Some of the province's best athletes have gone on to great success as a result of competing in the B.C. Summer Games, and several Squamish athletes are hoping to do the same this summer.
Eleven student athletes, both from Don Ross and Howe Sound Secondary schools, will be competing in mountain biking, cycling and track and field events at the July 15-18 games in Abbotsford.
A total of 34 athletes - 17 male, 17 female - from Zone 5, which includes Whistler, Pemberton and West Vancouver, will be representing the Sea to Sky area.
"They're all very good athletes," said Anne Bracey, the team's Track and Field coach and teacher at Don Ross Secondary School.
"A lot of provincial and Canadian athletes were all in the B.C. Games at one point - so a lot of the best athletes from across the province will be there."
The B.C. Summer Games are held every second year in July. Twenty-six sports are included, with more than 4,000 of B.C.'s best athletes, coaches, managers, and officials participating in over 36 different events ranging from athletics and archery to cycling, sailing, and wrestling.
This year, the Abbotsford games features more competitors than participated in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.
"It's a great experience for the kids - it's like a mini-Olympics," said Bracey. "All of the athletes stay in the same place and there's tonnes of activities for the kids to do. The atmosphere is really cool."
More than just athletes and events, the B.C. Summer Games is also all about sportsmanship, camaraderie and the grand atmosphere that comes from so many people who share a common goal - a goal to have fun and enjoy every minute of their experience.
"It's a great event for them," said Bracey. "The main thing is the atmosphere and the spirit. There's a really high level of sportsmanship involved - everyone is trying their best and encouraging each other."
Seven athletes have been selected from Squamish to compete in cycling and mountain biking, with six of them coming from the strong and decorated Don Ross mountain bike team. Diana Kilby, a former Canadian Mountain Bike Team member, will be one of the coaches at the event. The athletes will be competing in three cycling disciplines: mountain biking, road racing and a road criterium. The selected athletes are: Daniel MacKellar, Jaclyn McClements, Aislinn Merkel, Danielle Dornik, Kyla Valleau and Gord Booth (alternate) who are all from Don Ross Secondary. Gavin Arnott has been chosen from Howe Sound Secondary.
Four athletes from Squamish have been named to the Track and Field team after a selection meet at Handsworth track. Kenny Kyle will be competing in the 200m, long and triple jump, and the 4x100 relay.
"Kenny Kyle has a lot of potential in all his events, he's really dedicated and talented," said Bracey.
Courtney Deno will run the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100 relay. Konrad Saunder will compete in the triple jump, 4x400 relay, and Tiffany Sprenkels will be in the triple jump and the integrated relay.
"Her goal is to jump over 10 metres and she's looking like she'll get it," said Bracey. "She's very dedicated as well."
The Summer Games bring together young developing athletes from every region of the province. Competition may be the backbone of the Games, but at its heart are camaraderie and friendship, the spirit of teamwork and the setting of goals for individual excellence.
