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Sports Briefs

Ski day to remember Neil Falkner

It’s been nearly five years since Blackcomb ski patroller Neil Falkner died while on a multi-day ski traverse in the Rocky Mountains, but his legacy is as strong as ever. Starting the following year the Neil Falkner Memorial Foundation launched a scholarship program with Outward Bound Canada that sends students from Falkner’s school in East Vancouver and from Whistler on 17-day trips into B.C.’s backcountry. The Outward Bound experience was pivotal in Falkner’s own life, and inspired him to become a patroller.

Falkner died on April 12, 2002, when he skied off a cliff during a white-out. His family is inviting friends and acquaintances of Neil to join them for a group ski this Saturday, April 7. Meet at the light board on Whistler at 11 a.m. to take part. Afterwards the group will head to Dusty’s for après ski, meeting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

LUNA brings dodgeball to the next level

LUNA has a busy month ahead for dodgeball aficionados, including drop-in nights on Monday, April 9 and April 16 and wrapping up with the Dodgeball Grand Finale on April 23.

The drop-in nights are at Whistler Secondary School, and run from 8 to 10 p.m. Everyone is welcome to take part, male or female, experienced or not. Just bring gym clothes and wear non-marking shoes, as well as $3 if you’re a LUNA member or $5 if you’re a non-member.

The Grand Finale is a dodgeball tournament. Get a co-ed team of eight together, choose some outfits, and register in advance to Kiran Pal-Pross at 604-935-8372. There will be lots of prizes up for grabs, including overnight stays at the Pan Pacific and Hilton, gift certificates at the Alpine Café, and $500 in cash for the winning team.

 

Team Whistler back on top in Spring Classic

Although they had a hard time in the last Team Escape Velocity Spring Series event of the season March 24-25, Team Whistler/Nature’s Path found their groove again at the Team Escape Velocity Spring Classic this past weekend.

Lloyd Thomas won the B Group for the road race, as well as the criterium to take the overall, while his teammate James Shaw placed second in the road race. None of the Team Whistler riders finished top five in the time trial, the third event of the Spring Class Omnium.

The event wraps up the spring racing series for the team, although the B.C. Cup and provincial road series will get underway again in June. In the meantime, Team Whistler is starting Group Rides on Tuesday, April 17. Meet at Snowcovers at 5:30 p.m. Road bikes and mountain bikes are welcome.

For more information visit www.whistlercycling.ca.

 

Park Rider halfpipe on Sunday

This Sunday the Whistler-Blackcomb Park Rider series moves back to Blackcomb for an all-ages halfpipe contest. The last two events of the season are rail jams on May 6 and May 13.

The contest is open to anyone, skiers and snowboarders, boys and girls, beginners and pros. Pre-registration is available for $20 at any Whistler-Blackcomb Guest Relations desk, or you can register for $25 until 9:45 a.m. on the day of the event in the Rendezvous Lodge.

 

Mom’s Mountain Classic returns April 11

It’s not Mother’s Day, but Whistler-Blackcomb is recognizing mothers everywhere this Wednesday, April 11 with its annual Mom’s Mountain Classic.

The heart of the Classic is the match time race, where participants try to duplicate the time from their first run and the skiers with the smallest difference in times are the winners. As well, there will be a morning coffee, race practice, lunch at Christine’s (optional reservations), and an après party.

Whistler-Blackcomb is also providing 20 per cent off day care and toddler programs, and 50 per cent off other Whistler Kids programs.

The entry fee is $35, not including lift tickets. Advance registration is available at Guest Relations, and race day registration will be open at Merlin’s from 8 to 9 a.m. The theme for this year is “Heavy Metal Motorcycle Momma”.

The categories are: Moms of Girls, Moms of Boys, Moms of Girls and Boys, Grandmoms, and Stepmoms.

 

New Bike Guide raises money for trails

The Whistler Bike Guide for 2007 will be available throughout the resort in late May, with up to date maps and trail descriptions, as well as information on trail advocacy, etiquette and history.

The guides will sell for $5.95, with $0.50 from each issue going towards WORCA’s trail maintenance program. The guide will also be online at www.whistlerbikeguide.com , with 3D maps and updated content.

 

Hockey playoffs underway

The Whistler Recreational Hockey League is in playoff mode, with the Men’s A League wrapping up this week and the Rec League and Women’s league progressing.

In Men’s A, the first place Blazers beat Moe Joe’s in straight games, winning two out of three to advance to the finals against the Mongolie Grillers, who also swept their semi-final series against the Winterhawks. The first game of the finals took place on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m. Game two is on Saturday night at 8:15 p.m., and the third game, if necessary, is on Tuesday, April 10 at 8:15 p.m.

In the Men’s Rec League, eight teams made the playoffs. In the first round, the Blackcomb Blackhawks downed the Tapley’s Thunder in two straight games to advance to the next round, while the Citta’ Shooters did the same to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The series between the Dusty’s Hockey Club and Longhorn Mighty Moose will be resolved this week, as will the series between the Black’s Pub Marmots and Three Below Thrashers. Black’s Pub and the Longhorn both have one win each, with the second games of the series taking place Wednesday.