Floating along with the eagles THE eagles have landed up the road at Brackendale, and once again hundreds of people are flocking to stand on the banks of the Squamish River to witness a truly incredible spectacle. » . Both North Vancouver Ourdsor Pursuits Centre and the West Vancouver Recreation -[Centre are offering a ‘J-unique way to watch the -|-birds of prey this Sunday. . Rafting wich Raptors is ‘a guided float uip down the’ Squamish River for “people of all ages. :° Operated = by — River Quest, the fur-and-a-half lazy, calm paddle down the y river offers amazing — and close up — views of the majestic raptors in their natural habitar. In addition, on-board guides interpret the natural and human history of the Tiver system. Lunch is included. Last year, 3,700 cagles the Wednesday, December 10, 1997 — North Shore News — 23 dining arts business NORTH nS ae suit a light solutio CHORE LIFE arrived in the area. ’ For more information and to book your place in the raft, call the West van Recreation Centre at 925- 7270, or the Outdoor Pursuits Centre at 987- PLAY. Speaking of the Outdoor Pursuits Centre, the North Van reereation commission program is launching its first-ever youth outdoor program in January. Annual membership is $39. For more info cail 987-PLAY (ext. 9666). — Andrew McCredie A unique, space-age piece of survival equipment is being developed and manufactured in an industrial’ park in North Vancouver. And while the Thermal Protective Ail CTPA) is ideal for anvone travel- ling in, over and around the North Shore backcountry, the company making the survival suit has foreign shores — and waterways — more in mind. Specifically, MGT Internationai Marine Safety Solutions Inc. hopes to sell the a! uminized polyethylene suits to the vast marine industry that oper- ates throughout Europe. Unlike B.C, where life jackets are rhe sole piece of personal safety equipment required on ferries and other boats for passen- gers, survival suits are not considered a luxury on ferries and other marine eratt in Europe. Indeed, for many terre lines and boat companies. such sur- vival gear is required safery equipment. “In Europe. there must be a survival suit on board for every pas- senger,” says MGI's Eva Tymke. She added that recent ferry disasters in clothing to be worn underneath, and the high-tech fabric makes the suit extremely fight (just six ounces) and compact (able to fit in a fanny pack). Hence, due to its size and weight, the suir is an ideal addition to any survival kit, MGI reports the waterproof suit provides protec- tion through a tem- perature range of -30 Cr 20 (6-20 F to from the cheap seats Europe (ic, The Estonia) have increased the safety requirements necessary tor the legal operation of marine craft throughout the continent. The one-size-fits-all suit gives ample room for a life jacket and buiky 70 F). The bright orange outer color makes the suit — and those who wear it — highly sisible in rough seas or against a ssowy backdrop. The inside surface resembles aluminum fil. When I visited MGI's office [ast NEWS photo Mike Wakefield MGi international employee Peter Tymke models the company's Thermal Protective Suit with the help cf Dave Bockhold. The aluminized polyethylene suits are Canadian Coast Guard approved and are ideal for boaters, skiers ana others who piay in the great outdoors. Surv week, Peter Tymke was at work on the machine that heat-seals the suit together. {na room no bigger than a three-car garage, Tymke has devel- oped a manufacturing svstem where four workers can produce 4,000 suits a month. “We also have plans to make blan- kets and sleeping bags the same way,” he added as he fiddled with 2 wiring system. The survival suits were devel- oped by ‘Tymke and other MGI employees in December of last year. No other company in North America makes a comparable product. Two focal stores are carrying the _ TPA survival suits: Martin Marine Services, 12] Ist St., North Vancouver; anc the Bowen Island Union Steamship Co. Each suit retails for $39.95. School system produces physical illiterates Children will noe remvinber vou for the material things you provide, but for the feeling thar you cherished them. —— Richard Evans THERE is an incredible amount of focus these days encouraging adults to become more active and lead - health-filled lives. lam, quite naturally a supporter of this concept and firmly believe that as animals we have no business living the sedentary, slothful exis- tence that has become acceptable in Western society. Having said this, one of the real tragedies we seem to tolerate — even foster — is the obvious lack of rea) interest in developing a healthy and fit lifestyle for our children as part of their overall learning eaperi ence. bee Owe et ee eee. serosa aorerree sei sgouree¢es Our public schcol systerns are, by and farge, turning out a mass of young adults who are physically illiterate. OF course, there are school sport teams and clubs offering specialized training in various sports, but the vast majority of these avenues are open oniy to children with a devel of skill, and they represent 3 small percentage of the roral univ crse so often referred to as “the future of our country.” There was 2 song written some 18 years azo by Dr, Martin Collis (Protessor of Physical Education at the University of Victoria) tithed Raa Jobnuy Ran. Tt describes haw a child of six had an enthuyiastic interest in running and basketball, bur was constantly thwarted and discouraged (albeit subconsciously) by his mentors —~ in this case parents, teachers and coaches, By the time the lad reached his teens and was yet again “cut * from a team due to de ever popular culling process, he gave up on physical activity and became one 01 the many lost souls who never quite Know why chev don't feel comiortable around physical activity. It’s amazing how some things never change. Qur culture, including parents and teachers aiist encourage nen- threatening, participatory physical activity thar can be enjoyed without Bee PAPE ARL ERROR ER TARA AR ee the need of scores and finishing lines. Something our kids can take wich them our of their teenage years and embrace as a lifestyle. This editorial is in no way trving to discredit the competitive, highly trained young, athletes, or their coaches, that compete at the high- est tevel they are capable of. Indeed we need to nurture and encourage children at every devel. What Lam suggesting is to offer the other kids —- the huge muajoricy — areal opportunity to develop self esteem and positive lifestyle habits through sport and physical wellness. One of the reasons the fitness business is so successful in North America is because large numbers of adults didi’t have the chance to develop necessary skills as kids and carry them forward into adulthood. Asa result they trot off to fitness clubs, ree centres, ete.,ete. and shell out hard earned cash for someone to teach them about their own physical being. As has often been said, our chil- dren are the most important asset we have. Well, we had all better start thinking more seriously about their physical development as nich as their cerebral growth, otherwise they will end up suffering the same debilitation and life shortening dis- eases currently being experienced by our own generation. A thought: “Life demands thar man must confront situations — sometimes to change the situation, but usually to change himself.” — Shane Collins is a plistcal trainer and athletic coach as well as an accomplished ultra endurance ranner and marathon swimmer. The Weer Vancouver resident is the presi- deut of Pacifie Bodyworks and can be reached at (604) 921-0726, .