This summer, get outside in sunny weather and make the most of what Vancouver has to offer in terms of athletic and recreational activities. 

Do the Grouse Grind for time

Whether you’ve done the climb up Grouse Mountain before or it’s your first time, you are allowed to be competitive– as long as it’s with yourself! This trail through the trees and up 800 meters of elevation takes the average person between 1.5 and 2.5 hours to complete. However, if you are more experienced and don’t have to stop as often, you’ll be able to do it faster. Pro Hockey players race up the mountain all the time; Connor Bedard finished it in a mere 37 minutes! The record for time has not been broken, though, since cyclist Sebastian Salas completed it in 23 minutes and 48 seconds in 2010. Either time yourself on your phone as you go up, or tap an official time card at checkpoint poles at the bottom and the top of the Grind.

Progress through volleyball tiers on public beaches

You may have noticed that many of the city’s public beaches have wood beams for volleyball nets. You’ve probably even seen people playing or setting up to do so. If you look on the Parks Vancouver website you’ll read that nets and lines are not provided, but that anyone is welcome to play on any beach. If you look at Reddit threads or talk to players on the beach, you’ll start to understand that there’s an unofficial understanding that the best players go to Kits Beach. If you’re just a beginner and want to drop in, consider asking to join people at Spanish Banks or Jericho Beach. If you want to work your way up to the skill level needed for Kits beach, you’ll probably want to join a league such as Volleyball BC or Urban Rec. Or you could exercise your free will and see if the elite players on Kits Beach need a line ref/ substitute. 

Complete the Vancouver triathlon

With 3 different event distances and the option to complete the race a relay team instead, the triathlon can be made as moderate or grueling as you make it. The Standard Distance (which is actually the longest) is a 1,500 meter swim in English Bay, followed by a 37.8 kilometer bike along Park Drive, and a 10 kilometer run with views of Second Beach. The scenic Stanley Park course makes this race unlike many other triathlons around the world. Just finishing the thing will give you a  great sense of accomplishment, and connect you to other athletes in the city. Race day is in the late Summer/early Fall; register here!