The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

48 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 27, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com SNOWBOARDING SUCCESS: Ten-year-old Kai Ujejski traded his skis for a snowboard two years ago and the switch has quickly paid off. The Linbrook Public School student competed in the USA Snowboarding Association national championships recently in Lake Tahoe, California, where he finished 14th in freestyle, 26th in slopestyle and 36th in boardercross competition. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER Trinity seeks rare soccer title repeat Eight different Halton senior boys' champions in past eight years By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF TORONTO STAR "Bogey Man" APRIL 30 ­ MAY 6 4 FOR 3 WEEK Buy 3 Green Fees, get 4th FREE Offer valid Mon to Fri anytime, Saturday and Sunday after 1 PM only on date of purchase ­ not valid with any other promotions Must present this ad with purchase I 2005 Most Scenic Golf Course I 2005 Most Improved Golf Course MAY 13 MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL Golf, Cart & Brunch I $69.99 per person Tee times after 11 AM I Brunch 9 AM - 1 PM Brunch only - $19.99 I Kids under 14 - $12.99 Prices do not include taxes and gratuities I Reservations required I ONTARIO GOLF MAGAZINE Hidden Gem Award 2002 905 335 6181 Tee times available seven days in advance LOWVILLE GOLF CLUB 2662 Britannia Road at Guelph Line 1 800 688 2931 www.lowvillegolf.com Snowboarding natural fit for youngster Ujejski Slaloming downhill on skis around gates had its moments, but Kai Ujejski wanted a bit more excitement. The 10-year-old local resident has found it, and perhaps his niche as well, after switching to snowboarding two years ago. Ujejski, who began skiing at the age of two, has quickly enjoyed plenty of success in his new sport, including competing in the recently-held USA Snowboarding Association national championships in Lake Tahoe, California. "I didn't think skiing was that much fun," said the Linbrook Public School Grade 5 student. "I was in this racing (league) and didn't like it, so I switched to snowboarding and freestyle and liked it a lot more." His parents, Marek and Shannon, weren't receptive to the change, at least at first. Initial resistance from parents "There was a lot of resistance from Dad," Shannon said. "He wanted (Kai) to race because he's a ski racer, but Kai just said `no, I'm not doing that'. "The thing with snowboarding is you're often inverted," she continued, "which leaves you more prone to back and neck injuries. It is an issue for me as a parent." However, Kai's apparent natural prowess as a snowboarder has the family -- which also includes youngsters Chase and Anders -- heading to Ellicottville, New York., every winter weekend for training and competitions. Kai qualified for the USASA nationals by finishing first in the Western New York snowboard series. He swept the halfpipe events at a competition this past winter at Holiday Valley, also posting wins in slopestyle and boardercross. At the USASA nationals, contested earlier this month, Kai finished 14th in freestyle, 26th in slopestyle and 36th in boardercross. "It felt just like all the other competitions," he said. "I wasn't very nervous." With summer approaching and no snow around, Kai will now work on his aerials on his skateboard in his family's driveway. He wakeboards during the summer as well, something he said also helps develop his snowboarding skills. -- Jon Kuiperij Many common myths surround water gardening and ponds but water in the landscape is the hottest trend for this year. Over the next several weeks we hope to dispel some common myths and inspire a sense of confidence around the lifestyle. Myth 1: Small water features are less work. Fact: As water features get larger, they become easier to maintain. Aquarium hobbyists know it's much easier to achieve a healthy, stable tank with more water, not less. Small water features rarely have the flow or capacity necessary for long-term stability, and soon need lots of maintenance. However, properly designed ponds are able to achieve ecological balance. As water gardens become larger, they also become more stable with each passing year as plants, bacteria colonies and other vital life becomes established. Pond Myths Debunked www.terragreenhouses.com 905-332-3222 Burlington Waterdown 905-689-1999 905-876-4000 Milton 905-832-6955 Vaughan 7 DAYS A WEEK! The Holy Trinity Titans need only look at the championship trophy they won last year to comprehend the daunting task they have ahead of them. Over the past eight years, eight different schools have claimed Halton high school senior boys' soccer supremacy. The Titans did their part to keep that streak alive last year when they denied the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish a repeat by rallying for a 2-1 win in the regional final. That triumph, and a subsequent win in the Golden Horseshoe championship, helped the squad become Holy Trinity's first team representative at an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) tournament. Success has not made them complacent, though. "Having won (Haltons) once, it makes us want to win it again. It gives us that drive," said third-year goalkeeper Max Luburic. "Last year we were looking forward to winning Haltons. This year we're looking toward OFSAA." However, not only history is against Trinity. The Titans are well aware that being the defending champion puts a large target on their backs. "We understand teams will be gunning for us," said coach Angelo Sottana. Among the hungriest to dethrone the Titans will be Notre Dame, the team Trinity has faced in each of the last two championship games. Perhaps more importantly than winning the Halton title, the Titans discovered last year they can compete with anyone on the provincial scene. They lost only once in four games at OFSAA but a last-minute goal that resulted in their third tie prevented them from advancing to the quarter-finals. The Titans have eight returnees -- including Damir Dolcic, Mike Cumpstey and Jason Field -- that have that experience to draw on. The lineup has also been supplemented with members of Trinity's junior team that won the Halton championship two years ago. "I can't say there's one guy on our team who isn't a strong player," said See Early page 51 www.icesports.com 905-845-6989