i \ L $ i i x : i ; + & rp e i L Bikers tackle | ceniury race By ROLFE McCOOEY CYCLISTS swarmed around the preparation area early Aug, 16 for the Skeena River Challenge. The 100-mile race from Prince Rupert io Terrace lured all types of riders: first-timers with limited training, veterans of numerous northern races, tandem riders and oc- casional riders like me. All quietly ran through the mental checklist; pumped tires, filled water bottles, checked food and tightened shoes, There was positive weather discussion. We rode into the sun. ly built as final instructions are given. ee ee a lowed by an unraveling line of recreational riders. Breaths came hard and fast. Well-oiled chains buzzed around endless cogs. The serious riders sat in rows of two, three and four, savers wenn an easier pace, Everyone donned a helmet and slipped across the road to the start. Shoes clicked in and out of pedals, lines formed, watches and computers were set to zero, The tension quiet- At the signal, we streamed onto the road and up the first grade, front-runaers setting a fast pace in a tight pack, fol- Tiders tucked in behind the leaders to cheat the wind. Oc- casionally a long paceline formed and bikes lined up like links of a chain, wheel to Wheel, rocketing forward. Riders . fell off the pace and small groups formed and carried on at ‘ At20 miles an hour I] heard the rush of wind and felt my , : heart leap out of my chest. Craning my neck, my eyes fol- . lowed the incline snaking toward Rainbow Summit. Trees The mental test was administered, and each person had to pass it their own way. a . Wrapped in thinning fog with a dry ribbon of road dotted with human-powered machines. Still-cold glutes, quads, calves and hamstrings struggled against the bile of gravity. Sixteen miles an hour. Riders stood and stabbed at their pedals, attacking the hill; others stayed low, saving them- selves for the flats and the big hills to come. Fourteen iniles-an hour, four hours to go. Forty miles. Anything that could hurt, did, I stood and stretched, twisted and unfolded. Time became fluid, like pumping Iegs and steady breathing. I fell in with a friend, and we alternated the lead. The wind at our backs made us feel bigger, stronger. Sixty miles. Energy bars, bananas, bagels and water got low. There’s less talk. The mental test was administered, and each person had Pe ee ee ee ee ec " * to pass it their own way. In my head, song lines flickered * in and out, as the heat built and the speed dropped, Oc- * casionally riders passed us, friendly, encouraging, pressing } ON. : Seventy-five miles. Shames Mountain loomed. ] shed a | layer and attack it and endured the climb of the roller : coaster beyond, > Finally, I wound down toward Terrace, out of water and : focus. 1 hung on until the finish line, then submitted to-the ‘ stillness of standing and joy of achieving. Everyone. ‘ seemed fulfilled and cheered new arrivals, The race took ‘ fess than a day to finish, It felt like acentury;° * Rolfe MeCooey is a Terrace cyclist who has comple 4, » the Skeena River Challenge seven times. 3 I WEARHOUSE National institute Race results Senior men (19-34) Peter Krause James Smids Mike Christensen Paul Heinstein Tyler Cochrane Tony Mitchell Chul Lee Martin Halvorson PNOOp oro Top veteran men (35+} CLOSED: Terrace's pool Is closed for until the plumb- ing is improved and the entrance is enlarged. It's scheduled to reopen Oct. 5 after regular cleaning. Closure ails club TIMING for the renovations at Tertace’s pool could be a lot worse, said Blueback swim coach, Mike Carlyle. “If they had closed it in December like some pools do, we would have been hurting,’ he said. As it stands now, the club will tose conditioning time for senior swimmers and will have ils first mect pushed back from Oct, 18 to Oct. 25. Carlyle said swimmers will have to train hard for the meet to do well, “T'm_ a little worried about shoulder injuries,’’ be said. Nipper Kettle David Shearer David Allwood Ron Lowe Ernie Hidber Alan Neufeld Malcolm Fell Cress Farrow , Jim Gordon 10. Bill Lee 11. Theo Davies 12,.Rolfe McCooey OONganrons Women 1. Tara Moran 2, Jennifer Plummer 3, Nancy Knight 4, Lidia Arndt 5, Tamami Lee Tandem riders 1. Simon Miller Robert Marce . .2. Branden Smoley - 7 Jon Lambert Helping over 15,000 people who are blind, visually impaired and deaf-blind. Carole Anderson R.A.D. ADAPT. #103 4622 Greig Ave Terrace, B.C. V8G IM? BRAND NEW FACILITY CENTRAL LOCATION Creative Movement, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Adult Classes, Festivals, Workshops, Exams, Year End Production, Syllabus, R.A.D. Ballet & Brian Foley ADAPT Tap & Jazz, Ages 3 & up, Boys Welcome. Director & Owner REGISTRATION & OPEN HOUSE August 28, 29 & 30, 1998, Sept. 4, 5, 6 12:00 -4:00 pm Classes start September 14, 1998 Call 635-8113 for further information. Dance Wear Available The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 26, 1998 - BS ‘You ara lying on the beach at Lakalse Lake Provincial Park when you notica a huge beautiful bird soaring and circling with wings oulsiratchad catching the Invisible winds, slowly flying across the infinite blua sky. It could be an eagle or an osprey but il is dafinitly a bird af prey Birds of prey ranga in size form the jay-sized American kestrel to the 7 1/2 toot wing span of the beld agle. Thay all share (ha ability to see keenly, stalk patient, strika swiftly, and kill deft! Also called raptors, birds of pray hunt in a variety of ways. Csprays diva balaw tha surface of tha water ta snaich fish, Owis and hawks swoop from high perches, or boldly stalk gaphers fact-to-lace in a field. Power diving at up to 200 mph, peragring falcons knock smaliar birds dead in midair. ulturas and candors, on the other hand, spot their dinners from aloft and walk Up on foot. Because thair pray is already dead, they have no need far the fierce talons or claws possessed by olherraptors, Young or adutt, birds of pray hava big appetites which demand almost non-stop hunting. For Instance, six baby barn owls and their payants will oat nearly 1000 rodents and other small marimals in just ona breading season. Two dozen mica and a rattlar Is all in a day's work for a red-talled hawk. Paregrine falcons average one plump pigeon per day, Great homed owls consume animals as larga as skunks. Member families include the owl, osprey, falcon, vulture, and hawk. Biologists classify aaglas as part of the hawk family, Bacausa they eat animals, birds, of fish almost exclusively, birds of pray occupy a speclal nicha in the food chain of the world. Their camivorous ciel plays a key rola in the balance of nature. By keeping rodent populations under control, raptors help farmers. By eating dead animals, raptors also help prevent tha spread of disease, eptor hunting patterns differ according to the hours thay keap. Fagles hawks, falcons, end kiles are diurnal hunters, aweke and stalking thelr kil during daylight hours, Owls, on the other hand, ara primarily nocturnal creatures. Relying on thelr kean senses of vision and hearing, they swoop out of the dark onto unsuspecting rabbits, squirrals, and apossums, silent as moths but far mare deadly. Many raptors are becoming endangered dus to the negative impact of mankind, Loss of habilat due to human cevalopment has endangered several spacies of owls, haivks, and falcons. Fish-ealing osprey and bald saglas have also suffered fram the presance ol pesticides in rivars and lakes. Toxic chemicals absorbed by tha fish are passad glong the tood chaln, causing death and infertility to the birds. Peregrine falcons have been simitarly thraataned. LAKELSE LAKE PROVINCIAL Parks PARK VISITORS PROGRAMS 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 4:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm THURSDAY AUGUST 27 Flash from the Past Walk along the Twin Spruce Trail and learn about the history of the area, Maat at the information sign near the R.V. dump station. Totem Poles Long before writing was used by First Nations, totem poles were carvad ta tell storles and racord events. Learn and make your own totem pola ta take home. FRIDAY AUGUST 28 Wild Water World Learn about the mysterious world of fish and make your own fish puppet. Bear Aware Learn about the largest predator living near this park-bear. SATURDAY AUGUST 29 Hike-A:Tree While looking at a tree’s bark or leaves, you can end up discovering amazing things about animals that liva in or on the tree. Jerry's Ranger “Staying Alive” Learn about survival in 8C Parks. Safety Sense. SUNDAY AUGUST 30 derry’a Ranger “Green Team” Learn how you can save our world. Garbage Gobbler. Plunge In Explore the homes and habits of the aquatic animals that live in BC Parks. MONDAY AUGUST 24 Hug-A-Tree Learn what to do if you are lost in the woods. Family prasentation and slides. All are Welcome! Ali Programs are FREE! All programs will be held In the Amphitheatre unless otherwiae posted. re ee ee ee LEGRN SOME RESPONSIBILITY! The Terrace Standard Circulation Department is looking for Relief Carriers IF you are a hard working individual that likes walking, we need you! Call Karen Circulation Manager 638-7283 (Tuesday to Friday) or Fax 638-8432 or apply in person to: 3210 Clinton Street. TERRACE mw me wee ee ~ STANDARD ‘ 800-8 * To leave a © Jo order your ¢ To speak directly recorded comment _—copy of tha Final with a Ministry of , Agreement and Aboriginal Affairs other background Staff person [from materials 8:30 am to 4:30 pm]. ON A Final Agreement to resolve the Nisga'a tand claim has been Intialled ~ by British Columbia, Canada and the Nisga’a Tribal Council. - = This treaty will bring greater self-reliance to the Nisga’a, and greater ‘economic certainty and opportunity to all British Columbians. “He's time to resolve aboriginal land claims. _ It's time to agree - to a better future, _ BRITISH ~~ COLUMBIA Bringing BUTogette, | Visit our wab site: www.aaf.gov.bc.ca/aaly 141022 ‘