33 ~ North Shore News — Wednesday, August 30, 2000 Olyny Jan-Christian Sorensen Sports Reporter poorensen@nsnews.com PLAY badminton. See the world. That should be the bumper sticker affixed to the back of Brent Olynyk’s car. For the past few months the West Vancouver native has been traversing the globe, set to smil competing in a slew of Olympic Qualifying doubles badminton tourneys to secure a berth in the upcoming Summer Games in Sydney. In order to qualify for the Games, Olynyk —- and dou- bles partner Bryan Moody — had to gain a high enough points average in a minimum of eight Olympic-sanctioned qualifiers to carn a ranking among the world’s top 23 Caps compete for _ Challenge Cu From: previous page “It'll be a good game,” said Murdy. “They’re a good team as well.” ; _ While the team’s season and home opener against Meraloma isn’t scheduled until - Sept. 16, the Caps. will take _part in the North American Challenge Cup 2000 at UBC.’ Sept. 9-10. The team will be: vying” . ‘against seven other sides fora top prize of $5,000.. The Capilano club. will also .send two other squads — a. social ; division rep and an under-18 - side — into the fray at the com- ° "+ petition. _ Joining Murdy on the side- lines this season will be assistant coaches Rogér Hatch and Tony Zamis. oe : Following ‘is the ‘tentative Capilano RFC premier: side roster for the upcoming, sea- ““son: Guilio. DeContis, . front row; Paolo DeCotiis, front “rows ‘Morris ‘DeCotiis, front stow; Craig McLaren,: front row; Ron’ Johnstone, lock; Jamie ‘Cudmore; lock; Jamie - Lawson, lock/back row; Gord Brown, - flanker; -* Christoph HUGIT. @eoeotces TARK & a CAPILANO .RFC coach Tim Murdy has helmed “the team for four years. — Strubin, flanker; Mike Langley, flanker; Natsuki Kareuso, num- ber 8; Phil Eruea, number 8; Jeff Chalmers, scrum half; Stu Wright, scrum half John Granander, fly half; Mel Browning, . fly -half; Bob Bremner, centre; Nick Belmar,’ centre; Clinton Haronga, cen- tre; Bob Motazed, fullback; Ryan Stewart, wing; Dave Saklofsky, wing; Alexander “Sandy” . Inglis, scrum half/winger. - KIRSTIE “es 2 authors of 22. “DOMESTIC CONTRACTS” A hook on marriage and separation agreements oo FAMILY LAW MEDIATION 682-4999. 8602-1166 Aibemi St, Vancouver / NORTH VAN GIRLS SOFTBALL ; | REP TRYOUTS | ~~ September Sth and 10th ‘Squirts - (1990 & 1989) iPeeWee (1988 & 1987) (1986 & 1985) ‘Bantam 9:00-1:00 11:00-1:00 1:00-3:00 Midget. (1984, 1983, 1982) 3:00-5:00 - All tryouts to he held at LOUTET PARK. | vo: (27th St. E. and Rufus Ave.) Fot information call: . SPORTS doubles. Mission accomplished. But just — barely, Olynyk. He and Moody had to top- ple a pair of American reps during a semifinal doubles matchup in a competition in Chile in April to book their beds at the Olympic Village. “We ended up as the 22nd qualifier. It was a reafly close call,” said Olynyk. No matter how close, it’s a dose of sweet redemption for Olynyk. In 1996, he tried to qualify for the Summer Games in Adlanta bur missed the cut by five world-ranking spots. Olynyk and = Moody dropped in on the North Shore for a brief visit during the’ weekend before heading back to their home base in Calgary’ for more practice en route to the Land Down Under. Cali said the North Shore “ sojourn a well-deserved rest stop for the pair. They had most recently been curting their teeth with the Malaysian National badminton team - the final stop on a hectic glo- hetrotting tour that saw chem visit and compete in Cuba, Bulgaria, Mexico, Germany and Peru. ~ A former tennis player as a youngster, Olynyk first picked. up the badminton racquet at the age of ten and decided to dedicate himself solely to the sport when he was invited to accompany the Alberta bad- minton team on a competitive tour of Denmark as a teenager. Olynyk, who graduated from West Vancouver Secondary and studied English Lit at UBC, has lived and trained in Calgary for the last ten years. He and Moody will take to the court for their first Olympic matchup the day after opening ceremonies on Sept. 15. They won’r know who they'll be facing until a - week before the game, when the draws are made. Olynyk, who is sponsored by Yonex, does a little coach- _ ing on the side in Calgary — sidelines REGISTRATION for | the developing mini- ‘rugby program (pre- school ages and up) and © the junior under-14 and under-16 programs will. - tease for: © Drive Select 4X4» 2.01 twin cam engine ¢ flugged ladder box frame ¢ 4 spkr AM/FM cass. MSRP 21,390 Sree, AOR tae le and watch the WEST Vancouver native Brent Olyny and doubles partner Bryan Moody face an uphill battle in badminton doubles competition at the Summer Games in Sydney. Olynyk and Moody will also compete in badminton mixed doubles events. :. ; aftzr all, ic can be hard to eke out a decent living on the international competitive cir- cuit, where you have to reach the quarterfinals to secure even a small share of the pot. He admits there are people that paint badminton as ten- nis’ easier sibling, but he said most would be surprised at how demanding the sport actually is. And while it’s not the most popular event at the national level here, it’s 2 different mat- ter in Asia. “The players there train six hours a day, everyday,” - said Olynyk. “It’s like hockey there. They’re scouted’ when _they’re ten years..old over there. Basically for them it’s a way out. You could be digging ditches or you could: be play- ing badminton. For them the incentive to become good is basically ail or nothing.”. During the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg last July, Olynyk be held Sunday, Sept. 10 from 10:a.m. to... noon at Klahani¢ Park. . An equipment. consign- | ‘ment swap will be helci-as well. “The regular season’ for | the. minis and ‘the juniors begins "Sept. 17, shared a gold medal ‘in the doubles badminton event and pocketed a silver in the mixed doubles competition. ~~ He said that he and Moedy have established a good rap- port on the court during their partnership. : : “Bryan and I play a consis- ‘tent style -of game,” said Olynyk. “We’re not really flashy or hugely dynamic bur weire pretty solid mentally and I think that’s really helped us this yore the Olympic qualifying, because: it’s. high : stress and there’s no room for ~ error, We have good personal- ities for that.” And while it’s the dream of » every athjere in the. Games to climb that podium and hang their head : for. the Gold, Olynyk remains hopeful but realistic. ; “To medal. is going to bes really - tough,”. he «sai “However, I- think we. have chance at maybe finishing top ‘ -oaQ. Five “North . Vancouver.’ swimmers were named all-stars during the waterpolo competi- .. ’ tion at the 2000 B.C, Summer: ’ Swimming Association’ cham- *, pionships in Coquitlam.’ - "No Limit” Purchase Financing at 1.9% APR ts offered for up to 24 months only.: Other financing sates avaliable for up to 6 months. Lease payment based on 48 month term at $259/month with $1,650 down payment. Total tease obligation $14,081.6 Annual {ease rate 3.9% with 60,000 km mileage allowance {8 cents/kin for excess mileage}. First month's payment and $300. ht and P.D.E. $895). licence. insurance and applicable taxes extra “> You know: what eight. But we're going there - to. play. It’s ‘not -.a~ holiday. Obviously we’rc_ going: to. try and *do . our. best, but ‘we're. coming ia near the. bottom of. the qualifiers.” nee If there’s one positive, ‘it's: that Moody and’ Olynyk have. had months ‘of experience clawing their way to the top’ against their Olympic counter- parts at qualifiers, which’ may: give them an advantage... .... they, say: plement Milane Cloutier, also: ‘of Quebec,” qualified : for ‘the Games in their. own righ