B16 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 13, 2003 Adventure Challenge 2003 Series champions crowned | By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN THE RIVERBOAT Days weekend was also the fourth and final race weekend of the Terrace Standard Adventure Challenge and it saw ath- letes take on two gruelling events in two consecutive days, Azad Adventures’ outdoor rock. climbing competition took to. the Chist Creek Forest recreation site Aug. 2. The event saw numbers of partici- pants more than double over its in- augural year in 2002 = 32° people turned oul for the event. While the top climbers gracefully proved they’ve got what it takes to Tise to the top, the majority of. the competitors were novice climbers giving the sport a shot for the first time. Sam Skalsvik repeated his first place performance from last year to nab top spot of the men. Lisa Lang- ford from Smithers gracefully ascen- ded to the top of the nine-woman field. Jesse Sheasby narrowly edged Travis Yagelniski for first place in the junior division, And the youth di- vision saw a number of youngsters lic in to the rope for the first time, but it was Chapen Leblond who sped his way up to top spot. The next day, competitors met at the Onion Lake Cross country ski trails for the second annual Eight Hours of Onion Lake endurance bik- ing event. Competitors could partici- pale in teams of four, three two or compete solo. “The whole mission statement of the Adventure Challenge was invol- vement and 1 think this event more than any other really fostered that,” says race coordinator Mike Christen- sen, “Our youngest rider was eight- years-old and our oldest rider was over 50.” Last year the event drew about 33 competitors — that number skyrocke- ted to 67 this year with participants from throughout the northwest riding. More a biking event than a hard- core race, dozens of family members came to cheer on the participants in an easy-going family atmosphere. Top junior team went to Chapen Leblond, Colton Dunsmore, Jeff Tumer and Adam Sarich who logged 19 laps around the 6 kilometre course, Top senior team went to Mi- chael Burns, Jeff Shore and Adam Mills from New Hazelton pedalling hard for 25 laps. Theg to pk women’s E team logged fz 19 laps and was made up of Donna Kellar, Shannon Leblond, Eberle Balfour and Liz Smaha. The junior so- loist with the most laps was Jesse Sheasby loggin 17. The speediest men’s solo rider was Jon Lambert who put in an ago- nizing 21 laps of the 6 kilometre course ~ that's 126 km in just etght hours. And finally the top female soloist was Christine Krisinger who logged 16 laps. Chapen Leblond And the Adventure Challenge winners are: The men’s division saw a tight tace between Terrace athletes Ray Praught, Chris Cordts and Justin Spearing throughout the challenge. Going into the eight-hour race Cordts and Spearing were tied for first while Praught was sitting in second. But Praught’s decision to tide the whole eight hour event solo put him over the top edging the other two men to nab top spot and leaving the other two tied for second. “T found every event hard even the ones I'm good al like biking - biking for eight hours is not easy,” says Praught. , Having several other people competing in all five events gave him incentive to compete harder - even in those event which are not his forte such as swimming and rock climbing. “I found every event has it’s own hardcore group and you think they might be cliquey,” he says. “But I found all those little groups, the run- ners, the swimmers, the bikers, the climbers were pretty encouraging for the new people.” The women’s division saw twa women battling it out for top spot. Lucy Praught was the first to step up to the challenge of taking on all five events, but it turned out to be 21. year-old Christine Krisinger who came out on top. Do “I knew Lucy would be my com- petition and I'd really have to wark at it,” says Krisinger. “And biking for eight hours was definitely a chal- lenge — I never would have done it solo if Lucy didn’t do it by herself.” While many people see riding for eight hours over roots and rocks, through sand and over fallen logs as a cruel punishment, it's this year’s junior champion, 15-year-old Jesse Sheasby’s idea of a good time. “It was fun having the solo — pret- ty long but it was good,” he says. Sheasby was in a neck and neck battle with fast year's junior cham- pion Travis Yagelniski throughout the series — the two are also good friends. “It was a pretty good battle be- tween me and Travis,” Sheasby says. “It was a little more fun having a friend right there.” The youth division for competitors aged 12 and under had the most en- trants in all five of the events. Chapen Leblond, Jeff Turner, Adam Sarich, all 12-years-old, and Dawsen Leblond, 10, took on every event. The boys exemplified the spirit of competition encouraging ea- chother throughout the series. “[ just wanted to do something I've never done before,” says Daw- sen Leblond, the youngest of all the competitors to take part. “I was real- ly trying hard, it was a real challenge.” But it was big brother Chapen Le- blond who earned top points in the series nabbing the title of youth champion. “He showed excitement the whole time and I think he kind of hoped this would be his year,” says Leblond’s mom Shannon. “He was pretty proud at the end and for a 12-year-old those prizes were great.” The champions in each of the four divisions received grand prize pack- ages packed with hundreds of dollars worth of outdoor sporting gear from All Seasons Source for Sports, Azad Adventures, McBike .and Ruins Board Shop. The men’s, women’s and junior champions also received two free round trip tickets to Vancouver cour- tesy of HawkAir and the youth champion received a $100 cash prize. More than $5,000 in prizes were doled out throughout the series, THE Terrace Standard Adventure Challenge champions: Youth division winner Chapen Leblond, top female competitor Christine Krisinger (at back), men’s champion Ray Praught and junior division winner Jesse Sheasby. Below, Mike Christensen meets with riders before the eight haur endurance biking race at ‘the Onion Lake cross-country ski trails. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTOS Tennis tourney ahit — THE RIVERBOAT Days tennis tournament was hit . Here's an averview of this’ year’s winners. A Mens Doubles: Richard Krieg] and Jer- emy Lafontaine both from Terrace, A Ladies Doubles: Nancy Condon from Prince George and Melita Bracken from Terrace. A Mixed Doubles: Nancy Condon and Charlie Grove both from Prince George. B Mens Doubles: Erik Hernes and Dave Sarsiat fram Terrace. B Ladies Doubles: Diane Cey and Patti Kozak from Terrace. ' 5 Mixed Doubles: Marilyn Earl and Steve Fleming from Terrace. 0 0 50 a glen Atlas Pine Lake & Trail is Perfect for Family Outings Outings ine Lake is a small lake north of Terrace, and is a popular recreation AnglersAtlas.com area close to town. There are many differ- ent activities for the family, which include fishing, hiking, and mountain bike riding. For anglers, the lake has cutthroat trout— an aggressive fish that often will bite anything that enters their site, making it good fishing for beginners and experts. These fish have an appetite for a wide range of lures and flies, and are known as hard fighters. Some patterns fly fishers may want to try include a variety of nymph patterns, such as mayflies and caddis flies, as well as the Royal Coachman and Professor patterns. If you prefer spinning gear, try a small Mepps or Panther Martin. To find out more about fishing this lake, drop by one of the many tackle shops in town and talk with their staff. Depth contours hown ty eet Map survey conducted in October, 1974. 250 Meters an peer sierra 500 1000 Feet Sports IMErLuU Aug. 16-17 M@ Senior's Open al the Skeena Valley Goll and Country Club. Cali 635- 2542 for details. Aug. 17 M McBike Wild Decent downhill mountain biking race, Shames Mountain 1 p,m. start. .For details call McBiks 635-5225, Garage sale COME OUT and support the Terrace Curling Club at ils Aug. 15, from 4 p.m. to 8 pm, and Aug, 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., ga- rage and craft sale at the curling rink. Ca]! Donna Diana, 635- lige: Freeter available for your “Catch Of The Day” (Hotel Guests On'y) couhtty INN 4702 La helse fre Terrace F of the Pine Lakes Trail. It is accessible by two-wheel drive and there are five vehicle units for camping. The rom Terrace, head west on Highway 16, across the Kitsumkalum a and then tum right (north) onto West Kalum Road. Follow this road for 12 km to the Pine Lakes recreation site. The site is small, in a forested section, and part site also comes with a cartop boat launch. Pine Lake Trail wraps around the lake, and offers excellent views of the mountains and lake. This 6.1 km trail is an easy hike, and suit- able for family use. The trail is also popular with. mountain bikers. Quick Facts Reel in a Deal at \OK@a mu 5-0078 108-4526 G KITSUMKALUM TEMPO GAS BAR Fill your 20!b. propane bottle NOW & SAVE! » Marine Gas * Fishing Tackle * Full service ola sell serve price LICENSED PROCESSOR OF FISH Hot of Cold Seoke * Processed + Filleted * Steakecl le Cryo-vaced 5583, for information. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 24 HOURS A DAY YELLOWHEAD HIGHWAY 16 - 3 KM WEST OF TERRACE 635-0017. TWIN CITY MEATS LTD. 4545 Lakelse Ava, a5 B.C. 1-800-663-3903 Gazetted Name « Pine Lake Surface Area * 34 Hectares (84 Acres) Maximum Depth , « 14.3 metres (47 feet) Elevation « 207 metres (679 feet) ‘i Caution: Do not use this map for navigation- al purposes, This map may nol reflect current conditions. Uncharted haz- ards may exist, Base Map @Province of British Columbia. Fisheries data obtained from Province of ‘British Columbia. "© The An gler’s. : Atlas, 2003 3233 Emerson Street, Terrace 35-5119 he OTe Weak Giant Setiona #113-4710 Lanelle Ave, + 435-5125 www.teammcblke,com