June 17, 2009

A couple of my team mates and I standing in front of the torch.

My team mate, Terra Moran, and I looking very cold at the ski hill.

In early March of 2007, I had the good fortune of representing Alberta at the Canada Winter Games in the Yukon.  During the two week period of the Games, about 3500 athletes, coaches and officials took part.  Of these athletes, forty were current and former student-athletes from the National Sport School in Calgary.  For me personally, and for most of the other athletes who participated, being part of the Canada Winter Games was an incredible experience.

Initially, and rather naively, most of the other skiers and I believed that the Canada Winter Games were not an overly important event in the complicated and busy racing schedule of Alpine Skiing.  We understood that we were chosen because we were the next best ski racers available in Alberta who did not qualify for World Juniors.  Most of us just wanted to go to the Yukon, race, and then leave.  As it turned out, however, the Canada Winter Games were one of the greatest experiences so far in my life and I will be forever grateful that I had the opportunity to be a part of them. 

The awesome experience of the Canada Winter Games all started at the Edmonton airport, where Team Alberta’s flight was supposed to leave at 10:30pm.  Unfortunately, it was delayed until 1:30am!  However, during our rather long wait in the airport, we were able to meet our fellow team mates for the first time – the boxers, the table tennis players and the cross-country skiers, to name just a few.  Even though we arrived at the athlete’s dorms at 5:30 in the morning, none of us went straight to bed.  Instead, we all had showers, ate breakfast and then went to bed!  I was definitely one of the longest nights of my life... When we woke up, it was already afternoon.  We walked, or should I say ran, over to the athlete’s village.  Although it was cold outside, it was hard not to notice how beautiful the Yukon was. 

After a few days at the athletes’ village, I soon realized that the amount of hard work and preparation that was done to be able to host the Canada Winter Games was extensive.  The athlete’s village, for example, was overflowing with activities for us to do.  We definitely were never bored!  Everyone from Whitehorse seemed to be extending a helping hand for the Games.  It was as if all the regular activity in Whitehorse had been put on hold and all the energy and manpower moved to the sporting venues. 

I learned the most about the Northern culture at the Closing Ceremonies.  At the Closing, there were all kinds of performances.  One of the most unique and memorable performances was the throat singing.  The woman that sang this portrayed herself as a Northern version of Britney Spears and was very popular with the locals.  It was amazing!  I could never sing like that in a million years!  We also had the opportunity to see some local dancing, which was really neat.  The culture in the North is so unique and delightfully remarkable that I find it hard to imagine the next Winter Games being as culturally rewarding. 

I met so many athletes from other sports and provinces, and also enjoyed the company of many athletes that I already knew.  We scored tickets to some of the semi-final boxing matches one day and decided to go and watch.  I have never seen anything quite like it before.  There were provincial teams cheering for their team mates, flashing cameras and a full TSN news crew. The amount of intensity and excitement in the boxing arena was a spectacular event in itself.  We even got to know some of the boxers and learn more about their sport.  On my other days off, I watched gymnastics, squash, and table tennis, all in support of Team Alberta!  By bringing all of these athletes together, the Games were a great opportunity to unite the country’s up-and-coming young athletes and give them a chance to experience the next closest thing to the Olympic Games.

I realise now that I went up to the Yukon with not a lot of high expectations for the Games.  However, I soon realized how ignorant I was.  The magnitude of the Games greatly surpassed any expectations that I had.  Consequently, I came back home with a new-found respect for the Canada Winter Games, having learned and experienced more than I ever could have hoped for.