The Tuesday night trail running clinics hosted by The Escape Route will be a little different next week with the return of the monthly hash run series on May 26.
A hash run is a kind of race where parties follow markings on the ground to try and find the rabbit (or turtle for the slower runners). Faster runners generally scout ahead for clues on the trail, and signal the party to follow when they found the right route. That allows the slower runners to catch up.
The concept was created by British ex-patriots to mimic rabbit or fox hunts, but with the chasers on foot instead of horseback and fast runners eluding capture in the woods instead of rabbits of foxes.
The cost is $5 to participate, meeting at Escape Route at 5:45 p.m. for a six o'clock start. The run should take up to an hour.
Escape Route hosts the running clinics every Tuesday at 6 p.m. for all levels, except for the last Tuesday which will be for hash runs.
Second WORCA trail day on Saturday
The Whistler Off Road Cycling Association is hosting its second trail sweep day this Saturday, May 23, with volunteers walking the trails to perform some basic spring maintenance and alert WORCA about any major issues.
To take part in the sweep meet at the Riverside Café at 8 a.m. to learn your assignment for the morning. Volunteers usually spend two to three hours in the field, rain or shine, and should dress appropriately for the weather. Bring shears, clippers, portable saws, and gloves, and also some water and a snack.
At the end of the day the leader of each group is expected to e-mail a report to WORCA on the website, www.worca.com, for their inventory.
If you can spare a few hours for the trails please e-mail info@worca.com so they'll know how many breakfasts to serve to trail volunteers.
Still time to register for Every Woman
With more than 75 programs and workshops to choose from, the sixth annual Every Woman in the World conference is bigger than ever, but there is still some room for locals to participate.
Up to $100 in discounts are available for locals who type in the code WLOCAL and PIQUE while registering, and register with a group of three or more. For more information visit www.everywoman.ca.
The event is produced by sisters Kerry Carlson and Lynn Kanuka - the former a gymnast who competed at the national level and the latter a bronze medal sprinter from the 1984 Olympic Games. They created the conference to promote fitness and well-being among women in a friendly, safe atmosphere, adding workshops on life skills like time management and managing finances. A complete list of workshops is available on the website.
WOVA registration day nears
Spots are going fast in the Whistler Outdoor Volleyball Association's league roster this year, even with the addition of a second full recreational league.
Rec teams (C1 and C2) play on Wednesday and Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with four people on the court and a maximum of two substitutes. One female player must be on the court at all times.
There is an intermediate B category that plays on Thursdays, which is three-on-three with a maximum of four players on the roster.
The most competitive A division has gone to two-on-two with no subs, playing on Tuesday evenings.
The cost is $200 per team for 10 weeks of league play, starting on June 16. That includes insurance, facility fees, league administration costs. Each team also gets a high performance beach volleyball. There will be playoffs for the top teams in each league.
If you wish to register a team, or would like to be matched up with an existing team, contact Scott Rogers at www.wova.ca.
The league is also holding a registration night on June 2 at the Longhorn Saloon, starting at 6 p.m. Each team will be given a number based on when they arrive, and will be called up one at a time to register.
There will also be an area for teams to recruit individuals and individual to match up with teams, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Marathoner supports SPCA
Part-time Pembertonian Nicole Brink is looking for pledges to the B.C. SPCA for completing the Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon on June 28, raising $100 for every mile for a total of $1,300.
She's running for her dog, Freddie, who passed away in March. Freddie was a B.C. SPCA dog.
She has currently raised almost 75 per cent of that goal, and sits in second place in the overall pledge list for the half marathon while bumping the B.C. SPCA into first place for charities.
To make a donation visit www.canadarunningseries.com and click on the Donate tab.
Youth soccer club hires technical director
Armed with a Community Enrichment Program grant, the Whistler Youth Soccer Club has taken the step of hiring a technical director for the season, following 14 years of administration by volunteer parents.
Steve September will assist the coaches to develop plans and programs for their age groups, while assisting players and coaches in developing soccer skills, team play and game comprehension. Part of that involves moving kids aged 12 to a full-size field with 11 players on the field.
September will also organize summer camps, speakers and clinics to educate players and coaches on skills, nutrition, fitness, strategies and the rules of the game. At least two summer camps are in the works this year, with a goal of one day providing camps through the summer.
The club is extremely busy, with upwards of 400 kids each year taking part in leagues, programs and competitive teams. For more information visit www.whistlersoccer.com.
Dozen teams sign on for Tough Rugby League
With three weeks to go until the official kickoff the inaugural Whistler Touch Rugby League has already signed up 12 teams - completely surpassing the organizers' expectations, especially since it's a first for Whistler.
Touch rugby became its own sport in the 1960s as players used it to practice and warm up for games.
The game is similar to rugby, but without the contact, kicking or set plays like scrums and line outs. The ball must be tossed or handed backwards at all times, while players run, pass, support each other and evade "tacklers" as they attempt to place the ball on the ground in their opponent's try zone. The rules are simple and everyone can play, men and women of all ages, regardless of experience.
The Longhorn Salon has donated $1,000 to the league to purchase equipment, and they also hosted a registration meeting on May 20 at the Longhorn. You can also e-mail whistlertouchrugby@gmail.com to enter a team or join up as an individual.
The first games are on Wednesday, June 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the league runs through the summer on the Myrtle Philip Community Centre fields (behind the school).
Test of Metal gets festive
As one of B.C.'s best know and most popular bike races the Test of Metal has a lot to celebrate. All 1,000 available spots sold out quickly this year, and roughly 300 volunteers will help to put on the event on June 20.
But while the Test itself takes place on Saturday, in recent years it's been surrounded by a wider festival known as the North Shore Credit Union Test of Metal weekend.
The festival gets underway on Friday with the Show and Shine Cruiser Ride, sponsored by Republic Bicycle, at 2:30 p.m. at the Brackendale Bistro and winds its way downtown.
The Pre-Test festival takes place downtown at 6 p.m. with a variety of bike-friendly activities like the funny-bike race and bike poker. New this year is the Velcro Olympics.
There will be musical entertainment by local bands the Dead Heathers and Jamatonics.
There will also be a Pre-Test Carb Load at the Howe Sound Inn with discounted pasta from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The official party takes place afterwards.
On Sunday, the day after the Test, the Mini-Test is returning to Station Square Mall with a Lion's Club pancake breakfast and a short race for younger kids.
At 1 p.m. the annual Rock Star Invitational downhill race gets underway, sponsored by the Tantalus Bike Shop.
For more information visit www.testofmetal.com.
Coming events:
Registration is open for several local biking and running events.
The Mind Over Mountain adventure race is Squamish takes place on May 23, with a 50 km course as well as a and 30 km beginner route. The race includes trail running, navigation, mountain biking, and a rappel stage. More information and registration at www.mindovermountain.com.
The Whistler Kids of Steel Triathlon and Adult Try-a-Tri is available through the Whistler Triathlon Club, www.whistlertriclub.ca. Both events take place on Saturday, May 23, with a pool swim, road cycle and run on the Valley Trail.
Registration for the annual Whistler Valley Trail Run, taking place on Sunday, May 24, is at www.whistlervalleytrailrun.ca. Both 5 km and 10 km courses are available.
Registration for the 25 km Comfortably Numb Trail Run, taking place Saturday, June 27, also opened recently. More details and registration is available at www.comfortablynumb.ca.
