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Tuesday, July 15, 2014
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CASH (Left) The obstacle course starts with a trek through a mud pit and a few along the five-kilometre route. (Above) Many teams, including this one from Boot Camp Effect in Langley, gathered for photos after completing the five-kilometre obstacle course.
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Dirty Dash: proof people never grow out of wanting to play in the mud. by Heather Colpitts hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com
Normally, a muddy track spells trouble for athletes, but not at the Dirty Dash. The muddy obstacle course has been held elsewhere but Saturday’s event at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley was the first time for the Lower Mainland and brought out huge numbers willing to take on the muck. Langley equestrian therapy program Pacific Riding for Developing Abilities (PRDA) will benefit from funds raised at the Dirty Dash, which bills itself as a cross between a five-yearold’s mud pit and a boot camp obstacle course. Participants by the hundreds ran a five-kilometre course that started out with a trek through a mud pit before they climbed walls, went down an inflatable slide, and hit several other muddy sites along the way. Abbotsford couple Amanda Dixon and Chris Whyment brought a hint of the Highlands as they did the course in kilts.
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Katie Kuit of Surrey and Burnaby’s Mark Freigang shared a post-event smooch. “It was awesome,” said Dixon. Whyment said he would like to try the course again that day but was wary, having ended up with mud in challenging places on his person. An outdoor shower allowed people to de-mud on site. There were also play structures for kids, a concession, souvenirs, and music. It’s too soon to know how much was raised for the local
charity partner. PRDA provides equestrian therapy for people of various ages with an wide range of disabilities, from autism, cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome to anxiety, paralysis and acquired brain injuries. The non-profit receives no provincial or federal funding and relies on corporate and individual donations to subsidize 75 per cent of the cost for clients. Thunderbird was approached
by Dirty Dash, a Salt Lake City based outfit, about hosting the first event in B.C. There are events throughout the United States. “Everyone had a great time,” said Thunderbird technical associate Ania Wypych. “There was lots of great energy.” Thunderbird estimates that 3,500 people attended the event and the equestrian park in North Langley is willing to play host again if Dirty Dash makes a return to the region. “I did the piglet plunge with my four-year-old,” said Heather Seigman, the PRDA administrative coordinator. She was one of the PRDA folks taking part. Several did the course, including the piglet plunge for little kids. “It was a great experience and I think a great first time event,” Seigman said. One of the PRDA volunteers was looking for an athletic event and found Dirty Dash, which didn’t have a charity partner. She emailed organizers about considering PRDA. The association asked its volunteers to help out at the event, sold water balloons, and hosted a concession and information display.