The annual Strut Your Stuff registration fair is returning on Saturday, Sept. 12, with dozens of community sports, arts and recreation groups setting up booths at Myrtle Philip Community Centre to register kids for the coming year. Groups ranging from gymnastics to hockey to martial arts to dance host tables at the event.
As well as registration families can also apply for Kidsport grants to help defray the cost of enrolling their kids in approved sports, recreation and arts programs. Grants of up to $300 are available per year for kids aged five to 18, and must go towards participant and registration fees.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and all community groups serving the youth are invited to reserve tables. To reserve a table contact the Resort Municipality of Whistler at 604-935-8350 and indicate course #13236. For more information contact Sheila Mozes at 604-905-9393 or Stephanie at 604-902-1433.
Local triathletes race Kelowna tri
A handful of Whistler athletes took part in the annual Pushor Mitchell Apple Triathlon in Kelowna this past Sunday, which also played the part of national championship this year.
Jodi Westbury was the top Whistler athlete, placing 18 th in the female 35 to 39 race (1,500 metre swim, 40 km bike and 10 km run) with a total time of 2:44:57. Maridee Fitch was 22 nd in female 45 to 49 in 3:27:26.
Mike Hedberg of Squamish was 30 th in Male 40 to 44 in 2:38:37.
In the sprint race (750 metre swim, 20 km bike and 5 km run), Iain Adams of Whistler was eighth in male 50 to 54 in 1:19:36. Karin Kafkova was eighth in female 35 to 39 in 1:30:57.
Lauren Groves won the Olympic-distance women's national title with a time of 2:05:00, followed by Kathy Tremblay in 2:05:07 and Paula Findlay - also the top Under 23 racer - in 2:06:26.
Simon Whitfield - first in the 2000 Olympics, second in Beijing in 2008 and first in the 2009 world championships - continued his recent streak with the national men's title. He finished the race in 1:53:32, followed by Kyle Jones in 1:53:50 and Paul Ticheleaar in 1:53:50.
Callaghan XC questions answered
Cross-country skiers will have access to the recreation trails at Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country for most of the 2009-2010 winter, with some closures during 2010 Olympic and Paralympic events.
At the end of last season it was unknown whether the trails would be open to the public at all, with Olympic organizers hard at work installing the overlay for the Games - everything from banners to bleachers to cables for television and media.
This week Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventure, Cross Country Connection and Whistler Olympic Park announced an alliance to ensure public access to the majority of trails through the upcoming season. Roughly 30 km of the 42 km trail network will be open to the public from Nov. 21 (or earlier if conditions permit) until Jan. 31, then reopening on March 1 through closing on April 18. As well, several kilometres of snowshoe trails will be open.
There will be some other limitations. The day lodge, entrance roads, Olympic competition trails, biathlon and ski jump facilities will not be open to the public this winter, but access to the recreational and backcountry trails will be available at the Callaghan Country base near the Madeley Creek Loop. Cross Country Connection, which offers lessons and rentals, will be operating from the base area through the winter, as well as selling tickets to the public.
Whistler Olympic Park will continue to groom the 30 km of trails open to the public as well as Callaghan Country's 42 km trail network.
The Callaghan Country Nordic lodge will be open through the season, including the month of February.
Month of Pain draws near
For the past few years the month of September has been unofficially recognized as the Month of Pain, in honour of the number of running and mountain biking events taking part in the corridor.
This year the Month of Pain gets off to a late start with the annual West Side Wheel Up (www.worca.com) on Saturday, Sept. 12. The following day is the annual Terry Fox Run as well as the Loop the Lakes 8 km and 15 km trail run (www.loopthelakes.com) in Squamish.
The following weekend features the annual Cheakamus Challenge Fall Classic Mountain Bike Race (www.cheakamuschallenge.com) on Saturday, Sept. 19, while Sunday is the XTC Off-Road triathlon and duathlon taking place in Squamish (www.xtccanada.com).
The fun continues the following weekend with the second annual Whistler Spirit Run at Whistler Olympic Park (www.whistlerspiritrun.com) with a formal race on Saturday and a 10 km fun run on Sunday.
The annual Rubble Creek Classic, a 25 km trail from the Cheakamus Lake parking lot to the Rubble Creek access on Highway 99, takes place on Sept. 27 (www.rubblecreekclassic.com).
As in past years Pique will be recognizing the King and Queen of pain, the male and female athletes that participate in the most events or have the best overall time. Official rules will be announced next week.
