SPORTS BLOG

If you ever have the chance to hear the kayak expedition paddler Chris Duff speak, don’t miss it! You’ll likely think he’s a bit nuts, but it will be a great reminder that life is most fulfilling when you follow that little voice in your heart…

Even if that voice says, “take your little kayak and paddle around Iceland!”

Duff has circumnavigated Ireland, Iceland, England and New Zealand, and he paddled 8000 miles around the Eastern US (UP the Mississippi).

He spoke on Friday, March 25 at the NW Maritime Center in Port Townsend. The Olympic Outdoor Center hopes to host him in Kitsap this summer when he returns from his latest trip: a solo rowing trip from Scotland to Iceland.

If you’re interested in this kind of thing, You can follow his trip by going here: http://olypen.com/cduff/

He also wrote two great books that both won the National Outdoor Book Award: On Celtic Tides and Southern Exposure: A Solo Journey Around New Zealand’s South Island.

You can also read about him here: http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110308/news/303089984/adventurer-shares-plans-with-port-angeles-chamber-audience

When I’m sitting in my office in front of the computer, ear glued to the phone and fingers aching from typing, I can’t help but myself: what happened to the outdoorsy girl who swore she would never work indoors?

The main answer I keep coming back to is this: she’s still here, she just wants to make a living AND play outside.

I believe outdoor recreation has the power to have a lasting, positive effect on health and happiness for people of all ages, as well as on the natural world I love so much.

Whether in the rain or snow, under the sun or clouds, there is something incredible about paddling on the Puget Sound that I can’t quite put into words, so I feel compelled to share it, talk about it, create opportunities to let others try it.

When a Harbor Seal pup looks at me with it’s big eyes, or when a pod of Porpoises dive and jump around my kayak campers and I, I thank my lucky stars for all those days of sitting behind the screen.

In the Puget Sound, I’ve paddled with Porpoises, Orcas, Salmon, Seals, Sea Lions, Ospreys and an endless list of seabirds and underwater sea creatures. While paddling, I’ve petted squishy Sea Cucumbers with seven-year-olds, laughed myself silly when a fish jumped in a friend’s kayak, cried as I watched a baby seal flounder on the beach with a cut on it’s flipper.

The Puget Sound is a special place, a place like no other on this enormous planet. Every time I move away, the kayaks and the Bald Eagles and the purple Sea Stars call me back.

My hope is that every person who sits in a kayak on the Puget Sound gets a touch of wonder, a moment of pure relaxation, and a jolt of personal connection to the natural world. I hope that the experience becomes one that they can relive for the rest of their lives, and that it helps them in times of stress, sadness or poor health.

My hope is also that they will take measures to ensure that the Puget Sound will be alive and well for future kayakers.

If you enjoy kayaking or want to learn about it, please stay tuned for upcoming notes on my favorite places to paddle in Kitsap County. Coming soon: Dine ‘n Paddle: Kitsap’s best places to combine paddling with homestyle cooking.

Please feel free to share your ideas and thoughts.

Spring Courtright
Olympic Outdoor Center Program Director
programs@kayakproshop.com

There’s no shortage of activities to do on the Kitsap Peninsula, even during the fall and winter. We have some of the best scuba diving in the area, fishing, kayaking rain or shine, and lots of other sporting events inside and out. For more information, visit www.VisitKitsap.com and click on the Sports/Tournament links. Come for the day, the night or the weekend. You find lots to do, see, eat and drink!

Get your running shoes ready for the inaugural Poulsbo Marathon and Half Marathon Run/Walk on Sunday, Oct. 17. The scenic course will include woodsy roads and the beautiful shoreline of Liberty Bay as well as stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. Part of the course will wind through Poulsbo’s picturesque Front Street and Waterfront Park.

 The marathon is a USATF sanctioned event, and proceeds go to benefit the North Kitsap Trails Association.  All finishers will receive a finisher medal in both events, and awards will be given to the top three finishers in various categories.

 Registration fees include a T-shirt, and there’s a significant discount to those who register prior to the day of the event.

Once you’re done with your run, enjoy a day in Poulsbo and get your energy back. Downtown is a hot spot for many great restaurants — including Mor Mor Bistro, Buratta Bistro, One Ten Lounge and Port Side Pub, and that’s just the beginning of the list!

 You can also get a little shopping done if you want to treat yourself or someone special. You’ll find many great treasures downtown. Stop by Potlatch Gallery to check out the limited glass pumpkin collection, available just in time for the holidays! Find some trendy gifts and home décor at Saisons Boutique. And make sure to stock up on chocolate at Boehm’s Chocolate – you’ve already worked off the calories in advance!

And if you’re thinking of playing hooky on the following Monday, check out one of the cozy local B&Bs or hotels, you deserve a little break!

PUGET SOUND PADDLE FINAL CHALLENGE
Sat, October 10 – 9am (arrive Allyn at noon)
Heron Island to Allyn Waterfront Park .
The Olympic Kayak Club will have a scheduled course of all the segments that everyone is welcome to join in on     More Info available here

Some of the finest table tennis players in the country will meet in Kitsap County for the “Showdown Near Seattle,” the Kitsap Open table Tennis Tournament, Sept. 25 and 26.  

The No. 1 one player in the USA for nine straight years (and currently at No. 2), Yiyong Fan of Seattle, will be attempting to take back his top title and take home a share of the $6,055 in prize money.  more…

Kitsap County Fair & Stampede
For over 60 years, folks have come from miles around to see what the ruckus in Kitsap County, Washington was all about. Every year that ruckus gets bigger, the contestants more daring and bold. When the bulls, the horses, the clowns come to town…well, let’s just say you’ll want to see what’s kicking up all that dust. It’s about time you came to the Kitsap County Stampede. We’ve been nominated “Rodeo of the Year” for 5 years in a row! It’s all happening August 25 through 29, 2010.

Xtreme Bulls August 29th at 1pm
Xtreme Bulls came back for its 6th year, bringing exciting levels of exposure to both the sport of bull riding and to the Kitsap Stampede & Rodeo. This year, on Sunday, August 29th, Xtreme Bull riding fans enjoyed some of the most intense bull riding competition in professional rodeo.  Like last year, this event will be televised on ESPN. Television Airing Schedule: To be announced.

Wrangler Million Dollar PRCA Silver rodeo tour

This year, the Kitsap Stampede was added an official tour stop on the Wrangler Million Dollar PRCA Silver rodeo tour. The PRCA’s ProRodeo Tour will take on a new look and feel and will be called the Million Dollar Tour. It will be divided into 2 different levels, Gold and Silver, based on how much money there is available to your favorite cowboy or cowgirl to win at that particular rodeo. What remains the same however, is that the tour is an innovative showcase (originally developed in 2000) of the sport’s top competitors and rodeos. Only seventeen events are listed on the tour for this year. At the conclusion of the Million Dollar Tour, 2 Playoff Rodeos (formerly known as Tour Championships) will follow.

Click here for all the details!!

Don’t miss the 3on3 Shootout at at the Silverdale Beach Hotel. Meet former Sonic and special guest James Donaldson will be here throughout the weekend in support of the tournament. Come out for a photo, autograph or just to see the former center dunk a few times. The event will provides individuals the opportunity to be a player,  spectator and/or a volunteer. As a recurring, annual tournament, benefiting those in need, we will provide a venue for the game of basketball and demonstrate that the Kitsap Peninsula is a great place to visit, live, work and play.

The Kitsap Pumas and OSSC are teaming up for a post season bash in Bremerton on Saturday Aug 14 at 11 am. The event is a thank you to everyone involved with the organization and will feature autograph sessions, a meet and greet, BBQ and pick up soccer.

The event is open to the general public and costs $5 for adult admission, $2.50 for kids under 18. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance at OSSC. However…

Free admission is offered to the following groups:

• Pumas Season Ticket Holders
• Current OSSC Players with card on file
• Friends of the KPVCB (let them know we sent you!)

Call (360)479-8388, email or drop by OSSC to reserve your tickets; limited numbers are available.

Suitable for all ages. See you there!

Congrats to the Kitsap PUMAs & Blue Jackets for making the playoffs…read all about it in the PUMA’s big win,  and the BlueJackets in the Kitsap SUN!

Note: If you are interested in helping provide updates to the KPVCB sports blog, please contact lauren@visitkitsap.com!