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Nippon! Cha-Cha-Cha

Sunday, March 21st, 2010

Re posted from www.metroblenznewssquad.com

March the 20th at noon was the Gold Medal sledge hockey game at Thunderbird arena.

@bwestly, @mande2, Rachelle and I were there an hour early. There’s no security issues, it’s just a hoot to be there early, make friends with the folks around you and soak up the atmosphere. It’s the USA against Japan.

The first group we met outside the rink were Japanese fans who were letting us westerners know how to cheer for Japan. Nippon! Cha-Cha-Cha which translates to GO Japan GO!! Once we were inside we were presented with small Japanese flags made by elementary school children in Steveson (near Richmond). My giant flag was given to me by one of the Japanese cheering squad.

Japan wasn’t even supposed to be in the finals, let alone the Gold Medal game, but they creamed the Canadian team to get there.

The sledge for Sledge hockey was invented in Sweden in the 1960s and came to Canada in 1980 and the USA in 1990. It was recognized as a Paralympic sport in the Lillehammer Olympic games in 1994. The Vancouver Paralympics is the first time mixed teams are allowed. Men and women can play hockey on the same team!!

The sledge is a seat with skate blades attached and designed so the puck can pass underneath. Make no mistake, this is just as intense as the hockey played by the USA and Canada for the gold medal.

At the Norway vs USA game as well as the Gold Medal round, we didn’t boo the Americans, we simply cheered like mad for the opposition. How Canadian is that eh?

Despite a few annoyances (the ATM machines at the rink only took VISA debit cards .. what’s with that? we get the credit card thing, but only VISA debit cards?) this was the perfect ending to our Vancouver Olympic/Paralympic memories. Well if the underdog Japanese team had won – but that’s just my type-A competitive nature clawing it’s way out.

All the competitors deserve our respect and admiration for their amazing talent and dedication to qualify to participate in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics/Paralympics.

Was that a party or what?

Bonnie Sainsbury is a Social Media Strategist and co-founder of Duet Media .. and an avid hockey fan!

Posted in Blenz.com | No Responses »
Tags: Canada, gold medal, Japanese, skate, sledge hockey, USA

Canada’s Maelle Ricker races to World Cup season title in snowboard cross

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

Canadian Press
March 12, 2010 4:48 p.m.

Re posted form Metro News Vancouver

Maelle Ricker

VALMALENCO, Italy – Maelle Ricker’s dream season keeps getting better.

The Olympic champion from West Vancouver locked up the snowboard cross World Cup title by finishing second in the women’s event Friday.

Ricker finished just behind American Lindsey Jacobellis at the penultimate event of the season. Dominique Maltais of Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., was third.

“To have the (Olympic) gold medal and the crystal globe is pretty cool,” Ricker said in a phone interview. “I’m definitely happy with the season.”

Ricker, 31, won Olympic gold on home soil last month at Cypress Mountain to go with her three World Cup victories this season.

It’s Ricker’s second career crystal globe.

“It’s our Stanley Cup or our Super Bowl,” coach Tim Milne said of the accomplishment. “Everybody sees the Olympics as a one-off event and Maelle had a great performance obviously to win that one and a gold medal is an incredible thing.

“But on World Cup, to win a crystal globe you have to be a consistent performer and on the podium just about every week. To take it and battle hard for it all season, it’s the pinnacle for an accomplishment for a snowboarder.”

In all, Ricker made five World Cup podium appearances this season. For her career, she has 14 victories and 31 podiums in 105 starts.

“She’s just a great competitor,” Milne said. “She’s been at this sport a long time and she’s persevered through a lot of trials and competitions. She’s put a lot of hard work in and it’s paid off this season.”

Ricker has battled injuries throughout her long career.

She suffered a concussion after a fall in the Olympic final four years ago in Turin. She made her Olympic debut at the 1998 Games in Nagano and finished fifth in the halfpipe. She has had eight knee surgeries since.

Ricker is also a good bet to take the overall crystal globe for all snowboard disciplines when the World Cup season wraps up next week in France.

“It’s nice to be consistent throughout the season,” Ricker said. “And it’s nice to end on a good note too . . . I was really looking forward to coming to Europe. It’s nice to have some results as well.”

She added that her main goal at the start of the season was simply to put down her best races.

“I just tried to focus on my riding and on racing and not focusing on what results you get,” Ricker said. “I just like trying to ride the best I can and know that when that happens hopefully results come along with it.”

Maltais is also enjoying her best World Cup season with five podium appearances.

It has been a banner campaign for the Canadian team with 26 trips up the World Cup podium, two more than its previous best in 2008.

Australian Alex Pullin won the men’s race Friday. Mario Fuchs of Austria was second and Mateusz Ligocki of Poland was third.

Rob Fagan of Cranbrook, B.C., was the top Canadian in ninth place.

Posted in Blenz.com | No Responses »
Tags: crystal globe., Cypress Mountain, gold medal, Olympic champion, snowboard cross, World Cup

Gold Medal Purim Celebrations

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Re posted from www.metroblenznewssquad.com

By: Nicholas Pavlich

Sunday morning, just before Canada took on the United States of America for the gold medal in Olympic men’s hockey, many of Richmond’s Jewish community were celebrating Purim in style in Richmond River Rock Show Room Theatre.

One of the most festive holidays in the Jewish calendar, Purim is a way to remember an event that took place more than 2,000 years ago in ancient Persia.

As the story goes, Haman, a king’s minister issued an order to eliminate all Jewish people. The queen at this time, Esther, was Jewish, but the king was not aware of this. Mordechai, the leader of the Jewish people, went to the queen for help. Queen Ester went to speak to the king. This was dangerous to do because anyone who came into the king’s presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not been summoned. To prepare herself, Esther fasted for three days. The king welcomed her. She told him of Haman’s plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman was hanged on gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai.

Over 200 Jewish Richmondites came to River Rock to hear the Megillah (Book of Ester) read aloud; make lots of noise (boo and hiss every time Haman’s name is read); and celebrate Purim in the comfort of Richmond River Rock Show Room Theatre. Other festivities included putting on Tefillin (phylacteries, a set of small cubic leather boxes painted black, containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah with leather straps dyed black on one side, and worn by observant Jewish men); eating well prepared food; arts and crafts for kids; singing and dancing; toasting one another with l’chaim (to life) chatting with old and new friends; and, of course, watching the thrilling men’s gold-medal hockey game, live on two giant show room screens.

Megillah Reading

Putting on Tefillin

Cheering During Hockey Game

Singing Purim Songs

While, many people came to the Purim celebrations anxious to cheer on their hockey team, Rabbi Baitelman of Chabad of Richmond Jewish Centre, organizers of the event, reminded those in attendance of the four mitzvot (commandments) of Purim.

1) Requirement to read the Megillah,
2) eat a festive meal,
3) sending gifts of food to friends
4) sending food to the poor, or donating money to charity

Many people also came dressed in costume, as is the tradition, and greeted old and new friends with the customary toast of l’chaim over a small glass of wine, beer or schnapps.
Festivities ended, after Canada win of Hockey’s prestigious Olympic gold medal, with many dancing to and singing tradition songs like Havana-gila and Chag-Purim. What a great way to end both Purim and the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Written By: Nicholas Pavlich
Video By: four mitzvot
Nicholas Pavlich is a public relations and marketing professional and freelance writer. Nicholas is @NicholasPR on Twitter and can be reached professionally through www.FuelledCommunications.com

Posted in Blenz.com | No Responses »
Tags: Canada, four mitzvot, gold medal, Megillah, Purim, Richmond Jewish Centre, Vancouver Winter Olympics

Celebrations downtown | Vancouver 2010 Olympic Pictures

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Re posted from www.metroblenznewssquad.com

By Nordica Photography

Sadly, the games have ended. But our lasting images from the spectacular Olympics will definitely be the wonderful and safe partying that dominated Robson Street. These are a few of our favourites from Robson Street a few hours after the Canadian mens ice hockey won the gold medal.