Sports.

Royals Roundup SRI and snowboarding season preview

By Josh Martin,
Sports Editor

he Douglas College
men’s basketball team
lost their only game this
past weekend to the num-
ber one-seeded Langara
Falcons by a score of 89-78.
They currently sit in sev-
enth place in the standings
with a 2-4 record and four
points in six games. This
Friday the Royals host the
Quest Kermodes at 8 p.m.
and on Saturday they host
the Capilano Blues at 8 p.m.
The women’s basketball
team captured their fifth
win of the season against
the Falcons this past Friday
by a score of 60-46. The
Royals are off to a great
start this season with a
5-1 record and 10 points
in six games, making
them second seed in the
standings—two points
behind the league-leading
Capilano Blues. They will
host the Kermodes this
Friday at 6 p.m. and the
Blues on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The men’s volleyball
team had back-to-back wins
in their matches against
the UFV Cascades this past
Friday, 3-0, and Saturday,
3-1. They are sitting com-
fortably in first place of the
PACWEST division with an
impressive 11-1 record and
22 points in 12 games. Their
next games are not until
January 4 and 5 against
the Camosun Chargers.
The women’s volleyball
team suffered back-to-back
losses in their matches
against the Cascades this
past weekend, with a 3-0
effort last Friday and a 3-2
match on Saturday. They
are sitting in sixth position
with a 3-9 record and six
points in 12 games. Their
next matches are home
games on January 4 and
5 against the Chargers.

20

By Keating Smith,
Staff Writer

t’s that time of

year again when
we look through our
closets and garage to
find our skiing and
snowboarding gear,
dust off the cobwebs,
and lay down a
fresh coast of wax.
In anticipation of the
winter season, here is
a quick recap of what
is happening at Mount
Baker and Whistler
Blackcomb, with some
tips on how to save
money and travel to the
hill of choice safely.

Whistler Blackcomb:
The world-renowned
resort is open early

for business, with

both mountains
offering the mid alpine
available for skiing and
snowboarding at this
time. Take advantage of
Whistler Blackcomb’s
Student Season Pass.
Douglas students

must be full-time and
no older than 29 for
eligibility. The cut-off
date to purchase the
$489 early bird rate is
November 30. If this

is too much money

to fork out at once,
take advantage of

their EDGE card as it
offers the flexibility of
purchasing one, three or
ten days at discounted
prices. You must be

a BC or Washington
State resident to be
eligible for the pass. Be
aware that a blackout
date will be in effect
for your student pass
during the last few days
of December in order
to accommodate all of
the tourists on winter
vacation.

There are several
Greyhound buses that
leave from downtown
Vancouver and Pacific
Central Station to
Whistler daily with
return tickets around
the $30-40 range. If you
are driving, park in the
Creekside underground
lot and upload here
to avoid paying the
parking fees at the
base of Blackcomb.
Finally, if you are really
wanting to save on
transportation costs,
hitchhiking out from
Whistler Village is
incredibly easy anda
good way to make a
buddy or two.

Slow down on the
Sea to Sky highway.
West Vancouver Police
and the Squamish
RCMP love to bust
excited skier and
boarders on this stretch
of road for speeding.

 

America’s best terrain
and some of the largest
snowfalls each season.
Unfortunately getting to
Mount Baker involves

a vehicle. The easiest
way to get there is to
drive to Abbotsford and
cross into Washington
through the Sumas
portal. On top of

your passport, make
sure you have either
4-wheel drive, winter
tires or snow chains.
The Whatcom County
Sheriff's department
typically checks all

backcountry, you will
be charged a minimum
of $500. On top of

the large snowfalls
Mount Baker receives,
their backcountry

is uncontrolled

and unpatrolled so
wandering into it
with no avalanche or
local knowledge is not
recommended.

A day pass will
run you $49 during
the mid-week and $54
for a weekend pass.
The ticket sales accept
Canadian cash and

The big marshmallow of a mountain that dominates
the horizon to the south of us is currently boast-
ing North Americas biggest snowfall for the early
season after opening two weeks ahead of schedule.

Hot spots include
Lions Bay and the areas
entering and exiting
Squamish and Whistler.

Mount Baker: The

big marshmallow

of a mountain that
dominates the horizon
to the south of us is
currently boasting
North America’s
biggest snowfall for
the early season after
opening two weeks
ahead of schedule.
Although Baker is
significantly smaller
compared to Whistler,
it offers some of North

vehicles heading to the
mountain in the village
of Glacier and if you
do not have one of the
three on your vehicle,
you will be turned
around.

DO NOT duck the
ski boundary ropes at
Mount Baker unless
you have an avalanche
beacon, probe shovel
and a buddy who is
also carrying the same
life-saving equipment.
If the Ski Patrol catches
you out of bounds
without this stuff,
they will take your
pass away and if you
require a rescue in the

credit cards, but not
debit. If you really

feel as if you can

make a seasons pass

to Baker worth it, you
are looking at around
$800. Regardless of
what pass you get,

I highly encourage
everyone to check out
Mount Baker. They also
have some of the best
tasting and inexpensive
cafeteria food. Make
sure to get there early
in the morning as

the mountain gets
‘shredded’ out in two
hours on a big powder
day.