Search Results for: Adventure and Sport
Volume
22
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NO FEAR OF FALLING
Words by Laurissa Cebryk
Article photo by Micaiah Kind
BASE jumper Angelique Vinnedge loves being airborne.
Throughout history, humans have been fascinated–even obsessed–with the art of...
Volume
22
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ON THE SHARP EDGE
Words by Chad Herbert
Photos by Anastasia Skye
Local swordfighters get medieval at the Comox Valley Combat Guild
A rare beam of sunshine reflects off a long steel blade, catching the...
Volume
22
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HOME IN THE HILLS
Words by Ryan Stuart
Photos by Alex MacKay
It took a community to build Vancouver Island’s backcountry hut.
I'm inching along the narrow ridge leading to 5040 Peak, a ski on either side of...
Volume
22
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IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL LAND
Words by Andrew Findlay
Photos by Jenn Dykstra
The history and community behind Courtenay’s beloved Airpark.
When my kids were younger, I logged long hours at the Rotary Skypark, going...
Volume
21
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THE MOUNTAIN CENTRE IS HERE. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHY?
Words by Alycia Traas
Photo by Kyle Hansen
The Vancouver Island Mountain Centre and Sports Society make Strathcona Park’s mountain terrain and experiences accessible to...
Volume
20
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ABOVE AND BEYOND
Words by Ryan Stuart
Opening Photo by Chris Istace
Article Photos by Juanita Wells
The Comox District Mountaineering Club is doing hard work on the ground, encouraging our community to enjoy and protect the great outdoors.
If...
Volume
20
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STROKE OF MAGIC
Words by Alaina Vesper
Photo by Bastian Fluery
Accessing a glacier for a spring paddle board session is leagues above one couple's regular adventures.
My boyfriend, Curtis...
Volume
19
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THE BRIGHTEST PATH
Words by Nora Bingham
Photos by Meredith Rose
A serendipitous trip to New Zealand provides soothing reprieve from the west coast winter.
Escape. Run away. Get lost. Get...
Volume
19
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STOLEN MOMENTS
Words by David Benton
Photo by Jenn Dykstra
Time slows and memories collect and blur together while climbing amongst the Valley’s age-old terrain.
Desperately pinching...
Volume
19
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HIDDEN RICHES
Words & Painting by Nick Hutton-Jay
Long before it became a popular tourist destination, two adventurers stumbled upon the unexpected while exploring the Upana...
Volume
19
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ON A WING AND A PRAYER
Words by Kyle Hansen
Photos by Marc Jardine
The misunderstood sport of speed flying requires practiced skill and careful calibration. It can also take a leap of faith.
My heart...
Volume
16
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THE NIGHT RIDE
Words by Mical Dyck
Photo by Lorenz Jimenez
Night riding can be eerie, there’s no question about that. Casting shadows as I pedal through the forest plays tricks on the eyes. Seeing movement where...
Volume
15
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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Words by Paula Worthington
Photos by Jenn Dykstra
Cycling opportunities in the Valley are growing, combining the best of the area’s food, wine, and scenery into a selection of man-powered...
Volume
15
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RACING THE LIGHT
Words by Leah Knutson
Photos by Mike LeBlanc
A team of Comox Valley runners road trips to the Alberta/BC border
to test themselves with the Sinister 7 Ultra Marathon.
In...
Volume
15
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SPINNING GOLD
Words & Photos by Leah Ballin
A search for wilderness, adventure, and single track in the land of the midnight sun.
I feel most at home in vast wilderness...
Volume
15
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PIONEERS AND BROKEN DREAMS
Words & Photos by Tim Ennis
Exploring northern Vancouver Island’s San Josef Bay with Cove Adventures.
Drive northwest past the ferry line-ups, strip malls, and...
Volume
14
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GRAVITATIONAL PULL
Words by Nicole Rippel
Photos by Jenn Dykstra
Straight across the strait, a manicured bike park and cycle-forward community provides a draw for amateur and experienced riders...
Volume
14
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SPIN IT TO WIN IT
Words by Clay Ward
Photo by Eugene Chung
A trio of world-class athletes steps up
to provide off-season training for young riders.
When the days grow short and the nights...
Volume
14
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INTO THE GREAT WHITE OPEN
Words & Photos by Gordon Ross
For the intrepid traveller, Antarctica offers remote beauty.
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest of earth’s continents....
Volume
14
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STRAIGHT AND TO THE POINT
Words by Blayne Prowse
Photos by Lorenz Jimenez
For a skilled bow and arrow craftsman, the pursuit of stump shooting provides a path toward engaged living and a deeper awareness of our place in the...
Volume
14
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THE DIRTY AND THE DEDICATED
Words by Ryan Parton
Cumberland braces for Dodge City X, the village’s first off-road triathlon.
To some, it’s the Village in the Forest, to others...
Volume
14
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CHOSEN ROADS
Words by Erica Spizawka
Photo by Brian King
By four-stroke engine or clipless pedals, a Cumberland rider finds power in two wheels, however they spin.
Do I love my mountain bike...
Volume
13
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On a swell and a prayer
Words by Ryan Stuart
Photo by Dave Prothero
In one year, a local paddler goes from rookie to evangelist in the fastest man-powered boat on the water.
What a difference a year...
Volume
13
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Ready & Abel
Words by Neil Borecky
Photos by Patrick Kitto
Iconic and quirky, Mount Cain is more than a mere ski hill. It's a cog set of individuals making turns for themselves and for the...
Volume
13
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POWER MOVE
Words & Photo by Bevin Clempson
A longtime admirer of hip hop dance gets out of the corner.
If you’re of a certain age, you’ve likely watched Flashdance. As a full-blown...
Volume
12
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Coffee & Coastlines in Peru
Words & Photos by Sara Kempner
My first impressions of Peru came on a domestic flight between Lima and Cusco. Bleary eyed after 20 hours of travel from Vancouver Island, I sat on the plane...
Volume
12
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Strathcona Park
Words by Andrew Findlay
Photos by Lisa Bettany
Getting by with a little help from our friends.
The map of British Columbia is festooned with splotches of green, and we've got the...
Volume
12
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How they roll: A crash course in roller derby
Words by Bevin Clempson
Photos by John Bonner
Over the years, I’ve quietly contemplated whether I have the skills—and the lady balls—to try roller derby. It’s a fascinating sport. When the...
Volume
12
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Now on Deck: Cumberland Skatepark
Words by Cam Matthews
Photos by Alex MacKay
After returning from an extended period of travel, in our case driving a van to South America for 18 months, one forms a desire to obtain items which would...
Volume
11
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Paradise Meadows
Words & Photos by Wendy L. Macdonald
The name says it all.
They say you should stop and smell the roses if you want to enjoy the journey. I’ve discovered my own...
Volume
11
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ALL POINTS TO THE WATER: COMPASS ADVENTURE
Words by Ryan Stuart
Photo by Todd MacSween
On the water, the fastest way between two points is rarely a straight line. Sailing, surfing, paddling, it's all about understanding and anticipating the...
Volume
11
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Fly Tying 101
Words by Jack Bindernagel
Photos by Dave Prothero
The joy of making a DIY fly.
1 Start with a stainless steel saltwater hook, in sizes 4 to 8. Pinch the barb with pliers to...
Volume
11
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Up, Up, & Away From It All
Words & photos by Sarah Hauser
Comox Glacier bike & hike
The Comox Glacier is such an iconic mountain for the Comox Valley. Since moving here in the fall of 2006,...
Volume
11
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My first XTERRA: Why not?
Words & gallery photo by Jason Stevens
Article photo by Jodi Mucha
It was some time in April, while I was sitting in my chiropractor’s office, having just injured my back filling our newly made, raised garden beds. As we...
Volume
11
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A Voyage from Sea to See
Words & photos by Ben Neufeld
Many can say they have travelled to countries and continents around the world, tasted food from the most exotic of places, or dipped their toes in the waters...
Volume
10
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Coal Hills BMX: Staying on Track
Words By Tara Bursey
Photos By Stew E Radford
Before the Coal Hills BMX Track in Cumberland opened in 2007, my loving parents shuttled me to Nanaimo several times a week for 10 years. I returned to racing...
Volume
10
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Outrigger Canoeing in the Comox Valley
Words by Laurel Archer
Photo by Dave Prothero
Working together with water, wind and tide.
What is that? A question often posed by onlookers as Comox Valley Canoe Racing Club (CVCRC)...
Volume
10
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Free-Diving, With A Catch
Words by Galyn Franklin
Photos by Jeremy Koreski
Bringing peace to your soul and food to your table.
I hold my breath, feeling a trickle of cold that distracts me for a second; there...
Volume
9
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Japow: Magic on the slopes of Japan
Words & Photos by Max Oudendag
If you're a true powder junkie, you're always on the hunt for the deepest, softest and fluffiest snow. I live my life on this search, counting down the days...
Volume
9
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The Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society
Words by Hilary Doucette
Photo by Bill Jorgensen
A place to belong and find peace.
As you walk through the sliding door of the barn, the smell of the earth is the first thing you...
Volume
9
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Finding our way: Learning lessons on the mountain
Words by Mike Mccall
Photos by Sara Kempner
Navigation is integral to our daily lives. It’s not just for seafarers, mountaineers or explorers, but a learned skill that is used by most of us every day....
Volume
9
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Up, Up, and Away
Words by Greg Knowles
Photo by Todd MacSween
Taking flight on the water.
Fall, winter, and spring storms rolling in from the Pacific push strong winds up the Georgia Strait,...
Volume
9
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Setting goals In The Snow
Words by Nigel Harrison
Article photo by Ananda Van Welij
Gallery photo by Bernhard Krieger
Helping skiers be their best at home and abroad.
By the time you read this I will have awoken from my first ski dream of the winter;...
Volume
8
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The Sisterhood Of Bikes
Words By Bree Armstrong
Photo By Lauren Labossiere
Roll into Cumberland on Wednesday evenings from late April to early October and you will spot a group of about 30 - 40 women gathered in front of The Riding...
Sep
27
ONLINE ONLY
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Lacing Up Community Spirit
Categories Volume 8
Soccer in the Comox Valley is more than just sport.
The slightly dewy grass is freshly cut, filling the air with the sweet smell of...
Volume
7
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Peaceful Paddling
Words By Gary Ball
Photos Heather & Keith Nicol
The joy of kayaking in Baynes Sound.
The most profound way of connecting with myself and with the natural world is through kayaking....
Volume
7
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The Ultimate Singletrack Experience
Words By Tara Miller
Photos By Dave Silver
Discovering new limits racing the BC Bike Race
The air is electric and alive with energy. Cumberland is packed with people. 600...
Volume
7
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Lost In The Wilderness
Words & Photos By Sara Kempner
A close encounter with the Cumberland Lake Wilderness Society
For those of us fortunate to live in the Comox Valley, we find ourselves...
Volume
6
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As The Disc Spins
Words By Max Oudendag
Photos By Nick Hutton-Jay
A renegade disc golf course spurs a community to create a forest playground.
This story has the feel of a fairy tale. For some...
Volume
6
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Magic In The Mountains
Words & Photos By Sarah Seads
Nearby alpine gems inspire locals and visitors alike.
An endless coastline, mild climate, and constant ocean breeze are all part of...
Volume
5
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Complex Terrain
Words & Paintings By Clive Powsey
Strike inwards on foot from Vancouver Island’s inhabited perimeter and, in a few hours walk beyond the strip malls, residential neighbourhoods, industrial...
Volume
5
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Pulling Plastic
Words By Dave Benton
Photos By Lorenz Jimenez
Indoor climbing gives wet weather adventurers a new way to play on rainy days.
Desperately clinging to a blob of wall-mounted epoxy...
Volume
5
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Finding Forbidden
Words By Ryan Stuart
Illustration By Ian Adams
Separating truth from fiction in the Comox Valley’s back yard.
There may be no finer view in the Comox Valley than the one from the...
Volume
5
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Where The Trail Begins
Words By Ryan Parton
Photos By Lorenz Jimenez
The reverent, irreverent and occasionally inappropriate stories behind Cumberland’s eclectic trail names.
Trail building in...
Volume
4
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Pedal Power
Words By Kerry Hale
Photos By Ross Bodenmann
The Comox Valley enjoys a reputation for clean living, and rightly so. With inviting beaches meandering along vast stretches of coastline, epic mountains...
Volume
3
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Giddy Up
Words & Photo by Kyle Hansen
Gone are the days of bundled up rides, getting home with frozen toes, and wet rain jackets. Today, we leave the saddles at home and make our way through a...
Volume
3
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An Ocean Playground
Words By Stuart Robinson
Looking out over the sheltered waters of the Comox Bay, is there a better place to experience the ocean and all it has to offer?a Summers are special here...
Volume
3
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Bouldering At Comox Lake
Words & Photos By Amanda Shpeley
From skipping stones to devouring ice cream cones, Comox Lake is a fond place for childhood memories. I enjoyed countless summer days focused on the water, all...
Volume
2
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Confessions Of An Average Sailor
Words By Sarah Clark
Photos By Richard Barry
“I used to race Lasers when I was a kid” is what I wrote on the new member release form. A half-truth. It should have read, “I used to bob around a...
Apr
20
ONLINE ONLY
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A River Runs Through It
Categories Volume 2
On a summer afternoon with life jacket-less tubers bobbing by, teenagers jumping off cliffs and dogs fetching sticks, it’s hard to believe the Puntledge...
Volume
2
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Alpine to Ocean
Words By Sarah Seads
Illustrations By Ian Adams
It’s go time. I know the big day has arrived when I see canoes in the parking lot of Mount Washington Ski Resort. The annual Royal LePage Snow To Surf Race...
Volume
1
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Inspiration in a Mountain Town
Words & Image by Raphael Van Lierop
In the fall of 2011 I walked away from my role as the director of a big-budget video game production at a studio in Vancouver. I was looking for something...
Volume
1
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Riding is Awesome
Words By Eugene Chung
Photos By Benn Webb
Old school, new school, ski school no school. Freestyle, freeride, slopestyle, no style. Front side, back side, new lines. Singles lines, family days, winter...