The CNSC hosted their first annual ski tournament on March 9, 2012, a SD#57 non-instructional day. Registration was slow to begin with, perhaps due to the teacher’s strike and rumoured Pro-D day cancellation or just that everyone in Prince George signs up at the last minute! Participants were asked to sign up in teams of four, with one restriction being that only one SDP participant was allowed per team in order to encourage non-SDP participation. Individuals were also invited to register and it was through this manner of registration that we gained the majority of our participants.
In the end we capped registration at 56 participants (16 SDP registrants) with eight teams of four in the 6-8year old category and six teams of four in the 9-13year old category. Teams were encouraged to invent an original name, cheer or chant, and costume.
Teams in the 6-8 year old category:
Jets, Red Hawks, Rice Paddies, Team S, Thunder, Lightning, Rainbows, and Rockettes.
Teams in the 9-13 year old category:
Les Shooting Etoiles, Speedier Bunnies, Snow Troopers, Snow Hawks, Snowcaps and Shooting Stars .
Some chose to dress up with the use of face paint, or headgear, and one very red feathered hawk!
Well rehearsed team chants were performed throughout the day and presented at the awards ceremony to the delight of all participants, 15 volunteers and many parents and siblings.
Awards and recognition were given for technique and speedy times (both individual and team) in the Sprints, All Terrain Relays and Snowball Biathlon. Other unique personal awards were given out to a substantial number of recipients. Some of these included the Keep on Trucking, Spirit, Hero, Comedian, Super Trooper, Best Stab, I’m Lost, All Washed Up, Best Shooter, Best Tag off, Sportsmanship, Best Team Support and Best Faceplant awards.
Everyone enjoyed the delicious hotdogs grilled up by Mitch, roasted marshmallows, lemonade and the various cookie awards. The ultimate trophy was the team aggregate award, a very large chocolate covered Rice Krispie trophy that the two category winners sliced down the middle and shared!
We look forward to making a few improvements for next year in order to reduce organizational stress and feel quite confident that next year’s tournament will be even more FANTASTIC!!
Our nationally famous biathlete, Sarah Beaudry, at the snowball biathlon station.
Carolyn Thorp
Caledonia Nordic Ski Club Ski School Coordinator