Sports & Recreation

Grant and Holmes selected as Champion Schools

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Thursday, May 16th, 5:22 pm

OTTO, the Spokane Indians Mascot, will be visiting two local elementary schools this spring as part of the Itron Champions Programs. Grant and Holmes Elementary Schools have been selected as this year's Champion Schools.

The blue mascot will lead cheers and laughter for each school at an assembly. In addition, Itron will provide each school with 250 Indians tickets to be given out to students as rewards for good attendance, hard work and achievement in the classroom.

"We love bringing the Itron Champions Program to schools and getting kids excited about learning," said Indian Senior Vice President, Otto Klein. "This is a great opportunity for the Indians to support our local schools and students."

OTTO will visit Grant Elementary on Friday, May 24th and Holmes Elementary on Thursday, June 6th.

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Spokane Parks & Rec offers lifeguard training

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Tuesday, May 14th, 5:12 pm

If you're a strong swimmer on the hunt for a summer job, Spokane Parks and Recreation has the perfect spot for you. Spokane has two aquatics training programs to train life guards and water safety instructors.

The Lifeguard Training Course runs May 18th-19th and May 20th-24th and will train on CPR_PR, First Aid and Life guarding. The course if for ages 15 and older and costs $175.

Water Safety Instructor courses will run for four Saturdays, June 8th-29th. You will learn how ti teach all ages water safety courses, survival and American Red Cross swimming skills. There is a text book required and the course costs $200.

Both training programs require that you pass a pre-course test to enroll. Lifeguard training will be at Witter Aquatic Center and Water Safety Instructor courses will happen at Liberty Aquatic Center. For more information or to register visit spokaneparks.org

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ATV safety courses provide valuable skills to keep you safe

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Tuesday, May 14th, 3:02 pm

In last two weeks Eastern Washington and North Idaho have seen over five ATV accidents including one death in the LC Valley last week. While ATV riding is fun, it's important to learn proper technique to remain safe.

“We think it takes special skills to ride an ATV,” says Dale Stevens, a licensed ATV safety instructor with the ATV Safety Institute. ASI is a non-profit sponsored by the all the major ATV manufacturers. Instructors like Stevens teach regular safety classes to educate riders on proper technique, safety skills and the responsibilities that come with owning and riding ATVs.

After taking his course many riders tell Stevens that they didn't know what a work out riding is and that they expected it to be easier. Stevens says that a lot of people expect ATVs to be like riding a couch on wheels but it that it takes a lot of physical effort and knowledge of how ATVs operate to remain safe while riding.

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Become a Bloomsday VIP with SNAP

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Thursday, May 2nd, 12:10 pm

Right before you cross the T.J. Meenach bridge you'll hit mile four of the Bloomsday course. Doomsday Hill looms around the bend and you just might start to feel some pain in your feet and fatigue in your legs. Why not stop to reboot at the SNAP VIP booth?

SNAP will have a VIP photo booth set up just before the bridge so you and your friends and family can snap silly photos before huffing and puffing up the hill. You can also sip on coconut water to rehydrate you for the last half of the run. Pictures will print classic photo booth style and be ready to take home. SNAP will also provide a web link for you to check out and share your Bloomsday photos online.

However, the booth is VIP for a reason. SNAP only has 500 of the reflective VIP bracelets available for purchase. So, not everyone will get to taste the high life on race day. The VIP bracelets will be available for purchase at the Trade Show at SNAP's booth (#304) and are only $5. First come, first serve, and you won't be able to buy them on race day.

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Bloomsday orders 8,000 additional Boston Bracelets

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Wednesday, May 1st, 2:12 pm

Shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings, Bloomsday announced that they would be distributing 50,000 lilac bands etched with “Bloomsday Stands With Boston”. Now they have ordered 8,000 more bracelets so that volunteers can also show their support for the East Coast city.

The initial bracelets were purchased for runners participating in the world's largest timed road race this Sunday. The response to the idea has been so positive that Bloomsday officials decided it was something that volunteers and safety personnel should participate in as well.

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Bloomsday introduces character trading cards

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Tuesday, April 30th, 1:14 pm

Bloomsday expects 50,000 individuals to race this Sunday, and this year organizers are capturing the spirit of racers with new “character trading cards”.

The trading cards feature eight individuals unique to the Bloomsday course. You can collect Fast Start Bart, Doomsday Hill Billy, H2 Otis, Pain Jane, Shoe Lacy, Spaghetti Betty, and Timin' Simon. Leading the group is The Don, “Godfather of Bloomsday”, based on race creator and director Don Kardong.

Each character not only represents people, but aspects of the race that we all know and love. With Spaghetti Feeds happening all over town the night before race day, Spaghetti Betty is our “carbo-loader extraordinaire”. Doomsday Hill Billy is “always inclined to run” as he tackles the landmark Doomsday Hill. Who hasn't seen an “obsessive clock-watcher” like Timin' Simon, always trying to beat last year's race time.

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Corral your bike during Bloomsday

Submitted by Camille Troxel on Monday, April 29th, 12:11 pm

Anyone who's ever raced Bloomsday knows that getting downtown on race day takes some planning. The brave souls drive and park, the ones willing to put in more time on their feet use the STA bus shuttles. The Spokane Bicycle Club suggests riding your bike, they'll even watch it for free.

For the last 14 years the Spokane Bicycle Club has offered a free bike corral for racers arriving by pedal. Riders can drop off their bicycles as well as warm-up gear, back packs and after race picnics. The club started the bike corral after seeing similar set ups at other events in both Portland and San Fransico. Last year, around 200 racers parked their bicycles in the corral.

Apprehensive about adding a ride home after a 12k road race? Sally Phillips, of the Spokane Bicycle Club, says that riding a bike uses an entirely different muscle group than running and walking. Phillips wants racers to know that pedaling home is in many ways more pleasant than trekking another mile to your car or walking across downtown to the bus shuttle stops.

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