Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

First Toonie Ride tonight

Ready or not, here it comes. The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association's Toonie Ride series kicks off tonight, Thursday, May 6 with a rip through Shit Happens to the Rainbow Creamsicle.

Ready or not, here it comes. The Whistler Off-Road Cycling Association's Toonie Ride series kicks off tonight, Thursday, May 6 with a rip through Shit Happens to the Rainbow Creamsicle.

Sign-on is at the yellow gate at the top of Emerald Estates at 5:30 p.m. and the ride starts at 6:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Evolution, Alpine Café, Whistler Outdoor Adventure and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

To prevent lines at the registration table organizers are recommending that members sign up online before the event. The cost of a membership is $40 once again, or $25 for kids 18 and under. There is also a family rate available.

On top of that there is a $2 fee for taking part in the event, with a portion of the collected money going towards the top male and female riders and the remainder going towards WORCA's trail maintenance budget.

There is no parking available in Emerald Estates, but temporary parking is available at Whistler Secondary or Whistler Outdoor Adventure, where the après race is taking place.

The following race on May 13, sponsored by Whistler Bike Co., also takes place in the Emerald Estates area, meeting at the Emerald reservoir just past the yellow gates. That event finishes at the end of Section 102, with an après at Edgewater Outdoor Centre.

 

WORCA trail sweep on Saturday

With the snow holding on at higher elevations through the month of April, WORCA decided to delay its annual trail sweep day until this Saturday, May 8 to give the snow more time to melt.

To take part in this year's sweep, meet at the Riverside Café at 8 a.m. for a quick breakfast before heading out to the trails. Sweepers will prune back bushes and trees, pick debris off of trails and look for fallen trees, erosion, downed bridges, etc. so WORCA can call in its trail contractor.

Dress to work outdoors for roughly two or three hours and bring whatever tools you can - work gloves, pruning shears, small saws and other portable cutting tools. Also, bring garbage bags to carry out any waste and pack water and a snack.

WORCA is planning two trail days a month. The next event will take place on Saturday, May 22. If the trails have been swept then volunteers on the second day will be put to work on actual trail projects.

To help with the cost of hosting trail days WORCA is looking to find sponsors for events this year, and will advertise each sponsor's assistance. The sponsor will help to cover the cost of food and refreshments for volunteers, keeping more money in the trail budget for projects around town. E-mail trails@worca.com if you're interested.

 

Seawolves swim team on top at Hollyburn meet

The Whistler Seawolves swim team took part in a meet at Hollyburn Country Club last weekend, with sixth athletes competing in three events each. All of the team members - Lily Diamond, K.J. Kimura, Luke Herron, Nicole Deally, Victoria Antil and Stephane Barnett - placed in the top three of every event.

The Seawolves currently have 13 members ranging in age from eight to 14. They practice two or three times a week at Meadow Park from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

The team's next competitive meet is on June 19.

For more information about the Seawolves contact Dianne Diamond at 604-938-3640.

 

Local's Lottery May 15-16

Whistler Slo-Pitch is once again hosting their annual "Local's Lottery" slo-pitch tournament on the May 15-16 weekend, inviting players to throw their names into a hat and get suited up with a new team for two days of ball. The entry fee is $30 per player, which can be dropped off at Tapley's or at the Wildwood on Northlands Boulevard. The draw will take place on May 13 at 7 p.m. at Tapley's, which is also your last chance for entering.

For more information contact soulcrush13@hotmail.com.

Gymnastics coaches still have it

Whistler Gymnastics coaches took part in an adult meet this past weekend at the Phoenix Gymnastics club in North Vancouver. The meet attracted gym coaches from throughout B.C. and Alberta and as far away as California.

Jeremy Souchotte won gold medals on men's vault, parallel bars and floor, plus a silver medal on the beam and bronze on the uneven bars in the 30-plus category. Still recovering from an injury, he was unable to do all of the men's events.

Trampoline coach Louise Stack earned a gold medal on the trampoline, a silver on the vault and a bronze on the floor in the Under 30 group.

Seija Halonen won silver medals on the beam and floor in the Under 30 competition and a bronze on the vault.

Halonen and Stack also tied for the "Fantastic Form" award.

Next up for Whistler Gymnastics is a gymnastics meet in Victoria, from May 14 to 16, followed by the annual Ogopogo meet

 

Surprise! The NimbyFifty is hard

Registration for the inaugural NimbyFifty on May 29 is going strong and at press time was over halfway sold out. There was some confusion over the cost of insurance, but since then the numbers have picked up again.

The 35 km cross-country/freeride mountain bike race takes place on an assortment of technical trails around Pemberton, getting underway with an epic climb to the top of the new Big Nimby ascent - 11.2 km in length with 101 switchbacks to get to the highest point. The race has been capped at 200 riders and is expected to sell out, so register early.

There have also been a few additions to the race. There are now four Primes on the race, two for the first male and female rider to the top of the gravel road at the entrance to Radio Tower and two for the first male and female to the top of Big Nimby at the Paraglide launch - some extra incentive to start pushing it early.

The complete race course has been posted online at www.nimbyfifty.com, and includes Happy Trail, Waco Connector, Big Nimby, Overnight Sensation, Radio Tower, Sphincter, Econoline, No Err, Ramble On, Moby Dick and Dark Forest. There are two feed zone's on the trail, one at the top of Big Nimby and one at Ivy Lake after looping back from Radio Tower. A course profile with elevations will be posted online soon.

Team Whistler's Josh Stott pre-rode the course last week in roughly two and a half hours and pronounced it "hard." Due to the technical trails and climbs the organizers are recommending that only advanced riders take part.

As well, the organizers have been approached by a group of local women who will produce food for the racers. The organizers will pay the women using race fees, and the women will then donate the proceeds to the Canadian Cancer Society.

The Pemberton Bike Co. will also support the race by providing mechanical assistance at the start and finish. Pemberton Valley Wellness will be at the finish to offer massage and chiropractor treatments to racers.

The race is still seeking volunteers to help out. If you can assist visit the website and click on the Contact tab to get in touch with organizers.