Kenai, Alaska (Mar 06/06) - Numbering close to 300, the Team Nunavut delegation arrived in Kenai, Alaska on three charters Saturday, between noon to midnight.

Caleb Little, left, and Manasie Kendal - both members of the speed skating team - check out some American greenbacks before they get to spend them in Alaska. - Kent Driscoll/NNSL photo

For the next week, the athletes will sleep at local schools and compete in communities on the Kenai Peninsula perched on the Pacific Ocean. Heavy, wet snow fell on Sunday, temperature around 0 C.

When the Arctic Winter Games squads showed up at 6:45 a.m. at the Iqaluit airport Saturday morning, it was a subdued scene.

Teams quietly checked their luggage and equipment, as they waited patiently to board for the three hour flight to Alaska for the games.

There were some goodbyes. Helen Klengenberg billeted five Cambridge Bay members of the mens basketball team, who were in Iqaluit for training.

"They just about ate me out of house and home. Actually, they are very nice boys and I was happy to have them," said Klengenberg.

The players were sticking close to their teams, mostly for organization. It wouldn't be hard to miss one head in the count.

While some were milling about, others were more sedate.

Mary Korgak from the womens volleyball team was asleep in the airport, surrounded by teammates.

However they do in Alaska, this group was the hardest Nunavut Arctic Winter Games squad to make, ever. Participation in the trials was up 50 per cent over the last games two years ago.