Here’s a rundown on some of the sports-related community events taking place in the North Whidbey area.
Snowrider Ski Bus
Registration is underway for this year’s Snowrider, a bus to Stevens Pass for skiers and snowboarders.
The bus has pickups in Coupeville, South Whidbey and Mulkilteo.
The Youth Snowrider for children 10 to 18 runs every Saturday from Jan. 8 to Feb. 12. Stevens Pass has a variety of slopes for all abilities and lessons are available.
The Adult Snowrider will run to Stevens Pass and Mount Bakers on Tuesdays from Jan. 11 until Feb. 15.
Snowrider participants are eligible for discount lift tickets.
Those who register for the Snowrider before Dec. 9 receive a $50 discount.
For more information and to register online, visit www.swparks.org, call 360-221-5484 or email parkfun@whidbey.com.
Youth Basketball
Registration for Oak Harbor youth basketball has begun, and the program has recently added a league for fifth- and sixth-graders.
This recreational league is open for boys and girls from kindergarten through sixth grade.
The deadline for registration is Nov. 30. The fee is $35 for kindergarteners and $60 for all others. Each additional sibling receives a $10 deduction if registered at the same time.
Registration forms can be picked up at Big 5 and 7-eleven.
The players will be split into four levels: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grades 5 and 6. Boys and girls will play separately in grades 3 and up; the younger players will be placed on co-ed teams.
For more information call 360-279-5734 or email basketball_youth@yahoo.com.
Deception Pass Dash
The fifth annual Deception Pass Dash paddle race will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m.
The challenging six-mile course, which begins and ends at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park, takes paddlers through the swirling waters of the pass. The race is open to all kayakers and paddlers of human-powered craft (surf skis, paddle boards, SUP’s, etc.) who are confident in their rough water paddling abilities.
Over 120 racers have registered so far, coming from across the Northwest, Hawaii and Canada.
Jingle Trail Run
The Central Whidbey Chamber’s third annual Jingle Trail 5K Run and Walk takes place Saturday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. at the scenic Fort Ebey State Park in Coupeville.
Entry fee is $25 (includes long-sleeved T-shirt for the first 125 entries) and $10 per walker (without shirt). Children 12-and-under are free.
Medals will be awarded to the top three men and women with random drawings for additional prizes. The Chamber will also be collecting food items to benefit Gifts from the Heart Food Bank (donations are voluntary).
Entry forms are available at the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce or on the website www.centralwhidbeychamber.com/jingletrailrunandwalk or by calling 360-678-5434. Deadline for entries is Dec. 1.
Basketball Clinic
The Christmas Classic Basketball Clinic for boys and girls is set for Monday, Dec. 20, through Wednesday, Dec. 22, at the Oak Harbor High School gym from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
The clinic is open to boys from first through the eighth grade and girls from first through sixth.
The cost is $30 if registered by Dec. 6, $35 after. The fee includes a long-sleeve T-shirt and water bottle. Registration forms can be picked up at Island Pet, Big 5 and the 7-eleven stores.
Local coaches will conduct the clinic. For more information, email ohbballclub@yahoo.com.
Adult basketball and volleyball, open to men and women 16-years-old and up, is available in Coupeville through the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District.
Basketball takes place at the Coupeville Middle School and High School gyms every Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through Dec. 19.
The cost is $60 and those interested can register online at www.swparks.org. Contact Sarah Stuurmans, sarah3-02@yahoo.com, for more information.
Volleyball meets every Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Coupeville Middle School gym through Nov. 29.
The cost is $30 and those interested can register online at www.swparks.org. Contact Robyn Wynn, rawynn91@yahoo.com, for more information.
Whidbey Island Running Club
The Whidbey Island Running Club, sponsored by the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District, is looking for interested runners to train for the cross country track season.
Interested participants can contact the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool at 675-7665 or head coach Catie Rodeheffer at 279-2196 to get information on practice times and locations.
North Whidbey Aquatic Club
The North Whidbey Aquatic Club is a competitive swimming program of the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District. It includes swimmers of all abilities and ages from 6 through college.
Tryouts occur Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the city pool from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. New swimmers should be able to swim a length of the pool in freestyle and backstroke.
The first two weeks are free.
For more information, please call the pool (765-7665) to speak with head coach Neil Romney or view the team’s website at www.teamunify.com/pnswznwac.
Whidbey News-Times Sports Photos
Sports photographs taken by Jim Woolbright for the Whidbey News-Times are available online for everyone to view and download.
Woolbright’s photos can be found at gallery.me.com/jameswoolbright.
Woolbright generally takes over 100 photographs of the events he attends and would like everyone to have access. He said, “I am a sort of give-the-families-what-they-want kind of guy.”
