Giving it their best
Cadets do well at biathlon despite lack of skiing in Rankin
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
RANKIN INLET
Members of the 3019 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) Rankin Inlet put in a solid showing at the Northern cadet biathlon championship at Gray Mountain in Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month.
Master Cpl. Shelly Woodford of Rankin Inlet skis her way to a thirdplace finish as part of the girl's relay team during the cadet biathlon competition in Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Dorothy Tootoo |
Competing for the 3019 RCACC were warrant officers Qilak Everard and Obadiah Sanguin, master corporals Nadine Oolooyuk, Shelly Woodford and Marikah Sanguin, and Cpl. Rachel Oolooyuk (training group).
Also competing from Nunavut were Iqaluit (795 Air Squadron), Iglulik (3008), Arctic Bay (3045), Naujaat (3055) and Cambridge Bay (3004).
Rankin's Nadine Oolooyuk and Woodford placed third in the junior female relay race, while Everad earned a second-place finish in the senior male's division.
Rachel Oolooyuk took third in the training competition, while Obadiah Sanguin placed fourth in the senior male's relay team.
3019 RCACC commanding officer 2nd-Lieut. Dorothy Tootoo said the performance by the Rankin cadets was impressive, considering they only had two days all winter to ski outside.
She said with the exception of Yellowknife, most of the teams were fairly equal in their skill levels.
"I was really proud of the showing our cadets put in," said Tootoo.
"We're always pretty good in the shooting competition, as are all the teams, because kids in the North are usually pretty good shooters anyway.
"We've been training hard since January, doing at least three days of hardcore training every week, and our cadets received a lot more training in Whitehorse.
"They picked up on their skiing techniques again, and they all realized that eating healthy and pushing yourself in training produces really positive results."
Tootoo said keeping the cadets away from junk food in Whitehorse wasn't always easy, especially with kids from communities like Arctic Bay seeing cans of pop for $1.99.
She said it's always special watching cadets from the various corps interacting with each other.
"They had free time at night, so they all played outside, sat and talked, and just really enjoyed each other's company.
"All the kids from Rankin, Naujaat, Iqaluit, Iglulik and Arctic Bay usually always stick together.
"And during the races, the kids just cheer everybody on.
"The great thing about our kids is they're never trying to win at all costs."
Cpl. Rachel Oolooyuk, 13, participated in her first biathlon by competing in the training group at Whitehorse.
Rachel said she found the training leading up to the biathlon a little tough, but good.
She said it's always such a big disadvantage for the cadets who come from communities where it's too cold to ski much outside.
"We did a lot of running and squats leading up to the biathlon and it was kind of exhausting, but it was worth it because it's easier to run now," said Rachel.
"We were as prepared as we could have been, because of the weather here, so we went and gave it our best
shot.
"It was really fun to see all my friends there, getting to actually do some real training with professional instructors, and getting the chance to actually ski instead of having to stay inside all of the time because of the cold.
"We had some really good coaches and they really got me wanting to keep trying so, hopefully, one day I'll end up as good as them."
Rachel said the training they received in Whitehorse will help them be able to teach the first-year cadets in Rankin, and show them what it takes to get ready for competitions.
She said it's important for the first years to get a head's up on what it's going to be like when they're older and how it's going to be harder to succeed.
"At the competition I like to go and hang out with some of my friends from Arctic Bay and Naujaat.
"But, there were also times when our corps wanted to stick together because we were like a family at the competition.
"I'd give our overall performance an eight out 10 because most of us gave it our best shot and tried our hardest.
"I know we could have been better, but with the training we got, our corps gave it the best we could and that was the good part."
Rachel said she wants to stay in the cadet program until she ages out.
She said she's going to put as much time into the program as she possible can during the next few years.
"Cadets are definitely my second home now.
"We have a really good corps with a lot of positive influence around us, and the program really should be recognized for all it does.
"I wish more people would be persuaded to join because it's a very good program for youth."
