8 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 2014 EDITOR DAVID LA RIVIERE SS poris New goalkeeper is a head above the rest While soccer keepers can be tall, few reach Lukas Strauts’ height By JAMES GOLDIE here’s nothing unusual about a tall soccer player, although few come quite as tall as Lukas Strauts. Standing at six feet sev- en inches, the first-year Langara Fal- cons men’s soccer goalkeeper is an im- posing figure. “T just finished growing, I think,” Strauts said with a smile, after a team practice last Thursday afternoon. A native of North Ladner, Strauts, 19, was raised in a soccer household. Both his parents were avid soccer players in their youth, and passed on a love of the game to their four sons. Strauts, the youngest, has been playing since he was three years old. It wasn’t until age eight that Strauts realized he was most comfortable playing in front of the net. “My dad noticed I had a natural knack for it and started training me,” he said. “He kinda looked stuff up (on goal keeping) and helped me on my way.” Strauts has had a number of coaches since those early years with his father. In 2013, while playing with the Victoria Vikes at the University of Victoria, Strauts trained with George Konstanti- nov, a former Russian Premier League player. The opportunity to learn from a former professional was invaluable, he said. “I owe a lot of my recent develop- ments to [Konstantinov].” Being tall means Strauts can jump higher, dive further, and fill the net more easily than shorter players. “He’s a very good shot-blocker,” says coach Mare Rizzardo. “[Strauts] can get balls way up in the air. He should be able to get those before a lot of other people.” But extreme height also has its dis- advantages. “Tm very fortunate to only have size 12 feet,” Strauts said. “If my feet were any bigger, I’d consider them flippers and it’d be hard to get them under the ball.” JAMES GOLDIE photo Goalkeeper Lukas Strauts towers above the field as he makes a jumping save during the Oct. 4 match against Douglas College in Coquitlam. Trendy offbeat sports have yet to reach Langara As the popularity of non-traditional sports increases in Vancouver, a question arises: Why doesn’t Langara have a quidditch team? By SABLEEN MINHAS inflatable ball suits have taken up arms to fight the city’s no-fun rep- utation. Locals are opting out of traditional sports to try offbeat games like quid- ditch, played with brooms and volley- balls, and bubble soccer for a different kind of adrenaline rush. Muggle Quidditch, adapted from the fictional game played in the Harry Pot- ter series, is blowing up in Vancouver. “We have had a team since 2010, it started with one practice per week and a few people, said Alexa Rowe, presi- dent of the UBC Quidditch Club. “Now we have turned into a 72-mem- ber club with two teams,” Ypntsctieta wielding brooms and The athletes play with brooms be- tween their legs at all times and score points by advancing the volleyball, or “quaffle,” down the field and throwing it through one of six ring-shaped goals. Earlier this year, Burnaby hosted the 2014 Quidditch Global Games, which has contributed to the popularity of the game. “T went to the Global Games and got really interested in quidditch,” said Zainab Alwarid, a Langara nursing stu- dent who plays as a beater (players that defend their team from bludgers) for the UBC Quidditch team. Bubble soccer is another non-tradi- tional sport surfacing on the lower mainland. “People want to try something new,” said Alex Gorea, Langara general stud- ies student who works with Bubble Ball Vancouver, a bubble ball rental agency. Gorea said that although people still play traditional sports, like soccer, with the bubble balls, red rover and other childhood games are played too. “It’s a combination of soccer, wres- tling and bumper cars,” said Kelvin Wong, founder of iBubble Soccer. Although Langara students are in- volved in these unusual sports off cam- pus, nobody has approached the athlet- ics and intramurals department with an idea of hosting them on campus. Jake McCallum, director of athletics and intramurals at Langara, said if people were to approach him about these sports he would try to see if there is a way to accommodate them at Lan- gara. The Voice is also online SCAN THIS QR CODE Or to find this story online visit http://langaravoice. ca/ BRIEFLY on campus Langara athletics need a falcon By MEL EDGAR mascot has officially been named, all that’s left is to get somebody to fill Flash’s feathers. Jake McCallum, director of athletics invites anyone interested in the job and is registered in the student work assis- tance program, to visit him, or depart- ment assistant Carly Scarr in Building G. The job involves wearing the mascot suit to on and off campus sporting events. To be Flash you must be outgo- ing, energetic and full of Falcon pride. Flash also requires a spotter. The spotter and Flash, work as a team. The spotter is key in making sure Flash is safe moving around. EEE N=: that the Langara Falcons’ THORSTEN GOHL submitted Flash the Faicon needs a student to turn this birdsuit into a lovable mascot Drop-in volleyball axed from Langara intramural schedule By MEL EDGAR gram will not be including drop-in volleyball games this year. Basketball, indoor soccer and bad- minton games are still available but due to a lack of student interest and budget constraints volleyball isn’t. Jake McCallum, director of athlet- ics at Langara, said that extra set up time for nets also put a strain on lim- ited gym resources and personnel. Badminton has similar set up re- quirements, but due to high student turn out, continues this year. Langara’s fall 2014 intramural schedule is available on-line at langara.be.ca and is in effect from Sept. 3 to Nov. 28. Lean: fall 2014 intramural pro- JAKE McCALLUM Director of athlet- ics and intramu- rals at Langara We are open every Friday and Saturday fram 9=1 to browse and buy and save! Saturday, October 11, 9- 1 pm — Oakridge United Church = 305 West 41°" Avenue 2? short blocks east of Cambie on the north side Fabulous clothing for women and men: accessories, purses, shoes, retro, estate consignments, dishes, glassware, cutlery, small appliances, pictures, mirrors, videos and books, books ,books... everything in good condition - no junk!!!