By Jessi Stark

March 15 2011 -- The race to the finish line has become the race to registration. Spaces for the 100th Ski to Sea Race in Bellingham, Wash. are filling up faster than ever.

As of March 9, 386 teams had registered, filling most of the 500 spaces available. By this time last year, 82 teams had registered.

“Local teams have always waited until the last few weeks of April to submit their applications,” said Pete Coy, race director. “If they wait until the last few weeks this year, teams face the chance of not getting into the race.”

The registration fee, if paid before May 1, is $399. Any later and it costs an extra $80.

The race consists of seven legs: cross-country skiing, downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, cycling, canoeing, mountain biking, and kayaking. Each team consists of eight members. Two members are required for canoeing, and each other leg has its own member.

The race will take place on Sunday, May 29. It will be the 100th annual race since it was founded in 1911 as the Mount Baker Marathon.

For information on the race visit www.skitosea.com.

Vancouver, B.C. (Feb. 18, 2011) –The inaugural Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra is to be held Nov. 5, 2011. The 8-person, 50-mile relay race or solo ultra-marathon, replaces the former Haney-to-Harrison (H2H) 100K Relay and Ultra on the running calendar.

“The reason for the move is to address safety concerns caused by the growth of both the H2H event and the communities it ran through”, said Maurice Wilson, B.C. Athletics technical manager of road & cross country running.

“After 29 years the H2H event was operating at capacity, drawing up to 2,000 participants and volunteers. By relocating to Whistler, many of the limiting factors are removed. The dangers of running along a major highway are removed.
Traffic congestion will be eliminated. And Whistler opens up many more accommodation and dining options. We’re excited by the opportunities Whistler presents.”

The relay will retain the 8-person format of the H2H event, with a tentative plan of alternating legs of approximately 12K and 8K, centred around Whistler Village and the Valley Trail system. The 50 mile (80K) total distance is an achievable goal for novice ultra-marathoners, while still being a recognized qualifying distance for Western States or National Team selection.

Partial proceeds will go to supporting food banks in Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton.

BC Athletics and Tourism Whistler have also launched a competition to design a logo for the new event, with a deadline of Feb. 28 for submissions.

For further information about the Whistler 50 Relay and Ultra, and details about the Whistler 50 Logo competition, visit the event website at www.bcathletics.org/Whistler50. Event registration will open in the Spring.

Calgary (March 15, 2011) — Canada’s only Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, Kyle Shewfelt, will host a unique gymnastics festival showcasing the sport at its best. The festival will include participants from the grassroots to elite level, March 25 to 27 at the University of Calgary’s Jack Simpson Gymnasium.

The Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics Festival, in partnership with the University of Calgary Gymnastics Club and in support of Right to Play, will consist of nearly 500 athletes aged six to 26 performing in categories ranging from recreational gymnastics to international elite.

“Calgary has played such a critical role in my career, and this inaugural festival is an opportunity for me to give back to the next generation of gymnasts,” says Shewfelt. “We want our sessions to run fast. We want our environment to be engaging and energetic, and we want every athlete and parent who participates to leave feeling like they just had the best gymnastics experience of their life.”

The festival will feature men’s and women’s artistic competition, a recreational gymnaestrada and cheerleading, dance and parkour demos taking place over the course of the weekend.

Friday night’s men’s artistic competition will be an important international meet. Two Canadian teams will be determined during a week-long training camp leading up to the event. Each of those teams will take on current Olympic champions, Team China, and the 2008 Olympic bronze medallists, Team USA, in a friendly tri-meet beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The top-three senior men and women on each apparatus from Friday’s qualification will advance to the marquee event, the Big Show Finals on Saturday night. Hosted by Shewfelt himself with Jill Belland of CITY-TV, the top athletes on all apparatus will compete in front of seven celebrity judges including  Olympians Kristina Groves (speed skating), Duff Gibson (skeleton), Carla MacLeod (women’s hockey), Regan Lauscher (luge), Adam Wong (gymnastics), Kaillie Humphries (women’s bobsleigh), and Sam Effah (track and field).

“Our goal with the Big Show Final is to inject new energy into the competition with a unique and energizing format for spectators and athletes to enjoy,” said Shewfelt. “Athletes will feel like rock stars and people in the stands will be fully engaged in the excitement while seeing the sport at its best in Canada.”

Competition takes place each day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Doors for the Big Show Finals on Saturday night open at 6 p.m., and competition gets underway at 7 p.m. Tickets for all sessions can be purchased at the door of the Jack Simpson Gym, and will range from $5-15. All University of Calgary students will receive free entrance with their student ID and a portion of event proceeds will be shared with Right To Play.

“I am so excited for the weekend to get underway,” said Shewfelt, who is a Right To Play ambassador. “This is a way to create a legacy, and tie in my charity of choice with Right to Play to make a difference. I am optimistic we can take this foundation year of the festival and grow it into the largest and most talked about international gymnastics competition
in Canada.”

By Richard Seymour

Richmond, B.C. (Feb. 24, 2011) – The 45th Annual Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards took place at the River Rock Casino in Richmond on Thursday night.

The who’s who of B.C. Sports were in attendance including Bob Lenarduzzi of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Olympic gold medallists Ashleigh McIvor and Maelle Ricker. The event recognizes B.C. amateur athletic achievements from junior level to top international performers in 2010.

The selection committee consists of 25 members including Tom Larscheid, Steve Armitage and “Miss 604” Rebecca Bollwitt.

The night kicked off with the Presidents’ Awards Recipients – which honours and celebrates the spirit of volunteerism from each Sport BC member organization.

The Athlete of the Year Awards has a rich 45-year history of honouring world class athletes such as Rick Hansen, Terry Fox, Nancy Greene-Raine, Trevor Linden and Steve Nash – among many, many more. 2010 was no exception with the following people honoured:

Athlete with a Disability – Lauren Woolstencroft, Para-Alpine Skiing
Coach of the Year – Doug Reimer, Volleyball
High School Female Athlete of the Year – Rowena Cacapit, Wrestling
High School Male Athlete of the Year – David McKay, Athletics – Pole Vault
College Athlete of the Year – Alex Basso, Volleyball
Masters Athlete of the Year – Carol Peters, Triathalon
Junior Female Athlete of the Year – Christine Wong, Golf
Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Adam Svensson, Golf
Daryl Thompson Award – Ray Carter, Baseball
University Athlete of the Year – Arjan Bhullar, Wrestling
Harry Jerome Comeback Award – Tessa Beauchamp, Basketball
Official of the Year Award – Steve Seibel, Basketball
Team of the Year – UBC Women’s Volleyball
Community Champion – Denny Morrison, Speed Skating
Senior Female Athlete of the Year – Maelle Ricker, Snowboard cross
Senior Male Athlete of the Year – Duncan Keith, Ice Hockey

Congratulations to the winners and nominees!

Victoria, BC (February 8, 2011) – The 32nd Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon will host the 2011 Provincial Marathon Championships for the third year in a row. The championships are open to junior, senior and master runners, for both men and women. The 2011 Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 9, 2011.

“The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon demonstrated again in 2010 why it is rated one of the best marathons in North America. The community embraces the event, creating a welcoming environment,” said Maurice Wilson, Technical Manager of BC Athletics’ Road and Cross Country Running Division. “The commitment of the organizing committee and volunteers ensures a quality experience for all participants, competitive and recreational. BC Athletics is delighted to associate the 2011 BC Marathon Championship with such a reputable event.”

The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon has consistently attracted an elite field of runners including former winners Cheryl Murphy and Olympian Jon Brown, reigning and three-time Marathon winner Steve Osaduik, five-time winner Kelvin Broad, six-time winner Cindy Rhodes and Olympians Bruce Deacon and Peter Butler.

“This is the third consecutive year that the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon will be hosting the BC Marathon Championships,” said Cathy Noel, General Manager. “Last year saw our strongest elite field ever with Kenyan Philip Samoei winning in 2:23:24. The women’s field was phenomenal with Lucy Smith, Cheryl Murphy and Suzanne Evans all favourites to win, but the title went to Nanaimo’s Catrin Jones who won in 2:52:21.”

The 32nd Annual GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon takes place Sunday, October 9, 2011. The Marathon was named the Best Marathon (Western Canada) in Get Out There Magazine’s 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards. In 2010, the Marathon was ranked number two in Canada of top Boston Marathon qualifying races and number three in Canada for most Boston Marathon qualifiers by MarathonGuide.com. In addition to the Marathon there is a Half Marathon, 8K Road Race and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run & Marathon. For more details, visit http://runvictoriamarathon.com/pdf/2011_Marathon_Championship.pdf and www.runvictoriamarathon.com <http://www.runvictoriamarathon.com/>

The first edition of the Gran Fondo Rockies is open for registration. Join 2,000 of your closest friends on July 24, 2011 in Black Diamond, south of Calgary for a fully supported ride. Riders have a choice of 4 distances – 170, 145, 100 and 60 kilometres as well as an elite race open to licensed riders vying for the largest cash purse for a road race in Canada.  

With the majestic Rocky Mountains in the backdrop, you, your family, friends and fellow cyclists can experience an authentic gran fondo complete with a post ride Italian style lunch at the finish line.

Each participant will receive the following:

• A fully supported ride on some of the most scenic roads in the Alberta foothills
• Timing chips for all participants
• Full mechanical support throughout the duration of the ride
• Several aid and medical stations
• Gran Fondo Rockies jersey (60km participants and racers can purchase a jersey separately)
• Post ride Italian style lunch
  

Go to www.granfondorockies.ca to register.