The Stoke

This weekend, throw on your bathing suit and sunnies and head on down to the Last Drop for some beach volleyball! You still have one last day to register, so do it today!

On Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25, the Last Drop pub will be hosting a beach volleyball competition in the parking lot of the Powder Springs Inn at 200 3rd St. West. With sunny skies and skyrocketing temperatures expected, it’s going to be a fantastic weekend of fun in the sun!

The good folks at the Last Drop are brining in truckloads of sand to create this opportunity, to get on down today to register your team if you haven’t already done so. The tournament is open to teams of 2 for $25, and teams of 5 for $50. The tourney is taking place in a round robin style, so you will get to play all weekend!

Even more enticing? The parking lot will be licensed for the weekend, and it’s a great chance to get outside for ice cold beers on a hot summer weekend downtown.

I'm pretty sure these girls are playing in the tournament!

Prizes include beer swag, featuring main sponsor Bud Light Lime, as well as gift certificates to the Last Drop and other great prizes.

The Village Idiot is hosting a sweet townie bike Show & Shine on Saturday, July 10 at 2:00, followed by a town cruise and after party with live music and prizes!

Want to enter? Drop your bike off at the Village Idiot before 2:00 on Saturday. Voting will take place at 2:00.

Starting around 3:00, all entrants are invited to a townie cruise around Revelstoke! Erik Stone of the Village Idiot is working up a route full of fun stops along the way.

The evening festivities take place starting at 8:00 with a rockin’ afterparty with live music on the patio by Angus Wilson. Bring your bike back, because the votes will be tallied and prizes will be handed out in a bunch of categories, including best vintage townie, most decorative, and shiniest. Spit shine that puppy! Prizes were generously donated by Skookum.

The Village Idiot will also be offering a pasta special for anyone entering their bike in the show, or anyone entering the Stoked to Get Spanked XC race on Sunday.

Red Deer boy Colin Anthony will be bringing his folksy blues to Revelstoke on Wednesday night. He’ll be playing at the Ol’ Frontier at 8:00 pm on July 7. There’s no charge for the show - come check him out and enjoy some food and drink specials.

I’ve been whistling Colin’s “The Highway Song” all morning! Check him out on myspace.

The next health care profile on The Stoke is of an incredibly talented Registered Massage Therapist who moved to Revelstoke in December 2009. RMT Sarah Wex now calls Revelstoke home, and offers massage therapy to suit your needs - from rehabilitation to relaxation. Working out of Ambrosia Day Spa, Sarah is available by appointment Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 - 7:00 pm, and is available at evenings and weekends by appointment. Check out her lovely website for more information on how Sarah can help you feel your best.

I sat down with Sarah to ask some questions about her background as a health care professional, her time in Revelstoke, and her love of the outdoors.

Sarah Wex, RMT

Why did you get into massage?
I had a back injury as a tree planter and was referred to a brilliant Registered Massage Therapist. I was so inspired by his knowledge base and the thoroughness of his assessment that I decided to look into the profession. I love sciences and geeking out and have always wanted to do something where I can work with and help people, use my hands and be an entrepreneur. I thought that I would have to choose one or two things from that list eventually, but I can get it all as a massage therapist. I love my job.

Tell me about your treatment modalities. What can people expect? What are your favourites?
I tailor my treatments to the individual that I am treating and I take into account what goals they have and what modalities they like when developing my treatment plans. Some people think that massage has to be painful in order to be effective, but I don’t subscribe to this belief. While some techniques may be uncomfortable or painful at times (especially when dealing with injuries), it’s certainly not a necessity for positive results.
Most of the treatments I give typically involve a form of joint mobilization and myofascial release and I will often include some active or passive stretching because I find these modalities so effective. Most of my patients will also leave with some sort of home care, whether it is a simple stretch, hydrotherapy, modification of daily activities or a completely revamped exercise plan.

Who can benefit from massage therapy?
Everyone! I treat a wide range of conditions and people. Some of the most common conditions I treat in Revelstoke include sprains, headaches, stress, trigger points, disc herniations, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and whiplash (just to name a few).

Who is covered for massage?
There are a lot of Revelstoke residents that have extended health benefits through work that cover massage therapy. I treat a handful of them on a regular basis but I’m surprised by the number of people that aren’t taking advantage of this! Most extended medical plans will reimburse 80-100% of the treatment fees. I really encourage my fellow Revelstokians to check with their plan and come in for a massage. You won’t regret it.

How do you keep your own body and mind healthy so that you can help others?
I have to make sure I take my own advice! I pay close attention to my biomechanics while I’m treating to ensure that my back and wrists stay healthy, and I regularly stretch and massage my arms and hands. I also make sure that I get a healthy dose of massage from other RMTs in town and I see an acupuncturist and chiropractor from time to time. I think the best thing I do for both my mind and body is to go out and play with friends–whether it’s a bike ride, a day at the beach, an afternoon paddle or a clumsy tennis match.

What brought you to Revelstoke?
Mostly the mountains (of course). I have some friends and family here and came to visit occasionally to ski or just spend time outside. Each time I left, I always found myself saying “I wish I could live here!” Finally, my brother replied with “Why don’t you?” and that was enough of a nudge for me to make the move from Vancouver to Revelstoke.
I have been here for six months, had an amazing ski season, and so far, I’m really enjoying everything Revelstoke has to offer in the summer.

Sarah's already got her 2010-11 pass for RMR

Are you planning to stay in Revelstoke?
I sure am! I already bought my ski pass for next season.

What’s good about your location at Ambrosia Day Spa?
The Spa is a really fantastic place. It’s beautifully decorated and just feels luxurious and peaceful from the moment you step in the door. As a primary health care professional, it’s really wonderful to have the opportunity to establish a successful therapeutic practice in such a relaxing and elegant space.

Tell men why they shouldn’t be afraid to come get a massage at the Spa!
Spas aren’t just for women anymore! Actually, about 40% of my regular clientele is made up of men. The Spa isn’t a particularly girly place and no one is going to put curlers in your hair without your consent.

What are your hours and how can people book an appointment with you?
I work from 10am - 7pm Tuesday to Friday. I also schedule the occasional evening and Saturday appointments when required. Call Ambrosia Day Spa to book an appointment at (250) 837-3688.

After more than a year of hard work, Revelstoke filmmaker Vance Shaw is thrilled about the premiere of his new movie - ‘Rev: A Buried Treasure’ is playing on Friday, January 22 at 8:30 pm at Outabounds Nightclub, and then at The Village Idiot on Sunday, January 24 at 6:30 pm at the Village Idiot. Both shows are $10.00 at the door, and Sunday’s show is a family-friendly affair.

Vance Shaw, former Teton Gravity Research (TGR) principal cinematographer, has filmed, directed and produced this unique documentary style film about “a town that skis” (that’s us!). A heartfelt and raw story about people who ski, live and visit the place of their dreams, now in transition from a historic quiet mountain town to a world-class ski area. Locals, visitors, and athletes tell of a snow seekers’ gem made by passionate visionaries, lifestyle addicts, and vast terrain. High emotion, high content, high impact. The film features a lot of incredible athletes and a handful of Revy locals. The roster includes Chris Rubens, Dan Treadway, Mark Abma, Bud Stovel, Andrew Sheppard, Henrik Harlaut, Aazund Thorsen, The Pehota Family, Christina Lustenberger, Sean Cochrane, Izzy Lynch, Joe Lammers, Chris Kelly, Don Simpson, Greg Hill and more.

Vance has received some rave reviews for the project already:

“Shaw doesn’t shy from the myriad of emotions surrounding the transformation of Revelstoke - from a sleepy industrial mountain town, to a world-class ski and snowboard destination. The documentary uses skiing as a vehicle to identify what people love about the town, mountains and snow of Revelstoke they chose to make a permanent part of their lives. This film’s greatest value is its rare documentation of the human story and potential boomtown in its infancy.”
-Jason Tross, freeskier.com

“Rev is the successful blend of mind-blowing ski porn, engaging storytelling and timely journalism…A film about a ski town caught in transition from a small mountain town that relied on industry to a town quickly on its way to becoming one of North America’s top ski destinations. Rev is history in the making.”
-Keith Carlsen, Senior Correspondent, Powder Magazine

Shaw is an accomplished skier who has spent his adult life either in front of or behind the lens in search of the best skiing in the world. After filming from Alaska to the Alps while working on seven TGR films, Shaw left the traveling life to raise a family fed on mountains, fresh air and opportunity in Revelstoke, BC.

The movie is playing across British Columbia and beyond in the coming weeks. Check out the events schedule for the premiere nearest you!

Watch the trailer HERE.

When I was 15 years old, my ski boots hurt so badly that I had to finish a family ski vacation on a rented snowboard (gasp!) because putting my feet into hard plastic ski boots had become unbearable. Having since tried almost every brand of ski boot on the market, I can confidently tell you that there isn’t a boot out there that will fit my feet without serious modification. My current boots fit perfectly, thanks to the work of Revelstoke local Lance Schultz.  Lance has been a professional ski boot fitter for many years, first in Whistler and most recently in Revelstoke. Here at thestoke.ca we like to support local business, and Lance is about as local as it gets–he’s just recently built a boot fitting shop in his backyard (aka The Boot Shed). His current equipment includes an industrial sized boot shell punch, an oven for ‘cooking’ liners and a variety of foams and tools for making custom pads.  Lance uses these tools to eliminate painful pressure points and to fill-in areas where boots are too loose. On my last visit we stretched the width of my boots by almost 1 cm and added some padding around my ankles to stop my heel from lifting.  I no longer finish every day in agony and have gained a lot of control over my skis. If you have foot pain or a sloppy fit we highly recommend that you give Lance a call at 250-814-9854 (honestly, it’s worth a trip just to hang out in the the boot shed).

The Boot Shed

Getting Ready To Punch

Community Connections is holding a fantastic fundraiser for a really great cause on Wednesday, December 9 at Revelstoke United Church. Singing for Supper is an evening of song & celebration, featuring Tom Jackson, Pear & Shannon Gaye. Doors open at 6:15 and the show starts at 7:00. Tickets are $20, and they can be picked up at Community Connections, open from Monday to Friday 8:30 - 4:00 pm at 314 2nd St. E. Proceeds from the event are going to the Community Connections Food Bank.

Community Connections will also be selling some really neat 2010 calendars at the event. They would like to thank Brent Lea of Peak Images for producing a beautiful 2010 calendar featuring local vintage cars and scenery. The net proceeds from the sale of this calendar will be donated to the Community Connections Food Bank! These calendars are also on sale at Community Connections ($15.00 each) or by calling Brent 250-837-3347. Help Community Connections help those in need!

The Handmade Parade is happening this upcoming weekend at the Revelstoke Community Centre.

This is the 2nd Annual Handmade Parade - Christmas Arts and Craft Extravaganza put on by Krista Carnegie and the Revelstoke Arts Council! This year we will be seeing more vendors of fantastic quality who will be selling gifts for every price point and interest. The fair will be held at the Community Center from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday, November 28 and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 29. An admission of $2 will gain you entrance to the fair, and a ticket to great door prizes that have been donated by many of the vendors at this year’s fair. This year we will see crafters and artists selling everything from fine art to jewelry, pottery, self-published books and many other unique items. In addition, we will yet again host a children’s table where children who have signed up will be able to sell their wares. They are our next generation of crafters and artisans after all! We will be hosting some fantastic live entertainment throughout both days and the fabulous girl guides will be hosting the concession.

On Saturday, September 19, Revelstoke’s MacKenzie Avenue will be the place to be.The first annual New Moon over Mackenzie features live entertainment, sales at local businesses, draws, bands demonstrations, food, displays and fun.

The day-long street festival was designed to offset some of the losses experienced by businesses in the downtoan core related to the construction delays in the Grizzly Plaza extension project. Extended road closures and construction noise hurt businesses throughout the spring and early summer, and the Chamber of Commerce hopes that the New Moon Over Mackenzie festival will draw big crowds to Revy’s main drag.

Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Devitt told the Revelstoke Times Review that “We’ve had a lot of great involvement from the downtown merchants, much more than past events,” says Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Devitt. “We’ve got people volunteering — tirelessly volunteering — that are relatively new to the chamber, which is great. I think that it’s come together very well and very quickly, too. It goes to show what our membership can do when they put their minds to it.”