B6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 6, 1999

_.. SPORTS

638-7283

Haight Ashbury
part Il

different ferryman took me across the

river. I began fishing the Haight

Ashbury Run where I'd left off twa

weeks carlier. Two hours later ] had
only a pink to show for my exertions. | folded up
my rod and made my way to the ferry.

eventually,” I told the ferryman. The skipper
lifted his ball cap and ran his hand through his
hair. “Fhere’s a kid that lives here who catches
lots of fish. Last night he caught a bright spring. I
think that’s him up there,” he said pointing to two
distant figures up stream on river left. Usk, a kid,
fly fishing — the three thought fragments gave me
the sensation of recall but no specific memory.

The ferryman clamped the boat to the dock,
dropped the chain, puiled the blocks, then waved
me forward. | drove upriver. After parking, [ made
my way through the bush then to the water’s edge,
leaning on my staff to avoid a bruising tumble on
the slick, black rocks.

The boys were a hundred yards downstream.
One was casting with short strokes. The other was
crouching on shore, I guessed he was repairing his
leader, I felt a little awkward as [ walked toward
them. Even though angling ethics permit a angler to
fish a piece of water when others are fishing, |
make a habit not to intrude on some else’s fishing,
a luxury afforded by the generous amount of fishing
water-in Skeenasscrieree i

“Hey, how are you guys doing?” [ asked. The
boy nearest me looked up. There was a fly box
lying open at his feet. He stood up. He wore
gumboots, jeans, a T-shirt and a ball cap, He was
laller than I. His partner was shorter. He had a
black fanny pack hung loosely around his waist.
His runners were soaked, “We just got here a
little while ago,” said the taller boy, “I lost one
though. It was pretty big.” “I’m Rob Brown,” I
said extending my hand. “I know you,” said the
lall boy. “You gave me a box of flies a long time
age.”

Richard was at school and told me her son was
mad for fishing. I went home and tied him a bax of
flies then passed them on toe Bea, or her son’s
teacher — | can’t recall now, “You still in
school?” E asked.

“No, I graduated a couple of years ago,” he
replied. “You do well here?”

“Sure,” he answered, “When the water is low.
When it’s up I fish over there,” he pointed his rod
at a spot directly across from us in North Usk.
“You don’t fish there now?”

“No, too many snags.”

Looking at Sky’s outfit ] could see why snags
were an issue to him. The cork on the bruised pole
was black from use, The reel hanging below the
wor handle was filled with floating line to which
was atlached a long length of PVC coated lead
core trolling line. This explained the wide loop
and cautious casting technique of Sky's partner
Mike who was apparently using the same kind of
outfit. The water before us pouted out of a pool
above and whipped by us. Sky started to explain
how he liked to cast short and straight across
stream, then stopped as Mike’s reel began
howling. We turned in time lo see a bright,
muscular fish leap off in the distance then throw
the hook in a shower of spray. “That was a
steelhead I think,” said Sky, “You bet it was,” 1
said,

Sky began casting with a smooth, graceful
stroke, especially considering how much weight
he had at the end of his floater. | saw his fly
shimmer then disappear in the chop. After few
throws he fastened onto a stone. He freed the hook
then started in again. Soon he had pink which he
handled adroitly and quickly freed. E slipped on
my polarized glasses and peered into the water. A
fish gtided by, a humpy, then another did, then
another. Next two small bright creatures swam
past. } assumed they were coho. More pinks, then
a preen and red sockeye, and shortly after that a
large silver animal that had to be a steehead. Ali
of this is the space of a few minutes and only a
metre from my fect in a half a metre of water.
Amazing,

Kids are shrewd and effective predators. Sky
and Mike have fished the waters next to their
home since they were small. They’ve found the
small rivers contained within the big river and the
travelling lanes in those spots, and worked out a
very effective way to fish them. While 1 was there
Mike and Sky hooked another steelheadd, a few
coho and a pile of pinks. “I heard you got a big
spring recently,” I said. “Yeah, and it was in good
shape too.”

“Did you kill it?" 1 asked.

Sky gave me a strange look..“I don’t kill fish,”
he said.

“That spot will give up some steelhead.

It all came back to me then. Years ago Bea’

TERRACE STANDARD.

Recreational boxing
boosts self-confidence

NICE PUNCH: Meghan Jones practices her jabs with partner Melissa Gerow.

Sports Scope

Need new gear?

WANT TO SELL your old backcountry skiing, pad-
dling, climbing and hiking gear?

The Mount Remo Backcountry Society is holding an
ouldoor equipment ski swap at the Terrace Aquatic
Centre Conference Room Saturday, Oct. 23 from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gear drop off is scheduled Friday, Oct. 22 from 6
pm. to 9p.m. All commissions go to the Mount Remo
Backcountry Society in aid of local backcountry re-
creation projects.

Check out the merchandise, learn more about the
socicty and the backcountry ski and hiking cabin the
socicty is building.

And remember, no downhill skis or snowboard equip-
ment please. The Shame Mountain Ski and Board swap
takes place at the arena banquet room Oct, 23,

Think snow

THE KITIMAT cross country ski club holds its fall pen-
eral meeting Friday, Oct. 8 at the Kitimat museum.
Check out the club’s famous spread of potluck treats
and stick around for a great slide show.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and all members are
welcome! Cali Elizabeth Thorne al 632-6055 for more
information.

Play indoor soccer

THE TERRACE Women’s Soccer is looking for players
interested in joining the recreational indoor soccer
league.

The season starls Oct. 12, 1999 and runs until
March. Games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays
at Cassie Hall Elementary School and everyone is wel-
come.

Sign up fees are $55 and all games will be officiated
by certified referees. For mare information or to regis-
ter call Monica Rauter at 638-0569,

Winter Games

THE 2000 Northern B.C. Winter Games will be held
Feb. 3-6 in Fort St. Jolin.

BOXING is good for you,
builds strength and is a
great form of recreation,
says the coach of Terrace’s
boxing club, Dwaine Rid-
ler.

The club, which has been
kicking around for a good
10 years, has had it’s suc-
cesses on the provincial
and national level.

Both Joey Losier (away
at provincials this week)
and Robert Doane, who has
competed on the national
level, work out.at the club
under the puidance of com-
petitive coach Jeff Dilley.

But most of the club’s 18
teens, age 10 and up, are
recreational. That’s not to
say they don’t want fo com-
pete — they just get more
enjoyment out of the work-
out.

“We try to encourage
them to finish school and
work hard,” said Ridler,
who ensures boxers wear
proper head gear and
gloves when the step in the
ring. “This isn’t just about
fighting.”

The classes run Septem-
ber to May, and attract a
wide range of people.

Meghan Jones and Me-
lissa Gerow, both 15, are
two of the club’s five fe-
male members.

“T don’t get intimidated at
all,” said Gerow, despite
the club’s heavy‘male mem- ):
bership and lack of female
coaching staff (Ridler is
looking for a female coach
willing to put in at least two
nights a week.) “I consider
it a challenge.”

“We come in and show
the guys we can do this,”

me

said Jones.

Both girls battle the usual
stereotypes when they tell
friends what they do for ex-
ercise,

“They think we’re trying
to be tough because it’s a
tough sport,” said Gerow.
“But the guys down here
are really supportive.”

The girls, who call boxing
the real thing in comparison
to popular Tae-Bo and box-
ercise classes, say the
sport has given them a new
sense of confidence.

“T feel like T can defend
myself,” said Gerow. “it
builds strength, fitness, sta-
mina and it’s a cardiovasc-
wlar workout.”

Thirlteen-year-old Kent
MacLand agrees.

He joined the club three
weeks ago on the advice of
friends in Smithers.

He says he doesn’t worry
about head injuries, or get-
ting seriously hurt — other
than the odd broken nose.

He says part of boxing’s
draw is knowing you’re
learning how to defend
yourself in a rough situa-
tion.

“That’s part of it, yah,”
he says after a good round
on the punching bag.

And Dwaine’s cousin
Peter, who has been at the
sport for three years, says
the draw is really just that

it’s, something to do.:

“It’s an enjoyable
sport,” he said. “I like it.”

The only drawback, he
said, was not having enough
competitors in the north-
west to compete against.

“I wish more people
were interested,” he said.

Anyone interested in participating in any of 28 events
must contact Wade Loukes in Terrace at 635-1142 or
Bob Irwin in Kitimat at 632-5107 before Oct. 30.

This year's events are: archery, badminton, ladies
basketball, black powder shooting, masters baskelball,
carpet bowling, bowling, cribbage, chess, curling, con-
iract bridge, darts, cross country skiing, floor curling,
figure skating, ladies hackey, gymnastics, pec wee
hockey, junior indoor soccer, bantam hockey, special
Olympics bowling; speed. skating, special Olympics
swimming, swimming, Tae Kwan Do, table tennis, mixed
volleyball and wrestling.

Good to go

THAT'S DENNIS Fugere painting centre lines at the Terrace Curling Rink last
Thursday. Rink organizers want local curlers to hurry in and register for lea-
gue play this season, which starts Oct. 12. There will be open ice prior to
league play for all teams to practice and

instruction for new curlers if reques-

ted. Manger Keith Melanson says there's still room in all leagues for teams
to enter, but some leagues are filling fast so enter now to avoid disappoint-
ment. Individuals wanting to play will fill teams as skips require, New players
are always welcome and qualify for introductory half-price fees, Junior sign
ups run Oct. 20. Call the curling club at 635-5583 for more information,

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