It was recently the Aniirajak Ski and Adventure ClubSA国际影视传媒檚 turn to host what will hopefully be the first of many exchanges in Iqaluit with their Gatineau Ski Club counterpart.

Perfect skiing conditions on April 20 saw the junior members from both clubs competing for fun in a sprint race at the ski can during the Quebec clubSA国际影视传媒檚 six-day stay.

SA国际影视传媒淸Going] around just on the tundra for us is special,SA国际影视传媒� said visiting parent, chaperone and adult ski club member Guillaume Goulet, who was busy making a fire in a portable ice cabin turned makeshift fire lodge. SA国际影视传媒淲e brave the cold [here]. Minus thirty for us [in Gatineau] is a few days a year. Here, itSA国际影视传媒檚 normal all winter. We had a bad winter [with skiing conditions], so for us itSA国际影视传媒檚 a thrill to be here.SA国际影视传媒�

Goulet went on to explain that the two clubs first encountered each other when the Quebec skiers were on a prior exchange to Whitehorse. The younger members of the club SA国际影视传媒� seven girls, two boys aged 12-15, most of whom are part of a special sports study program in Quebec SA国际影视传媒� had been practising a SA国际影视传媒渕ass startSA国际影视传媒� from the race start line.

The Gatineau Ski ClubSA国际影视传媒檚 primary function is to serve as a social outlet to foster a spirit of camaraderie and team-building in what can be an isolating and sometimes solo sport, according to Goulet.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a really good development skill for down the road,SA国际影视传媒� he said while chopping wood, showcasing yet another skill essential to both outdoor survival and bringing people together. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the emphasis of the [club]: theySA国际影视传媒檒l learn more if they have fun.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淣ow itSA国际影视传媒檚 our turn to welcome them,SA国际影视传媒� commented Francois Fortin, treasurer for the Aniirajak club. SA国际影视传媒淲e have organized a lot of activities for them with the help of our clubSA国际影视传媒檚 partner, White Bear Adventures (Benoit Havard), and our coach, Shannon Chartr茅. We did a welcome pot lock at the French school on their first night with all the parents and youthSA国际影视传媒� We have lots of activities planned for their week in Iqaluit, including a trip on the ice to a parentSA国际影视传媒檚 cabin for dinner; an overnight at another cabin (White BearSA国际影视传媒檚); a cultural and historical town tour, including a visit at the legislative assembly; the museum and Inukpak dog team; cultural activities at the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre; and lots and lots of skiing.SA国际影视传媒�

The Aniirajak Ski and Adventure Club was founded nearly a decade ago in Iqaluit, and is on the verge of entering into a memorandum of understanding with the city on a permanent land lot to support the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 development of free and accessible recreational infrastructure for all Iqalummiut.

This year has already been a huge year in the Iqaluit ski clubSA国际影视传媒檚 development, featuring events like the exchange with Gatineau, two school programs, training a biathalon cadet team in Arctic Bay, the Toonik Tyme fun race, and the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 own loppet set for the first weekend in May.

Aniirajak also sent four skiers, for the first time, to the Arctic Winter Games (AWGs) in March.

SA国际影视传媒淪o now that we have a great team, we want to showcase them and put them in competition environments. We have several skiers aiming for AWG in 2026!SA国际影视传媒�

He added that the group has SA国际影视传媒渙ther dreams,SA国际影视传媒� such as sending people to the Sisimiut Ski Race, competing in more in biathlons and summer training camps.

Fortin was also grateful for the visit by the Gatineau club.

SA国际影视传媒淭his exchange is great, energizing for everyone and very motivating for our athletes,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey get a lot of experience and have to compete with very good athletesSA国际影视传媒� Many want to do it again next year already.SA国际影视传媒�

Sprint race results

The Aniirajak club designed and plowed its own course for the sprint race with the help of everyone present and Havard on the side-by-side. The sprint race was contested on a loop that went uphill and downhill. The individual times are as follows (in minutes, seconds and tenths of seconds):

1. Alice Leblanc (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 1:36.2

2. Julianne Gagnon (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 1:41.3

3. Igimaq Williamson (Iqaluit) SA国际影视传媒� 1:46.1

4. Callum Goddard (Iqaluit) SA国际影视传媒� 1:54.5

5. 脡lisa Chouki Drapeau (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 1:56.4

6. Azriel Petnkeu (Iqaluit) SA国际影视传媒� 1:57.9

7. Maxandre Goulet (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 1:57.9

8. Mah茅e Migneault (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 1:59.6

9. Stella Huneault (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 2:00.3

10. Louis Goulet (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 2:00.8

11. 脡milie Malatte (Gatineau) SA国际影视传媒� 2:03.2

12. Gabriel Mossey (Iqaluit) SA国际影视传媒� 2:10.2

13. Amaija Akearok (Iqaluit) SA国际影视传媒� 2:14.8

14. Breton Didham (Iqaluit) SA国际影视传媒� 2:38.7