SHANNON LYNCH photo

(Bottom right) Trainer Matt Ward coaches his CrossFit class at Studeo55 CrossFit in Vancouver. Safety is key at Studeo55 and never overlooked, he says

Safety is a top priority for most gyms providing CrossFit sessions to their members

By SHANNON LYNCH

rossFit is not as dangerous as
you may think — if you’re smart
about it.

As the popularity of CrossFit
soars, so does the misconception that
CrossFit is a risky sport, due in part to
competitiveness and the growing num-
ber of viral CrossFit fail videos online.

However, according to physiothera-
pist Drew Teskey, who does integrated
health at the Vancouver gym Studeo55
CrossFit, the sport doesn’t contain any
level of risk greater than any other in-
tense sport, such as soccer or rugby.

“Anything performed at high inten-
sity leaves you at risk for injury,” he
said.

CrossFit includes everything from
gymnastics to running to weight lifting
and balancing exercises.

Teskey said the sport has evolved
over the last five years, and many gyms
have implemented changes that have
drastically lowered injury risks.

“When it comes to CrossFit athletes,
I do far more injury prevention than
rehab after problems,” he said.

Studeo55 has an eight-sessio, lead-
up program called Foundations, which
takes four weeks. Members are re-

quired to enter it and have their per-
sonal levels assessed before doing seri-
ous training so risk to injury is
decreased.

“Tf you can’t put your arms over your
head, you don’t get to put a bar over
your head,” Teskey said.

Justin Tsang, a TD Canada Trust fi-
nancial services representative, is a
CrossFit athlete.

He said in an email that if injury
does happen, it’s usually due to high
competition and people taking short
cuts in “in order to be the top athlete.”

“T have been injured a few times, but
it has never been anything too seri-

ous,” he said.

“T know better than to push my lim-
its... and [I] keep my ego in check.”

Teskey said he doesn’t think any
CrossFit gyms these days allow mem-
bers to delve into the tough training
without assessment and skill develop-
ment beforehand.

“That’s how it used to be,” he said.
“Gyms were all about making money
and getting the fee.”

He said he hasn’t come across that
since he’s been involved in CrossFit for
the past few years.

“Thaven’t seen that in the whole time
I’ve been here.”

66

I know
better than
to push my
limits

JUSTIN TSANG

TD CANADA
TRUST FINANCIAL
SERVICES
REPRESENTATIVE

Still horsing around
close to game time

Stampeders are currently
without their token touch-
down celebration mascot

By ALICE D’EON

the Calgary Stampeders are still

without an integral member of
their entourage — Quick Six, their
touchdown celebration horse.

Due to unpredictable road
conditions at this time of
year, the Stampeders
game _ presentation
management team
made the decision to leave
Quick Six at home.

The plan is to hire a local
horse for team horse handler,
Karyn Drake, to ride down the side of
the field in celebration of Stampeders
touchdowns at the Grey Cup on Sunday.

Adam Zimmer, coordinator of mar-
keting and promotions for the Calgary
Stampeders, confirmed that, as of Nov.
27, no arrangements for a substitute
horse had been made but they are “in
the process of finding one.”

Sharon Jackson, a professional horse
trainer and coach for Vancouver’s Bit-
A-Bling drill team, said not just any
horse would be fit for the job.

She said various factors spook even

Ti: Grey Cup is two days away and

the most highly trained animals.

“You can have your dog ready for a
dog show and have it go to hell ina
hand basket,” Jackson said.

The main thing is to use a horse that
has had lots of exposure to the public,
she said.

“You want a horse that is comfortable
with crowds and loud noises.”

But hope is not lost on the Stamped-
ers horse front just yet.

Brad Greenslade of the Calgary Grey

Cup Committee believes

~\ Grey Cup organizers will

, come through with a

\ touchdown horse for

the day, although it

might be a horse of a dif-
ferent colour.

“We have a connection
for horses out here, but I

don’t think they have a white
one,” Greenslade said.

Mike Pollock, a die-hard Stampeders
fan, is attending Sunday’s game.

He said the touchdown horse is a part
of the celebration, “I think it would be a
bit of a momentum changer if they don’t
have the horse.”

Pollock said having the mascot there
would mean a lot to the fans because it
would make the game feel more like it
was at home.

“Horse or no horse,” Pollock said, “I
still think the Stamps are going to come
out on top.”

SANDY POWLICK photo

Kerrisdale Community Centre is one of the local areas participating in Sports Day this year.

Canada-wide Sports Day
is getting people up and
moving once again

By SANDY POWLIK

to help Canada get active with
Sports Day in Canada on Satur-
day, Nov. 29.

Recreation centres around Canada
will invite the public to try a variety of
sports and activities such as basket-
ball, soccer, ping pong, swimming and
more.

Along with RBC, True Sport and the
CBC, ParticipAction, Canada’s physical
activity and sport participation non-
profit group, organized Sports Day in
Canada as a way to address “the inac-
tivity crisis that the country is facing,”
True Sport director, Karri Dawson said.

“There’s a continuing problem with
physical activity levels in the country.
Less than half of children and youth
are getting their required amount of
physical activity on a daily basis,” Daw-

R: will once again be attempting

son said.

According to the Canadian Fitness
Lifestyle Research Institute, 15 per cent
of adults and five per cent of children
are getting the minimum recommend-
ed amount of physical activity needed.

Kerrisdale Community Centre is
hosting Sports Day for the second year
in a row.

KCC centre programmer Kristi
Douglas said they were pleasantly sur-
prised with participant numbers last
year.

“T think people have an interest to do
it, it’s just their time doesn’t allow it as
much as they’d like. It’s carving out
that time,” Douglas said.

She said youth are so busy with
school, fitting in extra-curricular activ-
ities is a challenge.

Sports Day aims to inspire Canadi-
ans to get active in their community
and participate in all forms of sport.

Dawson said Sports Day is an “op-
portunity to connect Canadians and
bring communities together and for
people to understand the power sport
has to instil character in their kids and
strengthen their communities.”

EVENTS

in the area

ADAPTIVE YOGA AND
FIT YOGA

Trinity Yoga in Vancouver
is hosting a “Try-It/Open
House.” Nov. 29 from
12-4p.m.

SPORTS DAY AT THE
BC SPORTS HALL OF
FAME

The Sports Hall of Fame
hosts a day of table
tennis, hockey and rock
wall climbing at BC Place
Nov. 29 from
10a.m.-5p.m.

LITTLE FEET SPORTS
DAY

The Little Mountain
Neighbourhood House is
hosting a day of running,
jumping and throwing for
active kids. Nov. 29 from
9a.m.-12p.m.

Source: RBC Sports Day
website