Top 10 things to do in B.C
February 25, 2010 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
When I was a child I remember complaining to my parents about how “there was nothing to do”. A decade later and a little bit older and wiser, I am in awe at my words. How could I have spoken those words? I find myself overwhelmed most of time deciding what to do because there are so many options. We can only do so much in a day and sometimes I wish I could do it all. Here are my top 10 things to do in and around B.C:
1. Hike up Grouse Mountain: I often have people ask me if I have ever done the Grouse Grind. Yes, I have and it is part of my weekly training schedule. A lot of the time I will hike the BCMC which parallels the Grind. It takes about 10 minutes longer but it is less crowded and doesn’t resemble a giant Stairmaster. However, if I am looking for a quick ‘get it over and done with’ workout, I’ll hike the Grind. The view at the top will not disappoint.
2. Kayak in Deep Cove: Now, this may not be the right season to partake in this activity but in a few months time, the weather will be perfect to get out onto the ocean. You can rent kayaks for as little as an hour or as long as a week. They come in singles and doubles. Being on the ocean is a very liberating experience and it is one of the best ways to connect with yourself and your surroundings. For more information check out this website: www.deepcovekayak.com
3. Bike around Stanley Park: This is one of B.C’s largest tourist attractions and with good reason! The park is simply stunning and you get such a beautiful view of the ocean and mountains. Take a break and visit the Aquarium and have lunch at one of the many restaurants located in the park. If you are really feeling frisky, try renting a tandem bike, 2 is always better than 1!
4. Shop the local Market at Granville Island: This is one of my favorite places to shop for local delicious foods. They have everything including, fresh made Terra Breads, organic local produce, fresh seafood (live lobster), incredible deli’s, and local venders selling unique art work and fine foods. Besides food, there are dozens of shops to browse through. Bring your kids as they have one of the best toy shops around.
5. Grab a coffee on Commercial Street: Also known as “The Drive” , Commercial Drive has a large number of local ethnic stores and community groups, European-style cafes, bars, and alternative shops and entertainment venues. There are 93 restaurants on Commercial Drive, of which 19 are coffee bars. Come hungry and come thirsty to enjoy what this area has to offer.
6. Bungee jump in Whistler: Just over a year ago I accompanied some friends who were going to bungee jump. I came along without knowing whether or not I was going to jump but my fears got the best of me and I decided to cheer on from the sidelines. I regretted it immediately and decided that at some point in my life I was going to do that. Hopefully it will be sooner than later. For more information check out this website: http://www.whistlerbungee.com/home.php
7. Rock Climbing ‘The Chief’ in Squamish: Becoming a rock climber was almost mandatory when I started dating my boyfriend “climbing guru” Peter. Alright, that was a lie but once I started climbing, I got the bug. Squamish is one of the most popular places in the world to climb and for good reason. The Chief is located in the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. This park has opportunities for camping, hiking, rock climbing and scenic viewing atop the Chief.
8. Mountain Bike Whistler/North Shore/ Squamish: There are many places to ride depending on where your interest lies. The North Shore Mountains are famous for their wicked downhill mountain bike trails, whereas in Whistler and Squamish you will find a wide variety of cross country trails. Whistler also has a pretty stellar mountain bike park. Check out this link to find out more about Mountain Biking in whistler: http://www.whistlerbike.com/index.htm.
9. Hop on the B.C Ferry over to the Sunshine Coast: I have always loved taking the ferry over to the island. Things to go: The Sunshine Coast is riddled with remote logging roads and trails that make for fantastic mountain biking. The view is always worth the effort it takes to get up those hills! Sechelt Inlet, also known as the Inland Sea, offers miles of protected sea kayaking including two large inlets reaching back into the BC mainland (Narrows and Salmon Inlets). There are four kayaking companies operating out of the inlet this year, offering rentals, excursions and great lessons for beginners. If you want to go further you can take another ferry over to Powell River.
10. Surfing in Tofino: The area around Tofino is fully exposed to the Pacific Ocean and believe it or not you can actually surf everyday year round. The water may be a little chilly, but in the last 10 years wetsuit technology has come a long way making surfing and other watersports a lot warmer and more comfortable. Tofino’s beaches and coves are balancing between majestic mountains and a very powerful body of water, making for a genuine wilderness surfing experience. Mix that with a laid back lifestyle and it’s no wonder this area has developed its own unique surf culture.
Have fun exploring!
Nicola Gildersleeve, Athlete Ambassador
What are you doing for the 2010 Winter Olympics?
February 12, 2010 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
I remember the day I heard that Vancouver was going to be hosting the 2010 Olympics. It was way back in High School and I was still in my teens. I remember thinking how crazy it was going to be because I was going to be 25 years old when the Olympics came to town!!!!! That was so old, I thought. I have to look back and laugh because being 25 years old feels incredibly young. I wish I could remember what I had imagined myself doing at 25 back when I was only 16 yrs old.
People keep asking me what I am going to do during the Olympics. I honestly have not put too much thought into it. I had pondered the idea of Volunteering, and then at least I could see some of the games. But, that involved time off work and I didn’t want to give that up. I fantasized about going away somewhere exotic and warm, but that also involved taking time off work. I concluded that I was just going to watch the Olympics live on my T.V with everyone else who could not afford to buy tickets!
I hiked up to Grouse Mountain this morning via the BCMC Trail. The BCMC parallels the grind and is approximately 10 minutes longer on average. I prefer this route because it doesn’t feel like a stair master and is less crowded. However, at this time of year, neither trail is crowded. Once I got to the top, I ate my Elevate Me Energy Bar and boarded the gondola to get down the mountain. On the way down, the gondola conductor (as I named him) told us about the plans Grouse Mountain has for during the Olympics. He told us that Grouse Mountain will be open 24/7 for the entire duration of the Olympic Games!!!!! That’s not all, NBC is going to be taping live from the top of the mountain (or the chalet area)
This means that you can literally ski everyday all day for 2 straight weeks! The gondola and restaurants will be open for 24 hours. You can snowshoe, hike, and even zip line at night. They have been planning this for 3 years and it sounds like it will be an amazing and entertaining adventure. I can’t wait to be a part of it.
My couch and television may remain empty during the games as I plan on hiking up the mountain to listen (to NBC reporters) and watch the games live (on big screens). Come try something different this year and experience something you will never forget!
Nicola Gildersleeve
PART 2- Nutritional benefits of Elevate Me!
February 5, 2010 by Nicola · Leave a Comment
I hope you enjoyed part 1 of the nutrition health benefits of all the wonderful foods that make up our favorite all natural energy bars by Elevate Me. I introduce to you part 2, enjoy!
I must admit, the first time I ingested Matcha Green Tea it was in my Elevate Me nutrition bar. The health benefits of matcha tea exceed those of green tea because when you drink matcha you ingest the whole leaf, not just the brewed water. One glass of matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content. It is rich in antioxidants and chlorophyll and is shown to enhance mood. Another benefit is that it has a rating of zero on the glycemic index; therefore it will not raise your insulin levels.
I cannot even begin to list off the thousands of health benefits there are to this next fruit, but it truly is Bananas (pun intended)! This yellow, half moon shaped super food, has been shown to reduce depression by improving mood. Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function. Due to their content in fibre, they help restore a normal bowel function. Banana’s help with eyesight protection, aid in bone and kidney health, and the absorption of calcium. Lastly, bananas are extremely high in potassium, yet very low in sodium (1mg), thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high blood pressure.
I’ll be honest and tell you that Papaya is not on my weekly shopping list, but I am starting to reconsider that because it is an amazingly rich source of the proteolytic enzymes. These are the chemicals that enable the digestion of protein. Thank goodness I can get a source of Papaya in my Elevate Me energy bar! Papaya is also a great source of magnesium, and potassium.
This next fruit I often use to make a quick Salsa to put on fish. Mango! This amazingly delicious fruit is high in Iron, helps relieve clogged pores, combats poor digestion, helps protect against heart disease, and contains phenols which have a powerful antioxidant and anticancer abilities.
Nothing taste better than a good old fashioned Blueberry pie! That must be because Blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit. These berries neutralize free radicals in the body which can affect disease and aging in the body. They also aid in reducing belly fat, brain health, promote urinary tract health, preserve vision, help cure heart disease, helps constipation and digestion, and reduce the risk of cancers!
If you have never heard of Goji Berry, listen up! The Goji contains more beta carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach, and more vitamin C than an orange. Goji has a long history of treating eye problems, skin rashes, allergies, chronic liver disease and tuberculosis. Who knew?
Last but certainly not least, I give you one of my absolute favorites, Cocoa! Chocolate and cocoa derive their health benefits from flavonoids, which are plant pigments capable of acting as antioxidants to counteract some of the cellular damage that can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Cocoa powder has also been shown to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow in humans.
I hope you found my last two blogs very informative! Now we just need to educate the rest of the world because there are way too many processed foods out there. Until next time,
Nicola Gildersleeve
Athlete Ambassador/ Trail Runner
Vancouver company must meet Matt Lauer during Olympics
January 26, 2010 by prosnack · Leave a Comment
Vancouver’s own “Elevate Me!” protein and fruit bars (www.elevateme.com) is on a mission to meet Matt Lauer when he is in Vancouver to shoot the Today Show during the Olympics this February.
Says company founder Earl Ellingson, “We know Matt Lauer is an avid cyclist and the Today Show is shooting at Grouse Mountain. Since we make our bars at the base of the mountain we would be crazy not to try and meet Matt and get on the Today Show!”
Already “Elevate Me!” has sent a gift pack to Matt and offered him useful advice on how to avoid a repeat of his unfortunate run-in with a deer while cycling (click to see cartoon reenactment here: http://www.prosnack.com/mattlauer
They have also offered Matt a years’ supply of fresh bars and a matching years supply donated to his charity choice.
Starting February 1st “Elevate Me!” is running a twitter contest, rewarding our followers for Matt Lauer sightings and hiding limited edition gift packs throughout Vancouver stuffed with Elevate Me! bars and other goodies.
Each day starting Feb 1st through the Olympics they will send coded hint tweets to “Elevate Me!” followers.
During the Olympics “Elevate Me!” ambassadors will be handing out free bars and trying to meet Matt and welcome the rest of the Today Show team.
“Elevate Me!” energy bars are made fresh daily by a dedicated family business in North Vancouver and selling across Canada, and soon into Whole Foods Northwest USA. The success of Elevate Me bars is due to the 7 unique and delicious flavors, the high whey protein amount and whole fruits. The bars are called “the world’s simplest protein and fruit energy bars” because all they contain is real simple food. Gluten-free, soy-free, cold formed = Simple. Clean. Fruit. Protein.
For more information contact the company directly:
Trish and Earl Ellingson
Founders/Owners/Devoted Bar Makers
PROsnack Natural Foods Inc.
p 604 980 6160
f 604 980 6170
info@prosnack.com
www.prosnack.com
New Elevate Me! Athlete Ambassador
December 17, 2009 by SarahD · Leave a Comment
Hi, I am Sarah and I’m training for international competition in cross country skiing. I’ve been training for many years and often find good quality snacks hard to come by. When I was first introduced to Elevate Me back in 2007 while training at Lake Louise, I was thrilled because I finally found a bar that could get me through five hour workouts without making me feel like throwing up!
I am full time cross country ski athlete, which involves training twice a day, six days a week, eleven months of the year. I currently reside in Canmore in order to have access to the top training facilities and coaches. I maintain a rigorous training regime of 650 hours a year and travel to over 20 races throughout the winter. I spend a lot of my time training and racing in ski competitions all over Canada, and the US and sometimes in Europe and Asia. Sport is a big part of my life. But sport can’t be all of life, so I also earned a degree from the University of Calgary in International Relations and Development Studies. Since I graduated from University, in my time between workouts, I practise yoga and am working on a course in creative writing.
I grew up in the Northwest Territories of Canada, in a small and isolated community called Fort Smith, near Wood Buffalo National Park. Throughout school, I played many sports: soccer, volleyball, track and field. My main sport was cross country skiing. I went on to compete, as it provided a wonderful opportunity to travel and meet like minded young people from outside of my small town. Training was often a challenge, as the weather was bitterly cold, the winters were mostly dark, and I trained alone on trails that were only groomed occasionally. I was driven to improve and loved being outdoors. I started off competing in Arctic Winter Games, I moved on to become a medallist at Canada Winter Games and at the Junior National Championships. I competed for Canada at the World Junior Championships in 1999. I was one of two women representing Canada at the Under 23 World Championships. I was the first NWT skier since the four time Olympians, Sharon and Shirley Firth, to represent Canada at a Nordic World Championship, while in Sapporo, Japan in February 2007.
As a member of the Esteem Team role model program, I encourage youth to pursue a healthy lifestyle and follow their dreams. I am also an ambassador for the non-profit Fast and Female, which seeks to empower girls through sport, and volunteer for the organization at events throughout the year. I am now a full time athlete. My goal is to qualify for the 2010 Olympics and 2010 World Cup competition.
Highlights of my racing career include qualifying for the 2008 Canmore World Cup with a convincing Nor Am victory in December 2007. I placed 19th out of 60 competitors from 21 nations at the Canmore freestyle sprint World Cup in January 2008. This was my first World Cup appearance and my strong result qualified me for a six nation European World Cup tour with the Canadian Team. I finished the season ranking 2nd in the final standings for the Canadian season long sprint series and I was named to the National Ski Team in 2008-2009.
My proudest achievement in skiing is not the medals or the placings I have earned but the discipline I have learned that is required to train at this level and constantly push myself to improve. My dedication to sport has been tested with a number of health problems and injuries. I have undergone two surgeries on my legs, the most recent one in March 2009. My ability to persevere through these challenges makes me confident that the lessons learned through sport will be of great value in the rest of my life. My passion for sport comes from the challenge of always finding new ways to improve, and seeing how the confidence fostered from sport can change the lives of young people.
My next race is the Canadian Olympic Trials December 19-22, 2009. I’m in the middle of working on my goals of reaching the 2010 Olympics and World Cup competitions. I look forward to keeping you all up to date on my goals, and training and stories from the road. Training is something I’ve come to love and hope you too find the sport that drives your passion.
Until next time,
Sarah Daitch
Road to Vancouver 2010
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