The Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence has teamed up with the Greater Victoria Velodrome Association to provide funding for new track bikes. And with the start of the Lower Island School Cycling League right around the corner, the timing is perfect.
鈥淭hese bikes are essential to fuel our growing programs,鈥� said Michael Cooper, president of the GVVA. 鈥淥ur FastTrack youth program was a great success last year, but with more bikes we could have had more kids cycling. Kids will now be able to experience the fun of track cycling without the cost of expensive equipment.鈥�
The 20 new bikes, including one tandem track bike for para cyclists, were provided by Fuji Bikes and assembled by Rider鈥檚 Cycles.
The school bike league, for students in Grades 6 through 12, begins with a Bike Jam on March 29 at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. The full-day event 鈥� which will include track, road, mountain bike, BMX, cyclocross and dual slalom 鈥� will be led by top-level coaches including Olympians Kurt Innes and Erinne Willock.
For more details, go to schoolbikeleague.com
PISE receives award
The Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence received a special award this week as it continues to help build sports on the Lower Island.
The sa国际传媒 Wheelchair Basketball Society presented PISE with the Outstanding Community Support Award for its dedication to wheelchair basketball.
鈥淲hen the Victoria Wheelchair Sports Association was seeking gym space this year, PISE stepped in to help, providing court time, volunteers and equipment storage,鈥� BCWBS director Carrie Linegar said in a statement.
鈥淎nd this September PISE started a new community wheelchair basketball program, which will provide even more sports opportunities to Island residents.鈥�
Island wrestlers golden
Several Island athletes brought home gold medals from last weekend鈥檚 sa国际传媒 High School Wrestling Championships in Duncan.
Among the champions were Claremont鈥檚 Mitchell Nolan (45-kilogram), Alberni鈥檚 Jordon Bodnar (girls 43-kg), Dover Bay鈥檚 Faye Tuck (girls 51-kg) and Cowichan鈥檚 Maegan Kuruvita (girls 64-kg).
Roller derby wants Raw Meat
If you have always dreamed of becoming a derby girl, the Eves of Destruction Roller Derby League has just the thing for you.
The local league is offering its second Raw Meat information session on March 18 at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre. Raw Meat is the term used for the 鈥渘ewest of new skaters鈥� and is one step before Fresh Meat, where new skaters pass a minimum-skills test, after which they become eligible for drafting onto the Eaves鈥� house teams.
The session on March 18 鈥� from 8 to 9 p.m. 鈥� is an information session only and no skating is required.
For more information, see evesofdestructionrollerderby.com.
