Local Sports

Gibsons Ryan Dempster is in the running for this year's SportsFunder Community Champion award, and you can help him get it.

Snowshoe hiking and running as a workout (aka snowshoe fitness) have become recognized winter sports here in B.C. over the past decade. There are special clinics, numerous races, as well as fitness class - all on snowshoes.

Practise how you play, and make hockey fun - that's the simple message Kent Lewis and the Powell River Kings passed along to minor hockey coaches Tuesday night.

They are a part of minor hockey history on the Sunshine Coast. An all girls' midget-level team made their debut recently playing the first game at home.

The Chatelech junior boys' hopes for a North Shore title ended Monday night. Chat was overmatched defensively and never really got on track, losing 72-40 to Carson Graham. Chat played for third place Wednesday night.

Enthusiasm and a desire to challenge themselves could best describe a group of more than 50 dedicated runners and walkers who meet every Sunday in Gibsons.

After the Christmas break extended into February, the men's and women's soccer leagues returned to pitches that still had some snow on the sidelines last weekend. In the women's league, Source All Blacks came out sporting new jerseys.

It's playoff time for high school basketball. At Elphinstone Secondary, senior boys took to the court for their last home game of the year on Monday, against the Rockridge Ravens.

Speed skating was on display to an enthusiastic crowd of spectators at the Gibsons and area community centre last Saturday.

Martial arts can be a challenging and fun way to stay fit all your life, and a local martial arts instructor is promoting the benefits of this diverse and beautiful art form.