Jul
24
Written by:
News Editor
Saturday, July 24, 2010 6:25 PM
By Roxanne Hooper
“I’m glad I don’t compete now,” said Craig Langstan.
The 44-year-old Burnaby resident, and former boccia player, was refereeing two days of boccia play during the BC Summer Games in Langley this weekend, and during a lunch break Saturday commended the players on their abilities.
The former boccia player turned assistant coach said he’s watched – especially in the past year – as the skill level has risen among B.C. players. He’s confident that, if he was still playing, they’d be giving him a run for his golds.
Langstan, who is confined to a power chair because of cerebral palsy, took up the sport in 2006, and after winning gold two years in a row at the provincials – which was the highest level he qualified to compete in based on physical disabilities – he decided to step back from competition.
“As a youth, I was into bowling, and so this is sort of an extension of that,” he said. “I like the challenge of throwing the ball. And I like the spirit of competition.
He started playing for fun with Paralympics gold medalist, friend, and fellow cerebral palsy advocate Paul Gauthier.
A couple games, and Langstan was hooked. He soon found himself on the court competing, and the rest is history, he said with a chuckle.
After three years of playing competitively, Langstan found he wasn’t as challenged by the game, and was spending more time with younger athletes “helping them in improving their game, and that naturally lead me to get into coaching,” he explained.
It was a year ago now that he made the decision to give up competition for coach. And he has no regrets – currently qualified as an assistant coach and one day hoping to elevate to the rank of head coach. But for now, he’s content to learn everything he can from head coach Herb Torrence.
Does he still play for fun?
Absolutely, Langstan said, admitting he’s draw to the social aspect of the game, but still gets a bit of an adrenaline rush from some friendly competition.
Craig Langstan - boccia referee and former player.
-- Roxanne Hooper photo