SKEENA ‘ANGLER: ROB BROWN ‘ve been told that the Soviet air- lines are the worst in the world, It's hard to believe that those flying the not-so-friendly Russian skies suffer through more than the iravelers passing through good old Terrace In- tcmational in winter. Don’t misunderstand me, Pve no bones to pick with the people who oper- ate the local airport - all of whom have given me efficient, friendly service, and who seem genuinely concerned, and often embarrassed, by the inconvenience their clientele must so often endure, Over the years I’ve had Oy rods bent like pret- zels after they have been improperly stored in the hold of the plane in Vancouver, despite the fact that the tubes carrying them were festooned with colourful stickers advertising the fragile nature of their contents, Another time ] waited patiently for my baggage only to discover that my delicate, and expensive, classical guitar had been shipped to Sandspit. Fearing I would never again see my beloved instrument, I asked the clerk about insurance and was told I] would get $400 of the $2000 replacement value in the event my guilar was lost. Another time I boarded a jet flown by a pilot with a death wish. This flyboy must have been a Seasoned Victnam veteran. After circling the airport for what seemed a fortnight he announc- ed he'd decided to shoot craps and take his plane for a skate on a runway as slick as the ice surface on Maple Leaf Gardens just after it’s been glazed by the Zamboni. The plane skated well, winding up hanging by it fingernails at runway’s end out of breath and very nearly out af tarmac. . . Last year my foresight and-frugality went un- rewarded when, I was bumped off a flight be- cause the jet blew a tire. For the rest of the eve- ning I watched as those with more expensive tickels were cleared to fly with the other airline. I returned the next evening, was processed again, and experienced a powerful wave of déja vu when the plane I was to catch that night got another flat. As the woman working behind the desk announced that a spare and the mechanic to install it were being flown up from Van- couver, something that was anitouneed and didn’t come to pass the night before, I decided I was being given a sign. I bailed out, went hame and later cashed in my ticket This year, on our way to the annual general meeting of the Steelhead Society of B.C., we again found ourselves swept along in the three ting circus run by Ineptitude Air. First, the plane was delayed by almost two hours, some- thing to do with Prince George - go figger. When we finally did emplane, as they say in air- line parlance, we had to wait, Eventually’ our pilot announced that this delay was to sec if there was a let up in the ground fog at Prince Rupert, We waited again. There was no let up. The passengers who had already been tested by the delayed flight from Vancouver clambered, grumbling from the aircraft and embussed in a curious reversal of the ways things are normally done. : At long last we took to the air. ‘We'll make a pass over Rupert anyway,’’ announced the cap- iain. “Just in case,” ‘ A few minutes later ] looked out and saw what I am sure were the lights of the Ridley Island coal port. They were miles away. The air was clear, with not a hint of fog. The pilot came over the airwaves again, this time to tell us that the aulomated weather gear - the ACME fog detector, no doubt - had screwed up. “‘Boy, those people on the bus will be mad at me,” he quipped. Not funny, J, who have been there, thought. We touched down on good old runway 13. Soon we were wailing again, Rain, said the cap- tain, bad somehow matiaged to short out the runway lights, necessitating a call to someone who had then to come out te the island and turn them on. An hour and one bad scotch later we were in Vancouver; it was after midnight, The place was almost empty; the first time I’d scen it that way, On our return trip things were back to normal. We dined on some rubbery shrimp perched atop overcooked egg noodles topped with a red sauce tha! looked and felt like melied plastic, We made a pass over the Terrace strip but couldn't land, After landing at Rupert we waited an hour before making the long bus ride home. All these hassles would be bad enough at bargain basement prices, but at the usurious rates Terracites are forced to pay they are in- tolerable, and should be the subject of an in- quiry by the Department of Transport. Not much can be done about the weather, but things would be a lot better if the airport, whose location must have been chosen by the same myopic crew that chose the site for the Kitsum- kalum ski hill, were relocated in the Kitimat Valley, , TERRACE STANDARD SPORTS The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 28, 1996 - B7 COACH OF THE YEAR Last chance for coaches! TIME 1S running out! You only have two more days to get your Skeena Mall/Terrace Standard Coach of the Year nomination in before the contest closes. So far, you've selected nine coaches who you feel are worthy of the honour, but we know there are more out there! The most recent iominees are Caledonia basketball coach Cam Mackay, basketball and baseball coach Seatt Armstrong, Terrace minor hockey coach Tam Tumer, gymnastics coach Kris Fairless, Thomhill basketbail coach Gary Paulson and figure skating coach Jessica Lambright. Cam MacKay Cam MacKay was nominated by two of his players, Brian Demedgiras and Joseph Dominguez, Demedciros says MacKay deserves to be recognized be- cause he coached the team to 9th spol in the province last year. **He knows how to communica- te with cach player, and he’s honest to everybody and tells them how they fit in.” This year the Kermodes beal the 15th ranked AAA team in the province and the top ranked AA team. MacKay has been coaching bas- ketball at the senior level for 16 years, and he says he’s really en- joyed working with this years team, ; “Tt’s a team that works better together than ones I’ve had in the past,’” he says. ‘We have some chemistry that holds us together,”’ . MacKay has also coached fast- ball ‘and had done basketball camps in both BC and the States. “IT wasn’t learning anything | wouldn't be doing it.”’ Scott Armstrong Scott Armstrong was nominated by Sue and John Haley, whose two children play on his teams. “He has a lot of the same values that we as parents have,” says John, “The Kids are always dressed properly when they're on the road and they represent: the school well,”’ Anmnstrong coaches grade 6 and 8 boys basketball, clementary volicyball, assists in coaching the senior boys team at Caledonia aud coaches the. All . Scasons minor baseball team in the spring, “The amount of time he gives to the kids is really com- mendable,’’ says John. Annstrong has coached for five years in Terrace and was in- volved in sports all through his high school and college years. eg qj) a the TCA YEAR “Growing up Thad a lot of real- ly good coaches,’ he says. “‘And they had a really posiiive influence on my life, aud that’s one reason why [ became in- volved in coaching.” Armstrong says coaching is rewarding because he knows the kids are there because they want to be. “It’s the pitrest form of teach- ing.” Tom Turner. Tom Turner. was nominated by eight-year-old” Bryan’ VanDyk, who plays novice division of the Terrace Minor Hockey League, On the nomination form Bryan writes, “the time he has coached me has been very kind. He tries to give everybody equal ice time. He tells us to play hard, have fun and winning is just a bonus,’’ Tom's been coaching for 16 Jessica Lambright years and says he initially got into it as a teenager when his litte brother’s team needed help. “The kids are easy to coach and fun to be with,” he says. “Its my goal to make every player better.” , Kris Fairless Kris Fairless was nominated by one of the moms who's daughter she coaches in gymnastics. Vida Carson, who’s also on the gymnastics Zone executive, says Fairless is very good with the kids. “She has a good rapport with them and she’s very encourag- ing,”’ Carson says. “In fact one year my daughter asked Kris to come her birthday party and Kris came!’” Carson says she works hard and encourages the kids to the best ihey can do, Fairless is co-coaching the BC provincial team, the first time that honour: has gone to a Terrace coach. She’s a previous provincial gymnast herself and has. been coaching for cight years. The fifth of our most recent nominees is Thornhill grade 8 girls basketball coach Gary Paulson He was nominated by one of his players, Carrie Ashcroft. She says he always tries lo gel the team to work hard to do their best. **He tends to gel us on our feet and a big smile on our faces!”’ She says Paulson has taught them a lot about basketball and about how to have a positive alti- tude on the court. Paulson has been coaching for four years, and has also headed up the junior boys volleyball team. , “It’s the interaction with the kids I enjoy quite a bit,’’ be says. The basketball team practiced twice a week this scason, and played nearly every weekend, “It’s definitely warth it, the lime put out,” Paulson says. Tom Turner Jessica Lambright Figure skating coach Jessica Lambright received not just one, but five nominations from girls she works with, Lee-Anna Huisman, Kendra Eys, Caral Kozicr, Leanne Bal- linger and Amanda Hill say they all agree Jessica is a great coach! “‘She’s a great coach and a great person,” says Huisman, “She's really encouraging.’ She says Jessica is one of the best coaches she's ever had. Aud . Kozier writes on ber nomination form, “‘her positive attitude drives me and others to be our best.” Lambright says she started coaching six years ago, and pre- viously worked in McBride and Fort St. James. She’s also conducted skating clinics and helped out with Smithers figure skating club. “T love the kids and I love the sport,’ she says, ve been skating since I was little? One of our earlier nominees, bowling coach Eva Wilkinson, received two more nominations this past week. Other coaches up for considera- tion are Hazelton senior. basket- ball coach Maurizio Basso and karate coach Roland LaGace. The closing date for nomina- lions is this Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m. You can find a nomination form on page BS, ‘All you have to do is rip it our and drop at it off at our office or mail it to The Terrace Standard, 3210 Clinton SL, Tetrace BC, V8G SR2, Or, if you prefer, our fax num- ber is 638-8432. And summer athletes, forgel about your coaches. Just because they’re not active right now doesn’t mean they’re not warthy of your nomination, Remember, there’s just two days left before our judges go to work. Don’t waste any more lime, get your nomination in naw! don’t SUS é st ‘ SES re BULLSEYE! Terrace’s Ruby Whittington, pictured here, placed second in the ladies singles at the Terrace Lagion Dart Open February 16 and 17. Sue Simpson of Prince Rupert took first. Other winners include Kitimat’s Brian Reeves in the mens singles, and Reeves and Paul DeJong in the mens doubles. A mother/daughter team, Betty and Kim Schimann of Kitimat took the ladies doubles, Terrace dart players are naw gearing up for the Kitimat Open March 16-18, . 638-7283