RinkWatch

RinkWatch is a study conducted by geographers at Wilfred Laurier University. Through public participation, they are gathering data on the use of outdoor skating rinks over time as a measure of changes in our climate.

In any given year we have many ice rinks at Lac Le Jeune. Some are on the lake, and others are in back yards. At Logan Lake we have enjoyed many seasons of outdoor oval speed skating practices and competitions organized by River City Racers Speed Skating club, as well as the annual Pond Hockey Tournament (next weekend!).

I think we have all noticed some changes, especially in the length of our skating season. For example, the Logan Lake LOop speed skating event has been cancelled two years in a row because of iffy conditions in preparing the rink in December.

Are you willing to become a RinkWatcher and help with this research?

1. Go to the RinkWatch website: http://www.rinkwatch.org/
2. Create an account
3. Add the rink to the map

Then it's just a matter of recording information in a calendar about whether or not you could skate each day. You can also upload photos. It doesn't have to be YOUR rink. Feel free to add your neighbour's rink to the map.

What a save!

Stick action

Logan Lake - Owen's Oval

References:
http://www.rinkwatch.org/


Damyanov, N. N., Matthews, H. D., & Mysak, L. A. (2012). Observed decreases in the Canadian outdoor skating season due to recent winter warming. Environmental Research Letters, 7(014028). doi:doi:10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/014028

2012 Polarthon

Time to form your teams and register for the 2012 Polarthon! This is an annual fun event suitable for teams of all ages and skill levels. All you need to do is skate, ski, and run... oh and crazy costumes are also encouraged.

View / download the brochure and entry form. Here's one in black and white if you don't want to waste printer ink. Register by mail, in person, or online and pay on the event day.

When: January 7, 2012 | 2pm

Where: Owen's Oval, Logan Lake Campground
What: Team -- 3 km skate, 2.5 km run, 4 km ski (any style), 2.5 km run

Visit the River City Racers blog for more information on the Polarthon and other skating events.

How fast can you skate?

How fast can you skate? Come out to Owen's Ovalat Logan Lake on January 8th to find out! Starting at 1:00pm RCMP officers will be using their radar guns to track your speed and hand out speeding tickets. Lace up your hockey, figure or speed skates and come out to Logan Lake this weekend!

This event is part of a full day of fun at Logan Lake:
LOop - southern BC's only long track speed skating event (400m)
Polarthon - skate, run, ski

Excellent spectator events! Check the River City Racers Speed Skating Club's blog for details.

2011 Polarthon

Congratulations to local speed skater!

Congratulations to Gillian Michell, age 9, of the River City Racers Speed Skating Club for winning a gold medal in the bantam girls category at the WorkSafeBC Southern Regional speed skating championships held in Kamloops this past weekend. Gillian also skated personal best times in all four of her distances. She skated to 2 first place finishes and 2 second place finishes. Gillian took off up to 5 1/2 seconds off of her previous times.

Skate-A-Thon

From River City Racers

Calling all skaters! Plan to participate in the 2010 Skate-A-Thon to be held atLogan Lake on January 10th. This event will take place at Owen's Oval in Logan Lake immediately after the Polarthon which is scheduled to wrap up around 11:00 a.m. 

The Skate-A-Thon is a fundraising activity for the Kamloops River City Racers Speed Skating Club but you don't have to be a club member to participate, and you can use any kind of skates. One lap is 333 metres, and the pledge-per-lap maximum is 30 laps.

We're offering a great prize! For every $25 you raise you will receive an entry into a draw for four tickets to a Blazers game and a pizza dinner for four.  So the more money you raise, the greater your odds of winning!

Following this event there will be a hot dog roast and hot chocolate around a bonfire.

Download the pledge form (PDF 57 KB) and start collecting now!

Polarthon

Registration is now open for the 2010 Polarthon! This winter triathlon (skate, run, and cross country ski) is an opportunity for people of all ages to come together to enjoy a day of winter fun. You can enter individually or as a team. Why not round up your colleagues at work? This year there is a new corporate team category. A prize is awarded for the best costume and medals are awarded to top finishers.

When: January 10, 2010 9:00 a.m.
Where: Owen's Oval, Logan Lake
What: 3 km skate, 2.5 km run, 4 km ski (any style), 2.5 km run

Download the brochure and entry form (PDF 688 KB).  Register by mail, in person, or online, and pay on the event day.

Drop Off Locations
Runners Sole
#74-1395 Hillside Dr.
Kamloops, BC V2E 2R7

Taboo Cycle
#3-2160 Flamingo Rd.
Kamloops, BC  V2C 4J9

WHY
Village Centre Mall 
Logan Lake, BC V0K 1W0

NL Broadcasting
611 Lansdowne St.
Kamloops, BC
V2C 1Y6

Questions?
Brett McIlwain  250-571-1031
WHY Society  250-523-6229

Congratulations to speed skating medal winners!

Several speed skaters from Lac Le Jeune won medals at the January 10th Logan Lake LOop event, a regional competition.

Foster Wynne won gold in the peewee boys category and Gillian Mitchell won for peewee girls. Evan Wynne won gold for bantam boys. Sylvia Currie skated to bronze in the masters women. Don't ask how many women were in that category! :-)

2009 Polar-thon

Registration is open for the 2009 Polar-thon!

This annual family event will be held January 11th and is organized in conjunction with with the Logan Lake Polar Carnival, a 36 year old tradition at Logan Lake. The Polar-thon is a winter triathlon, combining

• 3 km ice skate (any style)
• 5 km run (in 2.5 k intervals) , and
  
• 4 km ski (freestyle or classic)

Come enjoy the great outdoors and get some exercise! Prizes are given for various age and team categories. The new prizes this year are Best Costume and Best Team Costume.

You can register online or download and print the brochure (PDF) to mail, fax, or hand deliver. Register by January 2th for early bird registration fees: $25 for individuals and $40 for teams. Team registrations must be completed by noon on January 9th.

Race day registration & bib pickup is from 8:00am - 8:30am and the awards & draw prizes from Runners Sole will be held at 11:00am at the Logan Lake Recreation Centre.

Silent Bottle Drive - Thank You!

BIG thanks to everybody who donated bottles and cans this summer to raise money for the River City Racers Speed Skating Club. The Wynne and Currie skaters raised $375! Ice time does not come cheap and new equipment is needed so this is a great boost to the club. Thanks so much!

River City Racers Silent Bottle Drive

Help support the River City Racers Speed Skating Club by participating in our Silent Bottle Drive.

Once again we are collecting cans, bottles, and drink boxes for our club during July and August. A couple speed-skating households, the Wynne boys (and their Grandma) and Sylvia Currie are working together this year to break all fundraising records. We are busy distributing flyers and will collect for July and August.

All you need to do is put your recyclables in the bag attached to the flyer. When it is full, please contact Sylvia Currie 250-377-0063 for pick up. You may also drop off bags at any of these locations:
• Inside the gate at 3873 Water Street (house with orange roof)
• Inside the gate at 3860 Rainbow Drive (gate at the top by the tennis court)
• Inside the wood shed at 3873 Lookout Road.

If you are willing, we will supply you with another bag to start again!

Money raised is used to help purchase skates, mats, ice time, and other requirements of this non-profit club. Our skaters range in age from 4 to over 45! If you know of someone interested in joining us, please call Cathy Turnbull Spence at 250-374-5430.

Thank you for your support!