday, completing the half marathon in the New Balance Fall Classic in a chip time of 1:19:25. He also placed second overall out of 102 runners in the men's 30 to 39 age category.

David Higgins placed 22nd overall and was sixth in the male 40 to 49 race in 1:26:50.

Daryl West was 96th and 28th in male 30 to 39 in 1:39:10.

Sonia Mahoney was seventh in female 40 to 49 in 1:46:11.

Christine Suter was 13th in female 40 to 49 in 1:49:12.

Elizabeth Mezzabotta was 46th in female 20 to 29 in 1:47:38.

Beth Dunlop was 70th in female 30 to 39 in 2:01:33.

From Squamish, James Newby was 15th in male 30 to 39

Courtney Wittenburg was 20th in Female 30 to 39 in 1:43:52.

Kris Duncan was 64th in male 30 to 39 in 1:51:51.

Jasmin Dobson was 45th in female 30 to 39 in 1:55:44.

Heather Leach was 63rd in female 30 to 39 in 1:59:36.

Michelle Rosser was 86th in female 20 to 29 in 2:04:40.

Heather Sidwsorth was ninth in female 60 to 69 in 2:28:00.

Marianne Poynter was 145th in female 20 to 29 in 3:04:21.

There was also a 10km run. Squamish's David Roulston made the podium by finishing fifth overall and first in the male 30 to 39 age group in 36:13. Also from Squamish, Karen Newby was 15th out of 155 in female 30 to 39 in 49:36, Andrea Dirks was 35th in the same category in 54:48. Also in 30 to 39, Brandie Brown was 82nd in 1:02:22, Jessie Six was 129th in 1:13:3, Krista Breu was 132nd in 1:14:49 and Heather Squire was 133rd in 1:14:49.

From Whistler, Marie-Anne Prevost was ninth out of 129 athletes in female 40 to 49 in 46:33.

Sarah Dykes was 32nd in female 30 to 39 in 54:32.

Tough Mudder details slow to emerge

Tough Mudder Vancouver will return in 2013, taking place on Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23 at a location still to be determined. The website says only that "Tough Mudder Vancouver 2013 will be within a 1 hour, 30 minute drive of Vancouver, B.C.," but does not indicate whether it will return to Whistler Olympic Park.

Whistler Sport Legacies, which owns and operates Whistler Olympic Park where the 2012 event was held, acknowledged that they were in final negotiations with Tough Mudder organizers regarding 2013. As well, the municipality confirmed at the Nov. 20 council meeting that they were part of the negotiations to sign a three-to-five year contract with Tough Mudder to host the event here.

They are still accepting registration, however, and the Early Bird Discount is only in effect until Nov. 29 at $105 for Saturday racers and $95 for Sunday. From Nov. 30 to Dec. 13 the prices go up to $115 and $105, then to $125 and $115 from Dec. 14 to Jan. 17, and so on. The highest price for registration, May 24 to June 17, is $180 and $170.

Only the Saints left standing

The first weekend of playoffs in the North Shore Football League took place last weekend, and the good news is that one local team — the Whistler Saints in the flag football division — will advance to a final this year. The Saints beat the West Vancouver 49ers 6-0 in their semi-final game on Sunday, with Beynon McKeen contributing the Saints' only points of the day.

The Sea to Sky Peewee Titans, despite losing just two games all season, couldn't advance to the finals after losing 18-6 to the 49ers. Adam Klimchuck-Brown scored the Titans' lone touchdown in the loss.

Anderson golden at Copper

Canada's Jasey-Jay Anderson, the Olympic alpine snowboading champion, kicked his season off with a win at the opening NorAm Cup parallel slalom race at Copper Mountain in Colorado. On the women's side, Caroine Calvé earned bronze. In the opening parallel giant slalom, both athletes placed fifth, while other athletes placed in the top 10 of both events. The World Cup season continues on Dec. 6 in Montafon, Austria.