VIMFF is back this January 22 – 29. As always, there is a great schedule of films and speakers lined up, with showings at the Centennial Theater (2300 Londsdale Avenue, North Vancouver) and Pacific Cinémathčque (1131 Howe Street, Vancouver).

Vancouver – The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, now in its 13th year, is gearing up for another incredible showcase of the most exciting films and adventure seekers coming to Vancouver to once again thrill audiences. The mix of adventurers spans the spectrum of white knuckle excitement with tales from the far corners of the globe. There are paddlers on ocean currents, mountain bikers testing themselves on wild terrain, climbers risking their lives on solo ascents and big wall slugfests, and there’s even a team Baffin Babes exploring frost-choked corners of granite walls. This year’s festival has something for everyone, adrenaline, history, endurance and legacy.

The festival takes place primarily at the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver with special presentations at the Pacific Cinémathèque and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver. Guest speakers include Colin and Julie Angus, world-class travelers and explorers, with their Rowed Trip show from Scotland to Syria; Vancouver-based legendary backcountry skier John Baldwin in a show on ski-mountaineering in the West Coast; and Alpinist Dave Dornian from Calgary with a show on the history of the crazy Euro ski mountaineering races.

Angela Bueckert presents a program from her dream-like paddling trip from Galiano Island to Alaska. Chris Cooper talks about taking his BC native canoe around the British Isles with a crew of 800 Brits and 80 Canadians. Chic Stott presents a multi-media presentation on the filming of the Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood. Vancouver-based climber Anders Ourom recalls funny stories from Squamish in the 1970s and Pat Morrow goes back even deeper in retracing the life of Conrad Kain, the “Prince of Canadian Mountain Guides”. Adventurer Jon Bowermaster will present his films and images from the Antarctic continent. Climber and author Gordon White recounts stories and lessons from BC’s Stein Valley along with the Vancouver Waldorf School students.

Canadian paragliding champion Alex Raymont comments on the X-Alps paragliding race, Maxime Turgeon, top level alpinist from Montreal, describes his quest to solo-climb 8 big walls in Europe and cycle from one to the other. Bike travelers Sarah Lusina and Tom Furst portray the gripping stories from their trip across parts of South America. Mountain bikers Bjorn Enga and Ryan Leech promise to thrill the audience, Ryan in a stage show, and Bjorn delving into the art of making biking flicks. The Baffin Babes, a crazy Norwegian and Swedish all-female quartetto will explore various corners of the Baffin Island. Big Wall climber Cedar Wright tells tales from his travels around the world in search of new hard lines, and three outstanding young Canadian rock climbers – Sonnie Trotter, Will Stanhope and Sean McColl explain the motivations, inspirations and goals of the young climbers at the peak of their game.

Ticket Information:

VIMFF Tickets will be $17 in advance and $19 at the door for each event, unless otherwise posted.

Advanced tickets will be available below, please note show codes when ordering VIMFF Packages.
Tickets are also available at the Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, tel (604) 984-4484.

VIMFF Packages:
Ticket voucher for 2 separate shows: $27
Ticket voucher for 3 separate shows: $37

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Tags: VIMFF
Categories: Events, Movies & Videos
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I recently became aware of what looks like a really cool event coming up in September; The Whistler GranFondo. What is a GranFondo you ask? Well, I asked the same question:

Gran Fondo’s are mass participation cycling events that have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades, and are beginning to gain momentum in North America. The Whistler GranFondo will be the first of its kind in Canada (but the US saw about 9 Gran Fondo rides start up in 2009).

Loosely translated from Italian, GranFondo means “big ride.” Rides are often 100 km or more for a large number of cyclists at a variety of skill levels – everyone from the competitive cyclist to the amateur wanting to challenge themselves over distance and time enjoy these events. While these are not races, top finishers are often recognized.

Gran Fondo’s are judged by the challenges they offer… steep climbs, long distances and a combination of the two. The Whistler GranFondo will not disappoint with 2,400 meters of climbing over the entire 120 km route. And if that isn’t enough, the Whistler GranFondo will also offer primes (or mini timed races) along the way at particularly challenging sections to give riders that extra motivational boost. This will be a challenge worth bragging about and you’ll be rewarded with a Founding Riders Finisher’s Medal.

The Whistler GranFondo is taking place September 11, 2010 and will have a dedicated bike lane all the way from downtown Vancouver to Whistler! What sounds really neat about this is all skill levels are encouraged to participate. The event is as much a celebration of cycling as it is a race (although, as stated above, top finishers are recognized). You can ride the full 120km from Vancouver to Whistler, or do a shorter course (60km) from Squamish. For more details check out the Whistler GranFondo website.

Thanks Matt for sending the info in.

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Tags: Whistler GranFondo
Categories: Biking, Events
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The 6th Annual Vancouver Snow Show is taking place this weekend (Saturday 10am – 7pm & Sunday 11am – 5pm) at the Vancouver Convention Center.

If you’re looking for that ’something’ to get you pumped for the upcoming winter season, this could be it.

New products on display, ski and snowboard retailers and pros, mountain ski resorts, training associations and travel information! The Calgary and Vancouver Snow Shows have everything your winter is all about!

The Grouse website is also offering this coupon for $2 off admission when you bring in a non-perishable food item for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. At the show, Grouse will also be offering a killer deal on their One Night season pass, as well as zip-lining, so that alone might make the event worth-while for you.

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Tags: Grouse Mountain,Snow Show
Categories: Events
3 Comments »

The Cold Water Classic Canada surfing competition is coming to Tofino Oct 25 – 31. This is the first professional surfing competition ever held in Canada.

“On the west coast of Vancouver Island in Tofino, freezing water and air temperatures, bears on the ground, whales in the water and even the chance of snow, awaits 144 professional surfers from around the world for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada – the coldest event in professional surfing.”

How awesome is that!

You can read the official O’Neill press release here, or the article from MetroNews Vancouver below:

Canada’s first-ever professional surfing competition hits the waters off Vancouver Island next month.

The Cold Water Classic Canada, which runs Oct. 25 to 31, will bring more than 100 professional surfers to Tofino, as well as spectators and about 50 media.

“It solidifies our tagline of being the Surfing Capital of Canada,” said Lynda Kaye, a spokeswoman for Tourism Tofino.

“If (the water) is anything like I’m looking at right now — pro surfers are going to be happy,” said Kaye, whose Tofino office overlooks the ocean.

“(The surf) is not steamer-lane, Santa Cruz big, it’s not huge, rip-curl, Hawaii big, but there are surfers in our water every day of the year.”

Temperatures, she added, are consistent with other surfing places in the Pacific Northwest at about 10 C.

The contest is the first professional surfing competition sponsored by the Association of Surfing Professionals to be held in Canadian waters.

It is the fourth in a series of five events held in balmy locales like the coasts of Scotland and Tasmania, and it is part of a World Qualifying Series that carries a total purse of $145,000.

“We expect the town to be a hubbub of activity,” said Kaye, adding the Olympic torch relay visits Tofino on Nov. 1, the day after the competition ends.

“For a town that basically takes a break after the summer, we’re going to be on fire into the first part of fall.”

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Tags: surfing,Tofino Classic
Categories: Events, Other Outdoor Stuff
1 Comment »

I recently learned about a great adventure being undertaken to fund raise and create awareness for inflammatory bowel disease. 16 year old Clinton Shard of Squamish will be joining a team of 6 to tackle Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Thanks Jeremy, for sending this info in:

This September, 16-year-old Clinton Shard of Squamish, B.C. is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as a part of a team of six people led by Crohn’s patient Rob Hill, who is the founder of the Intestinal Disease Education and Awareness Society, or I.D.E.A.S. Both of these adventurers have Crohn’s disease, and have overcome tremendous obstacles in order to be able to take on this challenge.

While they are on their journey, they will be posting updates on Twitter (#roberthillclimb, #weneedideas); blogging, posting photos and videos (IBDAdventures.com); and even answering questions via video from their fans on the web while they are climbing!

Clinton and Rob would like to invite you to their North Vancouver send-off event to learn about mountain climbing and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with them at The Edge rock climbing gym on Thursday, September 3.

Here are the details:

Who: Clinton Shard (Squamish) and Rob Hill (Vancouver) – Crohn’s disease patients and adventure athletes

What:

· Try your hand at rock climbing

· Hear the amazing personal stories of Clinton and Rob

· Take photos, Tweet, blog and conduct video interviews as you learn to climb with Rob and Clinton!

· Healthy snacks will be served

When:  Thursday, September 3, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Where: The Edge Climbing Centre, #2-1485 Welch Street, North Vancouver (5 minutes from Lions Gate Bridge) Google map directions

If you’d like to attend, or schedule a separate interview, please contact Jeremy at 604-688-2505 or Jeremy.Twigg@fleishman.ca. I’m also on Twitter: @JeremyTwigg.

Best of luck to the team!

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Tags: Clinton Shard,Crohn's Disease,Fundraiser,Kilimanjaro,Rock Climbing,Squamish
Categories: Causes, Events
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