The eco-friendly Richmond Olympic Oval
The 2010 Winter Games athletes have since hung up their skates, but their home-away-from-home—the stylish and sustainable Richmond Olympic Oval—has become a must for workout enthusiasts. Find your inner Olympian with six hardwood gyms, two ice rinks, a running track and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.—Kristina Urquhart
Vancouver's gorgeous cherry blossoms paint the sky pink. Photo by Tom Ryan courtesy Tourism BC
1 Cherry blossoms. Nothing says “springtime” quite like the cheerful pink blossoms.
2 Using our noodle…for a quick, cheap meal at the West End’s Kintaro Ramen, Legendary Noodle or Hon’s Wun-Tun House.
3 Rogers’ Chocolates, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. Chocolate lovers choose the irresistible Victoria Creams—with fillings ranging from coffee, ginger and orange to vanilla, strawberry and always-patriotic maple.
4 Walking or biking along the seawall on a blustery day.
5 The annual Chutzpah! Festival (to Apr. 8).
6 Sipping a hot cuppa coffee while perusing the designer shops along bustling Robson Street.
7 The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
8 Tasting the very best of British Columbia at Edible BC, including organic jam, wild pacific salmon and local honey.
9 Grinder and Coola, two orphaned bears who reside on Grouse Mountain. They usually come out of hibernation in April.
10 Lingering over dessert at Lupo.
11 The larger-than-life art installations located throughout the city during the Biennale.
12 South Granville Street—aka Gallery Row—for its never-ending selection of art galleries.
Eye-pleasing confections at Lupo Restaurant & Vinoteca. Photo by KK Law
13 Dim sum, or any quick-to-eat Chinese food, such as take-out barbecue pork, from Chinatown.
14 Cheering for the Vancouver Canucks.
15 The Richmond Olympic Oval, which reopens to the public this month. It was the official speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Games.
BC speed skater Denny Morrison is poised to be a top contender at the 2010 Winter Games
By Kristina Urquhart
The eco-friendly roof at Richmond Olympic Oval. Photo by KK Law
Under a magnificent domed roof, the cavernous arena echoes with the sound of the starting bell, of the first moment a sharp skate blade touches the pristine rink, of 8,000 spectators cheering wildly.
This is the Richmond Olympic Oval (see “Fast Facts,” below) just one month from now, when it will host the long-track speed skating events during the 2010 Winter Games. This is where Denny Morrison, Canadian speed skater and Olympic silver medallist, will vie for the gold.
Unlike many athletes who only recently discovered whether they’d be competing in sport’s biggest contest, the 24-year-old Morrison has known since his stellar race results last winter.
“I’m really excited,” he says. “I have good feelings about Richmond. The oval is pretty spectacular.”
Morrison now calls Fort St. John, BC home, but he was born in the tiny town of Chetwynd where there was no hockey league. Eager to skate, a three-year-old Morrison started speed skating lessons. The rest is, as they say, history.
No stranger to the podium, Morrison brought home a silver medal in the team pursuit race
Denny Morrison will skate for gold at Richmond Olympic Oval. Photo by Ewan Nicholson
at the Torino 2006 Winter Games. This year alone, Morrison won the bronze in three events at two ISU World Cup events. He is also pictured on the packages of Wrigley’s Excel Polar Ice chewing gum—a portion of the proceeds goes to the Canadian Olympic team.
Morrison’s busy training and competition schedule doesn’t offer much down time, but he likes to try new restaurants, including Chop for both its innovative cuisine and its proximity to the Richmond Olympic Oval, where he trained last year.
Watch Morrison on Jan. 16 and 17 in the World Championship Sprint in Obihiro, Japan, and tune in during the 2010 Winter Games to see him race the 5,000 m (Feb. 13), the 500 m (Feb. 15), the 1,000 m (Feb. 17), the 1,500 m (Feb. 20), the 10,000 m (Feb. 23) and the team pursuit qualification (Feb. 26) and finals (Feb. 27). Whether or not Morrison ascends to the podium, he is sure to make Canada proud.
FAST FACTS
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