KIMMIRUT/LAKE HARBOUR - The middle school and high school students at Qaqqalik School put their design and construction skills to the test in the Skills Canada Nunavut cardboard qamutiik race on March 31.

Randy Allen, Hawley Paton, Noah Michael and Perry Akavak race through the snow pulling their sleds during the Skills Canada Nunavut cardboard qamutiit race on March 31. - Emily Ridlington/NNSL photo

Students from Grades 7-12 were divided into teams and given supplies to build a qamutiik strong enough to hold one person. With a large sheet of cardboard, two different kinds of rope, a knife, rulers, scissors, a measuring tape and a roll of duct tape, teams got to work designing their sleds.

Grade 10 student James Temela's team named k-os opted for a unique design for their qamutiik.

"We shaped it like a boat," he said, because he and his fellow teams members thought it would glide well on the snow and be more aerodynamic.

Some of the other teams opted for a more square design including The Fox Crew team. Grade 7 student Annie Qimirpik added decorative touches such as flames to the sled because she said it would distract the competition. Other teams created quite elaborate rigging systems using all of the rope provided.

Initially given 30-45 minutes to complete the construction phase, students took the activity to the next level and spent more time working and constructing their sleds. Many teams made prototypes before constructing their final model.

"The students were so into it," said Allison Fleischer, the program co-ordinator for Skills Canada Nunavut who ran the activity.

Teachers Irene Reid and Doug Wilson served as judges for the contest. Before the race, the qamutiit were assessed to check out the construction. Teams were also given points for how tidy their workstations were, how safe they were during the construction phase and how well the students worked together as a team.

Then it was off to the races on the sea ice of Westbourne Inlet. The rest of the student body and members of the community made their way down to the sea to watch the races. After a series of match-ups and an endurance race, only one team could grab the top spot. The k-os team took the crown followed by The Fox Crew, the RHB team in third, The Fireflies and The Wolf Gang in fifth place.

"I wasn't sure of our group's odds at the beginning of the competition," said Temela, who was part of the winning k-os team. He said he enjoyed participating in the race.

"The students had a blast," Fleischer said.

She also talked to the students about the opportunities for them in the skilled trades and technology sectors.

"You get to use your head and your hands on the job," she told the students.

Skills Canada is a non-profit organization across the country that promotes jobs, apprenticeships and opportunities in the skilled trades and technology sectors.