The first two days of the Arctic Sports Interschool Competition were held, Wednesday and Thursday, with the last day of the event happening this afternoon, at Porter Creek Secondary School. The competition is in its seventh year, and it started as a way to teach children the history of the sports, as well as help grow them.

“The Arctic Sports games or Inuit Games is trying to build it here in the Yukon Territory,” said head official Sanford Sam Strange, who travels down from Alaska to help the Yukon Aboriginal Sports Circle run the events. “It was here, but it was very small and limited. In the last seven years I’ve really been trying to grow the program.”

On Wednesday 175 kids participated and Thursday 125 kids took part, with today still to take place.

“Our first year we had total, Grades K through 12, we had a total of 85 kids,” said Strange. “The kids look forward to it so much. It is still a new sport territorial wide as being recognized as an echelon sport.”

Having never witnessed Arctic sports, asides online, it was quite the site to behold. The spectators were circled around the athletes participating in the one-foot high kick. Every athlete who tried, successful or not, were treated to raucous applause and cheers.

“They are very unique, with what you see with the camaraderie,” said Strange. “What makes it unique is athletes help each other, coaches help each other. It’s a big family reunion per se.”

Kate Koepke was competing in her fourth interschool competition but also competes in other competitions. She says she got into the sport because of her dad.

“It was my dad; when he was a kid he lived in Whitehorse and he used to watch the people doing it and he was always amazed,” said Koepke. “When I was eight years old he took me to a drop in and I just loved it.”

Koepke won the competition, including the one-foot high kick. All eyes in the gym were on her as she pushed for, and accomplished her personal best height of six feet eight inches.

“Well I am terrified,” said Koepke about how she feels before attempts. “I just keep thinking, kick it, kick it, kick it. It is the highest I’ve ever kicked. I’m pretty proud of myself.”