KIVALLIQ
Cadets from Rankin Inlet and Repulse Bay (Naujaat) took home no less than half of the 16 medals up for grabs at a cadet territorial biathlon in Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month.

The 3055 RCACC Repulse Bay was represented at the cadet territorial biathlon by, back row from left, Jonathan Ijjaniaq, Anita Kopak, Jan Kopak, Capt. Lloyd Francis, staff cadet Jeffrey Uttak and Terence Mapsalak, and front from left, Aaron Kopak and Veronica Uttak at the Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Lloyd Francis

The Rankin cadets claimed three gold medals, while Naujaat cadets took home a gold, two silver and two bronze.

Anita Kopak claimed gold for Naujaat (17 to 18 years of age), while Veronica Uttak (15 to 16) and Jonathan Ijjangiaq (17 to 18) struck silver and Terence Mapsalak (15 to 16) and Aaron Kopak (12 to 14) earned bronze.

The three gold medallists from Rankin were Senna Oolooyuk (youth), Precious Maningas (senior) and Andrew Powell (junior).

Naujaat's Jan Kopak and Rankin's Tatonya Autut also had strong showings at the event.

About 80 cadets from the Yukon, NWT and Nunavut took part in the competition.

Capt. Lloyd Francis, commanding officer for 3055 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) Repulse Bay, said the biathlon combines the skills of skiing and shooting (air rifle).

But, he said, extremely cold temperatures in Whitehorse forced this year's event indoors.

"At -50 C it was too cold to go out on skis, so they had to modify the event by turning it into a combination of shooting and physical competition," said Francis.

"The cadets had to do push-ups, sit-ups and jumping jacks, or burpees.

"The push-ups and sit-ups are actually part of the cadet fitness test, so they're something we usually do about two or three times a year.

"The burpees added a little extra challenge to the physical competition."

Francis said the modified event worked well.

He said the event was broken down into male and female age categories of junior (12 to 14), senior (15 to 16) and youth (17 to 18).

"Our Repulse cadets just loved the event. They were really proud of themselves because they competed so well. It was really impressive, for me, to watch everybody push themselves to complete the five sets of physical activity and four relays of shooting for each cadet.

"It took the cadets, on average, about 20 minutes, or so, to complete the course."

The 3055 RCACC Repulse Bay has 37 registered cadets this year, with just under 30 training on a regular basis.

Once the paperwork on its civilian instructors (CI) is completed, the corps will have a full compliment of six officers.

Francis said the cadets finished their target shooting for the mail-in competition this past week.

He said Nunavut's five cadet corps take part in the competition.

"The top team and individual shooters will get to go to a competition in Gimli, Man., in March.

"In April, we'll be sending eight cadets to Iqaluit to compete against Eastern Arctic cadet corps in drill, marksmanship and a number of other various challenges.

"Then, myself and four of our cadets will be travelling to Europe for the 70th anniversary of VE Day."

First-year CI Troy Sammurtok accompanied the Rankin cadets to Whitehorse.

Sammurtok said the event lost none of its competitiveness from being moved inside.

He said the 80 participants were giving it their all, and the activities could be intense as the cadets pushed for a medal.

"There was definitely a lot of sweating going on," said Sammurtok.

"Everything was done at a quick pace, it all went on time, and the shooting was quite impressive, too.

"You combine the activities they were doing and it was quite the workout."

In addition to the four Rankin cadets who competed at the biathlon, Hunter Alogut and Nadine Oolooyuk went for training and James Duncan took the position of duty runner for the event.

Sammurtok said he wasn't sure what level of skill members of the other cadet corps possessed while heading to the competition.

He said he did, however, know the Rankin cadets enjoy the physical aspects of cadet training and are all good athletes in their own right.

"I was quite confident we would finish in the medals, but I was a bit pleasantly surprised to have three of them finish with gold.

"Having Kivalliq cadets take eight of the 16 medals, including three gold, was quite impressive.

"I really hope having such a strong showing will encourage our other members to continue showing up for training.

"They're all young kids and some decide it isn't quite for them, but I'm hoping this will convince those on the fence to stick with it because cadets is a great program that offers so many opportunities to our youth."