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Sports Briefs

Sea 2 Summit Race this weekend

Now in its 11 th year, the Whistler Sea 2 Summit Adventure Race is considered one of North America’s original adventure racing competitions, and is one of the more unique long distance challenges anywhere with a two day format.

The course is completely different this year, and there is also a new one-day point-to-point race for people who are new to the sport or don’t have the time to complete the full two-day event.

The two-day race kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday in Pemberton, starting with a 23 km paddle through the Pemberton Meadows, followed by a 55 km mountain bike to Whistler with a 5 km to 8 km trek/hike-a-bike en route. All the climbs are rewarded with descents.

Day two gets underway at Skiers Plaza at 7 a.m., leading off with a 30 km mountain bike. Stage two is a 14 km paddle on lakes and flat rivers, possibly with a 300 metre portage if water levels are low. The last stage is a trek and trail run that finishes in the village.

The one day race is on the Sunday, and follows the same course.

There will be a dinner for athletes on the Saturday night and an awards ceremony on Sunday.

Athletes have to be self-supported, and can race as solos, teams of two or teams of four (male, female and co-ed categories).

Registration is available online at www.sea2summit.com , and race day registration may also be available. Also visit the website to read the rules and regulations, as well as the mandatory gear list.

 

Women’s hockey draft Sept. 14

The Whistler Women’s Hockey League is getting ready to drop the puck for the season, and all six teams are looking for new players.

There will be a league draft on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m., at Meadow Park Arena. Come dressed to play and scrimmage, with skates, full protective gear and sticks. The cost is $10 to cover the ice time.

The first part of the draft will consist of a few drills, followed by a scrimmage to 9:15 p.m. where the teams can watch skaters in action. Players will be contacted if they are drafted.

Players must pre register if they want to be part of the draft. To get your name on the list contact Christine Kenny at chris27@hotmail.com or 604-935-3145.

 

Pemberton man closer to meeting the Great One

The golden rule of winning a lottery is that you have to “play to win”, which also happens to be Wayne Gretzky’s strategy through his legendary hockey career. Both come in to play in the “Win a Great Day with Gretzky” instant win lottery, and Pemberton’s Murray Field is one of a handful of people who will have a chance to meet the player everyone knows as the Great One.

Field, a hockey player and fan, says his wife bought him the ticket. Once the 13 other Gretzky tickets are found he will be put in a draw. There will be six winners, who also receive $2,010 in cash as well as signed Gretzky memorabilia.

The lottery is part of the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s SportsFunder series, which raises money for athletes and participation programs like Kidsport through different lotteries. The Win a Great Day with Gretzky tickets are $5, with prizes ranging from $99,000 in cash to a chance to meet Gretzky himself.

“My wife bought me the ticket and when I saw that it was a winner I was totally pumped,” said Field. “I’m very involved in hockey, as both a ref and a player, and I’m thrilled to get a chance to meet Gretzky.”

 

Local riders featured in Sandbox premiere

In Whistler, the first sign that winter is right around the corner is not the sight of snow in the high alpine but the influx of new movie premieres in the valley. This year the Whistler-based Sandbox team and Kevin Sansalone are first to the draw, releasing Flavor Country. The movie was shot using all 16 mm film, and includes scenes of more than 20 riders in all kinds of terrain, from backcountry to urban rails to terrain parks.

The premiere is on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Millennium Place, with shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. all tickets are $8. The premiere will be followed by the after-party at Garfinkel’s. You can get tickets in advance at Ticketmaster, or at the door if any are available.

 

Climbers Festival returns to Squamish

The rock climbing world will focus on Squamish granite this weekend, Sept. 9-10, as the Access Society and sponsors present the 2006 Squamish Climbers Festival.

The weekend gets underway on Saturday with Adopt-a-Craig, with volunteers working on three projects — the Petrifying Wall stairs, Squaw trail, and Little Smoke Bluffs. Volunteers will need to register and sign a waiver, and come dressed to work outside.

World famous free soloist Michael Reardon will kick off the evening’s entertainment with slides, videos and stories from his unroped climbing adventures, including his unroped solo of 5.12b route Romantic Warrior in Needles, California. The show runs 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brennan Park Leisure Centre auditorium, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for the public and $6 for Adopt-a-Crag volunteers.

From there the party will move to the Squamish Adventure Centre with a DJ, raffle and cash bar.

Sunday is competition day. Climbers meet at the Adventure Centre at 8:30 a.m. to register and sign waivers, before heading out to the rock. There will be points for the hardest bouldering problem, the best classic lead, and the best sport lead. The cost is $5 to take part.

For more information on the weekend visit www.squamishclimbersfestival.com.