Fort Simpson (Mar 10/06) - A year ago, Charlene Deneyoua had never tried biathlon.

She'd done some cross-country skiing, but hadn't tried the skate skiing required for the biathlon. This year she's competing at the National Cadet Biathlon Championships in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Charlene Deneyoua skies in the field near her Fort Simpson home before heading to the National Cadet Biathlon Championships. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Deneyoua won this honour after competing at the regionals in Yellowknife in January.

She shot six of 10 targets and finished the race in just over 28 minutes, placing third out of the combined senior and junior girls, and first among the juniors.

"I was so excited," said Deneyoua after she found out she'd won a spot on the team.

She's the only competitor on the team from a community with no shooting range. In the village the cadets use Daisy rifles, but at the nationals the athletes use a bolt action .22.

"We're proud of her, she's worked very hard," said Lieut. John Hazenberg of the Fort Simpson cadets.

Deneyoua, 14, joined cadets three years ago after seeing it advertised on a poster. She was the only girl in the unit until she convinced a friend to join.

Last year she was chosen to compete in the biathlon.

"I didn't know the sport at the time," she said.

"I had the attitude of just trying anything."

This approach seemed to work. Her first race was during the regionals hosted in Whitehorse, in which she had to ask four or five people how to skate ski. The technique requires big glides out to either side.

Despite continually falling, Deneyoua wasn't discouraged. Persevering, she finished third in her category.

Biathlon combines Deneyoua's two favourite sports - skiing and shooting. She also enjoys racing against time instead of against other people.

Deneyoua practised as much as possible to get ready for the nationals, held March 4-11. Because Fort Simpson doesn't have a shooting range, Deneyoua used a computer game to increase her shooting speed, accuracy and concentration.

Finding somewhere to practice her skiing was also a challenge. With the help of Andy Norwegian, she measured the distance around the papal grounds. Her goal was to ski around the circle non-stop five times in order to build up the stamina needed to ski six kilometres.

"She's working hard at it," said Norwegian.

At the nationals, Deneyoua will compete in the four and six kilometre races. There is also a patrolling race, in which a team of three skiers can't be more than 10 meters apart.

"My goal for the nationals is to at least get a medal for the Northern region," said Deneyoua.