how ina gives back

Elias Nebel, an 18-year-old from Deep Cove, is a passionate paddleboard racer dedicated to pursuing his journey in the sport. He began paddling competitively at the age of 12 when he joined the DART team through Deep Cove Kayak. Elias quickly fell in love with paddleboarding, practicing twice a week and participating in weekly Tuesday Night Races during the summer.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a temporary halt to in-person competitions, leading to the introduction of "virtual races" where participants recorded their times over a set distance on Strava. Although this was not as enjoyable as proper racing, Elias and his peers were thrilled when they could gather for races again. In his first long race, Elias tackled a 15 km course up and down Indian Arm.

In 2022, Elias started working at Deep Cove Kayak to save up for his own board, having previously rented from the DART program. By the end of that summer, he had purchased his own board, which has since become an invaluable asset in his training and racing endeavors.

Over the following years, Elias expanded his competition range, participating in various races across Vancouver and beyond. Some of the notable events included Board the Fjord in Deep Cove, the Whipper at Cates Park, the Vancouver SUP Challenge at Jericho Beach, the Kalamalka Crossing in Kelowna, and the St. Paddy’s Day Race near Seattle.

The year 2024 was particularly significant for Elias as he trained and qualified for the ICF Paddleboard World Championships in Florida. He competed in three races: a 100m Sprint, a 750m Technical Race, and an 11.5km Long Distance Race, proudly representing Team Canada in the junior category.

Looking ahead to 2025, Elias plans to participate in five races, including Board the Fjord, St. Paddy’s Day, and two new events: the G20 at Ghost Lake near Calgary and Conquer the Vedder, a multisport race. This funding will help cover race entry fees and travel expenses, allowing Elias to continue competing at a high level.

Elias's achievements in 2024 include:

1st place in Board the Fjord, Men’s SUP

2nd place in St Paddlesday, Men’s SUP

3rd place in Vancouver SUP Challenge, Men’s SUP

1st place in Whipper, Men’s SUP

Team Canada Junior Men’s (34th in the Long Distance)

Elias attributes much of his success to the DART team and his coach, Mike Darbyshire, who has been an inspiring mentor and role model. Now, as one of the older members of the team, Elias has taken up coaching, sharing his love for the sport with younger teammates and giving back to the next generation of paddlers.

Elias Nebel's journey in paddleboarding continues to inspire many, and his dedication and passion for the sport make him a deserving recipient of the Youth Sports Sponsorship.

Ruby’s vision is currently 20/200, making objects 20 feet away appear as though they are 200 feet away. This condition has necessitated the development of unique strategies and techniques to help her succeed. In soccer, she relies on her extensive understanding of the game and peripheral vision to read movements and predict her teammates' actions. Unable to always see the ball or recognize faces, Ruby differentiates her teammates by their playing styles and movements.

In track, Ruby does not require a guide as she can see the lines on the track. However, hurdles pose a challenge, so she uses muscle memory and sometimes bases her movements on the position of hurdles in adjacent lanes. She typically sees the hurdle at the last second and adjusts her pace accordingly. During cross country races, she usually runs with a friend who matches her pace. In events like provincials, when running alone, Ruby strategically follows runners at a similar pace and leapfrogs from one competitor to the next as the race progresses.

Ruby’s determination extends to seeking guidance and support through BC Blind Sports, participating in training runs with a guide last year. She also finds volunteer opportunities through BC Blind Sports and the Canadian Blind Hockey Organization, which runs youth teams and manages volunteers, welcoming everyone to participate.

Ruby’s resilience and adaptability have made her a standout athlete in multiple disciplines, inspiring others with her commitment and achievements against the odds. Her journey demonstrates the power of determination and the ability to overcome challenges through innovation and grit.

Meet Aya Habbouchi

Ali is a sixteen-year-old boxer that has played many sports including swimming, soccer, and baseball. Boxing since he was seven years old, he received gold at the provincial championships in early 2020. Since the beginning of 2021, he has been apprenticing as a boxing coach. Recently, Ali was invited to attend an assessment camp in Montreal run by Boxing Canada. He felt honoured to represent British Columbia, and he felt he was so fortunate to have had such an amazing opportunity with other athletes from around Canada. He trained at the Institut National du Sport du Québec, the same facility where Canada's Olympians train. He hopes through the sponsorship to continue to train hard and afford specialized equipment to represent British Columbia in the Nationals in 2022.

Nadia is a fifteen-year-old athlete who loves playing multiple sports who started playing soccer for the North Shore Girls Soccer Club at the age of four. She has been playing on the gold-level team for North Shore Girls Soccer Club over the past few years. Nadia’s main focus in sports though is in softball. Nadia’s first year of playing for the North Shore Girls Fastpitch Association was when she was nine years old. She has played in every season since then, joining the Rep level team at the Under 12 Age Group. She is one of the pitchers for this team — this year on the U17 team. This past summer, she helped her team to win second place in the Province in the Provincials Tournament in Kelowna, BC.