It’s been just one month since he announced his retirement, but Yukon cyclist Zach Bell is having no trouble keeping busy.

This week, the former Olympian announced one of his new endeavours – a team-recognized, professional certification program for athletes – is being offered in topic-specific 10-day camps.

Camp topics feature anything from public image management to healthy nutrition to race preparation.

Known as Parcours Institute Inc., the program is described as a collaboration between teams, cycling brands and educators.

“Young athletes in North America have a broad range of options for training their physiology, but to this day, there has been no centralized training program for all the demands of the pro circuit,” Bell said in a recent press release, noting the demands of media, sponsors, nutritional challenges and anti-doping policies.

“Athletes have had to learn these skills over time, and only after they are accepted into professional teams. That is just not necessary.

“Our goal is to raise the professionalism of cycling in North America from the bottom up. By producing a more professional and prepared young athlete, we will enable teams to focus less energy on developing athletes and more energy on delivering their product to sponsors.”

A variety of North American teams have contributed to, and endorse, Bell’s program curriculum.

The first course is expected to get underway this spring.

Rough start to new year for top squash teams

Undefeated entering the holidays, Domino’s Pizza and Chilkoot Chiropractic endured a humbling start to 2016 this week.

The two squash teams were finally defeated as Tuesday and Thursday night league play resumed.

Last night, Chilkoot became the final unbeaten team to fall at the hands of Aurora Geosciences, 22-19.

Brian Larnder, Sylvain Theberge and substitute Alex Jobin each earned key wins over their rivals to help secure the victory.

Other Thursday scores saw Electrical Shop hammer Yukon Transportation Museum 25-15 and Coast High Country Inn down Blue Wave Energy 18-14.

On Tuesday, Ecological Logistics and Research ended Domino’s Pizza’s six-game winning streak with a 23-14 win, while Yukon Tree Services edged Urban Realty 16-14 and Earls Kitchen and Bar tied Assante Financial 14-14.

More paddleboarders will start River Quest

There’s six months until race day, but the Yukon River Quest has already cracked the 50-team mark for the 2016 race.

The paddling odyssey from Whitehorse to Dawson City will be held June 29 to July 3.

To date, 52 teams have registered, including: 15 tandem canoe teams, 11 solo kayakers, seven tandem kayaks, four voyageur canoes and three solo canoeists.

Further, 12 stand-up paddleboarders will make their debut in the 2016 race. Originally capped at 10, the board voted to allow two additional racers at its Dec. 18 meeting.

Thirteen additional canoe and kayak teams are currently being processed for registration, while five more paddleboarders are on a waiting list.

Last year, 58 teams totalling 155 paddlers hit the start line.

The 715-kilometre race sees paddlers take on the Yukon River under the territory’s famous midnight sun.

Registration closes May 15.