Biathlon Presentation & Nunavut Quest

The cadets of 3045 Army Cadet Corps were treated to a short biathlon presentation on April 13.  The presentation was done by a civilian volunteer who acts as the corps’ biathlon coach.  He’s been working towards starting a biathlon training program in the community to get potential candidates ready for future Arctic Winter Games and Canada Winter Games.  The main feature of the presentation was the two new Anschutz 22LR rifles he acquired. 

The rifles came inside bright blue new soft-shell rifle bags.  The rifles themselves looked professional, sophisticated, and expensive.  The rifles are made of wood, metal, & plastic, and cost up to $6,000 each!  The biathlon coach went over the basics of how to hold the rifle and how its used in competitions.  Unfortunately, the cadets are not allowed to fire 22LR rifles inside the school gym.  They at least were allowed to hold them, aim down the sights, and pose for pictures.

The presentation lasted 30 minutes.

Nunavut Quest, the annual dog sled race, returned to Arctic Bay on April 16.  The race was cancelled the previous two years due to COVID-19.  (Nunavut Quest began in 1999).  The community was the Starting Line and Igloolik was the Finish Line.  Everyone was excited about the return of the competition.

The festivities began with fun afternoon dog races in the frozen bay.  They didn’t count as actual races; more like putting on a show for the kids and parents.

The opening ceremony was held at the community hall.  A large Nunavut Quest banner was taped to the back wall on stage.  A row of chairs, presumably for the competitors, were placed in front of the stage.  Several rows of chairs were placed around the C-Hall for the audience.  The ceremony began at 6:30pm.

Everyone was required to wear facemasks.  The Nunavut Quest Committee (NQC) welcomed everyone and asked all registered competitors to sit in front of the stage.  A few short speeches were made by several people.  The ceremony moved on to four musical performances.  The first performance was a vocal duet.  The second was a local family that sang a few songs.  The third & fourth performances were done by two competitors who played the guitar and sang songs they wrote.  All performances were done in Inuktitut and the audience appreciated them all.

The NQC drew the names of the competitors to find out which numbered bibs they would wear during the competition.  The number on your bib determines your starting position.  There were 13 competitors this year, so, 13 bibs were drawn and given out by lottery. 

From where I was standing, I don’t think the majority of competitors were hoping to get a specific number drawn . . . unless it was their lucky number . . . or they really wanted to start first . . . or last.  I’ve never competed in a dog sled race before, so I don’t have insider knowledge on this part.  I suppose if you suffer from triskaidekaphobia, you wouldn’t want your name drawn for the number 13.  Either way, the competitors appeared happy with the numbers they were assigned.

The race began in the afternoon on April 18.  Everyone was instructed to assemble out in the frozen bay at 2pm.  I walked down an hour early to get a good view.  It was a sunny, though, partly cloudy day.  I had to walk some distance because the competing dog teams were spread out deep in the bay.  I was armed with a GoPro and my cellphone camera.  Dogs were barking loudly. 

Slowly, more people appeared in the frozen bay, many driving snowmobiles, atvs, and trucks.  The ice is still very thick in mid-April.  You can probably land an airplane on it.  By 2pm, the bay was buzzing with activity.  The competitors were getting their dogs ready, the supply teams were checking all their, um, supplies, and the spectators like me walked around taking pictures and videos.  The last time I saw something like this was in 2017.

At around 2:25pm, all the supply teams assembled at a point in front of the competitors.  Together, they looked like a very long convoy of skidoos & qamutiks.  The leader of the convoy appeared to have a large flag attached to his skidoo.  At 2:30pm, the signal was given for the supply teams convoy to leave.  Everyone waved and yelled “Goodbye!” and “Good luck!”.  How I really wanted to join them on their journey to Igloolik, but unfortunately, I have a teaching job to attend to. 

The supply teams travel ahead of the dog teams, stop at designated points along the route and set up the checkpoints/rest stops.  I’m not sure where there’ll be, but I know they’re more than one.  Nunavut Quest is a timed relay race, similar to rally car racing.

The race officially began at 3:00pm.  From competitors #1 to #13, they each left at one-minute intervals.  The race officials loudly counted down the last remaining seconds and then waved at them to get their dogs moving.  Everyone clapped and cheered as they waved goodbye to Arctic Bay.  Most of the dog teams ran in the proper direction.  People started making their way back to town when the last dog team was out of sight.  I wish the competitors, supply teams, and officials the best of luck.  I hope they safely make it to Igloolik.

I’ll have to figure out some way of documenting a Nunavut Quest race from start to finish in the future.  It’ll make a great series for this blog.