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Minor hockey team adds another banner

The rafters at Meadow Park are starting to fill in, as the Whistler Minor Hockey Association added another banner to its collection last week.

The rafters at Meadow Park are starting to fill in, as the Whistler Minor Hockey Association added another banner to its collection last week. Whistler Midget C team won in overtime to win the Capilano Series Playoff Banner, weeks after winning the regular season banner.

The Midget C team is coached by Reid Davidson, and managed by Corrine Oberson.

 

Janyk, Osborne-Paradis to host Whistler ski camp

For the second year Mike Janyk and Manuel Osborne-Paradis are hosting an end-of-season ski camp for athletes with the talent and drive, but may be lacking the financial resources to participate in summer training programs.

The camp is open to B.C. athletes born in 1992 and 1993 who show the necessary dedication but also can show their need. Athletes should write a letter up to 250 words explaining why they would like to participate and what they would like to learn in the camp. A coach’s recommendation should also be submitted along with the athlete letter to cowboyscamp@live.com.

The camp will take place over four days, from April 24 to 27. Athletes must provide their own transportation to Whistler and home again, while all camp costs will be covered by sponsors — accommodation by the Resort Municipality of Whistler and ski passes and hill space by Whistler-Blackcomb.

 

Solid turnout for Spud Valley Loppet

The 20 th anniversary of the Spud Valley Loppet took place last week in the Pemberton Meadows, with 70 skiers turning out to enjoy a 12 km course.

In 6-7 boys, Avergy Hargitt of Pemberton was first, followed by Graeme Bowers and Jackson Waller of Whistler. In 6-7 Girls, Kerry Walker was first, followed by Sakura Kawano — both of the Pemberton Spud Valley Nordics.

In Boys 8-9, Michael Murdoch of Whistler was first, followed by Anthony Liakakos of Pemberton and Keanan Widmayer of Squamish. For girls, Erica Van Loon was first, followed by Jessie Bull and Kaede Kawano — all of the Spud Valley team.

In 10-11, Braden Metza of Whistler was first followed by Spud Valley’s Garrett Lattin and Charlie Knight.

On the girls’ side, Sarah Bowers and Gaby Smith of Whistler were first and third, while Amhani Jones of Pemberton picked up the silver.

In 12-13, Sammy Schranz of Pemberton raced alone on the boys’ side, while Tachona Jones and Rachel Leverton were first and third for Spud Valley for the girls, and Jennifer McTavish of Whistler was second for Whistler.

Hans Schranz was first in 14-17 boys, followed by Matthew Van Loon — both of Pemberton. Akiko Clarke and Nicole Murdoch of Whistler were first and second for the girls, followed by Tanis Aiton of Spud Valley.

In Women’s Open, the Whistler Nordics’ Maria Lundgren and Mintu Repo were first and second, followed by Stacey Spencer of Squamish. Andrea Van Loon was the top Pemberton racer in fifth.

In the Men’s Open, Danny Schranz of Spud Valley was first by 10 minutes over Dave Kirk of the Whistler Nordics. Whistler’s Brent Murdoch was third.

 

Tri Clinics being offered

Three Whistler athletes are offering a series of weekly triathlon clinics leading up to the Oliver Half Iron, the Osoyoos Half Iron and the Squamish Triathlon.

The instructors include Kristina Rody, voted B.C. Athletics Senior Female Road Runner of the Year for 2007, triathlete and cycling coach Christine Cogger, and Brandi Higgins, a triathlete and coach for the popular Masters Swim Program.

The Oliver clinic is already underway and will run for 16 weeks. The Osoyoos and Squamish clinics get underway on April 12 and run for 12 weeks. For more information, visit www.whistlerswim-bike-run.blogspot.com, or contact Brandi Higgins at brandi@wrec.com.

 

Two spots left for B.C. Bike Race

The seven day B.C. Bike Race, which is in its second year, has sold 478 of the 480 spots available this year, and is hosting a contest for the last two spots for May 18. You can register online at www.bcbikerace.com.

The race will cover approximately 480 km of road and trail, getting underway in Victoria on June 28, and wraps up in Whistler on July 4. The course is a little different this year with organizers adding more singletrack to the mix, as well as a day of riding in Squamish.

 

More trouble for WHA, but Squamish attracting interest

The World Hockey Association ramped up its playoff schedule earlier than expected for the second straight year, with the Squamish Cougars firmly in fourth place behind the Oliver Jets, Armstrong Sharks and Lumby Fighting Saints. The Cougars were the stingiest team in the league defensively in the regular season, but second to last in the league for goals scored, and that is all the story in their playoff games against the Oliver Jets. At press time the Cougars were down by two games in a best of seven series.

While nobody is sure what the long-term future will be for the WHA and the Junior West Hockey League, it seems that there is interest in the Squamish community from other leagues if the WHA continues to have issues. The Pacific International Junior Hockey League is reportedly in discussions with Squamish, as well as the B.C. Hockey League.

 

Mushers in the medals

A group of local Whistler dogsled teams took part in the annual Caledonia Classic Dog Sled Sprint Race this past weekend, racing across a frozen lake near Fort St. James.

All of the teams were from Whistler Doglsedding, and more used to mountain trails than frozen legs, but all five local teams managed to finish in the top-10.

Richard Critterden placed third in the 10-dog, 10-mile race (16 km), while Chris Coghlan was third in the 6-dog, 6-mile category.

Nico Hazel was fourth in the 4-dog, 4-mile race, while Same Decoste and Will Jackson were sixth and seventh in the same category.

“It was like running on Green Lake,” said Critterden. “Here we have trails that we follow but there it was an open lake with a shallow snowmobile track. At first the dogs really didn’t know where to go. By the second day they were awesome.”

Racers competed on both days, and the winners were the teams with the lowest combined time.