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Sports Briefs: Rev more than just a ski movie

A decade ago Revelstoke was a town with a small ski hill surrounded by some of the most famous backcountry terrain and snow in the world. Now, with the expansion of the mountain upwards with a new gondola Mt.

A decade ago Revelstoke was a town with a small ski hill surrounded by some of the most famous backcountry terrain and snow in the world. Now, with the expansion of the mountain upwards with a new gondola Mt. Mackenzie offers the most vertical of any mountain on the continent, surpassing Blackcomb. There is still ample backcountry to explore, but the entire Revelstoke experience has changed as the expansion of the resort has brought hotels, mountain homes and other development, feeding off Revelstoke's reputation for snow.

Vance Shaw, formerly a cinematographer for Teton Gravity Research, documented the transition of Revelstoke from a quiet mountain town into a resort town that competes with the likes of Aspen, Mammoth and yes, Whistler. REV: A Buried Treasure is drawing rave reviews for showing all sides of the story, from the locals that liked their town the way it was to others that came to accept the progress.

As well as looking at ways that the town and economy have changed, Shaw has also packed his documentary with footage of skiers like Dan Treadway, Mark Abma, the Pehota family and Jen Ashton. Former Whistler ski patroller Joe Lammers is also featured.

The Squamish premiere is on Jan. 26 at the Adventure Centre with showings at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; the Pemberton premiere is on Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. at the Pony Café; followed by the Whistler premiere on Jan. 28 at the GLC at 9:30 p.m.

 

First of two ski and snowboard cross events next weekend

There are two cross events on the Whistler Blackcomb events calendar, with the first Whistler Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard Cross Presented by Poweade taking place on the Jan. 30-31 weekend.

The races are open to skiers and riders of all ages, taking place in the Nintendo Terrain Park Course on Blackcomb.

The first day is a training and qualification day, with additional training on Sunday before the competitive heats get underway.

Spaces are limited in each category so early registration is recommended. You can register in advance at any Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations desk for $36, with the price going up $5 on Saturday. Registration will be available in the Rendezvous until 9:45 a.m.

The registration has increased hugely in recent years, especially among the younger ski categories now that ski cross is officially and Olympic sport.

Helmets are mandatory, and full face helmets and mouthguards are encouraged, as well other protective gear.

 

Drop-in dodgeball on Jan. 25

Everyone has their own memories of school dodgeball games - whether they're good memories you want to relive or demons you need to exercise, the Late & Unique Nighttime Alternatives (LUNA) is giving young locals a chance to play.

On Monday, Jan. 25 LUNA is hosting a drop-in dodgeball event at the Myrtle Philip Community Centre Gym, which will be televised on Shaw TV's The Express.

Individuals and groups will be split up into two big teams that will play until there is only one person left standing on the court.

You have to be 18 or older to play, and headbands, tube socks and spandex are encouraged.

The fun gets underway at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $7.25 or $3 for LUNA members.

Dodgeball takes place every second and fourth Monday through to March.

 

Danny Davis out for the Games

While Shaun White is the reigning Olympic halfpipe champion and the favourite going into the 2010 Games, U.S. rider Danny Davis made history in Mammoth in Jan. 13 by beating White in a Mammoth Mountain Grand Prix event. If he could replicate the same run with its three double corks at Cyrpess he was almost guaranteed a podium, if not first place overall.

That all changed this week when the 21 year old was injured in a late night ATV accident in Utah. According to reports he and a friend hit a closed gate on a driveway. Davis injured a vertebrae. He confirmed that he would miss the Games the following day, but was expected to make a full recovery.

It was a tough blow for the U.S. team, made tougher by the loss of Kevin Pearce, another snowboarder who has beaten White in halfpipe and is Davis's close friend. Pearce suffered a serious head injury a few weeks earlier. It is not know if Pearce will recover, but according to reports he is responding to therapy.

The U.S. halfpipe team is still arguably the best in the world, but the loss of Davis and Pearce improves chances for other top riders from Japan, Finland, Austria and Canada.