Page 24 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 26

24 sportsenergynews.com

Ignite the Night to take snowshoe racers through 1860

By Terry Tinkess only increase interest.
“Upper Canada Village and area
anuary 10, 2015 will be a night
Jof bright lights at Upper Canada has always been an area I love,” says
Parisien. “SDG has been an area
Village in every sense of the word

because it will be the night of the first hot bed of sort for snowshoe racers,
Ignite the Night snowshoe race. since the addition of the snowshoe
trails in the Summerstown Forest 6
The DION Ignite the Night years ago. It proved to me that if you
Snowshoe Race is an exciting new give people a place to play they will
race in the Dion eastern Ontario come.
Snowshoe Running Series and will
be held at Upper Canada Village, “This additional race at UCV with
near Morrisburg, Ontario. This is the the lights was designed to introduce
new people to the sport. I’m extremely

first race of the 2015 Dion Eastern
Ontario Snowshoe Running Series. passionate about snowshoeing and
wanted a place that would help attract The popularity of snowshoe racing is apparent from this photo taken at
The race is scheduled to take place snowshoers and believe the magical the second annual Dion Snowshoe race at the Summerstown Forest in
at 6:00 .m. with race-day registration lights at Upper Canada Village will January 22014. The runners are still bunched a few seconds after the start
from 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. at the Harvest be the place. Photo Credit: Paul Couture.
Barn at Upper Canada Village. Photo provided by the Friends of the Summerstown Forest.
The course itself should be magical!
There will actually be three different It features a five kilometre loop (two perfect postcard setting! Having points series 10 kilommetre race.

events combined in the one, the loops for 10 kilometres) snowshoe close to one million lights adorning
“main event” being the 10 kilometre run touring Upper Canada Village the heritage buildings, trees and Spectators, of course are welcome
Dion Points Series Race. There will and its “Alight at Night Christmas fences creates a one-of-a-kind and there is no admission charge so
also be the five kilometre challenge lights. This will be an experience that magical backdrop for this fi rst annual you are encouraged to come out and

(no series points awarded) and the transports you back in time to the snowshoe race. watch this unique event.
children’s fun-run (there are 35 pair 1860’s. The annual Alight at Night The Harvest Barn will be available
Once you leave the outside area of
of free-to-loan kids snowshoes.) Festival this year runs from December the village you need to be wearing a for registration, washrooms, awards

Gilles Parisien is one of the fifth to January third, but the Parks of headlamp to locate the single track ceremony and to stay warm when
organizers of the Ignite the Night the St. Lawrence have agree d to keep open field flagged course. This five not racing and there will be plenty

race as well as being one of five board the lights on for this race, making it a kilometre loop is rather flat with the of parking. Follow the signs to the

members for Snowshoe Canada. He true winter wonderland! exception of one hill that will be Harvest Barn in the Village.
says interest in snowshoe racing in Imagine running amongst the climbed three times for fi ve kilometre For those that don’t own a pair
this area is high and this event should authentic buildings and in a picture- runners and six times for the Dion of snowshoes, there are a limited
Continued on page 26
Karate Komments - Reaching a Plateau

committed student to earn that Shodan rank (first somewhat of a grind.
By Jim Riddell, degree black belt). The reasons for this happening are usually
During the beginning to intermediate phase, different for each individual, but regardless of
Seaway Karate Club which takes approximately one and a half what caused this to happen, a plateau has been

years, everything is new, and progress is reached. This is also often referred to as being in
easily recognized. This is the period where the “a slump,” or “hitting a wall.” Whatever you call
arate is a martial art, or sport, which has a foundation is put in place, the drills, skills, and it, it happens.
Kbeginning, an intermediate period, but no techniques are learned and then built on. Once These plateau’s are not uncommon, but must be
ending. Karate is something that, if one chooses, in the intermediate zone, the time between dealt with as soon as possible. It is important
can be participated in for a lifetime. For some
grading’s, or belt testing will increase, there that the student recognizes and admits that there
this journey is a smooth and incident free one, for will seem to be less new material to learn, and is an issue, and that the cause is identifi ed and
others, a few stumbling blocks are encountered more time is spent on refinement of technique. discussed with the instructor. An experienced

along the way. Progress at this point is most definitely being instructor will have seen this problem many times

When starting karate classes, the ultimate made; it is seen by the instructor, but is not before and will assist in getting thru this period.
long-term goal of most beginners is to achieve nearly as easily noticed by the student. At the Maintaining a proper attitude, staying focused and
the rank of Black Belt. Unfortunately, of all level of green to blue belt most martial artists training hard will all become worthwhile when
beginning students, far less than one per cent have acquired enough knowledge, skill, and that next belt is earned. Having the perseverance
will ever make it to that level. The reasons for experience that they can occasionally begin to to overcome these “dips” will help to boost self-
dropping out are numerous: education, family mentor a few beginning students. Some will see confi dence and develop mental toughness that
and employment commitments, marriage, the value in and enjoy this level of development, will help to overcome future obstacles not only
divorce, and re-location to name just a few. will remain inspired and continue to progress in the martial arts but in life as well.
For some others the roadblocks come during without diffi culty. For others the lustre that

the classes, somewhere in the four to five year once was has faded, the improvements that are Karate Quote: If you ever have thoughts of
quitting – remember why you started.
period of constant training that it will take the being made go unnoticed and training becomes