NEWS ULUThe official newspaper of The winTer Games saturday, March 15, 2008 In today’s photo Merle Robillard ULU news… Thrills and spills Contingents in fight for final medals … See pages 3, 7, 10

Eyes to 2010 on deck to host … See page 14

Yukon success Team excels on snow and ice … See page 12

medal count

Team Gold Silver Bronze Total

Alaska 64 49 66 179

NWT 33 35 32 100

Yamal 44 32 15 91

N. 24 31 19 74

Yukon 24 20 29 73

Nunavut 13 24 22 59

Greenland 3 10 8 21

Nunavik 6 5 7 18

Saami 5 5 6 16

Logan Frederick Roots catches his breath after taking first place in the five-kilometre snowshoe race at the Golf Club. Also inside: day in pictures • games talk • official response 2 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 arctic winter games venue map

SCHEDULE OF Screaming to the finish SPORTING EVENTS –

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 photo Merle Robillard

ArCTIC SporTS - St. Joe’s Gymnasium Head Pull 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Open Male Knuckle Hop 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Open Male

BAdMInTon - Sir John Gymnasium Gold, Silver and Bronze Finals 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Jr. Male/Female, Juvenile Male/Female Singles, Doubles, Mixed, Courts 1-4

Indoor SoCCEr - St. patrick’s Gymnasium Gold Medal Games 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. Jr. Female 10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. Jr. Male 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Juvenile Female 12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. Juvenile Male 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Intermediate Female

cultural Schedule Visual Arts “Creartik” Elks Hall 10:00a.m.–6:00 p.m.

cloSing ceremonieS

Closing ceremony Multiplex 7:00p.m.

Fireworks display Frame Lake (behind Yk Arena) 8:15p.m. Full schedule and results can be found at the Arctic Winter Games website awg2008.ca Team Alaska members give it their all in the pole-push competition in Dettah during the games. Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 3 daily wrap-up Games reach fever pitch Medal rounds draw big crowds around Yellowknife by Lisa Scott front of a roaring crowd. Barbier called the match “really he bleachers were full intense," crediting his winning goal all day Friday as medal to reading the moves of the Russian round after medal round players and having the support of was held at sport venues the hometown crowd. across the city. After a The gold medal match goes to- Tweek placed second in the med- day at 10 a.m. against . als to Alaska, Team NWT seemed “We’re just going to do what we poised to stay there into the last do and play very defensively,” says day of competition, despite Team the 16-year-old. Yamal nipping at its feet. If they On the soccer court, NWT is on manage to hold onto second fol- fire as the juvenile boys also made lowing Saturday's medal rounds it into Saturday’s gold medal match they'll best their third place finish at against Alberta, while the junior the Kenai Games in 2006. girls play for gold against Alaska. It was hard to keep track of As Friday night games contin- the team, with action happen- ued, the girls hockey gold medal ing constantly. Down on Back Bay match started at the Multiplex Friday NWT dog mushers had no arena to a packed and enthusiastic trouble garnering medals. As races crowd of spectators. wrapped up Friday NWT emerged The girls gave it their all, but as the top team. Stephanie Charlie couldn’t come back against pow- won silver in the four dog 7.5-kilo- erhouse Alaska, who went into the metre race, while Trista Beck won playoffs undefeated. In the end bronze. Beck also took a bronze Alaska captured the golden ulu 3-1, in the five dog 10-kilometre race. after a scoreless third period. NWT Junior musher Alexis Campbell won Goaltender Tehnille Gard won the gold in the six dog 10-kilometre cheers of the hometown crowd as race, while NWT teammate Jason she made some incredible saves, Baxter won silver. For the last and but it wasn’t enough to fend off longest run, the seven dog 13-ki- Alaska’s offense. lometre race, Campbell took her second gold of the day and Baxter banked another silver. In the team Over with Team Nunavut, Friday competitions NWT took gold in was also an exciting day as the both the four dog 7.5-kilometre and junior boys team came up six dog 10-kilometre. against Alberta in the gold medal On the sheets the NWT match. This team was an exciting boys team had a good run all week, one to watch all week, pumping making it into the semi-finals with up the crowds and each other with the Yukon before losing 5-6. The loud cheers and lots of flag waving. team took a hard-fought bronze They just couldn’t pull it out when medal home from the Games. they needed to Friday night, losing The soccer pitch was the place to Alberta in three straight games. to be Friday as the NWT junior At the curling rink earlier in the boys and Yamal played an exciting day, a week of curling wrapped up playoff game to determine who with the Nunavut boys team vying Lisa Scott photos went on to Saturday’s final. After for the bronze medal with the NWT. Alaska’s Madeline Woodard and NWT’s Paulina Ross battle it out in juvenile girls soccer Friday. Alaska won 2-1 to head losing to Yamal the day before 3-4, Coach Peter Geikie said his team into the gold medal game today. the boys bounced back and striker came a long way to get into the a bronze in the girls 3,000-metre metre juvenile division and a fifth Jan Barbier led them to a 3-2 win in playoffs. relay. by Minnie Snowball were pretty “We struggled in the beginning, playoffs were also good. Mary Tukalak wasn’t able to but met as a team and refocused,” held Friday and Nunavut’s junior finish her distance race, while Nor- he said. female doubles team of Mahik man Angnatuk did not start due to Under the leadership of Havioyak and Pia Tikivik won an a calf injury sustained in the sprint George Mackay the team placed impressive bronze medal in a tough races. fourth, just out of the medals after field. Pia came fourth in the junior Dene Games results trickled losing to NWT in a close match-up singles division as well, while team- in on Friday from the venue. The 4-6. mate Suzi Power took fourth for overall scores showed some great “The game went well, but we juvenile girls. results for as Madeline missed some key shots in the end,” Arctic sports results were hard Annanack won the junior female said third Ryan Geikie. to come by Thursday and Friday bronze medal. Teammate Sandy An- At the oval David and weren’t available at press time. nanack won junior male gold after Coulombe continued his record- dominating the week’s competition. breaking week with a gold in the Nunavik Ned Gordon also scored a silver in 1,000-metre race. Teammate Sarah Team Nunavik entered the the open male category. photo Merle Robillard Ali took the silver medal in the second last day of competition with On the court Noah junior girls 1,000-metre. Earlier just 16 medals. The Nunavik snow- Annanack entered the semi-finals in the week coach John Maurice shoers finished up their week at the strongly for Nunavik, but results could be seen training his athletes Yellowknife Golf Course with the were not available at press time. in relays, the events where he was long distance races. This was their Badminton finals will be held today. Team NWT’s Lacey Taylor-Payne chases the puck past Team Alaska’s really looking for Nunavut to place. first competition on snowshoes Annanack and doubles partner Jari Amanda Rae Pett during the gold- Maurice got his wish with a silver ever, so a seventh place finish by Leduc made it all the way to the Nunavut gymnast Tera Yarema ulu match against Team Alaska. in the boys 3,000-metre relay and William Annanack in the five-kilo- semi-finals before losing to Alberta. competes in the vault Thursday.

The official newspaper of the 2008 Arctic Winter Games – Published by Northern News Services – Printed by Canarctic Graphics Editor: Chris Puglia Contact information Copy Editor: Adam Johnson You can e-mail us at: ulunews@ nnsl.com. We are located at 5108-50th ULU NEWS reporters: Jennifer McPhee • Lisa Scott • Daniel T'seleie Street. To speak with our editor call photographer: Merle Robillard 873-4031. The Ulu News accepts photo orders for any images that appear in Graphic designer: Steve Hatch our pages. For ordering information Special contributor: Jennifer Obleman please call 873-4031 or e-mail us. 4 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 5 editor’s comment 2008 Games a shining success Competition, culture and friendship all meet under the northern lights

ber of teams attending has increased from surprised the competition, blazing through Pieces of these Games will also be carried three to nine, each with its own strengths, the tournament and going undefeated into well into the future. The first-ever commem- making for exciting and passionate competi- the gold medal game. The young team put orative book with photos and information with Chris Puglia tion. up 377 points in four games, outscoring the from the past 20 Games was produced. As Teams like Yamal and Saami have ex- second place Team NWT by more than 100 well, the Games torch, designed by Yellow- oday the closing ceremonies will mark panded their participation for these Games. points. By the end of Friday team Yamal had knife's Janet Pacey, will go on to be used the conclusion of the 2008 Arctic Win- Both competed in team sports for the first accumulated more ulus than in their previous during future Games. Tter Games. It's been a crazy, yet fulfill- time. The Saami's intermediate soccer team two Games appearances combined. Once again the Arctic Winter Games have ing week for the athletes, coaches, officials, and Yamal's junior boys soccer team entered Nunavut saw sweeping improvements embodied and epitomized the true spirit of mission staff, volunteers and organizers who competition as unknowns. this year. They played for gold in both mens the North. Legions of dedicated volunteers, have worked hard to make the 20th Games Despite playing under rules they were volleyball and , their best result fierce yet friendly competition, colourful cul- an overwhelming success. unaccustomed to and playing against some in both team sports. The team also had tural displays and meeting friends new and Since 1970, the Arctic Winter Games has very experience soccer squads, the Games improvements in speed skating, table tennis old will be among just a few of the lasting been a showcase of Northern athletic prow- were a tremendous success for both teams, and Arctic sports. memories of 2008. ess as well as the diverse cultures spanning with both making the medal rounds. This being the fifth time Yellowknife has This is the third Games I have been in- the circumpolar world. Team Yamal played for bronze after a hosted the Games, the organizing committee volved in as a journalist and editor and I am As the 20th Games wrap up, it's im- heartbreaking late goal in the second half went all out to make it as memorable as pos- grateful for the opportunity to be part of in portant to take note of the growth that of the semi finals saw them fall to Team sible. Alumni from previous Games dating to such a momentous and amazing event. has occurred over the past 38 years. New NWT. Team Saami wowed crowds with their the original 1970 Games were in attendance. Congratulations to all the athletes and contingents have been added to the fray of technical skill, which carried them to the gold At the opening ceremonies these athletes performers who gave their all this year and competition and the richness of culture and medal round after only one loss in the round passed the torch to one of the Games' have a safe journey home. tradition continues to grow. robin. founding fathers, former NWT commissioner See you at the 2010 Games in Grande Since the founding of the Games the num- In Basketball, Yamal's junior girls team Stuart Hodgson, who lit the giant cauldron. Prairie, Alta. 6 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 7 daily wrap-up Yamal battles for second Saami and Greenland face off in golden soccer showdown by Jennifer McPhee

n the last two Arctic Games combined, Team Yamal brought home 79 medals. This year, Yamal tripled the size of its contingent, and racked up I91 medals by press time yesterday. Ninety-one seems to be a lucky number for Team Yamal. Its junior girls blazed through their final basketball game yesterday winning the gold ulu with a score of 91-60 against Team Yukon. After the game, the girls said they were disappointed that they'll be too old to return to the 2010 Games, and hope their younger sisters will take their places. Speak- ing through a translator, they said they were impressed by how none of the athletes at the Games held grudges – something that's quite different from what happens at home. Yamal's junior boys soccer team was shut out of the gold medal round by Team NWT yesterday. Jan Barbier of Team NWT scored a late game goal, breaking a 2-2 tie. The Yamal boys were “frustrated” by this turn of events, but after an inspirational speech from their coach, the players turned their frustration into motivation and won the bronze medal round 3-2 against Team Yukon. Yamal led 2-0 for most of this intense game, but Team Yukon sud- denly scored two quick goals during the final few minutes. The game went into overtime, and Ivan Timo- feev scored the final goal. The last few minutes of the game defined both games, said Timofeev.

Also yesterday, Yamal swept the McPhee Jennifer photo open male sledge jump category in Yamal’s junior girls celebrate winning gold in basketball yesterday afternoon. From left to right: Ekaterina Borovikova, Anna Glukhoverya and Aleksandra Arctic sports. Already a two-time Mirzaeva. sledge jump champion, Rodion juvenile male category. all happy now,” said Paltto. “It's all calm, and that's exactly what they the gold ulu. Greenland's girls beat Taligin now exits the 2008 Games Yamal's confidence in table ten- over and it's gone very well.” did, he said. Team Yukon 2-1 yesterday after a with a third gold ulu, leaping 530 nis wasn't unfounded as the team Yesterday was a memorable day Winning yesterday's game “was close game that ended in a shoot- sledges. Oleg Ivantsiv took the took eleven medals in the table ten- for the Saami intermediate girls the best feeling ever,” said Saami out. The team has now corrected silver ulu; Aleksandr Longortov won nis finals on Friday, six of them gold. soccer team, which heads into the soccer player Kare Brita Eire. Heidi minor mistakes made in earlier bronze; and Pavel Laptander placed Saami chef de mission Aslak gold medal round after defeating Andreassen played hard throughout matches, and had control of the ball fourth. Paltto was finally able to breathe Team Alaska 2-0 in overtime in the the game, but couldn't play in the for almost the whole match yester- Team Yamal entered the 2008 yesterday because all the cross- semi-finals. final few minutes because she was day, said chaperone Arina Kleist. Games not expecting to win any country ski events were over. Team Coach Bengt Are Jensen was so nervous, she said. Winning was Greenland padded their ulu medals in . But Yamal Saami's 24-member cross country so nervous he felt sick during the a tremendous relief, said the tired count on Friday following the table snowboarder Evgeniy Ivanov won ski crew won 16 medals over the hours leading up to yesterday's Saami. tennis finals. The team added five his third snowboarding medal today course of the games: five gold, game. Jensen told the girls they The Saami girls will now face medals to its count, including two – the bronze ulu in the quarter-pipe five silver and six bronze. “We're would win as long as they stayed off against Team Greenland for silver and three bronze. ScavenGer Hunt Spring has sprung- there are RAVENS about, You will find the hints in the ULU NEWS, Each day there will be TEN for you to scout out. You will have from TEN to FIVE daily to solve all the CLUES. Not those feathered black birds you see about town, These large COLOURED raven statues don’t fly around. This is the Arctic Winter Games - get out and have FUN! The PINS are all unique; you get the only one, Why HUNT for these birds you all want to know? To find a hidden raven and collect a priceless pin. Why subject yourself to RUN through the snow? Remember there are only TWENTY pins available to win. Because on FOUR of the ravens a ribbon you will find, That you can exchange for an Arctic Winter Games PIN - If you find a prized ribbon you’ll be the envy of the town, one of a kind. Claim your prize at the Pin Table in the Athletes Centre located downtown. For only FIVE DAYS you will have a chance to seek, Lucky Winners will be named in the Ulu News, These big Northern birds decorated like FLAGS from tail to beak. As the sharpest and the fastest to solve all the clues. • Shawn Mackenzie Yesterday’s winners raven artists • Bonnie Madsen • Aurora Nind and Anika Affleck, Yellowknife • Donna Shreiner • Astrid Kruse • Donovan Worslay, Yellowknife There will not be a scavenger hunt on Satur- • Ann Timmins • Terry Pamplin day. Congratulations to all the super sleuths • Emily Smith, Yellowknife who solved the riddles and earned themselves • Shawna Lampii-Legaree • Vivian Gustafson • Tyler Pilling, Fort Simpson a pin. • Rose Scott • Jordan Martin (Carver) 8 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games the day in pictures

Team Alaska celebrates after receiving their gold ulus after their win against Team NWT Friday night. photos Merle Robillard photos Ryan Bachli of Team Yukon competes against Anders Jensen of Team Greenland (not Pictured) in the junior male table tennis semi-final at Range Lake North school during the Arctic Winter Games. photo Lisa Scott photo Team Nunavut enters the court for the junior boys gold medal volleyball match.

Zack Bursell of Team Alaska crosses the finish line in the five-Kilometre snowshoe race at the Yellowknife Golf Club Friday. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 9 the day in pictures photos Merle Robillard photos Lonny Mitchell Booshu of Team Alaska competes in the sledge jump Logan Andrew of Team NWT competes in the snowboard quarter-pipe at Bristol Pit yesterday. competition at Ecole St. Joseph.

Trista Beck of Team NWT starts the five dog, 10-Kilometre juvenile dog sled race on Back Bay. 10 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games around the games alaska dominates Games Alberta and Yukon duke it our for fourth place

by Daniel T’seleie

esterday was the last day for most events, and the competition was fierce. Landon Schoorlemmer of Team Alberta North Ystepped up for his last speed skating races, and with his time of one-minute 46.68 seconds he broke the AWG record time in the juvenile male 1,000-metre event. There's a catch, though. “I broke it, but David Coulombe from Nunavut, he beat the record, too,” Schoorlemmer said. Cou- lombe's time of one-minute 44.2 seconds left Schoorlemmer with the silver, but he holds no grudg- es. “He beat me fair and square.” Schoorlemmer is happy to leave the Games with three silver ulus, one gold and a new AWG juvenile male 500-metre record that he set on Tuesday. Alberta's junior female curlers made it to the gold medal round yesterday, after a week of battling on the sheet. The medal final against Team Yukon was no less intense. “You really couldn't miss a shot,” said second Stephanie Pow- ell. They hit the right shots and secured the gold with a final score of ten stones to nine. The team is happy with their performance throughout the week. “Every game we had was pretty good,” said third Nicole Phillips.

Silver for the males Team Yukon’s junior male curlers check their gold ulus for authenticity at The Team's junior male curl- yesterday’s medal ceremony. The team defeated Alberta North in the final ers also made it to the gold final yesterday after a week of competition. The team, from the left, is:Will yesterday, but wily Yukoners stole Mahoney, Nicholas Koltun, and Mitch Young. the gold and left Alberta with the some of the best ice in , keeping the pressure on Team silver. but after some practice both the NWT last night they managed a “They played really well,” said junior males and females made 3-1 win and will bring home a gold skip Graham Powell. “They got the it to the gold finals yesterday. ulu. rocks in good places.” “It was tough. The first half was The fourth day of competition In other round robin news, pretty tight,” said Thomas Scoffin, brought Alaskan snowboarder Team Alberta North's bantam junior male skip. Sparky Kesler her fourth ulu. Her male hockey team won the gold They pulled it all together for solid score of 21.6 in yesterday's ulu in the final against Team a final score of 11-6 and a gold quarter-pipe event was more than Yukon. “It was a lot of hustle out ulu. The junior females also had a enough to shut out the competi- there, we needed to work hard for tough game in their final against tion, with silver going to Alberta it,” said team captain and game Alberta. “It was really close,” said North's Nicole Borle and her score MVP Tyrin Wiebe. It was 3-2 for third . “[Alberta] of 16.5. It's Kesler's fourth ulu, the Albertans after the end of had to make their last shot, oth- and third gold, of these Arctic the second period. “After that erwise we would win,” said skip Winter Games. we basically took it,” Wiebe said. . Alberta made the The American riders secured The final score was 6-3. It's an shot and took the gold with a final a total of five ulus in the quarter-

impressive win for a team with no score of 10-9. pipe, bringing their snowboarding T’seleie Daniel photos prior experience playing together. Team Yukon also had a good ulu count to 16. Chris Stone of Alberta North gets into position for a 1,500-metre race “Monday was the first game we day in dog mushing. Racers Rachel The junior female volleyball yesterday. ever played together,” Wiebe said. and Benjamin Kinvig won gold and team had an exceptionally strong beat Alberta North3-1. “It was performance. Fulton credits Team Yukon's curlers took silver, respectively, in the five dog week, and entered the gold final great. [Alberta] played really awe- the victory to the teams strong some time to adjust to the sheets 10-kilometre juvenile co-ed event. undefeated in the 20 sets they some,” said outside hitter Lauren defense, blocking and, of course, here in Yellowknife. According It was a long week for Alaska's played prior. They lost their first Fulton. She entered the game their coach. to Yukon curlers has female hockey team. But after set in the final, but managed to confidently due to the teams – with files from Lisa Scott GameS Talk

what was the highlight of your arctic winter rachael pope, 18, Alexis Campbell, 15, Burt Stephens, 16, Madeline Annanack, 18, Christina Glenzel, 12, speedskater, Alaska dog mushing, nWT hockey, Yukon dene games, nunavik dene games, Alaska games 2008? Competing in speedskat- Winning 3 gold medals in Playing in the gold medal Getting the bronze medal Having fun and enjoying ing because I dropped dog mushing. midget hockey game. in stick pull. all the events. 22 seconds off the 1,500-Metre race this year. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 1 daily wrap-up Playing it by the book Refereeing AWG ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’

by Jennifer McPhee Greenland players – control the different contingents. Every night, ball more, he says. “The Green- they held a technical meeting over hen the Arctic land [junior boys] team controls a soda, “if you know what I mean,” Winter Games the ball 75 to 80 per cent of the he says. “I'm here for eight days, Host Society time,” he says. “It's incredible” so I'm going to have some fun.” asked - On Tuesday, a mid-game Badminton umpire Paul Gowdie based Stu Murray skirmish erupted between Team from the Yukon also enjoyed toW referee soccer at the Arctic Yamal and Team Yukon junior meeting colleagues from the Yu- Winter Games, he wasn't even boys players and the Yukon player kon, NWT, Alberta and Greenland. sure what the Games were. involved ended up with a red card. There was also “one Newfie” of- Murray thought the Games “There was a little bit of push- ficiating the badminton matches, were a tournament between the ing,” he says. “We dealt with it he says. NWT and the Yukon, with the through cautions and ejections. This is Gowdie's second time of- possibility that Nunavut would be There were more cautions and ficiating at a major sporting event, there. He was blown away when ejections during the first couple and so it helps to meet other offi- he realized the Games brought of days; then everyone seemed to cials he'll encounter again at other together teams of athletes from settle down.” events in the future, he says. He's around the circumpolar world for received good feedback from his a large-scale event with a 38-year Hard, but fair peers, and he can tell the athletes history. Murray was impressed by all are learning what professionalism “It's incredible,” says the soccer the teams, but the Saami inter- means. referee-in-chief. “It's a once-in-a- mediate girl's soccer team stood The Games provide everyone lifetime opportunity that's been out. “They are talented and play with a chance to “learn who we fantastic.” the game hard and fair,” he says, are, what our competition is like, Murray – who has been a adding that their coach was also what level we are at, and where referee in Edmonton for 26 years really friendly. we need to improve,” he says. “It's – says all the athletes desperately Compared with other tourna- been a great experience.” want to win, but still show a lot of ments he's been to, the friendli- Sometimes it's tempting to respect for each other. Keeping ness factor at these games was coach players from his own contin- McPhee Jennifer photo the athletes in check was tougher definitely above average. “The gent, but he knows it's his job to Soccer referee-in-chief Stu Murray says the highlight of the Games for him early in the week because of Games could be advertised as the remain neutral. “Part of me wants was getting to know other officials. their excitement level. They were friendly games,” he says. to coach,” he says. “You want to two of many officials offering up “Running the Games needs feeling each other out, and were Officiating the competition was talk to the players and give them their skills for free at this year's volunteers,” she says. “We also sometimes frustrated by other great, but it wasn't the highlight of some pointers, but that's not your Games. Their contribution is criti- need people who understand the teams' different playing styles. his trip. The best part was hang- business.” cal, says host society president Games. It's really important for The Europeans – especially the ing out with all the referees from Gowdie and Murray are just Cathie Bolstad. us.” 12 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games contingent profile Ice and snow bring the gold Team Yukon praises ‘world-class’ coaches, facilities

by Daniel T’seleie says. “I just had lots of determina- tion and wanted to win.” ake a look at the ulu tally Our trails Determination is right. At his for Team Yukon and you'll second Arctic Winter Games in notice one thing; the vast prepare us 2004 Henry won four gold ulus, majority of the team's but it wasn't easy. “I did that with wins are in snow and ice for just about a broken arm,” Henry says. The Tsports. Some would attribute this modest skater says the cast wasn't to the athletes' home climate. anything much of a handicap, but still had “We have a longer training sea- an effect. He says skating is similar son,” says quadruple gold cross- to running, you need your arms country ski uluist Dahria Beatty. for torque. “If you don't have the Cold weather is not the only which adds to their total time. Bur- arm swing when you're running it factor at play in the success of the lingame says the “tight corners” doesn't work.” team. “We have really good facili- on the 2008 AWG penalty lap were That wasn't the only compe- ties, and lots of coaches,” Beatty hard to negotiate at speed. tition in which Henry and the says. “Our head coach is a former It's not just Yukon skiers and Yukon speed skating team had to Olympian.” ski-biathletes who are excelling. overcome adversity. In the 2006 Ryan Burlingame, triple gold The speed skaters have also ben- Games an unexpected pile-up dur- uluist in senior male ski-, efited from their facilities, coaches ing a race crippled the four-man agrees that the “amazing” train- and clever practice techniques. relay team. “One of my teammates ing facilities in Whitehorse have “Being in the junior male divi- got a huge cut in his arm,” Henry helped prepare the team for com- sion I'm always the last on [the says. “It ended up being a three petition in Yellowknife. ice],” says Troy Henry, quadruple person relay team, and we ended “Our trails, I would say, are gold speed skater. Competing up winning.” world class. Our trails prepare us later in the day means skating on In the end it's not about the ulu for just about anything,” he says. ice that is, “beaten up and rutted count. These young athletes are The combination of flat and up,” Henry adds. He takes this into happy to be here and engage in hilly runs have left the seasoned account during practice. “When some friendly competition. Henry's Yukoners more than ready for the you're training you don't always attitude sums it up. He held four courses at the Yellowknife ski club. search out the best track and the Arctic Winter Games speed skat- “The only thing that might have good ice,” Henry says. “It's good to ing records in the juvenile male given me a scare was the short train on bad ice.” division until this week. All four photo Daniel T’seleie Daniel photo penalty lap,” Burlingame says. Knowledge and skill doesn't records were broken, but Henry is Ryan Burlingame gets ready to wax up his skis for competition earlier in When biathletes miss shots come easily. “I wasn't much of a happy for the new record holders. the week. He represents Team Yukon, who performed extremely well in ski, they must ski around a penalty lap, skater when I first started,” Henry “Hats off to them,” he says. snowshoe, biathlon and skating events. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 3 around the games International committee holds line on future changes No upheavals expected for 2010 in Grande Prairie

by Daniel T’seleie awarding the coveted event to member from Nunavut. To confirm and offered to help her carry a bidding communities, the IC is also that the minimum standards have large box. “You don't always get lot has changed since responsible for ensuring the Arctic been upheld the reps must speak that in everyday life,” Neily said. the Arctic Winter Games Winter Games maintains its vision. frequently with the athletes them- Just because things are going started as the polar re- “The International Commit- selves. “They're our best judges,” smoothly doesn't mean the IC will gion's premier sporting tee is the keeper of the Games,” Neily said. She has been discussing be sitting on their hands. Some- event. says Thick. “Our job is to ensure food, lodgings, transportation and times change is necessary, and AInternational Committee presi- minimum standards, ensure that other things with the athletes. The IC has been pushing for more dent Gerry Thick says he has seen the Games are run according to our So how do these Games chalk culture since 1988, Thick says, and “huge changes” since he took the goals and objectives.” By minimum up? “This host society has worked with designated cultural reps from top job in 1996. “We have more standards, Thick means that food, really hard getting ready for the each contingent the results are sports, more culture, more kids.” lodgings and other things that af- 2008 Games,” Thick says. The evident at these Games. With a long list of events fect quality of life for the athletes minimum standards have certainly But the IC is not trying to bring ranging from the traditional to must be adequate. been met, Thick said. Neily agrees culture to the organizational fore- the modern, sports have been The goals and objectives of the T’seleie Daniel photo that these Games are well done. front. “It's a sporting event and a added and removed to keep with committee largely revolve around Marilyn Neily is a member of the “The volunteers are fabulous,” she sharing of cultures, but it is a sport- Arctic Winter Games International the scope of the Games – deci- “mass participation” of Northern Committee. Ten IC reps have adds. ing event and not a cultural event,” sions under the jurisdiction of the athletes in the Games. been out watching the events this Thick says. IC. A recent example is the 2006 Ensuring mass participation is week and, among other things, The big decision Neily agrees that the cultural Games where – to help reduce the not as easy as it sounds. Part of the are responsible for deciding who The IC is not just some watch- aspect is important, adding an “ex- growing number of athletes – the IC's job is making sure teams don't will receive the coveted Hodgson dog keeping tabs on the Games. tra dimension” to the Games, but peewee division was eliminated bring athletes of too high a calibre Award. The reps are also responsible for says this isn't limited to organized from hockey competition. – Olympians for example. grounds and areas. “We're hoping deciding which lucky contingent performances and demonstra- However, plans for 2010 Games “We try to ensure that the com- that these kids have a major Games will receive the Hodgson Award, a tions. The “cultural interchange” do not include any effort to reduce petitions are competitive,” Thick experience that they wouldn't have prize for sportsmanship. Neily says between athletes in everyday or add events to this year's compe- says. After all, the Arctic Winter [without the AWG].” the athletes at these Games have competition and Games life is an tition schedule. “I don't anticipate Games were born out of the need There are ten IC reps and each gone above and beyond the call for integral way for the competitors to any changes,” Thick says. for Northern athletes with lim- is responsible for ensuring that courtesy, both on and off the court. learn about each other. “The em- Aside from deciding the fate of ited training facilities to compete the, “standards of the Games are When leaving a venue earlier this phasis here is on fun in a competi- sports involved in the Games and against others from similar back- upheld,” says Marilyn Neily, an IC week a random athlete stopped tive atmosphere,” she says. 14 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games around the games may the torch be passed Athletes village, freestyle skiing in the cards for 2010 Games

by Lisa Scott the Games in 1994. These were the dard so that we can give them back largest Games of the time, with 20 to a smaller community,” says Reid. t seems like the 20th Arctic sports and 1,600 participants. That hope won’t come to frui- Winter Games just started, but As the Games enter their third tion for 2012, as Whitehorse has it’s already time to pass the decade, worry about the increasing already won the bid for the Games torch to the next host society size has been an issue as a limit- following Alberta. – Grand Prairie, Alta. ing factor in who can host them. As athletes go home from these IThe 2010 Games were slated for The dual bid of Hay River and Fort Games, preparation for the next Greenland, but the Danish province Smith, NWT, lost out to Yellowknife will already by in motion. With bowed out of hosting and the In- for these Games due to the limited a history of hosting the Canada ternational Committee approached facilities and decision by the Inter- Winter Games and various inter- Alberta to bid for the Games. The national Committee to no longer national sports events, Grande city of 50,000, just north of the allow split host communities. Prairie has all the infrastructure it 55th parallel, beat out Peace River needs, though there are plans to to become the most southerly host Looking for support build a permanent half-pipe for the society in the history of the circum- Reid hopes that by raising the snowboard competition. polar event. profile of the Games in the eyes of Dog mushing will still be held, More than 40 volunteers from the provincial and federal govern- can get winter the Alberta city swarmed Yellow- ment, more support will be given temperatures almost as nasty as knife this week in an attempt to to smaller communities wishing to Arctic contingents are used to, learn from these Games and take host. freezing up the lakes for the sport. that knowledge into 2010. Once “It’s about raising awareness While Reid says the 2010 Games back at home, host society presi- in the governments that need to will be the same size as 2008, her Lisa scott photo dent Debbie Reid says the debrief- support them, trying to work with society has been in talks with the Debbie Reid is stepping up as the president of the 2010 Grande Prairie host ing and lesson learning will begin. [smaller] communities to find ways International Committee to add society. Right from the start Reid has to make it happen,” she says. freestyle skiing as a demonstra- Having all lodging and food services ries for their outstanding attitude been impressed with the host She emphasizes the importance tion sport. Downhill skiing will also under one roof should eliminate and knows it will be a tough act to society. President Cathie Bolstad of each host making the games not return to the Nitehawk Ski Area some of the challenges faced this follow. was on the phone to Reid as soon “bigger and better, but different” with 145 metres of vertical. With week by Yellowknife, such as trans- “This host society has been as the city won its bid and the and unique to their own commu- inflation and an extra sport, the portation to and from dorms, the really true to the collaboration and Grande Prairie delegates have been nity. She admits that the games cost of the Games is estimated to cafeteria and the sport venues. camaraderie of spirit that a Games welcomed here with open arms. really can’t get any bigger. jump from $6.5 million to between As the 2008 Games torch is like these brings,” she says, add- The last time Alberta hosted “We pay homage to those that $7 and $8 million. passed on Saturday, Yellowknife’s ing that it will be a challenge for wasn’t long ago, as Fort McMur- created these Games and more Athletes can also look forward Games officially come to a stellar Grande Prairie to step up to that ray opened its doors to Northern importantly we’ll try to raise the to a single athletes village at the end and Alberta steps in. level, but they’re certainly willing Athletes in 2004. Slave Lake held profile of these Games to a stan- Grande Prairie Regional College. Reid commended the Territo- to try. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 6, March 15, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 5 cultural feature

Ground Work Sessions Funk Ensemble, the cultural contingent from the Yukon, demonstrated rhythm, creativity and flexibility in a crowd pleasing performance Thursday. From left: Jada Powell, Kaylee Freeman, Riley Simpson- Fowler, Alex Robinson, Jordan Reti and Ben Robinson.

Sasha Buslovskiy danced across the stage in colourful Obleman Jennifer photos clothing during the performance of Yalymad, the cultural The Nunavik Throat Singers performed to an appreciative contingent from Yamal, . Rita Bezhenutsa was one of the performers with Yalymad, the cultural audience at Thursday night’s cultural gala at the Northern contingent from Yamal, Russia. Arts and Culture Centre.

This drummer performed with Rankin Inlet’s Tusarniq The Mt. Edgecumbe High school Yup’ik Dance Group from Alaska performed traditional dances as well as a hunting Choir at Thursday’s cultural gala. drama and a cowboy song. 16 ULU NEWS Issue 6, March 15, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games