Red Bull is known for bringing its out of this world adventures and feats to all corners of the globe and they’ll be hosting another exciting event in Vancouver this weekend. Red Bull Around the Strait will take place on Saturday at Jericho Beach.
What: Red Bull Around the Strait (Competitive Sailing Race)
Where: Jericho Beach, Vancouver
When: Saturday, July 12, 2014 from 10:00am to 4:00pm
This will be an exciting day of action on the water as amateur and seasoned sailors alike go head to head in this first time competitive sailing race with a twist. With three difference race formats wrapped up in one contest, it will take a mix of strategy, skill and a little style to win.
There will be three race stages. The Blitz Course has a Le Mans-style start where racers will sprint down the beach to their boats in an exciting battle straight out to a marked buoy, and then back to the finish line near the beachfront.
On the Cup Course boats will start downwind with each class trying to take the hole shot around the first turn. From there, high speed downwind sailing and strategy takes over with a gate giving the sailors a choice of directions to head back up the course to finish on their second lap.
The Hull Flyer is the decider for the points, and ultimately the winner. Red Bull asks: “How far can you push your boat, in style, as spectators look-on from the beachfront? It’s time to show off or crash trying, points will be given by on water judges. Points based on height, time flying and style.”
If you would like to compete, registration is open online. To be a spectator, simply head to Jericho on Saturday to enjoy the action for free with your family and friends.
#WhatsTheLink is a series about all that TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority, is responsible for in the region. Learn more at Translink.ca/WTL and join the #WhatsTheLink conversation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, The Buzzer Blog, and here of course!
For this last post in the #WhatsTheLink series, I’d like to revisit the subject matter of the last seven posts. Don’t worry, there’s no test or poll at the end of it, just a chance to win a 3-Zone FareCard! What do you have to do to win? Well, read on and you’ll find out.
#WhatsTheLink: TransLink is the Link to Better Travel Choices
The Major Roads Network
Did you know that Kingsway is part of TransLink’s Major Roads Network? Yup, it contributes to the 2,300 lane Kilometres of major roads in Metro Vancouver, for which TransLink is responsible.
Five Bridges
Besides roads, TransLink is also into bridges — five of them in fact! They are the Knight Street, Golden Ears, Pattullo, Westham Island and the Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle bridges. Every day, 200,000 crossings happen on those TransLink bridges over the Fraser River!
Transit
Most people know TransLink for public transportation. What many people don’t know is how well used our public transit is. In terms of numbers of riders, 418,000 people take TransLink transit every day in Metro Vancouver!
Cycling
TransLink is also about cycling. Part of TransLink’s multimodal mandate is to help support the people making the 107,000 bike trips each day in Metro Vancouver. That includes making cycling easier and safer by opening the first secure bike room on the system this May!
Shaping Communities
Great transportation is as good as the planning behind it and around it. Transit has been part of shaping where people have lived and worked in Metro Vancouver for over 100 years. TransLink has helped shape sustainable communities by integrating with community planning throughout the region. With future Transit Oriented Developments in the works, TransLink is actively involved in carry on this legacy.
A Connected Transportation System
Being a multimodal organization in charge of public transportation, the Major Roads Network, five bridges and cycling infrastructure means TransLink can seamlessly connect all modes of transportation. But in order to do this well, you need a reliable transit system.
The public transit modes we provide are bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express. All modes work hard to get you where you and your goods need to go.
Goods movement
The roads, public transit and infrastructure that TransLink helps to provide are integral to the economy of Metro Vancouver. TransLink manages major roads and helps to ease traffic congestion so that you can get the coffee, medical supplies and almost anything you can buy at a local store, hospital, school and more.
#WhatsTheLink Contest
We all get around the region in different ways. TransLink helps you get to where you’re going by helping out in four key ways: transit, cycling, walking and driving – What’s your favourite way of getting around?
Enter to win one of two 3-Zone FareCard ($170 value) for either August or September 2014. Here’s how:
- Leave a comment below telling us your favourite way of getting around Metro Vancouver (transit, cycling, walking or driving) (1 entry)
- Regram any of the images in this post, including @Miss604 and @TransLinkBC #WhatsTheLink (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Contest ends Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 11:59pm. The winner will be drawn at random. Thanks in advance for entering our contest and learning about what TransLink does in your region.
Update: The winners are Ceci and @elephantprose!
Summer is here and while there is temptation to disconnect when you get away, the right smartphone can actually help you make the most of your vacation time. With features for monitoring physical activity, awesome cameras to document your adventures, and apps that will help you do everything from get directions to learn how to start the perfect campfire, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is your ultimate road trip companion.
These features (and more) will help you make the best of your summer road trip:
- 16/32 GB storage: That’s a lot of storage which can handle thousands of your favourite tunes.
- 16MP (1/2.6”, Phase Detection AF) camera on the back: For your quick-shooting highway-side wildlife pics, posed photography next to the world’s biggest ball of twine, or epic panoramas from the top of your hike.
- Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Hall, RGB ambient light, Gesture, Fingerprint, Heart Rate Sensor: All useful for tracking your fitness routine, your run up the Grouse Grind, finding your way on the trails, and plotting your course to the next Rest Area.
- I found that the large screen also allows you to focus on your surroundings while you take your photos or video so that you don’t miss any action to squint or adjust settings. The Selective Focus even allows you to remove photobombing squirrels from the background of your shots.
- Finally, it’s waterproof! You won’t want to submerge it for hours while you SCUBA dive but if you drop your Samsung Galaxy S5 into a puddle, into the shallow end of the pool, or dunk it to take awesome underwater video, it will still work! (Here’s some proof).
Whether you’re camping in Washington State, around home, enjoying a picnic in Stanley Park, or finding the best beach for swimming nearby, your Samsung Galaxy S5 will be great with a connection, with WIFI, or even in airplane mode (and used as a flashlight in the tent, which I have done).
Win a Samsung Galaxy S5
I have two devices to give away to two lucky readers, theirs to keep and start their summer off right! Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming your favourite road trip destination (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, July 18, 2014. Each winner will receive one device. Follow Samsung Canada on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the Galaxy S5. Prize does not include a service/carrier plan.
Update The winners are Sabrina and @intelli_sponge!
Support Piano, the Pianos on the Street project, returns this summer with 10 pianos placed in open-air locations around the city for all to enjoy until August 23rd. This initiative is “for the public to play with the goal of building bridges throughout the community” and pianos can be found in the following locations:
Pianos on the Street: Vancouver
CityStudio Main at 21st, CityStudio Spyglass Dock, CityStudio Dude Chilling Park, CityStudio Robson Park, CityStudio Chinatown, CityStudio Canada Place, CityStudio Financial District, CityStudio Creekside, CityStudio Strathcona Park.
Pianos on the Street: Surrey
Pianos on the Street will also come to Surrey this year with a piano placed near the North Surrey Recreation Centre adjacent to Surrey Central SkyTrain (10275 City Parkway) starting July 8th. It will be within the borders of the PARKit summertime pop-up park — a park in place for the summer that, in addition to being a social space, will also feature a number of food carts for the public to enjoy. Musicians will be present to celebrate the launch on July 8th and celebrations will begin at 12:00pm to promote the launch of the project in this area.
UPDATE: Pianos on the Street: New Westminster
Pianos on the Street is also heading to River Market at New Westminster Quay on Friday, July 11th at 12:00pm. A piano will be placed in a special public location on the waterfront at River Market on that day where it will stay until the end of summer. Numerous musicians will be present to celebrate the launch on July 11th.
New this year, Pianos on the Street will feature a video contest with cash prizes of up to $400. Competitors will also be eligible for a chance to play with the North Shore Symphony. Be sure to tag all your photos and videos with #supportpiano. Follow the project on Facebook for more information.
In the last four weeks I have flown to Salt Spring, enjoyed the BC Shellfish Festival in Comox, walked around Stanley Park with Talaysay Tours, attended the Jessie Awards, participated in a farm tour in Pitt Meadows, attended a wedding and hiked in Montana. It’s been almost a month since my pedicure at A Touch Above in Vancouver and my toes still look as shimmery and shiny as the first day I walked out of the spa and into Cambie Village.
A Touch Above Vancouver Spa
A Touch Above is an unassuming day spa on Heather St near 17th in Vancouver, specializing in waxing, facials, pedicures, eyebrow shaping, body care, treatments for men, and more.
My pedicure was in a private room and it included a foot soak, callous work, nail clipping and shaping, cuticle care, buffing, massage and polish. I even had the Dremel Power Buffer go to work on my cracked, dry feet and perfectly smooth them out which was far less intense or stressful than having someone slice your skin off with a blade.
The location calms you even before you walk through the door as it’s just a few blocks west of Cambie Village in a quiet residential area. The spa was loaded with quality products and featured treatment rooms, cozy nooks, and open areas. It felt like ‘your friendly neighbourhood spa’ which offered more than a quick in-and-out express pedicure. I only spent about an hour at A Touch Above and while the time was short, the quality was top notch.
If you do wish to make an event of a pedicure with friends there is a group area but I enjoyed my private room and chatting with Kim Yuen who did my pedi. Their motto of “providing all the best of the downtown spas without the high prices and parking hassles” rings true (I even just took the Canada Line to my appointment and back).
With my pink toes still shining bright and heels still ‘sandal worthy’ I am very pleased with my pedicure ($53 + $5 for Dremmel buffing). As you can see from the Yelp reviews, I am not alone in my praise of this local spa. Follow A Touch Above on Facebook and Pinterest to learn more and find them at 3284 Heather St at 17th or (604) 875-9228.
