Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Sports Briefs

Whistler Nordics Loonie Race continues to grow

Whistler Nordics Loonie Race continues to grow

After getting more than double the number of expected racers in the inaugural Whistler Nordics Club Loonie Race the previous week, organizers were amazed to see the field grow by another 50 per cent on Jan. 19 with 62 people at the start.

The race was sponsored by the Rim Rock Café and Citta, and the adults raced a 5.5 km course under the lights at Lost Lake.

For the women, first place went to Joanna Harrington in 20:48, followed by Sydney Van Loon in 21:09 and Anne Parent in 21:34.

For the men, Matt Bodkin took the win in 19:13, with Dave Burch on his heels to finish two seconds later. Keith Ray was third in 19:28.

Youth members completed a shorter 2 km course. The top male junior was Logan Goodwin in 10:45, while Akiko Clarke was the top female junior in 13:25.

Tonight’s race (Jan. 26) is sponsored by Behind The Grind and Whistler Chiropractic. Registration is 5:30 p.m. at the Lost Lake ticket booth, and the race gets underway at 6 p.m.

Anyone wishing to sponsor a race or donate door prizes can contact series organizer Carolyn Rodger at 604-932-5030.

S2S Hockey Challenge sells out in Whistler, still spots up for auction

The only seats left for the Re/Max Sea to Sky Hockey Challenge in Whistler on Feb. 3 are on the bench as a player or coach, or the penalty box.

This week the third annual Challenge sold out its general admission seating to the game, which means the only way in is to bid on the penalty box seats, or bid on a spot to play with Team Harmony Airways (featuring the Hanson Brothers) or Team Kal Tire (featuring the Trailer Park Boys – Ricky, Bubbles and Julian) on eBay. Just go to

www.ebay.ca and type "sea to sky" in the search window. The auctions close tonight (Jan. 26).

You can also bid to become a linesman for the game, on a special VIP package, or on one of 22 spots to play a private game with the Hanson Brothers and Trailer Park Boys in Whistler. The proceeds from the auctions will go to the PacifcSport PerformanceFund, which supports B.C.’s Olympic athletes. As well, the proceeds from the Vancouver game’s 50/50 draw will benefit the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program.

For more information on the game, and an updated look at the team rosters, visit www.seatoskyhockey.com.

Peak to Valley racers and volunteers needed

For anyone who has ever wanted to compete in the annual Appleton Rum Peak to Valley race, going from the top of The Saddle to the base of Creekside on the world’s longest giant slalom course, Whistler-Blackcomb is compiling a list of alternates if any of the racers from other teams pull out for whatever reason.

To get on this list, send an email to Terry Phillips in the Whistler-Blackcomb Events Department at

tphillips@intrawest.com , or call 604-905-2034. Organizers are looking for volunteers to help out on the event days, in exchange for schwag and an invite to the after party.

The Peak to Valley takes place on Feb. 3-4, with two members from each team of four racing on each day.

Tickets are also still available to the Awards Dinner Party in the Roundhouse Lodge for non-racers by contacting the Events Department.

This is a popular annual event, selling out in the summer within days of going on sale. For more information check out

www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/events/detail/peaktovalley.htm

Lululemon hosts February games

Lululemon Whistler is promoting health and wellness through the month of February via the inaugural Lululemon Games.

Participants can compete in one or more of the three events that make up the Games, including:

• The 30 Day Yoga Challenge, with Kirsten Campbell of Neo-Alpine Yoga Studio;

• The Whistler to Lillooet Run/Spin race (135 km) with Marie-Anne Prevost at Meadow Park Sports Centre;

• The Body Storm Body Fat Challenge with Kimberly Cummings and Brad Willis.

There may also be a ski race component to the Games.

For anyone wishing to participate, your results will be tracked by Lululemon throughout the months, and the store will provide prizes for each event, followed by a locals’ closing night ceremonies.

"The ideal outcome of the event is to provide an alternative way to bring the community together, to celebrate all locals that excel and push their limits to live a more healthy, fun, active lifestyle," said Johanna Hudson, assistant manager for Lululemon Whistler.

Showcase showdown returns with ‘pipestyle’

Few events have gone through as many changes as the Showcase Showdown. It started out as a halfpipe, became a quarterpipe, and most recently lived as a rail jam. Returning for an eighth year on Feb. 24-25 with a brand new format, the Showdown will include a little of everything that came before it.

The new format is called "pipestyle" and it will take place under the lights on the new halfpipe on Blackcomb. Basically, pipestyle is a halfpipe event that will incorporate rails, boxes and spines into the mix.

"The Showcase Showdown has always been about the advancement of the sport, evolving over the years from a quarterpipe competition to the Monster Box Jib Jam, and now to Whistler’s first Pipestyle," said Zoltan Katchanoski, the promotions co-ordinator for the Showdown.

The competition has always been grass roots, but according to Katchanoski the organizers are hoping to build it into a "highly regarded international event."

Sapient has signed on as the headline sponsor and will provide $25,000 for cash prizes. Other sponsors, including Anon, RED, Option, Vans, Salomon-Bonfire and 32 will boost the prize purse by another $15,000.

Registration will be taken by phone at 1-800-766-0449, or you can register in person at Whistler-Blackcomb Guest Relations.

More information will also be posted at

www.showcasesnowboards.com as it becomes available.

Atom C2’s remain undefeated

Whistler’s minor hockey teams had a tough weekend, winning just six of 12 games, but the scores don’t tell the whole story. The Mountain Building Centre Atom C2 team remains undefeated after 10 games, while the Whistler-Blackcomb Midget C1 team beat West Van C2 in two games with identical 11-2 scores. The Boston Pizza Midget Girls, continued to struggle through their second season, but are showing improvements with each game while playing in a league without clear-cut tiers. They’re also playing clean hockey, and have the fewest penalty minutes of any team in the league.

Week 13 Boxscores

Mountain Building Centre Atom C2 (10-0-0) defeat North Shore Winter Club; score 9-3

Nesters Market Atom C1 (10-2-2) defeat Hollyburn C2; 11-8

Mountain Law Corp. Peewee (5-5-1) defeat North Shore Winter Club; 2-1

Bantam C1 (9-9-3) lose to North Van; 605

Vision Pacific Bantam C2 (8-8-6) lose to North Shore Winter Club; 8-1

Vision Pacific Bantam C2 (8-9-6) lose to North Van; 3-0

Bantam Rep (17-6-3) lose to Coquitlam B2; 4-2

Bantam Rep (17-7-3) lose to Burnaby Winter Club; 5-2

Whistler Blackcomb Midget C1 (12-3-0) defeat West Van C2; 11-2

Whistler Blackcomb Midget C1 (13-3-0) defeat West Van C2; 11-2

Intrawest Midget C2 (12-4-1) defeat North Van; 5-3

Boston Pizza Midget Girls (4-14-1) lose to Abbotsford; 4-1

Boston Pizza Midget Girls (4-15-1) lose to Langley; 6-0