INUVIK - Georgina Wolki, Vanessa Anikina and Kourtney Ruben of Paulatuk never questioned whether they would participate in the Circumpolar Northern Games held in Inuvik over the weekend. The only dilemma was narrowing down which events they would compete in.

Their decision to register for the junior girls head pull event proved to be a good one as the trio of good pals ended up on the podium Saturday afternoon with Anikina coming out on top, Ruben grabbing silver and Wolki copping bronze.

Paulatuk dominated the junior girls head pull event at the Circumpolar Northern Games last weekend. The three top finishers included, from left, Georgina Wolki (bronze), Vanessa Anikina (gold) and Kourtney Ruben (silver). - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"It feels great to share this with my friends," said Anikina, 17, who started training in traditional northern games at age 12, and has also competed at the Inuit Games.

Wolki, 16, couldn't agree more and echoed her friend's sentiments when she said her decision to compete was based largely on her commitment to carrying on an important part of her culture and sharing those experiences with old and new friends.

"It means more than winning medals," said Wolki. "It's been awesome. You get to see your friends and you have fun and play hard. We support each other."

Focus is the name of the game with the head pull event, said Ruben, 17. A leather loop is placed around the head, just above the ears, of both competitors. While balancing on hands and toes, the aim is to drag your opponent across the target line or pull the belt off his or her head.

It takes a perfect combination of mental focus, power from the back and shoulders as well as balance to do well, said Ruben.

"You have to use your back muscles and your shoulder muscles to push back and you can't keep your feet together, you have to keep them far apart," said Ruben.

That wasn't the only event in which the girls participated. Anikina tried her luck at the Alaskan high kick, kneel jump, the canoe race as well as the bench reach, where she placed silver in her division.

"We just love to enjoy everything," she said. "You get all pumped up when you're on the stage competing."

Wolki said she also fed off the energy of the spectators, fellow athletes and the coaches who have provided them with constant encouragement.

Donald Kuptana, Anikina's former coach and a Games committee member, said the three girls possess not only a lot of natural athletic talent, but deserve credit for their commitment to the sports and culture. Kuptana presented the girls with their medals on Saturday.

"They're all excellent athletes," he said. "I'm absolutely proud of them. They're providing a great role model for other women to get involved. We're getting there. So that's great."

The trio has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

"The sports come from our ancestors," said Wolki. "We learned from them because they taught our parents and our parents taught it to us. We're going to teach it to our kids. That's what it's all about."