August  9 – 13 – Salt Spring Basketball is once again bringing in Passion Sports for our Summer Camps program! We have one incredible week planned and hope many can attend and take advantage of the opportunity to be coached and mentored by some of the best University basketball players in the country.

We will have three camps this year and will run sessions in both the SIMS & GISS gyms! Not only will these camps be fun and a great opportunity to improve your basketball skills, it is also a fundraiser with a percentage of each camp registration fee providing funds for Salt Spring Basketball programs & equipment.

Following is a bit more about the three different camps being offered (please note that “grades” = grade of player in September 2010):

FUNdamentals (Grades 4-6 & 7-8)
Times: 9am to 3pm
Cost: $180 (includes a cool Passion Sports t-shirt)
Designed for those looking to have fun while building a solid foundation for future basketball success.

All-Girls Camp (Grades 6-8 & 9-10)
Times: 9am to 3pm
Cost: $180 (includes a cool Passion Sports t-shirt)
Created to provide a setting in which girls can compete against each other and learn from some of the top female players in the province.

“I Work Harder” Elite Camp (Grades 9-10 & 11-12)
Times: 9am to 3pm
Cost: $200 (includes a cool Passion Sports t-shirt)
The ultimate in elite development for those with prior competitive playing experience and a desire to continually improve their game.

How to register: Our past summer camps have increased in popularity every year and spots are limited to ensure a good experience… so register soon! There are two ways to register:

Go to: this link and complete our new online registration by clicking the “Register Online” link beside the camp of your choice and provide your payment information. Your registration will be processed and your spot will be confirmed immediately.

or you can

Go to: this link and print off and complete our camp registration/waiver form, then drop it off with cheque (payable to “Passion Sports”) to Sports Traders in Ganges.

Regardless of how you register, it promises to be an amazing week! The coaching staff is looking forward to coming back and seeing how everybody has improved their game from last year! Hope to see you AUGUST 9th through 13.

If you have any questions, please email or call Diane Weatherby:
Email: d123west ( at ) telus.net Phone: 250-653-9205

Further information about Passion Sports, visit: http://www.passionsports.ca/
Watch their video

Salt Spring Basketball is now on Facebook. Become a fan, and receive news and such about the Summer Camp and all other things on basketball on Salt Spring. Here is the page.

Saturday May 1 - 9:30 am, Central Track,  local author Deb Leblanc celebrates the launch of her new book by offering a FREE Outdoor BootCamp + DEBFIT METHOD Book $15 (Save $3 off the cover price!) The BootCamp is for men & women – All Fitness Levels WELCOME!

Fitness trainer and weight loss specialist, Deb Leblanc, has released her first book, “THE DEBFIT METHOD© Weight Loss Secrets Based on SaltSpring Weight Loss Detox Camp”.   Mirroring Leblanc’s successful methods that she implements with clients to achieve best results, the book provides a healthy lifestyle guide that will help women lose
weight safely and permanently.

As summer is looming, and women prepare to get bikini ready, they may turn to a myriad of miracle solutions, tinctures, creams, fitness trends, bad diets, cleanses and for some, just plain old prayer.  “I have seen and done every diet under the sun, and know how stressful it can be to commit yourself to a program and not see the results you dream,” says Deb Leblanc. “From my own personal weight loss experiences and the success of my clients, I developed this guide to help women attain their fitness and weight loss goals.  And finally get into that cute bathing suit, without a cover up.”

With a practical, no nonsense voice, Leblanc guides readers to abandon their dreams of waking up skinny and compels us to just do the work.   The book walksthe weight loss willing through a recommended supplement free, three day cleanse (including recipes), 26 Trainer Tips (varied from food tips “Notes from a former toast junkie” to dealing with the usually unspeakable digestive system) and Fitness Programs (featuring Leblanc’s popular yoga and boot camp workouts).

“THE DEBFIT METHOD© Weight Loss Secrets Based on SaltSpring Weight Loss Detox
Camp” is available for CAD $17.99 (plus taxes and shipping) at www.amazon.ca or
through the DEBFIT website www.debfit.com.

About Deb Leblanc, the Author: Deb Leblanc, principal of DEBFIT, is a 20 year expert in the personal training and weight loss fields.  She has helped hundreds of clients across the globe; from Vancouver to Toronto; New York to California and Washington to Spain, England and Indonesia.  Once battling her own weight issues and food demons, she too has found success with THE DEBFIT METHOD©.  Leblanc is often asked to provide fitness tips to radio, TV, magazine and print media.   She resides on Salt Spring Island, B.C.

Article submitted by Fawn Mulcahy

A locally developed project is getting a lift tonight with the airing of a segment on  The Daily Planet on Discovery Channel.

Salt Spring Island inventor Don Arney is excited about his downhill winter sport invention, the HangBoard, getting this national TV exposure.  “We began developing this sport in 2002 and have done extensive testing on ski hills around BC including Whistler Blackcomb.  We are hoping it will catch on, that people will see the excitement of developing a new sport along with us,” says Arney.

Locals might be familiar with the sport as Arney has worked with a local project management team and a number of Salt Springers have had the exciting task of test piloting and helping refine the HangBoard gear.

The HangBoard combines the principles of hang gliding with snowboarding, with riders suspended in a horizontal position over the slopes as they navigate down the hill.

“It’s the closest thing I’ve ever felt to flying, other than jumping out of a plane,” says Lucas Parker, pro Hangboarder.

“While the thrill is in controlling your descent with your body movements it offers more control than either skiing or snowboarding because there are brakes and rudders for steering,” explains Arney.

Arney co-founded the Hang Gliding Association of B.C. in the early 1970s, learned to fly planes a few years later and helicopters in the ’90s. He is a successful inventor and entrepreneur who lives on Salt Spring Island and flies his helicopter to work at his companies in Vancouver. He understands the business of bringing inventions to market. “I think this has tremendous potential,” he says.

Arney points out some benefits to this sport include “no need to develop infrastructure on the ski hills – things like luge and bobsledding are fairly exclusive when you consider the costs of the infrastructure and equipment. The HangBoard equipment consists of a harness and boom system that you attach to your snowboard, and will be relatively inexpensive.”

“What early enthusiasts have said is that the sport has room to grow and develop – riders can write the book on how to use and pilot the equipment, much like snowboarding which has evolved because of the users. They have driven the sport because it is adaptable. That’s what we want to tap into.”

Currently the HangBoard is “raring to go,” with the company HangBoard Snowflight Inc hoping to attract enthusiasts and companies to partner in marketing the equipment.

One of Arney’s company SEI is the largest aerial firefighting equipment company in the world and has designed and built all kinds of unique devices (used in 95 countries) including the Bambi Bucket for lifting water. Another of his inventions is the inflatable Full Lotus Floats, which have replaced rigid pontoons on many aircraft, revolutionizing lake, ice and snow landings in the north.

The segment airs March 16th 4pm and 8pm BC time and March 17th 6am and 9am BC time. See the Daily Planet website on March 17 for online streaming of the clip.

UPDATE: Here is the permanent link to the clip. It is right after the segment on Skateboarding: click here.

Video: http://www.hangboard.ca/video1.html

If you missed it, or want to see it again, watch video of the 2010 Olympic Flame landing on Salt Spring during its national tour.

Submitted by Margo Greggains

Sunday, September 13th

Salt Spring Elementary School
Registration is at 10am

Run/Walk/Bike start is at 11am

Arvid Chalmers is emceeing

Mitch Howard is speaking

Entertainment from 10am-1pm

Bagels, cream cheese, fruit, and bottled water from Thriftys
Cookies from Embe Bakery
Coffee from TJ Beans
Tea from Natureworks
Jugs of water for the water stations from Salt Spring Water Company

Pledge forms are at the high school and the Chamber of Commerce or donations can be given at the registration table on Sunday without pledge sheets as well.

Salt Spring Basketball Camp 2009

New spots now available!! This is the second year for the camp, which was a great success last summer.

July 27-31 – 9:00 to 3:00 – Boys and Girls – ages 8 to 15. With Salt Springs’ very own Kayla Gromme among the coaches.

July 27-30 – 6:00 to 8:00 – Senior Boys

At the GISS gym

To register PHONE DIANE @ 250-653-9205 – and/or pick up/drop off registration forms at SPORTS TRADERS

Sunday, April 5 – the Stingrays summer swim season starts off its 16^th year with a bang as swimmers prepare for a fun meet/cookie sale at the Rainbow Road Pool from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. The fun event is a great opportunity for past, present, and future Stingrays to participate in some fun relays and events and for those interested in the swim team come and see for themselves and participate in these events should they wish to. Says Stingrays president Kirk Harris, “We want to encourage people from the community to come out and see what we are all about as we are always looking to increase the size of our team. Anyone age 6-18 is welcome to come join us on Sunday.”

The Stingrays swim team is a volunteer-run organization that houses up to seventy swimmers, offering top-notch coaching for every level of swimmer. Starting in May through until late August, the swimmers practice throughout the week and attend several off-island meets throughout the summer months. Harris states, “This year is unique because it is the first year that the Stingrays will be hosting a meet at the new pool. The prestigious B & C Championships consists of 11 teams from all over Vancouver Island and we are anticipating between 350 to 400 swimmers and their families coming to the island August 1 and 2.”

Harris is also very pleased about Chris Brodie returning to the position of head coach this year. “Chris joined the summer swim association at the age of 6 and has been passionate about swimming ever since. He brings 20 plus years of experience as both a swimmer in the BCSSA and a former head coach, making him a great addition to our team.”

The Stingrays will also host an open house/free swim and registration for the summer swim season on Thursday April 9^th from 6:30 to 8pm. Parents are encouraged to come to the pool. Swimsuits will be on sale, and board members will be available to answer any questions.