The Squamish double-double is regarded by some as climbing in the morning and mountain biking in the evening.
With the vast array of outdoor activities in town, the double-double could be expanded to include everything from paddling to sailing to hiking to kiteboarding but Melissa Tull, also known as Spunky Monkey, achieved perhaps the most rare double-double on Sunday (Aug. 2).
Tull competed in the chokerman鈥檚 race and the axe throw at Sunday鈥檚 World Class Open Loggers show in the afternoon and then tore up the track as a member of the Sea to Sky Sirens in the roller derby bout on Sunday evening.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a huge and fun day,鈥� she said, after the Sirens picked up a 188-133 win over the Terminal City Roller Girls Cereal Killers.聽
She also competed in Saturday鈥檚 Novice and Intermediate Loggers Sports show and said she鈥檚 going to continue doing the sport.
鈥淭his was my first year and I literally signed up last week,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 barely practised, but it was so much fun. There鈥檚 a lot to learn but it鈥檚 a beginner year for me. I hope to continue doing it. Everyone there was so welcoming and supportive.鈥�
Tull earned the top jammer of the game at the derby bout. She said it was nice for the Sirens to pick up their first home win of the year.
鈥淚t was a big deal for us to get a win,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been missing a lot of our best players because of injuries all year so it鈥檚 nice to end off with a win.鈥�
The Sirens brought back top players Mala Justed and Ilean UFall for the bout and Tull said the two star players made a huge impact.
鈥淚t was so great to have Mala and Ilean back,鈥� she said, noting they usually play on teams in the Lower Mainland. 鈥淲e also cleaned up our penalties today but having the two of them helped make up for some of our soldiers down.鈥�
The Sirens had a 90-65 lead at halftime and maintained a strong lead in the second half to cruise away with the win. Sweetie Gonzales earned top blocker of the game for the Sirens.聽
Tull said it was great for the Sirens to be associated with Loggers Sports and that she hopes the partnership continues to grow.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing to be involved with them,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even think we can thank them enough for the love and support. I鈥檝e wanted to do Loggers Sports for the last few years 鈥� that鈥檚 part of why I moved to Squamish, because of all the old logger character. That character is a big part of our team and I can鈥檛 say enough nice things about the people who run Loggers Sports 鈥� We want to work with them in future years.鈥�
Sunday鈥檚 bout wraps up the 2015 schedule for the Sirens. For more information on the club, visit www.squamishrollerderby.ca.
