6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 24, 2003 . (SKEENA ANG ROB BROWN Taimen 19 oan hadn’t expected a multileveled, mega home, but even by Mongolian standards, Canat's rectangular, one- room house was far from opulent. To one side, and near the back, was an ample metal stove. Everywhere else, it seemed, there were beds and children, the former in rows of three along the walls, the latter playing or in- volved in some kind of chore in the rest of the free space. Given Canat’s talents and education, Joan had expected a wealthier setting — a ranch perhaps. The kids dropped their tasks and swarmed Tugsiin, who pulled small trinkets from his ‘pockets, acting the part of the rich uncle, a role he ‘had obviously played in this setting before. Canat waited until the gifts were dispensed then said something firmly in Kazakh. Al this, the children were immediately quiet. “T told them we had an honored guest, and that they should not forget their manners,” said Canat as the children lined up and filed past, Joan, each bowing and introducing themselves. It happened so quickly, she remembered only the last and oldest, a teenager who introduced herself as Arghul. At the end of the procession- al, a small, exceedingly beautiful woman with black, glistening eyes set above high cheek bones and jet black hair pulled back and knot- ted into a braid, emerged from an anteroom used, apparently, to store food, with what ap- peared to be a cut of meat. She put the package down near the stove then made her way to Joan, wiping her hands on her ornately embroidered apron. “My wife, Kazino,” announced Canat with | unmistakable pride and tenderness, Kazino smiled radiantly. She clasped Joan’s hands then hugged her firmly and sincerely ~ so warmly that Joan fought back tears. Canat’s wife looked warmly into Joan’s eyes and spoke. Canat translated, “Welcome to our home. We are greatly favoured to have you. We ex- pect only two things of you: you have generous helpings of our meagre hospitality; and you carve and pass out the meat at dinner,” “It will be my pleasure,” said Joan, Canat ushered her to a seat as the seven ‘children and Kazino prepared dinner. Candles were lit, bathing the large room in a sepia coloured glow. Joan was startled when the flick- ering light lit parts of a giant bird sitting placid- ly on a perch only a few feet to her right. Canat * noticed her alarm. “The children call her Aika,” he said. “She's ''a cherished member of our family, and will be “until she reaches the age of 10, when we will release her.” “She's magnificent," Joan enthused, staring in admiration of the golden bird, standing over two feet high on its perch. Canat explained how the golden eagle was irapped as a young bird and made to stand ona swaying leather thong hung between two poles until it was exhausted and would accept train- ing. He’d just started in on the history of eagle hunting in Kazakhstan when everyone began seating themselves on low stools for dinner. When Joan and Canat were seated the adults toasted each other’s health with vodka. This was followed by a bow! of Chinese tea, brewed with salt and milk, for everyone, Next came the main course of boiled mutton, goat’s head, fat, and horse sausage, all rather awkwardly carved and distributed by Joan, as promised and all of it surprisingly tasty — though Joan was pleased that the fat and sausage were so eagerly de- voured that it was gone before she could be of- fered a second helping. For the last course, Arghul, brought out deli- cious rice and curd soup. As children whisked away plates, Joan and the other adults took soft hide covered seats and’ relaxed in the warmth. Canat took down a fiddle with its scroll carved in the shape of a horse. “This is morin khutr, Joan Taylor,” he said then proceeded to play a reedy sounding modal melody, Soon everyone joined in to sing a roll- icking folk song following it with another and another. “Let us hear one of your songs, Joan Taylor.”’ ‘ cummmanded Canat, then translated the idea into Kazakh thereby provoking wild cheers from the kids. “Uh...she'll be comin’ round the mountain when she comes, toot tool,” she started up like a locomotive pulling out of the station, then be- came stronger and more confident with each chorus, cheered on in large part by the wild en- thusiasm of her audience, especially when they heard Canat's translation of the chorus, To be continued... By. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN IF JON MASON has his way the Terrace Peaks gymnastics club will become the best in the north. ‘It's a lofty goal, but the former international competitor who was recently named head coach of the ‘local gymnastics club says he thinks it’s a realistic one. ‘And he’s already bouncing around some ideas that are mak- ing an impact on students and in- creasing registration at the club. Enter the trampoline. Athletes train at the Ed Pair- less Memorial Gymnasium in Thornhill, and already make use of an elongated tumbling trampo- line but Mason is incorporating more trampolines to become the focal point of a revamped boys’ program. The boys’ program is ditching rings and parallel bars for concen- tration on tumbling and trampo- line, he says. But the trampoline training won't just be for the boys, he’s planning on introducing the sport more to the girls as well. “It’ll be the only club in the northern area doing this,” says Mason, a 29-year-old British im- port. “With the tumbling it’s good for cardio and good for all your muscle groups.” Having spent the last four years coaching in Australia and Alberta, Mason says the trampo- line is becoming increasingly more popular and hopes the trend will catch on here just as much as it has in other areas of Canada and around the globe, Not only does the trampoline provide a good cardio work out but Mason says young gymnasts JON MASON, the new head coach for the Terrace Peaks hopes the trampoline will breath new life into the club resulting in more fun for athletes and increased registration. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN tend to have a lot more fun with their training once the trampoline is introduced. Trampoline became an official Olympic sport at the 2000 Sum- mer Games in Sydney, Australia. Canada was well represented at the Games with young people eager to take the sport which has. gone from backyards around the country to high flying tricks in the gymnasium. Mason says the trampoline is a natural for a lot of kids who al- 638-728 ready have a love for tumbling, “Some kids come off the street and they can do all kinds of flips already because -they have tram- ° polines in their backyards,” he says, Already he’s seen the boys" re- gistration increase with five new male gymnasts signing up just this month. . While this year the boys won’t 3. umble time — see much competition in terms of © the trampoline, Mason sees this season as a formative one where | the kids will learn the basics, de- velop their skills and hopefully hit a few competitions in Vancouver and Alberta next year. Mason's also hoping to start working closely with other com- munity sporting groups to get them ' training in the gymnasium when gymnasts aren’t on the floor, which he hopes will encourage | children to get involved in some “ cross-training. He’s already done some brain- storming sessions with David Burk of the Northern Taekwon-Do Aca- demy and says martial arts and gymnastics can very well be com- plimentary sports. Mason plans to teach some of Burk’s students what he calls “Matrix-style moves” such as ° kicks and twists. He sees introducing students from different clubs to a variety of sports as a positive thing not just for the athletes but in fostering a closer-knit community of athletes as well. The Terrace Peaks will be at the Skeena Mall Sept. 27 showing . off their high flying trampoline skills at a demonstration in the morning. B Little dolphins THE TERRACE Bluebacks swim club has already splashed into training for the upcoming season. These six to eight-year-olds are members of the Dolphins — the club’s youngest swimmers. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO Dancer attends intensive summer school By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN AT JUST 11-years-old Trina Cage has: already had a taste of what kind of commitment is needed to dance at a high level. The local dancer spent four inteasive weeks in Toronto this summer train- ing at the prestigious Na- tional Ballet School. The school offer summer ses- sions to a select group of promising young dancers each year, Classes focus- sed on ballet training and physical fitness including aerobics and aqua-training. “It was like we did bal- let in the pool but it was more like arerobics,” ex- plains Cage “It was harder than normal.” For Cage, dancing is both an artistic activitiy and helps her keep fit. “When we do sletching it gives me more flexibil- ity and when we do run- steve Cullis takes Revelstoke by storm By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN FORMER TERRACE minor hockey player Steve Cullis is making his pre- sence known in Revel- stoke in a big way, Cullis was recently signed to the Junior B Re- velstoke Grizzlies this season and after the first three games of the regular season Cullis has logged an outstanding eight goals. Cullis, a six-foot-two, 195-pound forward, ham- mered home a hat trick in the team’s opening game of the season against Prin- ceton. Just two days later, after dealing with a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Osoyoos, Cullis came back hotter than ever in a . return match against Prin- ceton, . He logged an outstand- ing five goals including the game winner in over- time giving the Grizzlies an 8-7 victory. “After scoring eight goals in three games he's turned out ta be a major contributor,” says Griz- zlies’ head coach Steve Miller. “I've seen it happen a few times where guys get big games like that...those are the types of stories that become somewhat legen- dary.” Not bad fur a kid in his rookie year. Cullis is happy to be playing in Revelstoke and was pretly pleased with how the season has begun - though he’ll be the first to admit he didn’t expect things to start out so well. “J don’! know, I just got my opportunities and I ca- pitalized on them,” says Cullis, who sports the number 16 on his jersey. “Five goals in a game | is not usual.” Cullis drew Miller’s at- tention at a Kelowna scou- | ting camp in April. He liked what he saw so much he was persistent through- ” out the summer checking in with Cullis and letting him know he was welcome © to join the Grizzlies’ bench. So far, he’s fitting in just fine with the team . and Millers’ sure he made © the right choice. “He's a great kid off the © ice, he's a good kid on the ice,” Miller says, adding Cullis has already gar- nered a fot of respect from his teammates as well, “You don't score in overtime and make it your - fifth goal and not have the guys on the team like you too." me ning I have more energy to do that because of my dance,” she says. Cage takes ballet, tap dancing, modern dance and jazz, The dedicated young lady can be found training at the Northern Conservatory of Dance five days a week, And now that school’s out of Fridays you can just guess what she’s doing to pass the time. "I dance and play with my friends,” she laughs. Cage's dedication was noticed while she was in Toronto, She was among about 50 students invited to stay on at the school for the regular school year to continue lraining. But at ll-years-old, her parents felt she was too young to leave the nest. “At the beginning I knew I wasn’t allowed to, so it wasn’t that big of a dissappointment but it sort of was,” she says. “I think when I'm like, 14 or IS T'Ml try it again.” In the meantime, Cage is perfectly content to keep her toes tapping and her muscles flexxing in the studio here at home. Schoot in July. JEFF NAGEL PHOTO TRINA CAGE'S dedicatton, athletic ability and talent; got her noticed at the prestigious National Ballet .