Though the Whistler Outdoor Volleyball Association (WOVA) has been wrapping up the 2010 season with championship play this week on the courts at Rainbow Park, volleyball addicts should not despair: Two more tournaments are planned next week.
The second annual WOVA Open, an entertaining fundraiser for the Whistler Community Services Society, is set to run next Tuesday (Aug. 24). Featuring rounds of play for pairs and teams of four, the tournament is also expected to include fun sidebar competitions such as a bocce ball event, water balloon dodgeball and a classic watermelon-eating contest. Organizers are also pledging a beer garden and a silent auction will be part of the event at Rainbow Park.
The cost of $25 per player includes lunch, and additional fundraising fees give access to the boundless joys of whipping water balloons at others ($1 per balloon) and hurling bocce balls ($5 per player). Day-of-event registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and games are set to start at 10 a.m.
The WOVA website (wova.ca) also points to the upcoming King of the Beach tournament, an event for competitive men’s singles players, set for next Thursday (Aug. 26). For details, visit the website or the WOVA Facebook group.
Runners reach Peaks form
The 5 Peaks trail running series is returning to Whistler Mountain on Saturday (Aug. 21), bringing its patented blend of fun but challenging racing back into the beloved alpine venue. The 5 Peaks series offers two distances to tempt recreational runners — the Enduro course clocks in at 10.6 kilometres, and the Sport course is about 4.9 km — plus a one-kilometre Children’s Challenge for sprightly young participants.
The courses have rocky and technical sections, plus some intense climbing, and the Sport runners will experience 297 metres of elevation gain compared to 760 for the Enduro racers. Still, the serene beauty of the alpine environment will help distract and motivate runners.
Day-of-race registration and racer package pickup starts at 7 a.m. at the Whistler Village Salomon store. The Children’s Challenge is set to start at 10:30 a.m., along with walkers tackling the Sport and Enduro courses, followed by the full races starting at 11 a.m.
For more information, check out the series website at 5peaks.com.
