A group of 175 Whitehorse students tried their hand at traditional Arctic sports last week.

The Yukon Arctic Sports Inter-school Championship was held Dec. 3 and 4 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.

Young athletes were introduced to competitions such as caribou wrestling, seal hop, sledge jump, stick pull and several forms of high kick.

The majority of the students participating were from local elementary schools, said Colin Hickman, sport program coordinator for the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle (YASC).

The École Émilie-Tremblay (EET) Grizzlis and the F.H. Collins Warriors earned the elementary and secondary school championships, respectively.

“The kids picked up on (Arctic sports) quickly for a variety of reasons,” said Hickman. “There was a few kids who I believe had no experience doing the sport, and they picked it up so easily.”

He pointed to Porter Creek student athlete R.J. Smallwood as a prime example. Smallwood kicked 90 inches in the one foot high kick – the top score in the tournament.

“The best part about Arctic sports is there’s something for everyone,” said Hickman. “Some people focus on strength, some have endurance, others are flexible.”

Points were awarded via medal performances. Golds were good for three points, silver for two, and bronze for a single point.

EET earned 30 total points, followed by Whitehorse Elementary (26) and Carcross’s Ghùch Tlâ Community School (15).

Holy Family and Ross River schools shared the tournament’s fair play awards.

Elementary athletes logging exemplary performances included Grade 1 students Shelby Strange (Alaska) and Seth Smith (Carcross), Grade 2-3 students Camille Bélanger (EET) and Cy McDowell (WES), Grade 4-5 students Maude Molgat (EET) and Zach Saplywy (WES) and Grade 6-7 students Zoe Sage (WES) and Austin Shaw (WES).

In high school competition, F.H. Collins earned a leading 28 overall points, followed by Porter Creek (20) and Vanier (15).

Top athletes were Grade 8-10 students Fayne O’Donovan (VC) and Riel Scarf (PC) and Grade 11-12 students Megan Banks (PC) and Mikaiah Ladue (Ross River).

Hickman said the YASC is aiming to send teams to the Native Youth Olympics in Anchorage this April, and the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks this July.

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On Sunday, the YASC will host an indoor archery tournament at Takhini Elementary School.

Registration and equipment inspection begins at 9 a.m. followed by a practice round. Individual shooting will begin at 10 with a team event scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by a medal ceremony.