Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/252637
bcliving.ca 53 4 | Love for Vancouver Jay: I always knew I would like it here. ere are nice restaurants, and lots of cool places to hang out. e fashion is great. It's the most picturesque place in the world. Even soccer culture is very strong here. It's a doer culture. People enjoy getting out, even if it's raining. Favourite urban spots Ashleigh: We love Granville Island Market, although we don't go there enough. We go out for dinner almost every night and usually stick to our neighbour- hood: e Flying Pig, Cork and Fin and Pourhouse. Gotham is as far as we'll go. Embracing winter Ashleigh: Whistler is the place to be during the winter and we do all sorts of outdoor activities, including skiing, snowmobiling, hiking or snowshoeing up to the ancient cedars or backcountry cabins, trips to the hot springs, cross-country skiing near Lost Lake and up the Callaghan Valley, as well as good old-fashioned snowball ghts. We also like trips to To no to surf, and the waves are world-class all winter. Olympic memories of the gold medal run Ashleigh: My biggest memory was standing at the start gate for the nal run. I was calm and at ease. I kept thinking, 'I was made for this event, and this course was built for me.' I had butter ies all the way down to my extremities and was channelling them into positive energy. Afterward, every- thing was a blur. The 2014 Winter Olympics Ashleigh: I'll be commentating for CBC, for sponsors and for the Canadian Olympic Committee at the Sochi Olympics and it will be nice to not bring nerves with me. I'm going to enjoy being involved without pressure. On inspiring others Jay: Our Rise and Shine Founda- tion, based on my story and movie, will be about dream-big scenarios. Ashleigh: Speaking extends my sense of purpose and gives longevity to my training. It allows me to have an impact on kids and to talk about determination, perseverance and focusing on the positive. It's nice to put my accomplishments to good use. WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAKE JORGENSON by Lisa Man eld PORTRAITS by Paul Joseph The proposal Ashleigh: I had a great-aunt in Minnesota who lived in a nursing home that was on the way to Jay's family cabin. She had a very big impact on our lives. My mom inherited her jewelry when she was gone and Jay remembered that her ring fi t my fi nger. Jay and I were in Pemberton for Thanksgiving and we hiked up to the waterfall. There was no one else around and Jay got on one knee. I said yes before he even got the question out. Winter romance Jay: It's important to make time for romantic outings… to enjoy facilities like Whistler's Scandinave Spa. Canadian Snowmobile Adventures o ers an amaz- ing fondue dinner trip to the top of Blackcomb Mountain in the evenings, or if operating your own snowmobile is a bit extreme, you can hop in a snow cat or skip the fondue and go on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Favourite romantic getaway Jay: I think our most romantic trip was to Jamaica two years ago. We rented a car and spent two weeks driving around the whole coast, stopping by Boston Bay Cove for a surf. We stayed at Great Huts, a boutique hotel with individual tree houses and unique cabins tucked into the rainforest. It was the fi rst trip that was just the two of us and we had a blast. Favourite takeout for a romantic night in Jay: With our schedules, it's hard to fi nd a night in, but we love to put on our sweats, order takeout, and watch a movie when we can. Our takeout food usu- ally comes from across the street in Gastown, with Italian food from Incendio or backyard barbecue from Peckinpah. Valentine's Day Jay: We try not to play up Valentine's Day too much, but last year we bought an acre in the woods of Whistler to build our future home, and we just happened to close the deal on February 14th, so from now on I'm sure Valentine's Day will be extra special. ■ Romanc DeMerit style J ay and Ashleigh (formerly McIvor) DeMerit are quintessential Vancouverites: athletic, fashionable, nature junkies who love their urban space as much as their mountain getaways. e captain of the Vancouver Whitecaps, originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Whistler's own 2010 Winter Olympics ski cross gold medallist met at a Canucks game on the one-year anniversary of the 2010 Winter Games. eir courtship culminated in an idyllic forest fairy tale wedding last summer near Whistler. Now living in Gastown, they alternate training routines, soccer games and speaking engagements with mountain sports and lots of local culture. BCLiving caught up with the golden couple to talk winter in the city, Olympic memories and all things romance. Styling Joanna Kulpa Makeup LucyAnne Botham for Liz Bell Hair Tania Becker for Moods Hair Salon Location Seasons in the Park Restaurant, Queen Elizabeth Park PREVIOUS PAGE: Ashleigh wears Sweater by Marni, jeans from Rag & Bone both available at Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com Toque – Ashleigh's own Jay wears French Connection shirt and jeans frenchconnection.com FACING PAGE: Ashleigh wears French Connection jacket and blouse Jay wears French Connection scarf and Zanerobe sweater by Noble Gentleman Trading available at Young & Affluent p50-53_Feature-Ashleigh+Jay.indd 53 14-01-21 8:55 AM