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| Issue: # 024 |
April 2, 2009 |
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Wenatchee Valley Sports Council News
 Greetings!
Talk about "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb!" Of course, I'm still waiting for the lamb part, aren't you?
We're off and running on another spring with the Duathlon already come and gone and Ridge to River on the way. I might also take a moment here to wish my very beloved Deanna a happy 40th birthday April 3rd! Love you honey!
It's an exciting time in the Wenatchee Valley as the Wild host its first-ever playoff games and the change of season welcomes the blossoms and our Apple Blossom Festival the end of the month.
It's also an exciting time for the Sports Council as I will attend the National Association of Sports Commissions conference in Denver later this month and deliver the opening address on behalf of the Washington Association of Sports Commissions. I think the overall theme will be that in spite of difficult economic times, Americans have always used sport as a way to make it through. It provides a diversion, an outlet, a inexpensive social exchange and can be extremely cathartic.
Please enjoy this month's newsletter and we'll be seeing you at all the coming activities around the Wenatchee Valley.
Happy Trails
Eric Granstrom - Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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Good Luck Wild!  Not a bad inaugural season, huh? The Wenatchee Wild finished second in the West Division of the NAHL with a 35-19 record (8th-best out of 19 teams in the league). In 29 home games, the Wild saw 78,719 fans come through the turnstiles at Town Toyota Center, an average of 2,714 per game, TOPS in the entire league.
The Wild's Michal Voran was 12th in the league in points with 56. Wenatchee was second in the NAHL in scoring while playing at a disadvantage...you gotta like that never-give-up attitude!
But now, all the regular season stats mean little as the Wild begins the playoffs against the Alaska Avalanche. Wenatchee was 10-2 versus Alaska during the regular season, including 6-1 at home.
The Wild hope to continue its dominance over the Avalanche in the best-of-five series, all at Town Toyota Center. Game 1 is Friday night at 7:05pm. Game 2 is Saturday night at 7:05pm. Game 3 is the following Friday, April 10th, at 7:05pm. If necessary, Game 4 would be April 11th at 7:05pm and Game 5 would be April 12th at 5:05pm. For ticket information, contact the Wenatchee Wild at 888-7825 or purchase directly from the Town Toyota Center box office. |
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Want to Run a State Park?
The Washington State Parks Department, facing extreme budget shortfalls, is proposing to close 13 state parks and mothball another 33 in the coming year. Three of those parks including Squilchuck & Confluence in Wenatchee, and Lake Wenatchee State Park. Also on the list are Alta Lake near Pateros and Sun Lakes-Dry Falls near Coulee City.
According to public affairs director for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Virginia Painter, Governor Chris Gregoire has told the agency to cut $10-million from what it received from the state general fund. Painter said all 13 of the parks considered for closure, "are inconsistent with the mission of the parks system as determined by the Centennial 2013 Vision."
The "Vision" outlines that state parks should be "premier destinations or places of regional or statewide significance." The criteria used to determine what is significant included "unique features, significant resources, high visitation and extraordinary scenery."
According to its own numbers, 361,577 people used Lake Wenatchee State Park in 2007 for day-use or overnight purposes. Confluence State Park saw 344,807 users in 2007. It's important to note that both Lake Wenatchee and Confluence are on the Mothball list and not on the Closure list. Which means either or both could be close temporarily awaiting improvements in the state's budget.
Painter says state parks not considered essential in the Centennial 2013 Vision, "might be more appropriate for a county or city parks - and we are hoping that counties and cities eventually can take them over so that they remain public parks." The closure list includes: Lake Osoyoos, Brooks Memorial, Schafer, Bogachiel, Tolmie, Fay Bainbridge, Fort Okanogan, Wenberg, Ford Ward, Joemma Beach, Kopachuck, Lake Sylvia and Old Fort Townsend.
A petition is being circulated in support of state parks and proposes alternative funding methods including an excise tax on boats and snowmobiles; using a portion of the state's property tax; and assessing a day-use fee. |
It's Ridge to River Time...Are You Registered? (photos by Al Neace)
If you haven't finished registering your children for the Wenatchee World Junior Ridge to River Race yet, you still have time. According to race organizer Sheila Salmon, "parents can still register online at www.r2r.org or print out an application and drop it off at the RSVP office before Friday.
Salmon says there will be another practice, "Friday night from 4 - 6pm. (registration is open earlier this year for those who want to beat the rush (1-6 pm). If your child hasn't participated in the Jr. race in the past, Salmon says to be prepared, "make sure each child has their bib number and show up early. The Paddler must bring a life jacket... and a towel just in case they go swimming. Each Biker must have a helmet. And don't miss the tshirt judging contest."
Salmon says, "Biosports has reconfigured the obstacle course, so that should be fun."
There is a baseball tournament at Walla Walla park during the race. If the parking lot is full, Salmon suggests parking is available across the street at Town Toyota Center, Stemilt parking lot is available and Link is offering a shuttle service to and from Shopko.
 Meanwhile, registrations for the Alcoa Ridge to River relay April 19th are slow. Salmon says they only have a few entries so far, "but this is one event that people typically wait until the last minute to register. RSVP says dollars from entries is equal to same time last year, so I'm not worried yet. Salmon says race organizers have little concerns over snowpack at Mission Ridge with the recent snows, but river flows on the Wenatchee are another issue. "Right now, the river is too low...but that can change overnight, so we are watching it closely," said Salmon.
Registration for the adult race continues online at www.r2r.org. For more information, call the Retired Senior Volunteer Program office in Wenatchee at 662-8799. |
 Who Will Pay for Rec. Bridge?
(photo provided by Mark Peters) Federal stimulus dollars will pay for the painting. The Reclamation District, City of Wenatchee and DOT have paid for surveys and work done so far. But $102,000 remains to be covered and the hope of those involved is that user groups will help step forward to pay the rest.
According to a re-cap provided by Allison Williams, Executive Services Director for the City of Wenatchee, "the Wenatchee Reclamation Bridge was facing the closure of the bridge last year due to a study that indicated it may be compromised. The public agencies (behind the lead of the City of Wenatchee) came together with the Wenatchee Reclamation District to fund an engineering study which indicated a course of work for the bridge. The engineering study was a $156,000 project and the city and partners funded $100,000. The Reclamation District funded $56,000 and the DOT paid the cost of underwater surveyors for the project. The new course of work will be completed in a couple of weeks and was $268,000 and the Reclamation District funded $166,000. The City of Wenatchee committed to the remaining $102,000 so the work could be completed by the time the pipe was filled with water. The city is hoping for partners again to help with the $102,000."
A meeting between the Rec. District, City and user groups is planned for late April, but at press time for this newsletter, a date had not been set. |
Dummy Downhill Thrills & Chills Over 200 people gathered on a snowy Saturday last weekend at Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort for the 9th Annual Dummy Downhilll. The crowd clapped and cheered as one ski dummy after another were shoved down Lower Chak-Chak and over a jump.
In all, 17 dummies were constructed in various themes and were judged on creativity, "judges choice", and most likely to survive. The most difficult part of the competition for dummy-builders was the climb and drag of each dummy into position to come down the hill.
 Inspector Clu-Snow (Beach Family of Snohomish) won for Most Creative, even though the Pink Panther bit it hard after the jump. Ed (a garbage can on skis) won Kevin Forrest of Wenatchee the Youth Division prize. "Bearcat", by Rand Bryant of East Wenatchee, picked up first place and an adult season pass for an incredibly long jump and scary finish. The dummy slammed head-first into the snow, hurling a ski over the retaining fence and into the crowd. No one was injured.  Mark Daniel's Marvin the Martian won Judge's Choice. Complete with elaborate story, the 'dummy' included three Coors Light beer cans strapped to the back of the flying saucer.
The overall championship went for the second year in a row to the employee entry, "Granite Goose." Resembling more of a Stealth Jet than a skiing dummy, the final entry of the day sailed off the jump and took flight past the rest of the competition.
(photos privided by Doug Janke) |
 R U Going to the Olympics? Who knows what benefits you may enjoy for letting E3NCW know you're going already going to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver less than a year from now?! Email today! |
 Sports Foundation Contributes to Lacrosse This is the second time the fledgling lacrosse club has received assistance from the Sports Foundation.
A reminder, the next grant application window will be August 1-31 with awards to be announced in September. If you have any questions about the grant process, check the website at www.wvsportsfoundation.org or call Eric Granstrom at 663-3723. |
 Wenatchee Man Lands TV Show
Wulf says he and two hunting buddies decided to put together a company. "We formed Banded Productions that has taken our Fowl Life addiction to another level and created a television show based upon guys from the Northwest that travel Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Colorado chasing around waterfowl." The buddies are Chad Belding and Brian Bowers. In fact, the television show is called "The Fowl Life with Chad Belding."
Wulf laughs at recalling the ignition point of the idea. "Last June, we (Wulf, Belding & Bowers) were down working on our property, Greenhead Springs that we own down in the Othello area and Chad's driving the ATV when he stops right in the middle of everything and says, "Guys, we're gonna start a business...we're going to start a TV show!" Three weeks later, all the corporate papers were written up and Alex Langbell, Kris Swanson and Chad Prawitz were added to the crew and "The Fowl Life" was born.  Wulf has been a hunter since he was a teenager. "I got my first shotgun from selling subscriptions to Fishing & Hunting News Magazine when I was 14." Aside from his passion for hunting waterfowl, Eric found quite a zeal for fighting off foul balls behind home plate as a baseball catcher. He was an All American at Washington State University and drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 1992 and then traded to the Florida Marlins where he played for the Kane County Cougars (A) in 1993 before injuries forced him out of baseball. Wulf said it was time to figure out what to do for a living, "I got into the irrigation business just by needing money to pay rent. I decided to take it to the next level (Eric Wulf Landscaping) and hired a few key people and Wenatchee's been very good to us and it's been a good ride for about 13-years." Eric said the landscaping business worked perfectly with his passion for hunting, "I can do landscape through October-November and hunt in the wintertime." Wulf guided waterfowl hunters on his family's property in the Brewster area for a number of years but has decided to forego that so he can concentrate on the TV show.  Wulf says he and his production company began shooting video last fall and worked extremely hard on putting together enough footage to create some shows. Evidently, their work has paid off. "Brian and Chad went down to the Shot Show in Orlando, Florida in January (Shot Show is an industry trade show hosted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation) and showed our pilot (brief snippet video of The Fowl Life) and received phenomenal feedback from the who's who of the industry." Wulf and his partners originally signed a contract with the Sportsmen's Channel and the Pursuit Network and have more recently been approached by The Dish Network about airing their program. Wulf said the debut of The Fowl Life will air on June 25th on the Sportsmen's Channel, "we have Direct TV and if you're looking for the Pursuit Network it's under H-U-N-T, the Hunt Channel." As they say, check your local listings! |
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April Sports Calendar
3-5 - Washington High School Equestrian Teams District Meet at Appleatchee3rd - Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild - Game 1 Playoffs, 7:05pm at Town Toyota Center 4th - Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild - Game 2 Playoffs, 7:05pm at Town Toyota Center 10th - Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild - Game 3 Playoffs, 7:05pm at Town Toyota Center 11th - Steve Bruchett Ski and Golf Tournament at Mission Ridge & Highlander Golf Course 11th - *Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild - Game 4 Playoffs, 7:05pm at Town Toyota Center 12th - *Alaska Avalanche at Wenatchee Wild - Game 5 Playoffs, 3:05pm at Town Toyota Center 18th - MS Walk, 2 or 5 miles at Confluence State Park, 10am 23-27 - Northwest Crank Bike Rides (5-days, 5 rides from 50-125 miles each) 25-26 - Golden Age Softball Kickoff Tournament at Walla Walla Point Park
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 Visitors Guides Now Available For your complimentary copy, stop by our Visitors Center at 25 N. Wenatchee Avenue next to the Owl Soda Fountain or at our Visitors Center at the Apple Commission Office at Olds Station. You can also request a copy via email at info@wenatcheevalley.org.
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Thank you for being part of the Wenatchee Valley Sports Council on-line community. If you'd like more information about the Sports Council, go to our website!
Sincerely,
Eric Granstrom
Wenatchee Valley Sports Council |
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