Meeting the challenge
Naujaat cadets have strong presence at every level of biathlon
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
NAUJAAT/WHITEHORSE
Members of the 3055 Naujaat Royal Canadian Army Cadets Corps (RCACC) biathlon team were part of a strong Nunavut presence at the annual regional Cadet Biathlon Challenge at Grey Mountain near Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month.
Cadet coach Master Warrant Officer Gene Siusangnark, right, gives some advice to Cpl. Ernie Inaksajak during the Cadet Biathlon Challenge in Whitehorse, Yukon, earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Lloyd Francis |
The event ran Feb. 11 and 12 and featured biathlon teams from Naujaat, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Arctic Bay and Iqaluit, as well as seven corps from the NWT and two from the Yukon.
Naujaat cadet Sgt. Aaron Kopak earned two bronze pins in the Senior Male division at the event, while Rankin Inlet's Chief Warrant Officer Obadiah Sanguin took a gold pin in the Male Youth division, and Sgt. Nadine Oolooyuk took second place in the Senior Female category.
3055 RCACC commanding officer Capt. Lloyd Francis said the athletes and coaches stayed at the cadet summer training center in Whitehorse during the competition.
He said the cadets who came along to train also received their instruction at the summer camp centre, where a miniature biathlon course was set up.
"The biathlon was well organized and went really, really well," said Francis.
"The kids had a lot of fun competing, and I was proud because all the kids from both Naujaat and Rankin Inlet completed all their races.
"They all did awesome."
The biathlon is a combination of skiing and shooting skills.
At the cadet challenge, the junior competitors do three segments of skiing 1.5 kilometers, stopping to fire at five targets from the prone position after the first two segments. Any competitor who misses a shot is assessed a penalty loop of 100 meters.
The senior cadets (15 years of age and older) ski two kilometers in each segment and shoot one segment from the prone position and the other from a standing position. The seniors are assessed the same penalty as the juniors for missing a shot.
The younger cadets at the summer camp centre for training receive a day's worth of skiing instruction before taking to the training course to start honing their biathlon skills in a miniature competition.
Naujaat cadets did well in the training biathlon, with Cpl. Tigumiaq Haqpi taking gold and Cpl. Macleod Arnatsiaq winning silver.
Francis said Sgt. Aaron Kopak worked hard for his two bronze medals at the event.
He said the races, a sprint and a pursuit, vary slightly, with the pursuit race having an extra minute added to a racer's time instead of a penalty loop for missing a target.
"Aaron was just eight seconds out of second place in his second race, which came right down to the wire between Aaron and a cadet from Arctic Bay for the silver medal.
"It's something special to watch the cadets compete because everyone cheers everyone else on, especially when they're coming across the finish line.
"You could see lots of improvement among the Nunavut cadets during the second day of competition after they found their rhythm.
"There were a number of personal bests set during the weekend."
There are, no doubt, many folks in the south who think living in the Arctic region would be ideal for biathlon training, but, Francis said, they don't how far from the truth that really is.
He said it's hard to train for the biathlon in Nunavut because ice forms over everything and you don't get the nice, compact snow for skiing they get in the south.
"The other thing we deal with in Naujaat is that it's almost always too cold for proper training.
"Our cadets are out trying to train in temperatures that they probably shouldn't be out skiing in to begin with.
"We make sure the cadets are warm when they start and we don't let them stay out for too long.
"So that, coupled with the fact our snow conditions are nowhere as good as those in the NWT, Yukon or down south, really hinders our ability to train as much as we'd like to for the biathlon every year."
The imbalance in the ability to train often puts the Nunavut cadets behind the 8-ball with their counterparts when they meet at competitions, yet they almost always find a way to leave with medals from an event.
Francis said that success is a testament to the determination of many Northern youths.
He said there are also times when the adverse training conditions just may benefit the Northern cadet athletes.
"A part of our success at these events could be the fact our cadets often find it easier at the competition than they thought it was going to be after training in such harsh conditions back home.
"But, I find our kids to be very determined in any activity they sign up for and they never want to quit.
"I tell them it doesn't matter if they place first or last, as long as they try their best and finish the race, and you can see they take that to heart by how they conduct themselves when out on the course."
Francis said the biathlon is almost as big of a social gathering as it is a competition for the cadets.
He said the Naujaat cadets always look forward to meeting up with youths from other corps whom they may have met at summer camp, while on an expedition, or taking part in a previous sporting event or other cadet activities.
"So, they get to renew existing friendships at these competitions, and they almost always make new friends at each event, as well.
"The camaraderie among the cadets is huge at these events.
"Everyone goes hard and tries to do their best, but they also cheer for the cadets they're competing against and want to see them do well, too.
"We want to see everyone do well, too, but it's good to see our Naujaat cadets working together as a team and cheering on their own corps members.
"I had one of our senior cadets along this year, Master Warrant Officer Gene Siusangnark, helping me to coach our athletes and that was a good leadership experience for him."
Francis said traditionally the 3055 RCACC biathlon team is selected based on which cadets have been coming out to the most practices.
He said the number of cadets wanting to participate in the biathlon has been on a steady rise, however, and that made selections a little different this year.
"It was more difficult selecting the team this year because of the number of cadets who were trying out.
"Luckily, we were able to send a few extra people because Iglulik wasn't able to attend this year's biathlon.
"Having those few extra spots, made making the final decisions that much easier.
"Overall, it was a great event and a real positive experience for our cadets."
