Was it an airplane?

Perhaps it was a hot air balloon?

Could have been a bird?

What about a wingsuit?

When I was first introduced to this sport I was completely unconvinced.

As if flying through the air was humanly possible sans motorized mechanism?

I began my own personal investigation with the click of a mouse and a couple calls to my “base jumping entourage.”

The history is quite interesting as the first suit was introduced more than 75 years ago.

The same number of deaths occurred in the first 30 years. Not a surprise considering the original “birdman attire” was fabricated from canvas, silk and steel.

It wasn’t until the turn of the last century that the wingsuit was perfected. It took 2 veteran skydivers, Jari Kuosma of Finland and Robert Pecnik of Croatia, numerous months, and 1 death, to truly design a uniform of complete seamlessness. The attire is no more than a specialized jumpsuit, which shapes the human body into an airfoil, thus creating lift.

The idea of soaring through valleys at 100mph was still disbelieving, even to the most experienced skydivers and base jumpers. The incredulous criticism was maddening to Kuomo and Pecnik. Within a year these two gentlemen founded BIRDMAN INTERNATIONAL LTD (http://www.bird-man.com/;)

the first company ever to produce wingsuits for skydivers as well, the first company ever to start training skydivers to use their suits for flight and instructors to train them. Within another year, the BIRDMAN Instructor Course was created. Today this form of fleet rapidly expands, mostly in Europe. YouTube harnesses a variety of videos, with professional jumpers soaring through the sky, so close to the walls of a mountain, at times reachable to touch.

Exiting an aircraft in a wingsuit requires learned techniques that differ depending on the location and size of the aircraft door. Off a mountain requires the same method. Truly there are not really any restrictions as long as the point of descent provides sufficient altitude. Still, it is requested that any first time wingsuit jumper completes beforehand a minimum of 200 jumps. A trained instructor requires 500 hours.

The suits are designed to replicate that of a bird. In fact a group of wingsuit pilots that fly together are actually called a flock. Fabric is sewn between the legs and the arms. When the body is fully extended, the resemblance to a flying starfish is the best way to describe it. Parachutes are built into the suits. At a planned altitude, a flier must unzip the arm wings so that they can reach the control toggles and deploy the chute. This system is designed to land in the same fashion as a sky dive or BASE jump.

Now here’s the really cool part; a wingsuit flier measures personal performance, using a freefall computer. The computer indicates the amount of time they would be in flight, at what altitude they should deploy their parachute, entering into freefall. GPS receivers can also be used to record flight path of a wingsuit. All of this data can actually analysis the exact distance, flown during air travel.

So next time you look up to the sky and ponder if it’s a bird or a plane, take a second to see it soar a little closer…you might be surprised at what flies overhead?

Fifty-six kilometers, southeast of Kelowna is Big White SKI RESORT. Located on the edge of the Monashee Mountains, Big White is Canada’s largest on-mountain village. From three mountain accommodation front doors, to front of the chairlift, 2,765 acres of ski able acreage is a ski lope come true.
Situated above the clouds, The Big W boasts an altitude of 1750 meters. The RESORT accommodates all levels of skiers and snowboarders with its 118 pure powdered runs, the longest falling 7.2 kilometers. From top of the summit, there is five bowls of champagne powder. Like a fine glass of bubbly, the powder up top is as light as the bubbles in a glass of Louis Roederer, Cristal Rose.

Last year, Big White was rated North America’s number one Family Winter Ski Resort. Each day offers activities as well as a Kids Ski School. Live entertainment is another option for the children to enjoy as well as nightly bonfires to keep mitten hands warm.

Big White offers more than one-hundred qualified instructors, a ski/snowboard telemark, private lessons, group lessons and improvement camps. There are Lady’s Day, Men’s Day, recreational race camps and a TELUS park flight school.

A twenty-five kilometer trail is brushed to perfection for skating, cross-country skiing and a hella good snowball clash. The snow-covered hills trace a clear terrain of snowmobile trails. There is also an option to mush a dog sled, tour the backcountry by snowshoes, tub down both mega snow coasters or just snuggle up with a cup of cocoa and a computer…the mountain’s actually wireless! Be up top on a Saturday night and watch the sky illuminate with a Mountain View fireworks display.

From mid November to mid April, Big White is open for play. Airport shuttles run frequently from Kelowna International Airport to the Mountain Peak. Every Thursday, an Inter-mountain Day Trip Shuttle offers service and lift ticket from Big White to Silver Star Mountain Resort and back. Lastly, there is a Game Boy shuttle, which runs between Kelowna, up to the Resort, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Beginning in December, Tuesdays through Saturdays, night skiing begins at five. Under thirty-eight acres of bright lights, Big White is the largest night skiing area in Western Canada.
Whether you are novice, intermediate or advanced, the landscape covered deep in snow is a destination for everyone to enjoy. Big White SKI RESORT is perfect for play, for stay and it is a secreted gem to the tourists, located not far away.

Dating as far back as the 12^th century, the Chinese used a simple mode of transportation called “Kitesailing.” Using the wind as an aid, a harness was attached to a canoe, allowing for a faster and more convenient glide across the water.

Thousands of years later (roughly late 1990’s) off the Hawaiian cost of Maui; kitesailing was marketed to a crew of radical surfers and wake boarders. It was a rebirth with a fresh name, introduced as…kiteboarding.

Using the wind as a primary advantage, wake boarders are able to pull their most favorable moves, launching jumps as high as 30 feet in the air. Kiteboarding has taken off hard the last few years. It can be done virtually anywhere in the world!

To start light, all that is required is a board, a c-shaped kite and gear bars to hold as well attach to the kite. Now that we have finally gone green, the straightforwardness of this sport is not hazardous to Mrs. Mother Nature…unless you are hardcore and require the speed of a Mastercraft motor.

Keeping all this in mind, the sport has its potential of being dangerous to the human body. Lessons are widely available and should most definitely be considered.

The power of a “fully loaded” zephyr can potentially burst the aerodynamically inclined into trees, walls, sand dunes, people, houses…you get the drift.

Like any sport, practice makes perfect! In order to perfect the sport to a personal passion, here is a list of some key spots to fully consider. Destinations are based on trade winds, the pattern that blows a high pressure area toward a low pressure area, causing a mild yet steady air flow. Destinations are also based on venture winds, a forceful wind that actually generates power supplies in parts of the country such as Saskatchewan. Here is a low down:

The Squamish Spit, Squamish: The district is well known as one of the most interesting places to kite surf in North America. The water is cold so wetsuits are a must have!

Acadia Beach, Vancouver: Located north of Fraser River at the maw of English Bay. It is close enough to the heart with a Oceanside view.

Columbia Beach, Parksville, Vancouver Island: The quarter is known to boast one of the finest climates in Canada!

Nitinat Lake, Vancouver Island: During the summer, Nitinat Lake has some of the most steady wind flow in the world! The best time to check it is during The Nitinat Lake Windfest, August 10^th-12^th.
Dallas Road, Cook street, Victoria: This is a popular launching spot for wind surfers and para-sailers. You will find ample parking, a clear gravel beach, easy access, and strong on-shore winds.

Island View Beach: An extensive beach, along the eastern shore of the Saanich Peninsula, Narooma. This spot is known to Locals as “The Secluded Surfbeach.” Need I type more?

Willow’s Beach, Oak Bay: Considered a year round sailing location as well as one of the finest on Vancouver Island!
Kiteboarding, on a global level, has so many organizations, competitions, videos and magazines. For those of you thrill seekers and mega keeners, if you have not already tried it, let kiteboarding 101 be known as an inspiration.

- Dedicated to a kiteboarding enthusiast, Mr. Scotty Bain

Now that Jack Frost has gone into hibernation, it’s Mother Nature’s turn to take over the seasons. Do you think she wake-boards?

Wakefest has been considered “the ultimate synthesis of action, sports and music.”

The three day festival boasts boarders, babes, and most importantly, the beach!

Kelowna’s Waterfront Park successfully hosts a fourteen year Pro Wakeboard Tour (PWT) called “King of Wake.” It’s no question that this king has been crowned proprietor of his castle. Through season-long competitions, athletes accumulate a point system. Bow down to the winner, who is thus considered…the wake champion.

Kelowna’s Waterfront has been recognized as one of the continent’s BEST wake-board, wake-skate and recreational boating areas, and that’s just the water. For three hot summer days in July, the beach area becomes a spectacle of sponsors, vendors, freestyle motocross shows, a concert series, and of course, Reef’s Bikini Contest. Oh yeah, Coors Light sponsors the beverage garden too!

If Kelowna is too far to commute, or you’re a commuter wanting to follow this legacy, our Albertan neighbors host the same venue September 1^st and 2^nd. For the fourth consecutive year, The Pro Wake Invitational takes place in the scenic town of Sylvan Lake, located midway between Calgary and Edmonton.

This article hopefully gives you ample time to set aside Kelowna’s Wakefest Weekend on July 6^th, 7^th and 8^th this summer. It’s not like you’ll be out there alone. There are 35,000+ attendees doing the exact same thing. Check it out for yourself at www.wakefest.ca.

Kokanee Crainkworx is free-riding its 4^th season at Whistler’s infamous Bike Park.

From July 21^st through to the 29^th, the picturesque mountain town becomes a whirlwind of gear shifting events, parties and outdoor concerts.

Superior athletes from all over, ride into the village for a chance to triumph a title, which could only be

It takes a crew of close to 50 dirt professional to design man made terrains spread strategically around Whistler village.

Kokanee Crankworx’s line-up has expanded once again. The Festival will of course feature Kokanee Slopestyle, Air Downhill and Garbanzo Downhill.

The Biker X extended its experience by adding 3 new events. Drum role please! The X will feature WomenzWorx, Dual Slalom and the Canadian Open Downhill.

May I interest you in my two favorite?

Numero Uno: AIR DOWNHILL – July 25^th

One of the planets most illustrious freeride downhill trails no doubt. This event features two hundred rippin’ riders just givener overtop nearly 100 jumps…downhill.

Numero Dos: SLOPESTYLE – July 28^th

This one’s considered the pinnacle of a growing slopestyle world. We’re talking 15,000 viewers open mouth drooling at the base of The Whistler Bike Park. The Park itself is an OFF-THE-HOOK evolution of something so dirty; only the world’s best bike riders gain the privilege of partaking.

Prizing for these modern day Superheroes totals more than $50,000. Gravity’s got to be on their side, along with skill and determination. It’s no surprise to peruse the busy village street and see clusters of limpers, broken boners and of course, bleeders shuffle their way from one busy patio to the next.

Whistler is continuously considered The World’s most diverse contribution to the mountain biking terrain. The township boasts 150 miles of singletrack trails and 200 km of lift-accessed downhill runs in the Whistler Mountain Bike Park. There are also a variety of Trials Parks and 20 miles of paved Valley Trail systems, making it a shrine for any epic rider.

Although the late Mr. Newton was a genius, it was Cadbury Adams Inc. that shaped the laws of weight and force through a competition like no other.

For the 3^rd consecutive year, Cadbury’s Trident Splash will be holding their Regional and National Cannonball Championship Competitions. If you’ve got the cannonballs to compete, the events take place in Montreal, Toronto (host of The National Competition) and Vancouver.

On Wednesday, July 4^th the Vancouver Regional’s will be held at the UBC Aquatic Centre, 6121 University Blvd.

Registration begins at 1:30pm and no experience is necessary. Contestants are asked to sign a waiver and participators will be judged by a panel of 3 experts. A rating of 1 to 10 is given by each judge and decisions are based on style, flare, costumes, charisma and of course, the biggest spray splatter!

Winning Cannonballers will compete against each other on August 15^th at The Toronto Nationals. Not only will the winner receive the 2007 Cannonball Crowning, Trident Splash also rewards the frontrunner a check for $2000.

So you thing you can Splash? The competition is high. Last years contenders displayed artistic diving ability through personal plunging preference such as, the ticking time bomb, the twist and le rodeo. If that doesn’t have you rushing to the local pool for practice, last years title went to a fellow Vancouverite, Mark Russell. Don’t you think it’s your turn to battle the Trident plunge???

Extremism should be another synonym for equality.

All of us feel the same buzz, the same shock, and the same jolt of adrenaline. Most importantly, we all secrete the same blissful endorphins at the end of the trail because our bodies, once again, succeeded another accomplishment.

From a mountain biker’s perspective, if you’re fully equipped with the early morning rocket fuel, a skid lid, glasses, comfortable gear, and H2O, following a bumpy trail is a rapid charge!

There are numerous mountain riders in the Okanagan Valley, the Bow Valley, and the Kootenays, many of which don’t receive the recognition they deserve.

Bike trails are exploding everywhere from the east coast to the west, and it’s no wonder B.C. boasts “the best place on earth to mountain bike!”

As the industry continues to escalate, and female riders are showing more and more presence, trails have been created for every skill level. Teaching parks and guided tours are also great options. With progression, adventure racing teams are a great means of staying motivated.
Based out of Vancouver, Mind Over Mountain (MOMAR) is an exceptionally well put-together series. Their first event takes place in Squamish on Saturday, May 12^th. A bonus to MOMAR is the social parties they put together before and after the race. Not only is mountain biking triumphing the Canadian extreme-sporting industry, but socials are also being created to discuss face plants, carving techniques, and curb grinds.
Check out these sites for great riding options. See you on the power slide!

www.mindovermountain.com

http://www.kickinghorseresort.com/

http://www.redresort.com/

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm

http://www.kootenays-bc.com/maps.html

Mountain Bike Slang (because no one wants to look like a Rookie.)

• Rocket Fuel: coffee
• Skid Lid: helmet
• Face Plants: hitting the ground face first
• Carving Techniques: to ride with great speed around the corners of a twisting road
• Curb Grinds: pricy erasures of low-hanging, shiny parts of the bike on a curb or rock
• Powerslide: a two-wheel sideways slide, with the foot opposite the direction of travel, still kept on the ground.
  

Over the course of three days, more than 40,000 women pass through the doors of the Metro Convention Centre, and by noon on Saturday, it was at maximum capacity…99.9% women. Being at the mercy of all those ladies for 72 hours inspired me to write this article titled “Trade Shows:The Latest Sporting Event”.
Think about it:

• Every sporting event takes place in a stadium. The north building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre stretches 14,000 square feet. The average size of a football field is roughly 57, 600 square feet. The Canadian International Auto Show stretches over 850,000 square feet. For those of you die-hard football fans, that’s like watching fourteen+ games simultaneously.

• Almost anything you consider has a trade show affiliation or membership. From Star Trek to Star Wars, wine and cheese, to beer and peanuts, sports and recreation, to yoga and relaxation. We’ve now have the conventional two team line-up. If we consider the Rocks, Paper, Scissor Expo, we’ve established a race!

• Vendor booth spaces range from 10X10 to 20X20. It is imperative that each vendor stays within their boundaries. Anyone caught not abiding by the boundary rules could potentially be dismissed. If red cards were an option, we’d have a game of soccer.

• The competition for the grandest booth can sometimes be ruthless. Spying, picture-taking, grunting, and death stares are continually witnessed. Throw in a couple of profanities and “your mama” jokes and you might as well compare it to sitting in the golds of the NHL.
  

• Security Guards are strategically placed at all ends of the building. Replicating a referee, a guard is there to foresee that everyone is playing by the rules and to break out any fights that occur over a slight adrenaline increase, most likely brought on by more than one offering of a free sample. Sort of like the one I was witness to over a women’s Schick Intuition razor. A penalty was enlisted on both female parties as well as a warning for probable dismissal.

• The trade show attire is close enough to a triathlon team. Comfortable shoes are standard, along with stretchable pants and shirts. Layers are usually an option, as the temperature begins to rise once the show begins. Team colors are also standard, thus differentiating one’s self from an opposing team member.

• Calories burned- the average NHL player loses over 5 lbs a game. I lost two pounds in 48 hours due to a ten hour run up and down the show aisles NON STOP. Hand me a baton and I will run a marathon.
• The winning team - and the winner is the team who either:

a) comprised the largest sales

b) provided the most amount of free samples

c) gave away the best booth prizes (in a particular category.)

• The Grand prize winner is…dum da da dum…all of the above.

TELUS WORLD SKI AND SNOWBOARD FESTIVAL hits its 12^th year of mayhem! From April 13^th-22^nd, “NO VACANCY” signs are illuminated throughout Whistler village. The parking lots are packed; the patios are jammed, and good luck getting a reservation at Teppan Village, Monk’s Grill, or The Crab Shack.

“Music makes the world go round,” especially when it’s free! The TWSSF Outdoor Concert Series hosts a plethora of musical genius such as Sam Roberts, Rahzel, Stephen Marley, Buck 65, Finger Eleven, Maestro, K’naan, Roz Bell, and North America’s infamous underground genius Bassnectar. Did I mention the Concert Series is FREE??

No wonder expected attendance exceeds the population of Kelowna twice over.

So what else does the 10 day Festival have to offer besides packed parties, drained bank accounts, no vacancy, and oh the beautiful people?

For the 3 meters of snow still left at the top of the mountain, there’s The World Backcountry Freeride Jam; a three day event of backcountry skiing. The Rail Session, which transforms the epicenter of Whistler Village into two side-by-side rails. Let’s give mention to Big Air; where skiers and rider’s stretch the limit of gravity soaring through the open air.

For Whistlerites wanting to play safe in the village, there’s the Filmmaker Showdown. Camera savvy participants have 72 hours to shoot, edit and produce their creativity, within 100 meters of Whistler. Fashion Exposed deserves a mention. 18 leading west coast brands strut down the runway, exposing the latest slope style threads to fashionista riders. Also, The Pro Photographer Showdown and a DJ Experience deserve a mention.

Lastly, for the terrain seekers, there’s a Skateboard Zone and of course the Bike Trails.

I haven’t even mentioned Brave Art, Mascot Mayhem, Masterpiece in Motion, Dog Fest, Words & Stories and last but not least…The Demo Park.

This Outdoor Adventure Series gets better and better every year! The vibe is almost surreal, the memories are unforgettable and the epic experience of just being here to watch is inestimable. For more information on any and all of the above, check out www.whistler2007.com. See you on the slopes!