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Slideshow showcases Segger’s "marathon of sand"

Last April local adventure racer Jen Segger took part in the seven-day, 245 km Marathon de Sables, crossing a section of the Sahara Desert almost entirely self-supported.

It’s one of the toughest races in the world with temperatures in the 40’s during the day, freezing temperatures at night, and long sections through shifting sand dunes.

Although this was Segger’s first time in the event, and she was one of the youngest and least experienced competitors, she still finished 10 th among women, and was the top female challenger from North America.

On Wednesday, Nov. 23, starting at 7:30 p.m., Segger will be giving a slideshow presentation of her experiences in Morocco to raise money and cover her costs at the U.S. Adventre Racing Association Sprint Championships.

The venue is the Spruce Grove Field House, and entry is by donation.

For more information you can email Jen Segger at seggerjen@hotmail.com.

Local rider fourth in Cyclo-Cross Championships

In recent years the sport of cyclo-cross has grown in a big way, with road riders and mountain bikers winding down their competitive seasons as they face off on short, dirt tracks.

Whistler mountain biker Trevor Hopkins took part in five out of eight races in the B.C. Cup cyclo-cross series this fall, and finished in the top five in three of those races. Each race broke records in regards to turnout, with more than 75 riders at each event.

Most recently he took part in the B.C. Cup championships in Nanaimo, where he finished fourth in the Masters category racing for the FloraGlow/Norca team.

Next season Hopkins will be racing for the a new team started by Whistler’s Tony Routley, called Team Whistler/Nature’s Path. Other sponsors include Fine Motorcars Sales and Leasing, EpicrideBC, Snowcovers, Rocky Mountain Bikes, 4Ever Fit Sports Nutrition, Ryders Eyewear, Mountain FM, Helly Hansen and Sugoi.

The team will include eight of Whistler’s fastest cyclo-cross riders with entries in most categories. Their season will start at the end of February with a spring road race in Langley.

XC early bird passes on sale

Season passes for the Lost Lake Cross Country Trails went on sale last week, with early bird pricing in effect until Nov. 30.

There are advantages to having a pass. The Lost Lake trails were officially open for just 22 days last season due to the weather, but passholders were able to use a track that was built on Whistler Mountain outside of the Roundhouse Lodge with no extra charge.

In addition, season pass holders and 10-pass holders from last year will receive an additional 20 per cent off early bird pricing to compensate for last year. Passes also include access to the expanded snowshoe trail system.

For adults, early bird season passes are $136 through Nov. 30, when they go up to $170. Night-only passes go from $54 to $68.

For youths aged 13 to 18, early bird passes are $82 and go up to $102. Night passes are $27 and $24 respectively.

Child passes (6 to 12 years) are $68 early and $85 late, and night passes are free.

Family passes are $272 for early birds, and $340 after Nov. 30. Night passes are $109 and $136 respectively.

You can purchase passes at Meadow Park Sports Centre, or by calling 604-935-8250.

For more information contact Kristi King, cross country supervisor, at 604-935-8300, ext. 8631.

B.C. Winter Games brings back leadership program

When Trail hosts the B.C. Winter Games this February, the B.C. Games Society and 2010 LegaciesNow will be sponsoring the sixth B.C. Olympic and Paralympic Youth Leadership Academy.

The academy is open to 50 youths from around the province in Grade 9 and 10, and over four days allows participants to experience all three pillars of the Olympic movement – sport, culture and the environment.

They will attend seminars to hear inspirational stories from B.C. Olympians and Paralympians, discuss ways to include Olympic values in their daily lives, and attend workshops on team building and leadership development. They will also be given volunteer positions within the B.C. Winter Games, giving them an up close view of the action.

The academy takes place from Feb. 23-27, and includes transportation, accommodation and food.

Interested youths can apply online at www.bcacademy.ca.

Alpine Canada inks new deal with Husky

On Tuesday, Alpine Canada Alpin signed yet another new long-term agreement to benefit ski racing in Canada.

Husky Energy, which has supported ski racing in the past through the Snow Stars program as well as individual athletes, signed on to become the presenting sponsor of the upcoming 2005 Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup races. The deal is part of an increased six-year marketing partnership between Husky and the ACA, extending the current contract set to end in 2005 by three years.

Husky will also continue to provide funding and support for the Husky Snow Starts, Husky Grade 2 Funpass, and a Husky credit card rebate program that generates funding for ski racing at the local, provincial and national levels.

With the decision to extend the contract, Husky has been named the exclusive Energy Sector/Convenience Retail Parter for Alpine Canada Alpin, the Canadian Alpine Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team.

Charity seeks used bikes

The Providencia Project is looking for used kids’ mountain bikes, or bikes for small adults in good condition to donate to needy children in Costa Rica.

The village of Providencia is poor, agricultural, and happens to be located in a mountainous area of Costa Rica that is being promoted as a destination for mountain biking. The kids in town built their own small trail, even though they only have one broken bicycle to share.

The Providencia Project is being organized by Paulo Valle, a Costa Rican downhill mountain biker who is building trails outside of Providencia. He is looking for at least 10 mountain bikes in good condition, including about seven kids’ bikes and three small bikes, as well as bike gear (helmets, gloves, shorts, spare parts), as well as approximately $600 for shipping.

You can drop off bikes, gear and donations at Evolution in Whistler, or Cove Bike Shop and Dizzy Cycles in Vancouver, who will take care of all maintenance. People who donate bikes will receive a photo of the bike with its new owner or owners.