Browsing “Jock stuff”

Pretty much when Metrotown went up, Brentwood became Burnaby’s Kingsate…..NO!  Champlain, it’s totally Champlain Mall.  It’s sort of the mall that time forgot.  The whole mall just feels like a giant Fields.  I happened to be in the area, and thought it might work out as a decent Food Fair Friday, but it didn’t pan out.  What I did find though was my f’n favourite, massage chairs.  This was so meaningful because just weeks ago, I was on a BC ferry running rampant looking for a massage chair and found that they were removed!  Obviously, BC ferries thinks of them like those pay TV’ chairs they used to have at the airport, dodo bird type stuff, but lucky for me they fit right in at Brentwood.

$4 later and I’m a new man…..

Be on the look out for my next up and coming series, stuff in malls you’ve never been to.

‘In The Dirt’ is a series about how the Vanier Park Dirt Jumps came about. The park, which will be breaking ground soon is expected to be complete before the end of this summer. With the help of Chris Young, lead memeber of the Vancouver Dirt Jump Coalition, this short series will look at the process behind getting a park like this built.  An avid BMXer, Chris has tirelessly helped skateboarders as a director of the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition.  With his experience, he’s now making things happen for BMXers in Vancouver.

We left off part one of this series with a bit of history about the dirt jump project, and now we’ll take  a closer look at where we are today. Keep in mind, this process reaches back almost a decade, so if there’s one thing to learn from  reading this series, it’s that perseverance does pay off.

Early stages of construction to jumps (note actual construction may be further ahead than photo….yay.)

During Chris’ 11 years on the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Skateboard Coalition , they’ve had good working relationships with a few of the Vancouver Park Board staff. One staff member in particular that has really helped them over the years was Mark Vulliamy, from the Park Board planning department. Mark has since retired from the Park Board, but he wasn’t a skateboarder, and wasn’t a BMX’er, he was just really passionate about making Vancouver awesome and keeping active. Mark went above and beyond his job, often attending many of our Coalition meetings after-hours and he taught a few of us how the process works.

(Click for waaaay more!)

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I find when at the library, I’m extra polite while  browsing for movies.  At most video stores, I’ll walk right in front of you. no problem.  At the library though, I’ll find myself camped out under one letter, checking every last title.  Why?  Because the guy next to me is doing that too.  I’m not sure why…but I’m just more civil at the library.  I like it.

My favourite letter is ‘S’, I’ve had the most success here, last week though, I was having a bit of a tough time, so tough that I was ‘this’ close to renting ‘Schindler’s List’….great movie but I don’t need to see it again…

Then POW!  Winner…winner…chicken dinner….

For those of your not familiar with this show, it was the springboard for Sarah Jessica Parker into stardom.  If I had to pick one TV comedy that epitomizes the 80′s to a point where it physically hurts, it’s this one.

One of these days….I’m actually going to get a book out of the library….

I think it’s important at VIA that we try to expand our horizons, get out of our comfort zones.  Which is why, after my first football game of this year, I realize that we should not restrict ourselves to just dumb hockey questions.

So here goes….my first dumb football quesiton:

Is that a whisper 2000?

I’m wayyyy dumber at football too….

PS….Lions…please win…

This year’s cross town skim was not as successful as last, but we still had fun.  The rain and cold temperatures held us back, but we were still able to skim 3rd, 2nd, and Kits.

VIA’s own Gerald Belmont at 3rd beach…..

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Tonight, the only thing more I could have asked for was a visit from Super Grizz….what’s that dude up to these days?  No I mean the Vancouver Super Grizz….don’t try to tell me that one in Omaha or whatever is the same mascot.

Vancouver is a city full of transplants, which always makes sporting events even more spirited.  Whether it’s the Leafs against the Canucks, the Rough Riders versus the Lions, or in tonight’s case, Canada versus my favourite….China, knowing that half the arena is against you, makes winning that much better, and losing that much worse.

It felt like everyone won tonight though, because we all got to see a basketball game at GM…..no….Rogers Arena.  I’m over it now, but I think the last basketball game I saw was 101.1 night, and if the Grizzlies got 101 points everyone got free Spaghetti Factory.  They score was something like 90 something to 70 something in the last quarter and the Grizzlies sat all their starters.  We won…but we all went home hungry….OK enough….

Canada had something to prove tonight playing China, who’s ranked ten spots higher than them in the FIBA ranking.  It wasn’t even close, Canada dominated China, lead by Andy Rautins who put up 19 points.  Final score 86-68.  This is a great warm up for Canada who is in the FIBA world championship on the 28th, it’s the first time in eight years which we’ve qualified.  For Vancouver basketball fans, this fits in perfectly with the Pheonix Suns and Portland Trailblazers coming to town on Oct. 22nd and Steve Nash’s soccer tournament on Sept. 19th.

Finally!  It took me a few games, but I was finally able to get out to Empire Field to catch my first Lions game this year.   While they did come up short, the atmosphere was something else.  The food, the lights, the noise, and the mist.  Calgary was a bit too much for BC, and everyone was hoping for Printers to come in, but it was Jarious who stepped up and looked good.  We’ll see what happens…

If your not a huge football fan, this is something still worth checking out, to me, it’s right up there with the Olympics as something that’ll only be here for this year.  You don’t want to be kicking yourself….

You know I’m no expert, but I think we could use this guy out there.

Did I ever tell you about the time I met Mike Bibby on Robson? This isn’t him.

In addition to the bicycle-themed movie night at Vancity Theatre on Friday, SPOKED! is also presenting a bicycle-themed art show on Saturday. If the feeling of wind in your hair, the smell of bicycle grease and the fevered sounds of your bell ringing at people to get out of your way on the seawall get your heart racing then either (or both!) of these nights could be good for you.

Tomorrow’s event at Vancity is $10 for one film or $15 for both. There will be a live marching band(!) and with the purchase of a ticket you will be entered into a raffle to win one of many more Crumpler bags as well as other door prizes being offered. (So make sure you bring your bike basket.)

Have you entered Vancouver is Awesome‘s Stoked for SPOKED! giveaway yet? There’s still time to enter and win one of 3 pairs of tickets and a sweet Crumpler courier bag, you know. If you didn’t know, it probably means you ought to consider follow @VIAGiveaways on The Twitter to keep on top of this kind of thing … you don’t want to be out of the loop, do you?!

Tickets to Spoked! and a Crumpler courier bag!

On Friday, August 6th, Spoked! – a “bicycle arts celebration turning cycling into a catalyst for creativity, with inspired films, art, and music” – will be kicking off at Vancity Theatre with the Vancouver premier of director Benny Zenga’s Where Are You Go: Cairo to Cape Town at 7:00 followed by a selection of short international films including Line of Sight , featuring New York’s legendary cyclist Lucas Brunelle and Eight Less Actors by Aaron Isaiah Zenga. Even better, a real live marching band (with or without Fleetwood Mac) will be on hand to make it … loud. The party continues on Saturday, August 7th with a two-wheel-inspired art show at the Grace Gallery (Main @ 3rd) at 8:00 pm.

Vancouver is Awesome has 3 pairs of tickets to a screening of the winner’s choosing and 3 of these very cool Crumpler bags to give away. Which means your odds are good … very good. Read more

Livestock added a wrapup post to their site about the Livecup soccer tournament that we played a couple weekends back. Find out who won and take a look at a bunch of great images shot by Chris Bone HERE!

Tomorrow is the big day and the VIA team is stacked made up mostly of VIA bloggers.  Now I didn’t just send an emailer out and see who would be willing to show, these guys were hand picked.

Our team consists of myself, Kliff Klaven, Gerald Belmont, The Gilley Brothers, and Trevor Clarke and I think we have alot going for us.  Number one, depth in goal, apparently Spencer, Blake, and Patrick all play in net, if you thought a 0-0 game was bad…it’s about to get worse.  Gerald Belmont brings speed to the table, he plays with an uncanny sense of urgency.  Lastly youth, Trevor and the brothers are like in first year or something, you need more?  OK the youngest Gilley is in highschool, he takes PE, when’s the last time you were in gym class?  Trevor plays sports and stuff too…while you turkeys are riding around on your ten speeds, or knitting, he’s getting cut from the rugby squad and he’s pissed.

VIA….all the way…..

We’ll be playing from 11am and it’s going to be a PARTAY!  So stop by, say hi, and cheer us on…..

Kliff