Andrew McCredie Sports Editor andrew@nsnews.com AS it enters its third year, the popular Sprockids mountain bike program has matured in more ways than one. In addition to boasting 3 membership in excess of 300 kid and teenage North Shore members, the program has undergone a name change, “We've changed the name from Kids on the Shore to the Sprackids Shoreriders,” said co-founder Lestey Tomlinson. According to the World Cup professional rider, the name change was made to bet- ter refleet the program's broad- ening appeal to include younger and older ciders. “We've always been 12 to 18 — now we're saving we will do 10 to 19,” Tomlinson said from Victoria. She added the pregram’s original name, Kids on the Shore, was.a bit of'a ake of fof Kids in the Hah, a Canadian comedy show that appeals to teens. That kid reference certainly helped the program in its appeal to younger teens, bur according to Tomlinson some of the older teens on the North Shore perceived the mountain biking program as for kids only. She wants to make it clear that riders up to the age of 19 are welcome. “We have great rides for the 16, 17, 18-ycar-olds,” she said. “And if they’re 19 or over, program has tended more to Wednesday, January 13, 1999 — North Shore News — 33 north shore news SPORTS Steeds Cycle in @ North Team members will lead cyclists STEED Cycies owner Kim Steed (foreground) clowns around with Shoreriders (left to right) Clarke Bayles, Ben Sigston and Brent McMahon. The popular North Shore mountain bike program — formerly called Kids on the Shore — is in its third year. Jan. 17: 1999 season launch ride at Argyle secondary school Feb. 21: Club ide at Seymour Demonstration Forest we're encouraging them to get involved as ride leaders.” Also new for 1999 is an affiliation with the Outdoor Pursuits Centre, a North Vancouver recreation centre program set up to introduce people of all ages to various outdoor activities, “If they’re 10 or 1]-years- old they have to go through a program with the Outdoor Pursuits Centre,” she the elementary school age.” Tomlinson added she has also received interest from the West Vancouver recreation cen- tre to offer West Van kids the same opportunity. The program for 10 and I1-year-olds will introduce them to the basics of mountain biking. And for older riders, Tomlinson said the program is benefitting from the experience of some longtime local riders, including Kim Steed, owner of Vancouver. “Kim is one of the great North Shore free riders, and he’s been really good about coming out and leading some of the older kids on rides,” Tomlinson said. The new season kicks off this Sunday with the always popular pro ride. Tomlinson, reigning women’s World Cup champion Alison Sydor, Olympian Andreas Hestler and a number of Canadian National on a ride originating ar Argyle Secondary. All those wanting to take part must register by tomorrow at the following North Shore bike shops: John Henry’s The Bicycle Man, Bicycle Sports Pacific, the Bike Cellar, Ambleside Cycles, Deep Cove Bike Shop, On Top Bike Shop or Steed Cycles. Membership is $15 plus $30 for a jersey. For more information call 983-6543 (ext. 5677). Spring Break: Road training session for cross-country riders age 14 to 19 March 21: Club ride at Cypress Provincial Park April 1: Fundraiser dinner April 18: Club ride at Argyle secondary school May 16: Club ride atop Grouse Mountain on B.C. high school championships course May 29: B.C. high school championships atop Grouse Mountain June 20: Father’s Day ride July 14, 21, 28: Slalom training atop Grouse Mountain Aug. 15: Grouse Mouniain descent ride t. 19; Club ride (location to be announced} Oct. 17: Pro ride at Argyle secondary schoo! Nov. 14; CCSD Invitational camp in Victoria. explained. “The educational W. Van’s Collins set to make splash in ‘99 © How do you get from Horseshoc Bay to Squamish? By car, of course. How else? Well, have you ever thought of trying to swim it? Shane Collins has. And he plans to give it a go in July. The foregoing is by way of introduc- ing what now seems to be your agent’s annual preview of the Collins family swim- mers’ plans for the coming year. While the destinations vary, the means of getting there don’t. They involve crossing long distances of water under their own power, equipped only with swim suits, goggles and great slatherings of lanolin. Has it ever occurred to you — because it has to Shane — that marathon swimming is the only activity in the name of sport still functioning with une same cules and equipment as it did in 1875? That’s when a British sea captain, Matthew Webb, who'd rather be in the water than on it, became the first person to swim the English Channel. Technology and ever-changing rules have altered every other athletic endeavor. Bur not official long distaace swimming, No wet suits, no flippers, 10 touching the accom- panying boat, nor even the hands of the crew occasionally handing down tood and drink. That's how Webb did it. And that’s how, ever since, everyone else has had to do it. This applies nor only to the mother of all crossings —- the Channel — but ta all such endeavors. This has included, in the past, Collins’ three swims between Nanaimo and the Sunshine Coast (fwo east, cne west), his 1995 sue- cessful Channel swim and his and Debbie’s circumnavigations of Bowen Island. spectator Debbie? She’s Mrs. Collins. Also Dr. Collins, MD. As a medical stu- dent at UBC, she was a member of the university swim team. She changed from sprints to marathons after joining Collins’ West Van-based Pacific Breakers club, where the 20 members regularly warm up for longer voyages with leisurely swims trom Dundarave to Ambleside. Debbie became such a convert, she married Shane and has since avoided ferry fare with one Georgia Straits’ crossing. Two years ago she attempted the Channel crossing, but tides and rough and unusually cold water forced her out alter six hours. She'll try again in August, right after Shane’s Horseshoe Bay to Squamish attempt. “We'll do it right this time,” ie said the other day over tea cups. (Yes, tea cups. While now a certified Canadian, he grew up on tea and bangers and mash in London’s east end and still has the accent to prove it.) “We'll go over two weeks ahead of time, rent a place and do our own cooking. cast time we got there just four days ahead of time. I chink Debbie stil] had jet lag when she went into the water.” Swimming the Channel is for nei- ther the faint in heart nor wallet. Five skippers and their boats have exclusive rights to accompany swim- mers on their crossing attempts. The cost: $2,400 a try. Collins estimates a total tab of $10,000 for the trip. It’s a good thing an earlier career in TY advertising has given him the time and financial security to spend most of his spare time in the water. “The Channel is still the big one. Colder water than here. A short sea- son. July, August and September. Unpredictable weather. It’s 124 years since Webb made the first swim. And oniy 500 more have done it since then. More people have rocketed inte space than have swum the Channel.” He plans to celebrate his 50th birthday in 2000 by again swimming tre Channel. This will hardly make hinv the oldest guy to do it. A cou- ple of decades back a 67-year-old Austratian made it. Shane’s not look- ing that far ahead right now, Howe Sound in July is his immediate tar- get. The idea came last summer dur- ing a trip on the Royal Hudson and a ride back to Vancouver on the MV Britannia. He had a long talk with the captain about tides, water tem- peratures and other pertinent facts, then decided Horseshoe Bay to Squamish would be a good way to mark his 49th. The distance is about 50 kilome- tres, give or rake a K, which is quite manageable. But, your agent sug- gested, won’ Collins be a little con- cerned about his health when he reaches that water of a different color -— the outflow from the Woodfibre pulp mill. “Ah, you mean pollution. I did- n't intend to bring that up, but since you have, maybe the swim will draw attention to the problem.” That's how it goes in long dis- tance swimming. The only way it can become big news hereabouts is to be part ofan environmental issue.