Tristan Smyth Participates in 33rd Oita International Wheelchair Marathon

Photo credit: Tristan Smyth Fan Page / Jannemarie Elizabeth Widenham Smyth

Congratulations to Tristan Smyth, who traveled to Japan to compete in the 33rd Oita International Wheelchair Marathon. The Oita Marathon is one of the most well-known wheelchair marathons and draws the top para-athletics talent from around the world.

Tristan placed 26th out of 63 racers in his category with a time of 1:41:17. Congratulations, Tristan! It's exciting to see you break out into the international racing scene.

Try Wheelchair Curling at CAN Curl's Try It Day

Looking for a fun, super-Canadian sport that's perfect for people of all ages, fitness levels and disabilities? Why not give wheelchair curling a try?

Curl BC is hosting a CAN Curl More: Discover Wheelchair Curling day on Monday, November 25th from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm. It's open to first-timers or first year wheelchair curling and it's completely free. The clinic includes in-class and on-ice sessions, so dress in layers and make sure to remember gloves and mittens.

When: Nov. 25th
Time: 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Where: Coquitlam Curling Club, 633 Poirer Street
Cost: Free!

Space is limited, so register now at http://curlbc.ca/programs/wheelchair-program/
Contact: Audrey (awong@curlbc.ca or 604-333-3622) for further details.

Register Now for the Fall Wheelchair Tennis Winter League

Registration for the 2013/14 Fall Wheelchair Tennis League is now open! Whether you're a beginner, a competitive player or a former player looking to get back in the game, this league will offer you great competitive opportunities in a fun, sociable environment.

The league will run every Monday starting on November 25^th to January 27^th (with 2 weeks off in December) from 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Burnaby Tennis Club (3890 Kensington Ave in Burnaby). Please note that the registration deadline is November 18^th, 2013. League fees are $30 for BCWSA members and $40 for non-BCWSA members (this will include your 2014 membership fee). Format of the league will be determined once final registration numbers are in.

Please click here to download the registration form. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Lisa Myers at programs@bcwheelchairsports.com or 604-333-3520 ext. 209.

Don't Let Bad Weather Stop Your Workout. Come to our Tuesday Night Roller Sessions

When the weather is great, it's easy to handcycle on the Seawall or take your athletics chair outdoors for a push. During the Fall and Winter, however, the cold and rainy weather makes it easy to give into the lure of the couch and let your fitness goals fall by the wayside. The good news is, however, that you don't have to trade your workout gear for a Snuggie. Come on our to our Tuesday night gym and roller session!

There are 5 rollers and 6 handcycles available for two time slots (5:00 - 6:00, 6:00 - 7:00). All of the sessions will be coach-led and you'll get technical feedback your progress. This year, we also have a universal gym. An orientation session is required for use. And the best news of all: it's only $2 per session.

To register, check out the contact info on our poster below.

BC Athletes Post Great Results at 2013 Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis National Championships

 Congratulations to the BC athletes and Coach Steve Manley who achieved stellar results in the 2013 Birmingham Wheelchair Tennis National Championships in Brossard, Quebec this weekend. BC sent three athletes and one coach.

Our athletes achieved the following results:

Mika Ishikawa: Winner of quad doubles with Sarah Hunter, 4th in quad singles.
Sarah Hunter: Winner of both quad singles and doubles.
Misha Biletski: 7th in men's singles, semi-finalist in men's doubles.

Great work, everyone!

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BC Athletes Represent Team Canada at the ParaGames In Wheelchair Floorball

Several BC athletes made history this weekend when they represented Canada at the ParaGames in  floorball and became the first North American team to compete internationally in the sport. Adam Frost, Jamie Borisoff, Hilary Brown, Roberto Molina, Shaun Mills, Kyle and (former BC resident) Pat Anderson traveled to Breda, Netherlands to compete in the prestigious tournament.

Though floorball/ ball hockey has been a BCWSA sport for decades, it's only recently gained popularity in Europe and has become an internationally recognized sport. Despite having never played at the international level before, the Canadians placed 4th out of 8 teams. The team was put together by Adam Frost and Hilary Brown with the help of the BC Floorball Association.

"BC Floorball is proud to have kickstarted a new movement of Floorball action for athletes of varied abilities, and we will continue to support and encourage athletes of all abilities to get ‘playing hockey’ via Floorball," said BC Floorball's Greg Beaudin.

Congratulations to our members for kicking off what will hopefully be a successful international legacy in floorball! If you are interested in getting involved in floorball, contact Kevin Bowie at kevin@bcwheelchairsports.com.

For more information on this story, check out BC Floorball's article here.

Kelowna Offers Wheelchair Badminton For Fall/Winter

Thanks to the hard work of our community champions, wheelchair sports athletes around the province are getting more and more opportunities to get active. Case in point: Kelowna. Wheelchair tennis athlete and organizer Pat Ryan hosted a successful wheelchair tennis program over the summer. Now that the weather is getting chillier, he's moving the tennis chairs indoors to make room for a new sport: wheelchair badminton.

Wheelchair badminton offers excellent cross-training for wheelchair tennis players, and is a great sport to work on hand-eye coordination. New athletes and veteran players alike are welcome. Sports chairs and rackets are provided.

What: Wheelchair badminton Program
When: Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Where: Kelowna YMCA, 375 Hartman Rd.
Contact: Pat Ryan at 250-491-9838

Thanks to Pat Ryan for organizing this great program!

New Adaptive Sports Club Launched In Kamloops

People with disabilities officially have a new way to stay active with the launch of the Kamloops Adaptive Sports Association (KASA), which took place this Saturday at the Tournament Capital Center. The launch party, which coincided with a Have a Go Day, was attended by twenty people, including representatives from BC Wheelchair Sports, BC Wheelchair Basketball and Adaptive Snowsports at Sunpeaks.

Participants had a great time trying wheelchair racing, handcycling, para-throws and more. In addition to bringing out newcomers, the event was also attended by Paralympians like Jessica Vliegenthart (who started KASA along with her husband Jon) and Paul Clark, who attended the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Paralympics and won five medals.

Congratulations to KASA on their successful launch! To see photos of the event, check our KASA's photo album here.

BCWSA and BCWBS Express Condolences On the Passing of Gord May

BC Wheelchair Sports Association and BC Wheelchair Basketball Society express our condolences on the passing of Gord May. Gord helmed the Coaches Association of BC from its inception in 1993 and was valued friend to both of our organizations. 

 

Gord was dedicated to ensuring that BC's coaches have the skills and tools they need to perform at their best.  This year, Gord received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his significant contributions to sport in the province. Gord retired from the CABC this February after 20 years of service and was celebrated at an event that also honoured the Coaches Association of BC's 20 year anniversary.  

 

“Gord’s leadership and advocacy on behalf of coaches in the Province of BC has had an immeasurable impact," said Gail Hamamoto, Executive Director of BC Wheelchair Sports Association. " He leaves a legacy of well-educated and valued coaches who will continue his good work throughout our sport system in the years to come.  We will always remember the laughter we shared with Gord and the humour he brought to every situation.  He will be greatly missed.”  

BCWSA Express Condolences On The Passing Of Brian McPhate

BCWSA extends our condolences on the passing of multi-sport athlete Brian McPhate. Brian passed away last Wednesday at the age of 50 and leaves a long legacy of excellence in wheelchair sports.

Brian began his career as a wheelchair rugby player. He was a member of the national team and represented his country at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics when wheelchair rugby made its debut as a demonstration sport. The team won silver.

After leaving wheelchair rugby, Brian had another distinguished career as a wheelchair tennis player. In 2003, he represented Canada in the World Team Cup in New Zealand and contributed to the team's 5th place finish. He then competed in the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games in tennis and was a semi-finalist in quad doubles. In 2005, he was ranked 8th in quad singles and 4th in quad doubles.

To celebrate his life and legacy to sport, BCWSA and CWSA have put together a photo album of Brian. Click here to view the album.  If you would like to contribute photos or memories of Brian, please email them to arley@bcwheelchairsports.com and we will add them to the album.