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RANKIN INLET - Two Rankin Inlet cadets earned medals at the 2008 Regional Cadet Biathlon Competition in Whitehorse, Yukon, this past month.

Carmen Napayok struck gold in the Senior Boys category of the Eastern Arctic Area with an aggregate time of one hour, 25 minutes and 24 seconds.

Rankin Inlet cadet Adam Ussak won a silver medal in the Senior Boys category of the Eastern Arctic Area at the 2008 Regional Cadet Biathlon Competition in Whitehorse, Yukon, this past month. - photo courtesy of Capt. Cheryl Major

Cadet Adam Ussak took silver in the same division with an aggregate time of two hours, two minutes and five seconds.

Napayok's effort earned him a spot on the team that will represent the North at the National Cadet Biathlon Championship in Quebec City this coming March.

In addition to Napayok and Ussak, other cadets to represent Rankin's 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) in Whitehorse were Tracey Kanayok, Tiana Gordon, Petula Tasseor and Aaron Angoo.

A team of Repulse Bay cadets were unable to attend the event due to bad weather.

Selected to represent Repulse's 3055 RCACC on the Eastern Arctic Area team in Whitehorse were Tara Kringayark, Calinda Nimiqtaqtuq, Dave Kaunak, Nicole Nanordluk, Kenny Sivanertok and Lawrence Ignerdjuk. The biathlon is one of the most popular aspects of cadet training, combining crosscountry skiing with rifle marksmanship.

The event requires endurance, strength, skill and precision.

The biathlon reflects many objectives of the cadet program by promoting a healthy lifestyle, physical fitness, leadership development and life skills.

It also increases camaraderie among individuals, cadet corps and squadrons.

Selfconfidence and the acceptance of responsibility and sports etiquette are among the life skills acquired from biathlon training.

Other benefits include developing respect for firearms, and the proficient use of rifles for sport and recreational purposes.

The top regional biathletes advance to the National Cadet Biathlon Championship, which includes 138 cadets from across Canada.

The cadet biathlon program has produced worldclass biathletes such as national team members Martine Albert and JeanPhilippe LeGuellec, as well as former Olympian Nikki Keddie.

Napayok, 17, has competed at the regional biathlon three times, and has twice earned a spot on the team representing the North at the national championship.

He said he had never been on skis in his life before entering his first biathlon.

"I got involved because I'm pretty good at shooting and I thought learning to ski would be a lot of fun," said Napayok.

"The biathlon is fun, but it's also very hard and sometimes you're pretty tired by the time you get to a shooting station.

"Even though time is very important on the course, I like to take a second to relax before shooting.

"You're really tired by the time you finish the course."

Napayok said he's looking forward to the national competition.

He said all the cadets who compete at the event get along very well together.

"My first time there was just awesome.

"It's hard for me skiing wise because some of the other cadets, especially the ones from Quebec, are so fast.

"I motivate myself by trying to do my very best, even though I know my chances of winning aren't that good.

"The cadet program is good for young people and I'd like to see more get involved in Rankin."

Silver medallist Ussak turns 15 this week and is in his second year as a cadet.

He has competed in Whitehorse twice and said he wanted to try the biathlon because he knew it would be a lot of fun.

"I'd never skied before signing up for the biathlon, but I'm a pretty good shot on the cadet shooting range," said Ussak.

"It was hard learning to ski and I spent as much time on my butt as my feet, at first.

"The Rankin cadets try to meet a lot of people while we're at the regional championship, and everybody there knows we're fairly new at this and they support us as much as they can."

Ussak said he hopes to get the chance to practise his skiing more before next year's competition rolls around.

He said he really enjoys being a cadet and recommends it to other youth.

"Shooting is my favourite part of cadets, but there's lots of good aspects.

"The program is fun, and you can learn new things, go to different places and meet new people.

"Everyone's equal and if you're good enough at something, you'll be the one picked to travel and compete."