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Sports briefs

Early bird XC passes available until Nov. 15

 

When it comes to staying fit over the long, cold Whistler winter, nothing beats Nordic skiing for getting your heart pumping and strengthening your core.

It's also a fun way to get outside into the fresh air, it's family friendly, the views are spectacular, the downhills get your adrenaline going, and there are over 100 km of trails to enjoy in the corridor, which means there's lots of variety out there to enjoy. And if you're competitive, there are three Coast Cup races, 10 Whistler Nordics Toonie Races, a loppet and an enduro this winter.

If all goes well - and the weather appears to be cooperating so far - the cross-country ski season could begin on Nov. 13 at Ski Callaghan (the new name given to the Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country ski area).

If that sounds good, the idea of saving $50 for a single area pass or $90 for a dual area pass probably sounds great.

For a Ski Callaghan pass, it's $225 for adults, $135 for youth 13 to 18, $113 for children 6 to 12. Family passes are $450, which includes two adults and up to two children. Day ticket prices are posted at www.whistlerolympicpark.com.

For Lost Lake, early passes are $224 for adults, $135 for youth, $112 for children and $448 for family.

The best value, which gives skinny skiers access to over 120 km of groomed trails in Lost Lake and the Callaghan, is the Dual Area pass. These are priced at $339 for adults, $205 for youth, $168 for children, and $678 for families, or about 50 per cent higher than a pass for one area.

Passes are available at Meadow Park or you can download an application form at www.whistlerolympicpark.com and send it in by e-mail or fax. You can also purchase a pass over the phone at 604-964-0060.

 

Locals tackle 100-km Ultra

The last big race event on the calendar for the Lower Mainland is the annual Haney to Harrison, a 100-km event that can be raced as part of an eight-member relay team or solo - one of a handful of qualifier events for the IAU World Championships for ultra running.

There are two Sea to Sky athletes attempting the 100 km distance this year, Squamish's Margeet Dietz and Pemberton's Tyler Petrusic.

The runners get underway at 4 a.m., often in the freezing cold and wet. The course itself is hilly, following most of the Dewdney-Trunk Road between the start line in Haney and the finish in Harrison Hot Springs.

Other Sea to Sky residents are participating in the relay, running anywhere from 8 km to 15 km.

For more information visit www.bcathletics.org/h2h/.

 

Wolfpack woes continue

It's not impossible for the Wolfpack to make the playoffs this year, but to have a fighting chance the month of November has to be a lot better than the month of October.

The Wolfpack lost their last two games, 3-2 to Grandview and 5-2 to North Delta, and won just two of 10 games in the entire month of October. They have not won at all since a 5-4 shootout win against Port Moody on Oct. 11.

Their Oct. 30 home loss to Grandview was a tough one. They managed to tie the game at 2-2 early in the second period, with both goals coming on the power play. Then Grandview scored a power play goal of their own at the midway point of the third period. Otherwise the teams were more or less evenly matched, with 22 shots on net for the Steelers and 23 for the Wolfpack. It was also the fourth game in October that the Wolfpack have lost by one goal.

Wolfpack goals belonged to Garrett Woodside (assisted by Konrad Sander and Mico Dragutinovic) and Konrad Sander (assists from Ryan Niederkorn and Mico Dragutinovic).

Sunday's game against the conference-leading North Delta Devils was another missed opportunity. The Wolfpack took a 2-1 lead after the first period, with Whistler's Matt Bonin scoring his first regulation goal just over six minutes in (assists by Konrad Sander and Ryan Niderkorn). Garrett Woodside scored in the last two minutes (assisted by Konrad Sander and Mico Dragutinovic) to take the lead.

The rest of the game was all North Delta, with two goals in the second period and two goals in the last two minutes of the third.

Squamish actually had the edge in shots with 38 to the Devil's 31. None of the seven goals were scored on a power play.

With some new players in the lineup and some solid play to build on, the Wolfpack will look to gain ground in the month of November. The team is currently sitting fifth out of five teams in the Tom Shaw Conference of the PIJHL, 13 points back of the Grandview Steelers.

The team played Aldergrove yesterday and plays another away game at Aldergrove on Friday, Nov. 5. They host the Port Moody Black Panthers at Brennan Park on Saturday night, one of the few teams that the Wolfpack have beaten this season. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. The puck drops at 8 p.m.

 

Drop in sports underway

When it gets too cold and wet to bike and run, and it's not cold or wet enough yet to ski, there are still a lot of options for people who like to be active.

Since the week of Oct. 17, the Resort Municipality of Whistler has been offering weekly adult drop-in sports at Myrtle Philip Community Centre. The cost is $7.25 per person, and Club Shred members pay $2 for soccer on Sundays.

Basketball takes place from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, volleyball is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays, badminton is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, soccer is from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. All are welcome.

For Meadow Park Arena, there is Novice Drop-in Hockey on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., and regular drop-in hockey from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (Nov. 4 and 25) and Friday. Shinny Hockey is from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Nov. 23 and 30.

Public skate is from noon to 3 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Thursday Nov. 11, Nov. 18 and Nov. 25 there will be public skating from noon to 1:30 p.m. The arena is open for evening public skating from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Monthly recreational schedules are available online at www.whistlerisrecreation.com.

 

All-Star Wrestling returning to Squamish

Sweat, blood and folding chairs will be flying on Saturday, Nov. 6, when All Star Wrestling returns to Squamish with the "Saturday Night Slam."

All Star Wrestling (ASW) drops into Squamish twice a year. This visit to Totem Hall will be raising money for the Squamish Nation Recreation Centre.

The main event is also the opening event, a Battle Royale with a twist - the last two men standing from the Battle Royale will be able to contend for the ASW Tag Team Title later in the evening. That's a first for Squamish.

In a Battle Royale, wrestlers are eliminated when they are physically knocked, pushed or thrown out of the ring.

The list of wrestlers on the bill includes Squamish's Cody Smith, the Panama Wasp, the Volcano, the "2010 Superstar" Seth Knight, The Great Kasaki, "Prince of Power" Lak Siddartha, Mr. India, Toga Boy, Disco Fury, Bruiser Joe, Gorgeous Michelle Starr, Adam Virtue and others.

Tickets are $15 for ringside, or $12 for general admission, Kids under 12 are $10.

The doors open at 7 p.m. and the wrestling gets underway at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are available at Club Flex, Totem Hall and Billies Boutique.

 

Pain's retirement the end of an era

While the sport of skeleton has laboured in the spotlight, one of its most recognizable Canadian players has always been Jeff Pain and his signature "raging beaver" helmet - voted best helmet of the 2010 Games. Last week the three-time Olympian and silver medallist from 2002 announced his retirement from the sport after 15 years of racing headfirst down chutes of ice.

Pain won the overall World Cup title twice, and racked up 22 medals - including 10 gold and six silver in 74 races. More than half his World Cup finishes were in the top six.

Pain's future plans include public speaking, especially promoting the book he recently co-authored with his wife Arly: The Business of Marriage and Medals . The book is about the struggles of balancing home life and fatherhood with Pain's drive to become the best in the world in a sport that is relatively obscure. His principle audience is military families, who often struggle while one family member is deployed overseas.

"Spending extended periods of time away from family and friends while representing our country with passion and pride in an intense environment is something I believe athletes share with members of the military," he said.

Pain joined the sport of skeleton before it was brought back to the Olympics for Salt Lake City in 2002 after a 50-year absence.

In that time he's seen the sport grow considerably.

"Our sport has come a long way since the days of travelling Europe, living in cars and hostels, and so have I," said Pain. "I am leaving with great memories, friendships and experiences that I will hold close forever, but it is now time to move on to new challenges and opportunities."