Tag Archives: Anderson

Tour de Delta kicks off BC Superweek

Keep your eyes peeled over the next few days, my pithy friends — there are oodles of specimens of ultrafit humanity zipping around the Greater Vancouver region for BC Superweek. Folks unfamiliar with the sport just curse the temporary road closures. Those of us who know better are on the lookout for windswept hair, thighs of steel and aerodynamically ripped abs.

Rejoice, rubberneckers, and gawk away! It doesn’t even matter which way your preferences lean; both the men and women in this sport are cut from the cloth of the gods, and dress in skin-tight superhero tights.

Canadian National Champion Leah Kirchmann leans into a corner during the criterium  2014 Tour de Delta. Photo by Greg Descantes for BC Superweek.
Canadian National Champion Leah Kirchmann leans into a corner during the criterium  2014 Tour de Delta. Photo by Greg Descantes for BC Superweek.

The Tour de Delta was an especially big weekend for Winnipeg-born Leah Kirchmann, as she took first place in the first BC road race sanctioned by UCI, the Union Cycliste Inter-nationale.

Kirchmann (of Team Optum) is no stranger to winner’s circles, as she is the first rider to ever simultaneously hold Canadian national time trial, road race and criterium titles. The 24-year-old favourite delivered in the 40-km criterium on Saturday and the 96-km road race the following morning, topping the 59-rider field on both days. She drove a group sprint for an exciting finish, stopping the clock at two hours, 25 minutes and 8.7 seconds.

On the men’s side, Ryan Anderson of North Vancouver (also of Team Optum) came in second behind American teammate Jesse Anthony. Anderson averaged 43.66 klicks per hour over the 151.19-km men’s course, earning him a seven-second cushion for a winning time of 3:27:46.3.

Not sure what 43.66 km/h looks like? Take the Expo Line from Waterfront Station to King George and back. Four times.Team Optum just rode that same distance, and beat that SkyTrain to the finish.

The peloton negotiates a bend in the road during Sunday's Tour de Delta. Photo by Greg Descantes for BC Superweek.
The peloton, featuring the orange-helmeted women’s winner Leah Kirchmann (centre), negotiates a bend in the road during Sunday’s Tour de Delta. Photo by Greg Descantes for BC Superweek.

Monday is a day off for BC Superweek, which comprises nine races over ten days across the Lower Mainland between July 4–13. Next up is the UBC Grand Prix on Tuesday night, July 8.

The ever-popular Gastown Grand Prix goes July 9, followed by the Giro di Burnaby on July 10. The finale, the Tour de White Rock, is a three-day event taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday of next week.

Check out www.bcsuperweek.ca for more details.

Football’s Back! by Sam Anderson

We at Pucked in the Head would like to introduce our new BC Lions correspondent, Sam Anderson. Located on the mighty Twitter at @SamelaAnderson, this football gal represents everything that is right about football fandom. Beer, check. Permasmile, check. Large collection of BC Lions paraphernalia, check. So much enthusiasm you can’t even imagine watching a game without her, check.

Football’s Back!
by Sam Anderson

Ahhh I’m getting so excited! The return of preseason football is the equivalent of Christmas for CFL fans. While I’m bummed that TSN opted not to televise the preseason games this season (BOOOOOOOOOO!), and happy that our boys eked it out vs the Stamps last Friday night, it’s being back in my seat at BC Place that I’m really looking forward to. This Friday night can’t come soon enough.

More, including Grey Cup and Fan Fest reminiscin’, after the jump.

Sam Anderson (@SamelaAnderson on the mighty Twitter) cavorts with Leo the Lion at the 2013 BC Lions Fan Fest in Kamloops. Photo courtesy of Sam's Facebook page.
Sam Anderson (@SamelaAnderson on the mighty Twitter) cavorts with Leo the Lion at the 2013 BC Lions Fan Fest in Kamloops. Photo courtesy of Sam’s Facebook page.

Continue reading Football’s Back! by Sam Anderson

Esso Cup pic #2 – Hailey Smyl

In British Columbia, there aren’t many hockey names more recognizable than that of Smyl. Stan ‘the Steamer’ won back to back Memorial Cups with the New Westminster Bruins before settling into a 13-year career that defined Vancouver Canucks hockey for a generation. His brother Harvey Smyl may not have had quite as much impact on the ice, but has become one of the top junior coaches in the game, and still helms the BCHL Junior A Chilliwack Chiefs.

Fraser Valley Phantom captain Hailey Smyl skates to the bench after consulting with the referee in Esso Cup action. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Fraser Valley Phantom captain Hailey Smyl skates to the bench after consulting with the referee during a break in Esso Cup action. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

So it should come as no surprise that Hailey Smyl, daughter to Harvey and niece to Stan — a hard-working, emotional player who leads by example — finds herself wearing the captain’s C for the Fraser Valley Phantom, one of the region’s top midget teams.

2013 Esso Cup schedule and results

More after the break.

Continue reading Esso Cup pic #2 – Hailey Smyl

Esso Cup pic #1

We at Pucked in the Head have long flicked nose candy at lamestream media pundits and “personalities” who seem to think they should be above reporting anything less than the very highest level of sport. These are the Vancouver hockey writers who huff and puff when asked to cover hockey that doesn’t involve teams named ‘Canucks’. These are the radio pundits who whinge and rant when (rightly) informed that their job is, in fact, to report on all sporting events that happen in the area, not just the ones with the most impressive pre-game meals.

What these small-minded folk don’t realize is that the biggest and best in the country, like Bob McKenzie, Ron MacLean and Jeff Marek, for instance, still follow the ranks of minor pro, college, junior, and — gasp — even women’s hockey. The Esso Cup features the best young female hockey players in Canada, and the 2013 tourney is being held in Burnaby, BC this week. Look for pics and a feature or two over the next few days, and let’s hope certain local sports talk blowhards get over themselves long enough to give the tournament some love as well. These young ladies are the next Wickenheisers, the next Pounders, the next Spooners. They’re the next generation of Olympic Gold Medallists and World Champions. They work hard out there on the ice, and gosh darn it they deserve the attention.

Regina Rebels forward Teah Anderson readies to take a 20-foot wrist shot in preliminary round action at the 2013 Esso Cup in Burnaby. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Regina Rebels forward Teah Anderson readies to take a 20-foot wrist shot in preliminary round action at the 2013 Esso Cup in Burnaby. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.

And hey, while we’re spotlighting pictures of women in sport — Ms Anderson above, and yesterday’s post about tennis phenom Eugenie Bouchard — let’s give a gander at Abbotsford Heat ice crew member Chyna, who let loose with a wicked slap shot during a post-game shootaround at the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre last month. I swear to Gaustad, she put this one-timer top cheese, off the far post and in. Badass.

Abbotsford Heat ice crew member Chyna Bruce Lees a one-timer off the post and in during a post-game shoot around at the AESC. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.
Abbotsford Heat ice crew member Chyna Bruce Lees a one-timer off the post and in during a post-game shoot around at the AESC. Photo by Jason Kurylo for Pucked in the Head.