north shore news i) SPORTS Wednesday, April 28, 1999 — North Shore News - 45 Salt water invites swimmers Starting teday, Shane Collins will be writing reqularly in our Wednesday Sports section instead of the Sunday News. EVERYBODY fortu- nate enough to live in B.C knows full well we reside in the most beau- tiful province of the most desirable country on the planet. How is it so many people (read: swimmers) fil to take advantage of our terrific sum- mer weather and seem reluc- tant to venture into the world of open water swimming? There is a myriad of'ocean and freshwater races all the way down the coast of North America, yet the Lower Mainland, specifically, and B.C, in general, has a very small group of swimmers par- dcipating compared with other similarly populated areas — and it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with water temperature! A bunch (or should that be a shoal) of our club athletes (Pacitic Breakers Rough Water Swimming Club) often fly down to San Francisco and race in locally organized races. It is remarkable how popular and developed the sport seems to be there. Reflecting on the heart in hockey Mike Gculd Contributing Writer *There’s a dream that lives, deep in every heart. Heroes come with grace, legends leave their mark. And it’s worth the sweat, and it’s worth the pain, because the chance miay never come again.” THIS is the chorus to i: song we listened to before leaving our hotel to go to every game at the B.C. Midget hockey championship tourna- ment in Trail. We ieft West Vancouver with thoughts of vet another disappointing semi-final loss, like the previous three. We lett our hotel before the semi-final with thoughts of sweet victo- ry, which we knew was attain- able. San Fran has nwo main open-water clubs, each with a membership of over 300 ath- letes, All this in. water temper- atures that vary from a low of 4.5 Celsius in the winter toa blood-boiling 15.5 Celsius in summertime, and it isn’t unconnon to have in excess of 350 people taking part ina single event. The point is that our own natural surroundings are in a class all their own and are just waiting to be experienced. Why don’t some of you chlo- rine-saturated pool jocks and jockettes think about taking the plunge this summer? Go outside, get wet and put some colour on those pasty white torsos that have been covered and protected all winter. There are distances to suit all levels of ability and com- mitment, starting at } kilome- tre all the way up to 10 km and beyond, including but nor limited to the 12 km Skaha You see, in the entire histo- ry of West Vancouver Minor Hockey, not a single team has come home as provincial champion. Our West Van Midget Double A team, made up of 15 voung men aged 16-t0-18, had played together for almost tour years. Prior to this year, we had all attended at least two provincial: championship: tournaments, and in some cases, as many as four, In all of those tournaments, not one of us had ever played farther than the semi-finals. From the very first game of this tournament, however, we all knew this was going to be different. For many of us, this was the last year thar a West Van jersey would be worn, as some will move on to junior leagues. Others will stop play- ing the game that we'all love so dearly and go to college. Or maybe they will no Lake Ultra Swim. Right at the end of the spectrum one can even look at participating in a sanctioned marathon distance — with the appropriate train- ing and background, of course. If you're not sure which event may be most suitable, then let me throw down my “goggles” and challenge you by extending an invitation to our own local club event. The 7th annual Nigel Miller West Vancouver Seaside Classic will be held at Ambleside beach on July 4 commencing around 9 a.m. The course follows the natural shoreline of West Vancouver, with the out-and-back dis- tance totaling 3 km. All net proceeds are donated to local Non-profit assuciations. There are various age- group categories as well: as wetsuit and non-wetsuit divi- sions so that all abilities can ely compete. Indeed our philosophy is to invite every- one from nine to 90 and if they can’t walk, then bring em in a wheelbarrow! For more information phone 92) 0726 or fax 921 0701. (Actually we have a self imposed cut-off of 100 due to safety considerations, but you get the idea!). Swimming right along... If you have the necessary back- longer play for the simple fact that atter Midget, there is nowhere else to go in minor hockey, and their skates will be hung for good. A look at our dressing room would surely show that there are some leaders and some followers, as there are in any given group. Granted we all play on the same team and we all wanted to win as one, but the reasons that we indi- vidually wanted the win were scattered and widely different. Personally, I am = going to retire next season and as the expression tells, “It is bese to go out with a bang!” A provincial win was just the bang that I needed before saying farewell to a sport and a lifestyle that F have known and loved for so many years. The bang was heard loud and clear by us all. The whistle that marked the end of the provin- cials, the season, many young Your friendly alternative to the high cost of 2 — Where you can tatk with your mechanic Failed Aircare? Sluggish Performance? Poor Fuel G Ai Enquire about our Motor Vac Internal Engine Cleaning System ground and your taste runs more to the exotic then how about a swim across the Strait of Georgia (35-40 km), or a circumnavigation of Bowen Island (36 km). These two events are sanctioned by the Canadian Marathon Ocean Swimming Association and strictly adhere to international- ly accepted and FINA regulat- ed rules—ie.: no wet suits or flotation devices of anv kind. The point is that there is something for everyone will- ing to step outside his or her own traditional comfort zone and challenge themselves with a new and rewarding experi- ence. Swimming is becoming one of the fastest growing adult participatory sports in North America, due in no small part to its ability for developing terrific physical fit- ness. Make sure you experi- ence everything it has to offer both for body and sou! and decide that 1999 is going to be your year! And just in case you need one final push, always remem- ber that a ship in’a harbour is safe, but that’s not the reason ships were built. Shane Collins is a plrysical trainer and athletic conch as well asan accomplished ultra endurance runner aud marathon swimmer. New Golf Basak Pan Cour SCHOOL Designed to take the mystery ont Of the game of golf © Golf Clini. © Private/Group fessons Lessons by: Peter Kniil C.P.G.A. (21 Years TeaCHING EXPERIENCE) “Peter Kuill pases Une proper conception of the golf wing and the big ding is he - knows hon to put it across in the way people understand.” - Moe Norman - Canadian Golf Hull of Fame. boys’ hockey carcers was the Jimmy An U.S.G.A, (Koreas Teacher) most marvelous whistle we ever heard. To win, we used the most valuable tool a hockey plaver has. We used a method that is known by all in the game, but used by so few. We used our hearts. We poured every bit of our hearts into cach game, cach day, and more importantly, each other. 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