Issue 3 February 24 2012
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The Sports Edition Whitehorse Rapids Speed Skating Club recently held a training camp with coach Maggie Qi, who coaches the national team at the oval in Calgary. Photo credit: Heinz Ter Voert published by Arctic Sports Kicks High...3 Meet Team Yukon...8 AWG 2012 Sport Schedule...9 Whitehorse 2012 Arctic Winter Games ULU News 3 2 ULU News Whitehorse 2012 Arctic Winter Games As Chef in her second Arctic Winter Games, Tracey Bilsky sees this Games as presenting awesome opportunities for Team Yukon’s younger athletes, “You know what I am most excited about this time My hope for is that there are so many new par- ticipants. For a large majority of every athlete our team this is their first Arctic comes down to Winter Games. And so I think what we’ll see from that is just a experience, ...if lot of newness and excitement and innocence and energy.” they feel good But she also has her eyes on about their some hopeful veterans to the Games. “I also get excited about experience, then the athletes that have trained hard and are going to perform well. I think that is Like Holly Bull and Fabian Brook more important from cross-country skiing. We’ve got a couple of figure skaters than winning. Rachel Pettitt and Bryn Hoffman who will show well. We have Rachel Kinvig, she’s a dog musher. their feet as far forward as possible This will be Kinvig’s third Games has a very practical origin. If ice fishers kneeling down on the ice all the team, such as the coaches and she’s never lost. She’s always Arctic Sports Kicks High heard a crack they would jump up and athletes. And we’re also the won gold. She carried the flag in Meet the Chef-de-Mission the closing ceremonies at the last How the Games of the North lured me from the South and as far out of the way as link between the AWG International possible. Head of Team Yukon serves as link between the host Committee.” Games.” by JESSE DEVOST For Bilsky, however, it’s about In my office, I cleared an society and teams, coaches and athletes, and the “It’s a fun job because you have optimistic amount of space in to make sure everything is looked having the right attitude. Whether AWG International Committee a new, upcoming athlete or a top I was first exposed to arctic Yukon’s team as well as a athletes and everyone will get to front of me in anticipation of after like the food and accommo- sports during the lush and rainy competitor in the upcoming Arctic see the best of the sport at these sailing clear across my cubicle and by AISHA MONTGOMERY dation and all the logistics that performer, she looks forward to seeing all her athletes enjoy their green winters of my childhood on Winter Games, his enthusiasm for games – it’s really exciting for all into future Arctic Winter Games have to go on to make sure the Hornby Island. Through some the sport is infectious. of our athletes,” says Josh. glory. On my knees and with the Don’t be fooled by her title. As It’s no small job overseeing 340 of As current executive director moment of a competition. “My athletes are well cared for and quirk of electromagnetic broadcast, “I love it because it’s not A lot of the sports have been most concentration I’d mustered the Chef-de-Mission of Team Yukon’s finest young athletes. But of Sport Yukon, the role of Chef- hope for every athlete comes down have a great experience.” CBC North was the only channel against any one person – it’s more played at potlatches for generations all day, I flung myself forward and Yukon about the only thing Tracey Bilsky makes this difficult task de-Mission is a natural fit for to experience, their experience And, Bilsky has gathered up we picked up on our ramshackle against yourself. There’s a lot of – it was a place where many I love it because was actually pretty surprised that Bilsky won’t be doing during the seem so easy with her positive Bilsky, but she considers her role within it…when it comes down to some reliable help along the way. “I TV antenna at the time. sharing of tips amongst people could get together, share I didn’t crash headfirst into a upcoming Games is the actual outlook and obvious love of ath- as Chef an honour, and not a role it if they’ve learned something it’s not against have an assistant, Peter Cassidy, Fascinated by the feats of competitors and it’s a super their games and compare how filing cabinet. cooking of meals for her athletes. leticism. A born and raised she takes for granted. “Essentially about themselves, if they feel good and for AWG I’m allowed 10 other strength and agility from this friendly environment. At the same they did them. any one person – My feet miraculously landed Since 2010, Bilsky has been Yukoner herself, Bilsky’s love of the role is that you are the head of about their experience, then I people who are considered my mis- exotic, northern land (and a little time it’s really difficult and you Some athletes focus on a few under me and there was no searing focused primarily on her role as sports started early as a figure the team,” said Bilsky, “You’re the think that is more important than sion staff. They are all given sports. cabin feverish) my sister and I end up using muscle groups you sports but Josh does all of them. it’s more against pain from my body. I had done it! I Chef-de-Mission of Team Yukon. skater in Faro. link between the host society and winning to me, as a Chef.” We all have our role.” would dangle small objects from never thought you had.” He will be competing for the all- yourself. completed a successful kneel jump! my bunk bed and mildly injure Remembering my childhood around athlete’s title as well as in I traveled about the length of a ourselves trying to kick them up exploits, I ask him: “what would a the individual events. stapler. through the rain clouds, hoping beginner like me experience if I “The appeal is that it is Feeling like I should stop while that maybe they would break gave it a try?” something different – you can see tells me. We’ve used a ball of I’m ahead, I recalled Josh’s invite to through and let in the sun. It was “You would probably find it most other sports just about any socks tied to the ceiling once for visit one of Team Yukon’s practice Ge� your a lot of fun. pretty tough,” Josh comments. time but this is something special high kicking and with some of the sessions the following week. Perhaps This kind of situation, I’m now “It’s hard to get the jumping – the cultural aspect is strong and jumping sports, you don’t need I’ll stop by and learn more than I Game�Ticket� realizing, is probably how a lot of techniques correct for starters but these sports have been played for any equipment at all.” ever would have accomplished in the arctic sports originated (well, once you learn – and there’s a lot hundreds of years – people watch Back at my office after we my bedroom as a kid or as a middle- All Games tickets (Sport, Culture & Ceremonies) are available perhaps not in the Gulf Islands or of little things to know, you’ll get and they wonder if they could do chat, I’m realizing that what I aged office worker. at Sportslife in the Hougen Centre, 3rd & Main Street. with physics defying TV reception, better and have a lot of fun.” it because many of the sports are really want to do is step away More than anything, I’m but you get my idea...) These sports are extremely actually very simple in concept.” from my computer and actually excited to see the best of the sport Cultural tickets are also available at The Yukon Arts Centre. About 30-odd years later popular in the arctic communities, Over the course of our try something – while a button up compete at the Arctic Winter Out-of-town? Call the Games office at 867.393.2012 for tickets. (which equates to a few days ago), Josh tells me. There are events conversation, I’m getting really shirt and khakis aren’t the ideal Games. Get your tickets for Arctic I’m in Whitehorse chatting with happening all winter across the keen to try something. garb for the two foot high kick or Sports early. They are one of the Josh Carr. Josh looks like one of North, but the biggest event for “What do you need to do some the arm-pull, why not bust out a most popular events in the games those guys who could be the star Arctic Sports is at the Arctic of these sports?” I ask. little kneel jump in my cubicle? for good reason. athlete in just about any field of Winter Games. “The great thing is that they The Kneel Jump, where the More information on Arctic play but he has chosen arctic “It’s kind of like our Olympics are really simple and you can athlete (or office worker) kneels Sports can be found at: awg2012.