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Skiing and marksmanship
Fort Simpson cadet advances to national biathlon competition

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, March 1, 2012

WHITEHORSE, YUKON
A Fort Simpson cadet represented the NWT as part of a Northern contingent attending the National Biathlon Championship from March 3 to 10.

NNSL photo/graphic

Cadet Master Cpl. Michael Gast of Fort Simpson prepares to fire on the range during the Northern Region Cadet Biathlon Championship held in Whitehorse from Feb. 10 to 12. Gast was chosen for the team that will represent the Northern Region Cadets at the Cadet National Biathlon Championship in Nova Scotia from March 3 to 10. - photo courtesy of Steve Nicoll

Cadet Master Cpl. Michael Gast, 14, has earned a place on the Northern Region Cadet team after his performance at the Northern Regional Cadet Biathlon Championship in Whitehorse held Feb. 10 to 12.

This was the third time Gast has participated in the championship. Despite competing in his first year as a senior, Gast's goal was to make the national team.

Gast said earning a spot on the team for the nationals came as a surprise and he is "proud" of his achievement.

In Whitehorse, Gast competed in a sprint and a relay race. In the sprint, Gast skied three laps totaling two kilometres with two shooting rounds interspersed between the laps. Gast said the sprint was, "really easy compared to what I thought it would be like."

During the sprint, Gast shot seven for 10 and had to ski three penalty loops. He finished second in the race, a success he duplicated in the relay race.

For the relay, Gast was partnered with fellow Fort Simpson Cadet Sgt. Ernest Tsetso as well as a third cadet.

Sprained ankle

Each cadet skied three laps totaling 1.5 kilometres and shot at two sets of five targets with eight shots.

Gast competed in the race despite having sprained his ankle while skiing a practice loop. During the race he shot nine of his 10 targets.

Gast said he prefers the sprint race because you don't have to worry about your teammates.

To prepare for the Northern competition, Gast skied with the cadets during gym class and practised his marksmanship on weekends. To get ready for the nationals, he plans to ski more and practise with the cadet marksmanship team.

"I like the skiing part because I feel fast when I ski," he said.

This will be Gast's first time at the nationals and his first trip to the East Coast. He said he is looking forward to competing against new people.

In addition to Gast and Tsetso, Master Cpl. Janelle Bruneau also competed at the Northern competition.

Bruneau was the team's most fit member but was plagued by ski malfunctions and was ultimately disqualified from the event because of leaving the bolt of her rifle closed twice, a safety violation, said Capt. Steve Nicoll, who travelled with the team.

'Pleased with the results'

Cadets Nathaniel Tsetso, Rebecca Isaiah and Jordanna Snider also travelled to the championship and participated in the training camp. Nathaniel finished first in the training junior male sprint.

"Overall, I am pleased with the results, especially for the juniors," said Nicoll.

The younger cadets developed their skiing and marksmanship potential while the older cadets worked on personal goals, Nicoll said.

Although he's proud of Gast for advancing to the nationals, Nicoll said he is just as proud of the other cadets who invested in themselves by training before and after school.

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