| | river. that bears his name. \ ‘ \ \\ NY WY \\Wyas ASS ay Zh ata Ne \X \ \ \\) yy \\ Next July canoeists will try to re-enact Simon Fraser’s historic river voyage down the Paddlers to split $5,000 prize for 450-mile canoe race-down Fraser Werner Rupp, young “No. 5 White Waterman,” dismisses the frothy rapids of Vancouver’s Capilano Canyon as a placid duck pond for any. canoeist worth his salt. But he and Franz Conrads, a friend with the same taste for the sport that certainly brings chills to viewers, if not the participants, nevertheless are using the Canyon as a practice ground for a Centennial Year crack at the much riskier Fraser River. Both immigrants to Canada —Rupp is Swiss and Conrads is German—they have made preliminary application to en- ter next year’s canoe race 450 miles down the churning Fraser from Fort George to Vancouver. They already can be seen several times a week, shooting the Canyon rapids for practice as well as pleasure in their tiny kayak canoes. Together with the re-enact- ment next July of Simon Fraser’s historic river voyage 150 years before, the B.C. Cen- tennial Committee has an- nounced 2 race will be held by one-man canoes along the same route. It includes Fraser Can- yon and the treacherous Hell’s Gate. The B.C. Centennial Com- mitte is putting up $5,000 in prize money. Only expert canoeis's, those who qualify by standards set by a committee of judges, will be allowed to enter the daring test of skill, stamina and cool courage. Advertisements an- nouncing the contest will be distributed ‘around the world this fall, and judges hope ‘o have the entrants screened by early spring. Rupp, 27-year-old shipyard worker (1858 West 15th Ave., Vancouver), came here five and one half years ago from Switzerland, married a Van- couver girl and, in most ways, settled down. But he had been an expert and indefatigable canoeist on European rivers and the old attraction was still strong. He found others in Vancou- ver who also were interested in river touring and_ the rougher “white-water” canoe- ing, and the Northwest Water- way Explorers group was in- formally organized. “We don’t know the rivers here yet, so what we do is more exloring,” Rupp says. About 20 belong to it now and they explore rivers, go on camping trips and make runs at rapids, or white-water stretches. One of the group who started canoeing three years ago,*was Franz Conrads, 30, (677 West Ave., Vancouver), a struc- tural engineer. Franz came here in 1952 from Germany. He is married to a German girl who brought a kayak with her when she came to join him. . . and that’s how he got started. Franz is not officially grad- ed as ye, but Werner in the European rankings is a No. 5 White Waterman, meaning he is an outstanding canoeist who has gained the second * highest rung on the paddler’s ladder. A No. 1 White Waterman would be just a pond paddler, and a person really doesn’t call himself a canoeist until he reaches No. 3 ranking..No. 4 is above average and qualifies you to enter all international canoe races. Rupp, as a No. 5, has the right to try a river that is termed ‘nearly impossible” to navigate. The No. 6’s, the few that are still alive, qualify to try the impossible. Werner, who has canoed on the Fraser, considers that it would range from being a No. 4 river in spots to a No. 5 “and up to No.,. 6 in some spots.” Their 40-pound kayaks are German-made, of rubber and canvas five-ply material that packs up. into two small, in- side-of-the-car-size bags. When in use, though, they can carry a total weight of 300 to 400 pounds, or, as Werner says, “enough camping gear for a month.” Since the Fraser race is ex- pected to take about a week, they’ll be able ‘o carry plenty of provisions. After an exhibition of twist- ing and turning through the rapids, barely avoiding jutting rocks and coolly flicking their double-bladed paddles at the right times to keep from over- turning, Werner and Franz at- . tempted to explain their love for the sport. It boils down to something like pride in the s peed of their reactions, the feeling that- something new is always com- ing up, a healthy physical ex- ercise, the beauty of unspoil-, ed nature, the challenge of it all. “Besides,” confided Franz, “it really isn’t as perilous as it looks.” : 2774 Whiyte's ee members of the avant- garde got into an argument with some derriere -: garde sports the other evening, and the conversation went some- thing) like} this: A-G: There’s nothing wrong with the Lions that a few wins won’t cure. We'll see them roar yet, and make the playoffs. Up the Leos! : D-G: Up your kilts. The only roaring being done is by the fans. When are you suckers going to wake up and save your money. Why go to Em- pire Stadium to see a second- rate team-take licking after licking? “ : A-G: Don’t be such pessim- istic slobs Nobody can win "em all. Crowe has had hard luck, that’s all. Knock out Jackie Parker and where would Eskimos be? D-G: Right at the top of the heap, as usual. Your bias is showing. _Remember| some guys named Getty, Bright and Miles and Kwong? Anyway, how can you support a team that deliberately goes after Al Pollard because the coach doesn’t .want one of his cast- offs to make monkeys out of the Lions, and then tries to cripple Parker because he’s too good for our lads to handle? “ A-G: That’s all part of the game. These guys are pros, they have to learn to take it. D-G: Of course they’re pros, and that’s why they don’t have to take it. There’s an unwrit- ten law among pros that if any team switches from play- ing clean football to going after star players on opposing teams, the rest of the league will chop them to pieces in revenge. Mark my words, if the Lions don’t cut out this stuff at once, they’ll all end up in ‘hospital — which would be the proper place for them. A-G: Youre making a mountain out of a mole hill. Our Lions can play clean foot- “they’re too cheap to shell ? | Supporters of the Lions gel’ this picture was taken last year. This season ‘he Leos stumbling around ,going nowhere fast. to wonder what’s wrong with the Lions’ management. September 13, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PA@ SPORTLIGHT ball and win. They can beat Calgary and Regina and Win nipeg and make the playo f5. Just you, wait and see. : D-G: We've beer waitin since 1954. How stupid can you pet? ‘ : A-G: It takes time to puild @ Grey Cup winner. ae D-G: And the Lions are hea! ing in that direction? 2% should live so long. y with the biggest bankroll ™ the WIFU, we haven't gt ® team that can rise above * cellar. Do the directors giv a damn? Not as long as a like you keep packing tb stadium. ‘ A-G: We go-to watch a spee tacle, not to see our team Wr It’s the sport we enjoy. tory is secondary. : ; D-G: Nuts! Nobody loves loser. The Lions can’t wil © the square ,so ‘they try to cri’ ple the teams that can. | 4s A-G: You'll eat those woh some day. Just wait u? ote! Crowe signs up some topn players. i D-G: But that’s what been telling you all al Lions have the cash, the price for good player They scout around for 4 fe' star Americans, then tty , get Canadians for pean! And without a good Canae line, no team can win, Z A-G: Well, what would ¥ suggest? : D-G: First, I think the ers need a union, to? d that the Canadians get. dé wages. If Lions pony up *. the cash, good Canadian P ers will migrate to Vancot,) like the birds head for toria (and we all know toria is strictly for the bi Second, public pressure 0? Lions’ management—let know we’re not satisfied the team. Tell ’em to that pocketbook and get ¢f* ing, or we'll stay away * 4 Empire Stadium in thous? few chances to cheer. 1% yy Fans are bes!™