Author Archives: Katrina Longpre

Formula 1 the Phenomenon

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Formula One aka F1 for short is widely known as the pinnacle of motorsport, it combines cutting edge technology, elite athleticism, and strategic skills. This global phenomenon captivates millions of fans around the globe with its fast speed drama and engineering legends. But what does Formula One have that makes it so unique and complex? Today we are diving into the inner workings of the sport, extracting its history, the designs of cars, race structure, and the crew that makes it all worthwhile. 

A Brief look into the History of F1: 

Formula One traces back to the early 20th century, however the modern F1 World Championship started in 1950. The series was created by the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA), its goal was to bring together the best drivers and its fastest cars. Over the decades, F1 has evolved immensely, moving with the times and the advances of technology and changes in regulation have helped shape the sport into what it is today. 

The Formula 1 Car: 

The Make-up of a Formula One car is truly complex in every way. If you’re just getting into the sport you don’t need to be a car geek to understand it. However if you’re interested in the inner workings here’s a breakdown of the elements that build the race cars we see today.

Chassis: 

The Chassis is the car’s structural backbone, it is usually made from carbon fibre to secure a strong yet lightweight frame. This provides the necessary rigidity and safety for the drivers. 

Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is a huge factor in F1. If you notice the wings along the cars other than them being a nice fashionable touch to the car, their role is major. These intricate wings and bodywork help maximize downforce, this helps the car grip the track during those high-speed turns. And there is this little (but big thing) called DRS which you may hear being enabled during the race. DRS stands for Drag Reduction System. The chasing driver would enable this to open up back flaps to increase the speed of their car to help overtake the car in front of them. 

Power Unit: 

The Power Unit (PU) in today’s cars is a hybrid working system that combines V6 turbocharged engines with a Energy Recovery System (ERS). The ERS traps energy when braking and from exhaust heat, this converts it into electrical energy and boosts the cars performance. 

Tires 

Also seen as Tyres are produced and supplied by Pirelli you will see this name at every race and almost every type of F1 branding. They are designed to provide the most optimal performance in all kinds of weather conditions. Teams have a choice of different kinds of compounds (soft,medium,hard) that reflect each track condition whether it’s hot, cold, or wet and this all is a part of their race strategy. 

Brakes

Because of the advanced braking system the cars obtain this allows them to decelerate from the intense high speeds. The utilisation of the lightweight and heat resistant carbon fibre brake discs and pads the performance of brake efficiency is key for a car’s lap time. 

A Look at Race Weekend:

A F1 Race weekend has two practice sessions; this is when the drivers can get more comfortable with the track and teams can see if they need to make any adjustments to their cars. Saturday morning usually holds the last Free Practice session. 

Qualifying

Qualifying is on Saturday in the afternoon and this occurs to see how the grid line up will be for the race on Sunday. They have three knockout rounds (Q1,Q2, and Q3). 

Q1: All 20 drivers compete, those with slowest times in the bottom 5 are eliminated. 

Q2: 15 drivers remain to compete and again the bottom 5 are eliminated. 

Q3: With 10 drivers left they race for the fastest times in which they battle for pole position which is located at the very front of the grid.  

Race Day

Sunday is our main event. This is the day the race is held. And for the west coast sometimes these race times can be very early. The earliest I woke up to watch a race was the Singapore Grand Prix of 2023 where Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari beat the Red Bull Racing winning streak. Moreover, all 20 drivers line up on the grid based on their qualifying results and ultimate positions. These races start with a standing start. So if you’re familiar with Nascar they have a moving start whereas a standing start would be comparable to a Track Running Race where the runners wait till the gun pops off for them to start racing. Instead of a gun popping off, there are lights that drivers have a close eye on. Their reaction time is very key to the beginning performances. The races are about 305 km, roughly about 90 mins. Drivers only score points if they finish in the top 10, 25 points for 1st all the way to just 1 point for 10th place. 

Team’s Efforts and Strategy 

As much as F1 is about the skills of the drivers, teamwork and strategic game plan is just as important as it would be in any other sport. The teams consist of hundreds of personnel like engineers, strategists, and a pit crew; they all must work in unison to deliver the best performance. 

Race Strategy

Each team must develop a game plan or race strategies that have to consider tire wear, fuel load and the trickiest weather conditions. When you see the drivers being asked to pit, which is basically having the drivers come back to each respective team’s garage to fix a part of the car and have a tire change, that decision is made during the race in real time. 

Radios/Communication

There is constant back and forth communication between the drivers and their pit wall through a radio. Drivers will report any incidents regarding another racer or their car and whether or not they need to make or manage the car to deliver the best results. 

Drivers

Formula One Drivers are some of the most elite athletes in the world. They go through major physical and mental training to handle the G-Force that occurs during the races and must maintain focus over the long races during any condition. They also must have an understanding of their respective cars to give and provide feedback for peak performance. 

Teams

F1 teams are prestigious organizations that are often backed by major car manufacturers or corporate sponsors. Teams like Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Mclaren had invested majorly in research and development of the cars. Which then they continue to constantly push the boundaries of what can be possible in the world of motorsport. 

Rules and Regulations

The FIA enforces an array of rules and regulations to ensure safety, fairness and a competitive balance. These rules hit everything all the way from the cars dimensions and materials to race conducts and points scoring. Regulations continue to progress as technology emerges and helps maintain the sports integrity. 

Safety

Safety is the crown in F1. Innovations like Halo (a protective ring that surrounds the drivers cockpit), advanced crash structures, and consistent test runs that improve the drivers safety. 

Formula One is an alluring blend of technology, strategy and human abilities. It also does help the drivers to be quite easy on the eyes for the girls. This sport has been such an interest I would have never have thought I would get into. If you’re just starting out I would recommend to watch the Drive to Survive Series on Netflix they explain how the sport works in a more visual sense and dramatic too. And as the sport continues to evolve, it will always remain a continuous testament to human limits and strive for success for the teams and drivers alike.

Vancouver’s Very Own

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As many stories you hear of icons and legends that have come from all over the world Vancouver holds a handful of celebrities that are more than just local legends. They span from Artist, Actors, and Athletes just to name a few. And maybe even your favourite celebrity grew up in a city near you. 

Ryan Reynolds 

Most famously known as a comedian, writer , actor and active sports team owner Ryan Reynolds career has spanned for over 20 years and is still thriving today. Reynolds Born on October 23 1976 Vancouver BC has been active since he was just 13 years making his debut on a teen soap opera on Nickelodeon called Hillside. He even graduated from Kitsilano Secondary school in 1994. Reynolds continued to have small roles in movies and became leads in some iconic Romantic Comedies like Definitely Maybe, The Proposal, and some action movies like X-Men Origins: Wolverine Green Lantern where he met his now future wife and fellow actress Blake Lively and his famously devilish Canadian Anti Hero Deadpool. This was a blockbuster hit which then went on to co-write and produce its famous sequel Deadpool 2. Coming up in July the third movie of the Franchise will be releasing and will be following the adventures of Deadpool and Wolverine where Ryan has brought back Hugh Jackman to reprise his role once more. Other than his acting chops Ryan gives a lot of credit recognizing Vancouver and is always adding details in his work that reflects Vancouver. He is active in contributing to the Vancouver Food Bank and Blake Lively and Him both have contributed since 2020 about 2 million dollars towards Food Banks Canada, the at-risk youth charity Covenant House in Toronto and Vancouver,  and St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. The details within his work are seen within his famous Deadpool Movies where most of it was shot here in Vancouver. Locations like Science World,Chinatown, The Cobalt Hotel, and Arch alley are some of the filming locations used within various sequences of the movie. He also co owns and invests in a couple of sports teams including, Wrexham FC, Alpine Racing Team , and Ottawa Senators. Safe to say he’s quite the businessman and one of Vancouver’s best to come out of the city. Overall, Ryan Reynolds’ career still thrives today with his show Wrexham FC still running and many upcoming projects set to arrive this year. 

Taylor Russell 

Taylor Russell has been active since 2012 she’s an actor and style icon as most recently Harry Styles current girlfriend which makes him 10 times cooler than he already is. Taylor has starred in some of my favourite movies and maybe yours as well. The two that first come to mind are Waves (2019) and Bones and All (2022). She was born in Deep Cove North Vancouver which is such a place to grow up in with its beautiful coastal lookouts and popular spot for the summer. I was actually quite surprised to find out that she was from Vancouver but I was very pleased to hear so because other than her outstanding work as an actress she is a very popular style icon with her looks constantly turning heads in each event she walks into. Her aura is so admirable and the way she carries herself is so soft and graceful. Here’s one of my favourite looks that she just recently stunned at this year’s Met Gala in Loewe.

And another one of my favourite looks of hers was at the London Film Festival in 2022 while promoting the Bones and All film wearing Schiaparelli.

When I first discovered her back in 2019 with the Waves film I couldn’t help but fall in love with her talent. That film is definitely in my top list. She portrays a teenage girl trying to figure out life after the events of her older brother going to prison and the struggles and grief that come along with it all trying to continue on with her life as a young girl. It is truly so nice to know that someone so talented could come from a place just a half an hour away from my house or maybe just down the street from you! And as a massive fan girl when her and Harry Styles were seen in deep cove earlier this year I have to admit there was a part of me that went, what if I just took a day off to go to deep cove? Overall Taylor is still acting and stunting looks to this day and I cannot wait to see her career keep progressing over the years. 

Seth Rogen 

Longtime actor , comedian , writer and producer Seth Rogen is another icon from VanCity. Seth born on April 15th 1982 has been active since 1999 starring in Judd Apatow’s Freaks and Geeks a short lived TV series starring some big names like James Franco and Linda Cardellini. Seth attended Point Grey Secondary School and just like Ryan Reynolds still reflects Vancouver within his work. In the Netflix Series Breakfast Lunch and Dinner Seth Rogen and chef David Chung take on a handful of food spots around the city but before that Seth and David checked out some highlight spots around Vancouver to work up an appetite. They first stopped at Queen Elizabeth Park to spark one up and really get that full Vancouver experience in the best way possible. They tried out some donuts from Lee’s Donuts in the Granville Island Public Market, Sun Sui Wah Seafood and Apna Bhaia. You can check this all out on Netflix. It is the first episode of the series. And have you ever heard a familiar voice on the skytrain a couple years ago? Seth used to be a guest speaker on the Translink Skytrains; they were quite a surprise to hear especially with his silly yet legendary laugh is one you couldn’t miss. In Summary, Seth Rogen will always be a name you won’t forget and because of his constant references of Vancouver he’ll always be a local legend around here. And hey you might catch him at some Canucks games once in a while. 

Vancouver has many more famous names that continue to shine in their careers whether it’s through fashion, artistry , acting or athleticism. But it’s always nice and sort of comforting that some of your possible favourite celebs could have just grown up right next door to you. I’m still holding out hope that Taylor Russell and Harry Styles take another Deep Cove trip. Maybe that will be the only time my friends will possibly catch a glimpse of Harry since he hasn’t done a show here in forever. Otherwise, if you’re passionate about acting or singing, maybe you could be our next local legend. You never know what your cards hold for the future.

Top 3’s of Taylor’s

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Taylor Swift’s career has been active since 2003 to the present day. Over 20 years of a career she has released 11 studio albums and 4 re-released albums 5 eps and 4 live albums. And to this day she is still rocking and selling out stadiums across the globe. Safe to say whether you’re a swiftie or not she’s been in the game and it’s rare you wouldn’t know her name or music. Taylor has been an important piece in my life and many others as well. My sister introduced me to her when she came out with her first self-titled album back in 2006 and we have been religiously listening to her music ever since. Begging dad to buy the new CD for years up until streaming services broke out and we would have little listening parties on the old computer or in the car. Safe to say we are long-time swifties. This props up the question: if you had to pick 3 albums from Taylor’s Discography, which albums would it be and would you have a story behind them? 

I would say my top three would be 1989, Red (Taylor’s Version), and Folklore. Now it used to be Speak Now as my third however as I have gotten older I feel more of a connection with Folklore. It’s a funny thing, what time can do to a person and how much change can be brought forth with it. So let’s break down the stories behind the reasoning of my top three and maybe you could relate to them as well. 

 Red (Taylor’s Version) 

Red (Taylor’s Version) was released November 12 2021 this was her first re-recorded album and in my personal opinion, it has been her best re-record, especially the Vault Songs that were added to it. To all my non-swifties “From the Vault Songs” refers to the songs that were written for the Red Album but didn’t make the release back in 2012 when it was originally released. And it contained one of the most heart-wrenching songs in the All Too Well 10-minute version. I could go into major detail with this song but I will just break down how that day went for my sister and me and maybe you could have a similar experience to ours as well. We scheduled the release date of the Short Film that was connected to the song that Taylor had directed and we got snacks, and tissues and told our dad that we needed the living room and TV for like 20 minutes just for this music video premiere. He understood the importance. I am pretty sure we started crying about 2 minutes into the song. We were overwhelmed with emotion because there was a part of us that felt like “Wow how could someone treat another in such a way for them to cook up a 10-minute song about their relationship fallout” Only Taylor could, really that’s the only explanation for that one. Regardless, that entire album top to bottom is such a masterpiece and the vault songs complement them so unbelievably well. 

Folklore

Folklore was released on July 24, 2020. My sister and I propped up my speaker and computer and turned on the little disco light in my room and played the album from top to bottom. First impressions we didn’t vibe with it too much. Now if you’re a Swiftie and can relate it was a shock. The style of music surprised us because it was such a shift from the Lover album truly and sonically it was sulky and ethereal in a way. I guess the people that we were then just couldn’t relate to it quite yet. Because every Taylor Swift fan knows you have a song by her for any situation no matter what. I guess as time went on especially after Covid and life started to pick up once again that’s when me and my sisters’ situation related more and more to that album. Heartbreaks, relationship fallouts, self-sabotaging, and all the fun stuff started to unfold and I found a sense of comfort in this album. Track 8 “August” was already our top song from 2020 but it hit more in 2022. I went through a friendship fallout with someone that didn’t appreciate me enough but at the same time, I wanted them to be someone they just couldn’t be for me. With the lyrics “wanting was enough, for me it was enough” those words became a sacred meaning that would stick with me all summer after high school. You don’t realize how much a song can hurt and heal you all at the same time. I say this because, at the beginning of that summer, those words were a painful memory of what my mindset was like during that friendship, wanting to be around that person was enough for me, just being near their energy was good enough, but why couldn’t they feel the same for me or maybe the did I just wasn’t aware. That song would drive me crazy because of how painfully true it was at the time. But as that summer winded down I grew and reflected on that situation as one does and that song doesn’t even come close to hurting me now because I can look back at all the good that came out of it and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without going through that event. Folklore is as sad and true as that album is. Despite the tears I cried listening to it, I realize how helpful and necessary that album became for me. The sense of clarity I found within it was such a spectacle. And that’s why it lies at number two on my list. 

1989 

Now it’s time for my top album to shine. 1989 was released on October 27th, 2014 this album was the game changer for me and changed the course of my life forever. 1989 sonically and lyrically was truly so wild for my sister and me. It was a sound that Taylor hadn’t fully enveloped towards which was pop. This was huge going from country to pop. We got a taste of it in the previous album Red which was released two years prior but not fully committed to that sound. Tracks like “Out of the Woods”, “I Wish You Would”, and “Wildest Dreams” really made me fall in love with the album and still have each song on repeat 10 years later. I appreciate it now more than ever and it’s still my top album today. This album, like many of Taylor’s albums, brought my sister and me together truly because I was at an age where I could fully be aware of the events that were going on. So we watched all of the music video premieres, we got our dad to buy it on CD and he ended up buying the Deluxe one with the extra songs and the Polaroids with them. I wish I still had those Polaroids if you still have them. I’m jealous. 

Overall, each of these albums holds a special place in my heart as do her others do as well. Each one I can connect to a different era of life. So I wonder once again if you could pick your top 3 albums of Taylor’s which one would it be?

Try to Resist a Movie like This!

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Do you have those movies that you always simply go back to? Movies that bring you a sense of comfort and home that can never be replaced or ever get sick of? My older sister and I always have these movies on rotation to come back to. We’ve got A Cinderella Story (2004), Mamma Mia 1, and Princess Diaries 2. Each of these movies holds a special place in my memories. They all played a big part in who I am today and no matter where I am or who I am these movies will always be stagnant in the best way possible. 

A Cinderella Story (2004) 

Made in 2004 this movie takes a twist on the fairy tale of Cinderella based in The California Valley Sam Montgomery Our Cinderella is a teenager who is forced to live with her stepmom and step sisters who are very much full of themselves and constantly cast out and take advantage of Sam’s kindness. Now this movie was made at the peak of those coming-of-age movies because that star-studded cast truly reflects the era it was made in. Our two leads in the movie were none other than Lizzie Mcguire herself Hillary Duff and heartthrob Chad Michael Murray best of all our stepmother is played by the iconic Jennifer Coolidge she has been in many movies and TV shows like Legally Blonde, 2 Broke Girls, and more recently White Lotus. The plot of the movie is Sam trying to break from the grips of her step sisters all while balancing her romance with Quarterback Austin Ames (Chad Michael Murray) but they are not aware of each other’s true identity because they have been emailing back and forth through emails but they know they go to the same high school just in different social circles.

They agree to meet at a school Halloween dance Sam must be back at the diner where she works before midnight or else her stepmother will catch her. This moment will forever be burned into my memory from the moment I saw it all those years ago. You know when you watch a fairytale movie where the girl appears in her gown and looks breathtaking and everyone at the ball stops and stares in admiration. When Sam appears in her beautiful gown and that cheesy pop song plays as she ascends down the stairs I always aspire to have those moments in life no matter how old I become it’s always nice to feel like a princess at times.

And of course, after a dramatic love confession and kiss in the rain the movie closes out with a happy ending. The guy gets the girl she stands up against her stepmom and sisters and Sam and Austin leave together for College. I’ll always come back to this movie no matter what. Sometimes you can just sense when it’s time to put on a movie and if you’ve never seen it I highly suggest checking it out. 

Princess Diaries 2 (2004) 

Starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Andrews, and Chris Pine this movie is yet again another star-studded cast and movie filled with nostalgia, romance, and excitement. Now you may be familiar with the first movie where we found out that Mia Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) was a princess and her grandmother is the Queen of Genovia (Julie Andrews) but the second movie personally is truly my favourite. Sometimes the sequels are better. This movie could be right up your alley especially if you’re a book reader because this story contains everyone’s favourite brewing enemies-to-lovers arc between Nicholas (Chris Pine) and Mia. This movie secured my big first crush on Chris Pine other than Chad Michael Murray but he’s a blonde Chris is a Brunette so two different cases.

Moreover, This movie reflects a lot on the importance of girlhood and female friendships. This is reflected in the wonderful friendship between Mia and Lily, her longtime best friend who comes to visit her before Mia’s arranged marriage to an eligible English bachelor. The movie goes on the budding chemistry between Mia and Nicholas and they can’t help but fall for each other as Mia is on the journey to becoming the next Queen of Genovia. This movie is always a safe space for me to come back to. I guess you could say I love a happy ending but the music, the message, and the glamour of it all draw me in every single time. How could you resist a movie like this? 

Mamma Mia (2008) 

Mamma Mia is arguably the greatest movie/musical of all time. There is no denying this movie has that absolute magic and ooze of nostalgia that you may need to cheer up your day. The cast is pact with every name you could think of for example Meryl Streep the one and only. And the soundtrack is ABBA I just know in times of trouble you blast a bit of ABBA and all your worries wither away. The aesthetics, scenery, music, and acting are untouchable with this one. I’m pretty sure I know the entire script by heart from beginning to end regardless of whether you like the different renditions of the songs, some are good, some are bad they are still so iconic even if it’s Pierce Brosnan singing SOS. Although that one is pretty bad. Aside from that, the plot of this movie is just so captivating. 

Donna Sheridan (Meryl Streep) and her daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) are gearing up the hotel for Sophie’s wedding. This all takes place on a little Island in Greece called Kalokairi Donna wandered off too all those years ago and has built a life for her and her daughter. But Sophie does a remarkable thing in searching for her real dad; she sends out three wedding invitations: Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), Sam (Pierce Brosnan), and Harry (Colin Firth) all in the hope they will attend her wedding. This stirs up some trouble on Donna’s little island as she is faced with her past flames and is in constant confusion as to why they are here. As the story progresses with the help of Donna’s long-time friends Tanya (Christine Baranski) and Rosie (Julie Walters) Donna tries to navigate life now that she’s faced with her past. In various songs and numbers that reflect each scenario placed summed up in an ABBA song, this movie holds the specialist place and my heart. 

Now you may be wondering why these three movies make them so special they all sound the same. However, what you might miss is the little details that can reflect in your life that have a major impact on people. For me, the Cinderella story represents hard work paying off, making sure you don’t let anyone diminish your dreams, and shooting for the stars. Also, don’t be afraid to ask or accept help. You never know if you could be your fairy godmother.  Through Princess Diaries 2, Mia’s character as well as The Queens Character taught me how to be poise and not to be afraid to make mistakes and take risks. Sometimes what you think you need in life could be the exact opposite and embrace the unexpected. Lastly, Mamma Mia gives me a craving for adventure and new opportunities. 

It all began in Bahrain

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“Lights out, and away we go!” On Saturday, Mar. 2, the Formula One season truly kicked off in Bahrain with 15 turns, three DRS zones, and each turn averaging between 65-215 mph, or so they thought. Qualifying for the most part looked very promising for Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari with him securing the pole position. World champion Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was just behind the Ferrari on the grid with George Russell’s Mercedes following in a big way in P3. However, on race day, the grid lineup towards the end was a different, yet familiar, story that Formula One fans are all too familiar with. The race kicked off with Verstappen biting Leclerc to immediately gain P1 which he was successful in, contrary to popular belief.

Towards the first couple of turns, Leclerc had an unusual problem. He suffered from major lockups in his front tires. As the race continued, a fight between teammates Carlos Sainz Jr. and Leclerc resulted in a major overall overtake from Sainz Jr. to ultimately secure his spot on the podium for P3, or so he thought. This season’s first race showed a lot of pairing in the top ten with two drivers each from Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin all finishing in the points as a pair in a subtle way. There was also a major upset from Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon finishing at the back of the grid. Their placing was quite a shock especially with each of them having a very promising season last year. Overall, it’s great to be back for another exciting Formula One season with so many races left to go and so many countries still to see.

First Nations Night with the Warriors

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Another Vancouver Warriors game is in the bag against the Buffalo Bandits and what a fantastic game it was. It was First Nations night so seeing the honouring and acknowledgment of the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations was special to watch. The crowd was truly alive and did not disappoint.

The first half of the game was spectacular with some heavy work from the offense bringing in the points at the forefront of the game. The Warriors had fans on the edge of their seats. The music also did not disappoint and added some layered storytelling throughout the game.

Throughout the second half of the game, things started to crank up. There was back-and-forth goals scored by both teams and with less than two minutes left in the game the Bandits, scored , but the goal was under review. This left the crowd in a nail-biting state because a good goal would have tied up the game. When the referee came out it was like a songbird on a summer morning when they said the words “no goal”, and the crowd went wild. The Warriors took home a win that night and the post-game news conference was something to look forward to.

Warriors’ star forward Adam Charalambides explained that they matched up well against the Bandits and their team dynamic helped them strive throughout the game. “We did a really good job in this game in answering whenever they scored. Of course, we didn’t answer on the o-end down the stretch, but (Aden) Walsh’s save shut the door for us and saved it, so that’s great.”

It was a big night for Walsh, celebrating his first win with the Warriors. “(It) feels great, (and was) just a matter of time with this group. (We) had some close games and it was just a matter of time until we came out on top”. He even gave a little truth of what was going through his mind during the replay of Bandit’s last potential goal, “I wasn’t looking at it, whatever happens, happens so I was just getting ready for the call.” Staying calm and just dealing with the outcome is really the best thing to do especially in high-stress moments like that.

Overall, the night was quite eventful, and the Warriors did not disappoint the crowd — they never do.

Vancouver Warriors: A sight to see

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The Vancouver Warriors face off against the Saskatchewan Rush on Feb. 10 in a heated and anticipated game — or so I was told. Truthfully, I had never heard of either team until recently. That night, I attended my first lacrosse game, and it was electrifying. 

First off, the crowd was incredible. I was lucky to attend Marvel night so seeing the families participate in their wonderful superhero costumes was so great to see. Sometimes we forget how much the crowd matters, but the atmosphere in Vancouver is something different. The engagement as well was something spectacular. The DJ worked his magic and when the Warriors had possession of the ball, the music was intense and pumped the crowd up. When the opposing team had possession, the music became more mellow as a kind of taunt you would say, which was hilarious.  .     

Along with the crowd engagement, I noticed how involved the community this team is. During the Warriors’ entrance and halftime, they both had kids from the community participate heavily and shine a light on the future athletes of tomorrow, which was so amazing to see. Representation and involvement are especially important to have, especially for a team like this. Not only does it represent the care and motivation the team has, but it also gives kids on and off the floor someone to admire and aspire to be one day. I thought it was such a special moment to watch the New Westminster Minor Salmonbellies lacrosse team play. Hearing the crowd support them truly represented what being a Vancouver fan is all about.  .  

Lastly, regarding the team itself, I had the opportunity to be a part of the post-game news conference and we got to speak to a couple of players. Although it was a close loss, it did not change their ambition and motivation to keep working harder and persevering forward as a team. Reid mentions “Our approach and our whole philosophy is to stick to the process don’t waiver and don’t start pointing fingers … learn from what isn’t working.”     

Bowering emphasized that the Warriors are one big family and if one starts to point fingers at one another, that dynamic will crumble. Furthermore, I asked Coach Curt Malawsky how the crowd impacted the game and the players, especially nodding to how loyal Vancouver fans were and how “alive” the crowd was at this game. Malawsky gave his perspective on what the fans and the crowd’s ongoing support means to the team.  .  

“ I thought it was great, you know the organization has done a really good job our marketing group you know the people out there doing ticket sales have done an excellent job putting people in the building, that’s a hard part for me to know that we’re letting them down … they expect this team to win lacrosse games and I’ve got full reign to do it and it’s on me… our people are doing a great job by motivating the fans and keeping everybody in it’s a great fan experience… we have to do our best to try and turn things around.” – Coach Curt Malawsky   

Although it is a very tough loss to swallow, Warriors fans will continue to grow. You can already see, and you can feel it. One thing about our city is that no matter how good or bad our respective teams are doing, the fans never fail to show up. Show up even if you have never seen a game of lacrosse, like me, and if not for the sport itself I recommend going for the experience and the memories you can make in that arena, it is truly a sight to see.