Sports Ed instructor rides his talk
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April 11, 2008
In Tony Webster’s class, students study how physical activity and healthy lifestyles contribute to optimal health and wellness.
“I like to practice what I preach,” says Camosun’s Exercis
e and Wellness program instructor.
This June, Webster will taking this statement to new lengths and new heights as he embarks on one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world, the seven day BC Bike Race.
Webster’s passion for sports not only fuels his teaching, but his recreational time. When he is not teaching squash or kayaking skills, he can be found golfing, windsurfing, ice-climbing, sky-diving, ski-touring and, of course, mountain biking. He has participated in triathlons as well as adventure racing (combining pursuits such as navigation, cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling and climbing) but the BC Bike Race will be his first multi-day technical bike race.
He is primed for the challenge having trained on all the local trails he can find, spent a small fortune on a high-end bike, and secured a friend from Germany as his BC Bike Race partner.
A fun way to suffer together
There’s no doubt the race will be tough, with the need to push past perceived personal physical and mental limitations inevitable. “It will be a fun way to suffer together,” says Webster.
Hailed as the “ultimate single-track experience”, the BC Bike Race is the new kid on the block of epic multi-day mountain bike stage races. Between June 29 and July 4, teams of two are challenged to race through a spectacularly beautiful, spectacularly difficult route from Shawnigan Lake to Whistler. Covering nearly 600 kilometers and climbing just over 10,000 meters, there are only two other multi-day stage races of the same technical level in the world – the TransRockies bike race (also in Canada) and the TransAlp Challenge (Germany and Italy).
BC’s trails have traditionally lured international mountain bike enthusiasts. Our mild coastal weather and unique topography combine to create trails of legendary status, so merging some of these trails into a challenging world-class race proved highly successful for the BC Bike Race’s inaugural 2007 year. This year’s challenge has attracted 400 adventure-hungry teams from all over the world and a waiting list.
Camosun’s Centre for Sport & Exercise Education – Transmitting active enthusiasm
Webster is pleased to be part of Camosun’s Centre for Sport & Exercise Education (CSEE). “Camosun’s programs offer quality education in an intimate teaching environment where faculty closely interact with students.”
In addition, Camosun’s CSEE has the advantage of being a central part of the newly developed Pacific Sports Institute (PSI). PSI is a centre of athletic and academic excellence and community partnership, now in the final stages of construction and due to open in September 2008.
When asked why people are unaware of the joys of fitness, he suggests the automation of society, urbanization, cars and people’s perception of safety have contributed to an inactive society.
“Childhood obesity has tripled and quadrupled over the last twenty years in many western countries,” says Webster. According to provincial activity levels, “BC is the best of a bad bunch, but it is not enough.”
“I like to make learning enjoyable to students, transmitting my enthusiasm about being physically fit, and providing course information in an open and humor-filled environment,” says Webster.
Interested in Camosun’s Sports and Exercise Education programs?
Presently being offered is the is the two-year Diploma in Exercise & Wellness, providing participants skills and knowledge for a career in promoting optimal personal health and wellness to individuals and groups. In addition, the two-year Diploma in Sport Management prepares participants for an exciting career in the sport industry, assisting in event, team and, organization management and facilities, program, sales and service administration.
Innovative, leading-edge programming continues to be developed. A Diploma in Athlete & Coach Education is being developed and planned to start in the Fall of 2009. It will emphasize the academic, organizational, and practical aspects of successful competition and advanced coaching. The Bachelor of Athletic & Exercise Therapy will start the fall of 2008 and teach the prevention, immediate care, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal orthopedic injuries and variety of hypokinetic diseases. The Bachelor of Sport & Fitness Leadership is being developed and planned to start in the Fall of 2009. It will meet the increasing need for qualified, well trained sports leaders and managers.
Details on programs and information session dates visit camosun.ca or contact Lisa Woodward at 370–4567 or sported@camosun.bc.ca.
The Camosun community wishes Tony every strength in the BC Bike Race this June!
Last updated: March 17, 2010 2:13 pm
