POWDER LINES
GARY MALTIN

In the |
backcountry |

he backcountry. For many of us it means
solitude, adventure, accomplishment, —self-
sufficiency and perhaps more importantly, un-

blessed with in the Terrace region is wuly awe-inspiring
and it is yours for the taking. The back country is many

things to many people — one thing it’s not is forgiving. |

While frolicking on powder slopes on a gorgeous sunny
day can be every skier or boarders idea of nirvana, an
avalanche can tums things ugly in a hurry.

I’ve been lucky, a few times some sluff has let go, but I
have never been caught in a major slide (here the author
knocks on wood furiously). While there are dangers in the
backcountry, the same can be said-of flying, drinking cof-
fee or crossing the street. The way to approach the back-
country in my eyes is with cautious enthusiasm mixed with
a healthy dose of education and experience.

Education is easy. You can read books (Avalanche
Safety. For Skiers and Climbers - Daffern), take a course

onJan, 5-6 or 9-10 through local avalanche professional -

Rod Gee at Weathertech Services or through the Canadian
Avalanche Association. Experience can be garnered by
heading into the hills with friends or acquaintances with a
solid technical background in routefinding and snow craft.
Hiring a guide is an excellent albeit, more pricy option
(Christoph Dietzfelbinger at Bear Mountaineering in
Smithers is a very accomplished and knowledgeable local
guide and a cool guy to boot), For introductary back-
country skiing instruction try local guru Wendy
Shymanski’s course. In Tertace, call Rod and Wendy at
home or through Weathertech Services,

Essential for backcountry skiing or boarding survival is
shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver (beacon, pieps).
Should you get buried with these items your buddies have
a hope of getting you out alive. These accessories are
available locally for rent-or purchase, at Valhalla or

Bullets tie games

By NAOMI THIBODEAU
LADIES’ SOCCER action last week saw only four games
played due to school Christmas concerts and lack of gym
availability. ao
~ Monday’s games,ended 6-1,for Flower Power when they’

tadk on the Back Eddy Builets, Th¢ ‘Purple Panthers and“

Blessings also settled their games in a 2-2 tie,
Action Thursday. night matched the Purple Panthers
against the Back Eddy Bullets. The quick-paced game was
tied at two goals a piece at half time. In the second half the
Panthers were awarded two penalty shots but keeper
Aimee Peacock denied the Panthers to keep the Bullets in
the game. Heidi Siebring then scored her second of the’
night to give Back Eddy the lead. Minutes later, Barb Bis-
" santi answered back with her second gaal of the game to
end the match 3-3.

Later that night Beginner’s Luck took on Braid Insur-
ance. Lorraine Liwiski scored early in the match to give
Beginner’s the lead. The well-played game could have
gone either way but then Diana Wood netted two goals late
in the game to make the final 3-0 for Beginner’s Luck.

The Terrace Women’s Soccer Association would like to
wish all the players a Merry Christmas and we hope to see
you all in 1999!

Leading goalscorers to Dec, 10

Name . Goals Team
Julie Elwood 16 = Oasis Sports
Pat Kozak 11. Flower Power
‘Pam Kawinsky & Oasis Sports
Heidi Siebring 8 Back Eddy Bullets
“Carmen McChesney 8 — Braid Insurance
Barb Bissanti 8 Purple Panthers oe
_SheilaDenomme 7 Oasis Sports ‘
o» Diana Wood 7 ‘Beginners Luck
~ Michelle Wuerch 7 ~~ Purple Panthers
Team standings
. Team : GP W LT Pts
Flower Power 13 dt 0 2° 37
“Osis 12 BD 2 380
- Purple Panthers = 13 3B 4 @ 25
Artistic Hair 12 5 5 2 24°
-: Beginner's Luck = 12 3 5 4 22
‘-BraidInmsurance 12 3 5 4 22
Blessings 13 2 § 2 19
3 8 2 19

"Back Eddy Bullets 13

SHAMES MOUNTAIN

NOW OPEN

this
Friday,
December
18

You can ski
FREE.

Just bring a non
perishable food
for the Food Bank
between 9:00 am
& 3:30 pm and
receive your free

tracked knee-deep powder. The terrain we're _

lift ticket.

Weathertech.

Climbing skins are a synthetic fur you adhere to the bot-
tom of your skis in order to.ascend or climb:a slope, tour-
ing bindings or adapters that fit into your downhill bind-
ings allow. your heel to lift as you climb, For the single
plank sliders — snowshoes would be the natural choice for
backcountry turns, although new boards are coming into
the market that allow you to split the board in two pieces
to ascend, then put it back together for the descent. The

Jury (me) is still out on this new-fangled system. You can

rent or buy snowshoes at Valhalla and Weathertech tents
skins.

For more adventurous outings including glacier travel the
list of necessities grows large, my list would include lots of

_ Skiing an untracked slope of powder climbed
under your own steam is an experience words
cannot adequately describe. Those who’ve done
it can relate. For those that haven’t, give it a try
— just be prepared.

poly propylene clothing, compass, altimeter, alpine ice

axe, ropes, pickets or flukes (snow anchors) and pulleys
for crevasse rescue. All available locally at Valhalla. To-
pographic maps must also be considered mandatory and
are available from Skeena Project Services, -

Once well equipped and educated, the freedom to pick a
mountain then ski it can be yours. Skiing an untracked
slope of powder climbed under your own steam is an expe-
rience words cannot adequately describe. Those who’ve
done it-can relate. For those (hat haven't, give ita try —
just be prepared.

Skiing or boarding pawder need not be painful - a couple

of tips to end off the column. For skiers wary of the pow -

try this: you'll need five or 10 centimetres on top of a
groomed run, now forget that ‘skis shoulder width apart’
technique used most of the time and keep your skis togeth-
er say four inches apart. Do not lean back — this is bad.
In order to turn you'll need to unweight, this may sound
difficult — it’s not. Here’s how; exaggerate your ‘up and
down’ movements by flexing at your knees and ankles, On
the ‘up’ (or extended) movement turn both feet the way
you want to turn. Be aggressive, your boots will plow right

. through the powder if your mind says to.

For boarders the powder's easier to handle - no crossed
tips, or one ski diving while the other effortlessly floats
skyward. My tip to boarders in the pow (if you’re having
trouble) is to weight your back foot more. This will get
your nose out of the snow (nose of the board that is...come
to think of it may be both), thus allowing you to tum
easier. .

That’s it for this session, get out there and take advantage
of some fantastic early season conditions. It’s my favourite
time of the year - light snow, no huge crowds aud a chance
to get back at it after a long summer. Boas Festas, Joyeux
Noel, Frochliche Weihnachten, Happy Hanukah, . and
Merry Christmas to all. May °99 be healthy and prosperous
for you and yours.

The Dr. R.E.M. Lee Foundation
presents

Valentines Day, my dear
New Orleans Style

Sat. Feb. 13, 1999

4 Shames Mountain gets ready for the 1st Sanctioned and the )

4th Annual Hill Climb

to take place

March 6 & 7th 1999.

The Skeena Volley Snowmobile Assn. Racing Committee and
Gordon Russell of Shames Mountain Corp. have removed soma
trees and widened the base of A.O.T. for a beter view for specta-
tors and a longer pit area for racers.

A big THANK YOU to Contractors Mark Sorich and Jason from T
Rex, Ron King from R. King & Sons, and John Kustas of Lindsay's
Cartage for donating equipment and labour for this project. Look
forward to a bigger and better event this saason,

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 16, 1998 - B7

ath ANNUAL
KERMODEI
BEAR SWIM

Join in the fun by gathering pledges now along with these
past and present supporters.

Dale Lufkin ||

Overwailea

Fiona McNair a

Kinettes

Jim Checkley
Cedarland Tire

Brian Lindenbach ([l

Terrace Standard

Dennis Lissermore |
BC Lottery Corp. mo,

Bruce Martindale
Web North Fai

Pick up your pledge forms at the following businesses,

Terrace Standard
Valhalla Pure Outfitters
Co-op Home Centre

or contact Patrick Mcintyre at 638-1777 :

' Overwaitea
Skeena Broadcasters

Event takes place at Kiddies Camp

1:00 pm New Years Day

q Get your slid ready to climb, )

seen

GD McDonald's Kids Camp

cutgerepiett

WE'RE OPEN!!!
McDonalds Kids Camp
(6-14 years)

Christmas Break & Spring Break
$120/3 days

includes lift ticket, rental and 2.5 hour lesson each day).

McDonalds bus leaves McDonalds

3 5

oe
SESE:

parking lot 8am
Returns 4pm Sl 0

OPEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS
9:00am - 3:30 pm:

See us about our Sno-Pass

=<

Shames Sno-Phone
Call 638-8SKI 638-8754

‘s
sie

YOu BE THE JUDGE

| have to pay for my own arrest?

Simon's heart was beating so nard he
could hardly hear himself think,

“Galm...1 must remain calm.”

He was staring at the woman's glove
counter in the department store.

A little voice started nagging him.

“You want those gloves don't you,
Simon? You can't resist eh? Look... they're
so luxurious ‘and soooooooft... Go for it,
Simon. GO FOR ITIHMHTH”

His eyes squinted to the right.

“No one watching.”

His eyes squinted to the left.

“No one watching from that side either.”

Moving with great speed and stealth,
Simon stashed 5 sets of gloves in his
shopping bag.

He went unnoticed, Almost. There was
one person who saw Simon.

As he casually strolled out of the
store, the sharp-eyed salesperson
rushed to call security,

“We've been robbed!! Hurry! The thlef's
heading towards the front door. He's wearing
a green sweater, black slacks, and a black
beret, The goods are In his bag."

Just as Simon walked out of the
department store, the security guard
stopped him.

“Security, Sir. May | check your shopping
bag?”

Simon was furious,

“Certainiy not, my good man. | am a bona
fide customer!”

The security officer ignored Simon
and looked into the bag. There were the
gloves.

The police were notified. And the prob-
lem was brought to the President who mulled
it over,

“| don't know...should we lay

BY CLAIRE BERNSTEIN

BASED ON
ACTUAL COURT
CASES

charges against this guy?”

The Vice President of Public Relatlons
spoke up. “Don't do it, boss. Bad publicity
for the store. He looks like a college profes-
sor, Nat the usual criminal type. He proba
bly has some kind of obsession problem.”

The Vice President of Legal Affairs
spoke up. “) agree. Forget the criminal
charges. Let's sue him for damages
instead! That'll get him where it hurts.
And we'll get an injunction to keep
Simon out of all of our stores - for life.”

In court, the store was adamant. “Your
Honour, we spend a lot of money each year
to reduce shoplifting. It’s only falr that
Simon pay the $1167 it cost us to arrest
him. And make him pay $1000 in punitive
damages, to teach him a lesson and deter
future shoplifters. Aisa, order him away
from our stores forever.”

Simon was sweating under his
beret. “Your Honour, that’s too harshl
After all, thls was my first offence. |
promise | won't do it again, They didn't
lose any money because the gloves
were recovered, And the store can
raise its prices to recoup the security
costs. If | have to pay also, they could
get this money back twice. | shouldn't
have to pay for my own arrest!"

Should the store get what it wants? You!
Ge the Judge. Then look below for the
decision.

SPONSORED BY

LAWYERS
“Holping People Cope with the Legal System”

Grant Lindsey
Criminal Defence Law

#2 4623 Lakelse Ave., Terrace B.C.

‘Holly Grueger
General Law

Phone 638-1764 Fax 638-7249

Marshall Matias
Family Law

YOU BE THE JUDGE - DECISION

“Because (t le unilkely Simon will re-offend, J am not granting the Injunction. Nor am | awarding the $1467 for
seourily costa,” the Judge ruled, “But I'm making Simon pay $300 In punitive damages, to teach hin a lesson.”

YOU! BE THE JUDGE is based on actual court cases. Today's decision is based on the facts of tha case and the
law of tha province of Ontarla. If you have a similar problam, please consult Lindsey & Gruegar, Clalre Garnstein is o
Monteal lawyer and nationally syndicated calumniat,. Copyright 1997 Halka Enterprises. 814-3