Young find that confident : | =| Indoor climbing helping ,..0 30 he te kids reach higher goals - North - Shore imbers' ate ; preparing fora test_against their ‘ Northwest competitors. On July:13, The Edge Climbing ( Centre i is host-: indoor : “Fischer says the compe- ‘tition will involve boul- dering. Competitors will ‘given a_ total. of. two ‘hours to reach the high- ést points they ‘canon 14 ‘outes. Points are given ased on the height climbers reach, The Edge » Arc'teryx Junior. climbing team, witht members ages 8 to. -18,..will compete. in the event. Eight of {i-mem- ‘bers of. the Canadian ‘Junior team which com- “peied in Europe last year Were members of the “Arc‘teryx..-team.. For more information, . call The Edge at 984-9080. “ NEWS phate Mike Wakefield CLIMBING enthi tsiast Douglas © Smith kas been hanging around “The Edge for a year and loves every rainute ct it. BY IAN NOBLE News Reporter AT The Edge Climbing Centre, young climb- ers strive to reach their goals. Whether that includes merely reaching the next handhold or proving to themselves they can do something, the Welch Street facility has become popular with local youth. In addition to better strength, balance. and flexibility, 12-year-old Chelsea Raymond = said that climbing. has given her confidence. “t learn that if 1 really try Fcan get it.” she said. Her fellow climber, I4- year-old Neale Mullen, said he works harder to learn new moves. “After a while, the training really pays off,” said the thrice-weekly climber. Mullen has set a lofty goal for himself — reach- ing the top of his age cate- gory. ‘And he hopes to soon challenge the walls out- doors. He plans to get a start--on. mastering the “wet. cold and slippery” handholds outside by starting a outdoors course within the next few weeks. Both Neale and ; Great Escorted ‘Train A unique way to see British Columbia @& experience history while enjoying ‘comfortable train travel. “VANCOUVER ISLAND ON THE E & N RAILWAY day trip to Courtenay and Victoria August 7 & Octobe RAIL & SAIL 3 days - - Vitoria, E & N Railway, Courtenay, Port Hardy, * ~ ship to Tsawwassen “September 24-26. B.C. RAIL "SYSTEM" ‘TOURS to Fort Nelson, 8 or 9 days, bus one way, wildlife scenery! departs September 7 & 8°. hot ean ate ten CARIBOO OVERN iGHTER | 2 days, autumn evening on a guest ranch’ or Williams Lake hotel October 18 & 19 SPIRIT OF WASHINGTON DINNER TRAIN Day-Trip, gourmet luncheon on ‘50's streamliner Detailed brochures and bookin; est Coast Railway Association, Box 2790 Stn. Main Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X2 Phone 524- 10i 1 Toll free 1-800- 722-1233 ‘EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! Welcome to the world of Ocean West. From our 1/2 day and sunset paddles. in English Bay to Our more remote’ expeditions i in Johnstone Strait we offer unsurpassed levels _ of service and quality. presented in a relaxed and unhurried fashion: . ‘Varicouver * Desolation Sound « Queen Charlotte Island Chelsea say the fun and challenge keep = them climbing. Chelsea added she's leoking forward to an upcoming competition at The Edge. She plans to work hard to beat her competition, but adds she doesn’t mind losing. “I find it fine as long as [ know [ve worked as hard as [can and find it fun,” she said. North Vancouver resi- dents Al and Ed Fischer built the 5,000-square- foot climbing facility in 1992 after getting the run-around during attempts to build a not-for-profit centre, said Al. He said the sport’s exploding i in popular~ ity in North America, adding when The Edge began there were 32 climbing gyms in’ - North America. Now, he said, there are more than 500. “This. sport is not a fad,” he said. Al believes’ the sport has: become so popular with youth because it satisfies the kids’ sense of. adven- ture and_ promotes self-esteem. . “You can’t cheat,” he surmises. TWATIST COLUMIMA, ¢ yet you have to learn to work with the other person on the end of the rope.” Climbers are attached to safety harnesses. When climbers fall, a skilled belayer works one end of the rope to arrest the fall. said Al. And, he said, the attrib- utes that females possess over their macho male counterparts gives young women wv leg up in the sport. Al. explained — that females are more flexible and more patient than miles. That helps them when learning the sport, which places a premium = on finesse and technique. Programs which help youth at risk use the facil- ity as do high schools and junior highs throughout North Vancouver. The Edge Climbing Centre offers 10,000 square feet of “climbable surface” on 32-foot-high (9.7-metre-high) walls with 38 ropes and 60 routes at one time. Al. 39, and Ed, 45, started climbing 20 years ago. “We've been’ hope- lessly addicted to it. ever ¢ since,” Al admits. . Canoes to Kayaks Sales & Rentals - Boats & Accessories Take a Boat for a Day on the Water! Canoe single kayak double kayak SA5 50% $95 sis (S163 werk special iGctays Rentals taciudte paddies, lifequcktxs, bailers, taxes exta Sales for Clipper & Old ‘Town canoes Aquaterra & Seaward Middleton's Speciality Boats OPEN EVENT INGS & WEEKENDS VISA * MASTERCARD ¢ 240-0503 * YO UR ON E STOP. ADVENTURE SHOP (j) thiseler FOR SUMMER FUN! World Class Whitewater! © 90 minutes from Vancouver » roft for FREE* * private camping » Gulf-Islands * Johnstone Strait ® River Jet Boating * Horseback Rides . River Rafting © Group Functions at B.C's foremost riverside ‘facility WHISTLER RIVER ADVENTURES 932-3532 WHISTLER | 894-5206 PEMBERTON For mare information please contact our office “Toll free in North America at 1-800-660-0051 OCEAN WEST EXPEDITIONS BOX 3322 “ GARIBALDi HIGHLANDS, B.C. 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