FAIRBANKS – The face of young speedskater Michael Ritchie broke into a wide grin when he began talking about his bronze ulu.

In fact, the 13-year-old from Haines Junction hasnʼt been able to wipe the smile off his face since he won Team Yukonʼs first speedskating medal in the 777-metre short track race at the Arctic Winter Games on Monday night.

It was the first-ever AWG individual medal for Ritchie, who drives nearly 320 kilometres each week simply to train for his sport in Whitehorse.

"We won a silver at the last one in our relay, but this is my first individual one,” he said during 500-metre sprint competition at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. "At the 2012 Games, I was only 11, so I was super young.”

Winning the first medal on the short track for Team Yukon was an out-of-this-world moment for the young speedskater.

"Itʼs kind of surreal, considering that last time, you were looking up at everybody and theyʼre way bigger than you and way faster than you,” Ritchie said. "Then this time, Iʼm third-fastest in it. Itʼs pretty cool. I wasnʼt expecting to get that.”

Ritchie said he entered the competition looking for a personal best time, which he achieved in 1:19.74. The bronze ulu was a nice bonus.

Shortly before speaking with the Star, Ritchie had just shaved four seconds off his personal best in the 500-metre. He would go on to finish fourth in the A final, just a couple of seconds shy of his second straight ulu.

Meanwhile, team leader Shea Hoffman was disqualified from his chance at a medal in the A final of the 500-metre race.

The 19-year-old attempted an inside pass but lost his balance and skidded slightly, causing contact with another skater that was deemed to be the Yukonerʼs fault. Hoffman was penalized for impeding.

Hoffman was the Yukonʼs flagbearer at the opening ceremonies.

The speedskating schedule at the Games has experienced a few glitches early on, which went as far as having some events raced twice. It also took more time than previously allotted to get the ice back in order following Sunday nightʼs opening ceremony.

"Things were delayed due to the preparation of the ice,” said speedskating mission staffer Scott Kerby. "There was a hockey game Saturday night, so they couldnʼt get in to redo the lines until after that.”

As for having some semifinal heats re-raced Monday, Kerby said that was part of the game.

Hoffman, who had originally qualified in his race, did not move on in his second attempt. However, Ritchie did.

"Originally, the heats werenʼt seeded properly,” Kerby said. "It did change things somewhat. You always wish you were there in the final.”

Overall, he said the speedskaters are enjoying the experience.

"I think theyʼre skating well,” Kerby said of Team Yukon. "Itʼs tough competition. We also have some real young skaters, so itʼs been a really good testing ground for them.”