Contest for strong women and men
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Mar 19/01) - Don't be shocked if, or when, your friends and neighbours begin exhibiting strange behaviour over the next few weeks.
For example, don't bat an eye if, or when, that rather burly looking woman across the way begins pulling her qamutiq around the backyard.
Cast no judgment if the guy you go hunting with begins trying to lift his snowmobile in the air for long periods of time.
Odd as it may seem, it's likely these quirky actions are meant as a kind of boot camp for the Iqaluit Strength Challenge.
Kicking off April 6 at 1 p.m., the events will surely separate the women from the girls and the men from the boys. Including the qamutiq pull, the ski-doo lift, the shoulder press and the ski-doo pull, the afternoon games will test strength, skill, endurance and power.
A rather muscular, wall-like Iqaluit man has undertaken the organization of the event.
"Iqaluit is the only city in Canada without a contest like this," said Travise Dow.
"I thought it would be fun to start one," he said.
With cash prizes going to the strongest people in both the female and male divisions, Dow said this event -- scheduled to run during the Toonik Tyme festivities -- was essentially a warm-up for a bigger, more serious strength challenge in September.
That contest will not divide competitors up depending on their sex or their weight. Dow said the second challenge would pit all interested humans against one another in 10 different events. Dow also said he was attempting to get national sponsorship for the event.
"I'm hoping to get All-Strength Canadian Challenge ... I'm just waiting for the reply," said Dow.
Both contests are open to all residents of the territory. While details on September's activities will be announced later this year, participants with an eye on the April 6 challenge, all of whom must be 18-years of age or older, must sign up with Iqaluit's recreation department no later than March 30.
A fee of $25 will be charged. Competitors must be at Joamie school by 1 p.m. on the day of the challenge. Events kick off one hour later.
In the meantime, people hoping to walk away with a bag of money should start training because competition promises to be stiff.
"If you have a child, start shoulder pressing them," said Dow.
