Ski Meet and Biatholon

Two weeks ago we had the ski meet here. Many schools from the district and Nome came to the ski meet we have hosted here before. We have beautiful trails with TREES! A lot of villages here do not have trees. So Friday it started about 2:45 for me. My job was one of the spotters. I got out there a little bit before the race started or so I thought. St. Micheal came in late so the race didn't start until after 3pm. By the way it was 10 below and blowing. I didn't dress warm enough. A spotter cheers on the skiers (3-6th graders, Jr High and High School) and makes sure they go the right way on the trail. It was really fun to get outdoors despite the cold. I haven't been outside for a while since I got sick and sprained my ankle. The sun was so nice! The skiers do not skate cross country but skate ski. It's like roller skating but on skis. Koyuk had only three skiers that were eligible. Ethan, Romay (Jason and Myra's kids) and Linda. On Saturday it was the biatholon. I'm not sure if you all know but I didn't know what one was until I got here. It's when the kids ski the trail once and then take shots with a 22 shotgun. It was colder and more wind on Saturday we decided that they would not take 5 shots but only one shot. In other years I would spot on Saturday but this time I wanted to be on the range. So I kept track of how many shots they got and their bib numbers. The kids lay on the ground and take a shot 50 yards away. The targets were on a rectangular white board.

It was very interesting to watch kids of all different ages shoot a gun. Some had a lot of experience and some had none or very little and that is why we had many adults down at the range. Some didn't even know the gun went off because they put their finger in the trigger before sighting it in. I helped the kids remember not to put their finger on the trigger before they shot.

The last hour was really cold so a lot of us were jumping up and down, doing arm circles trying to stay warm. Jason came and brought me back to school. I got on the snow machine with my clipboard and the score sheet flew away and disappeared so quick I couldn't run to get it. I felt awful for the next hour and then I was finally able to let it go. It all worked out.

I had a wonderful visit with Esther an elder I have grown to really admire. We shared Nachos together and talked about Koyuk and school when she was younger. They had school up at Haycock. It is where a lot of people used to live a ways away from where the village is now. I guess there was a big fire and it burned so people moved to where the village is now. I am sure there is more that I don't know but something I learned. Esther offered to make me a beaver hat. She made a beautiful land otter hat. It looks great on her. That was the first thing she made for herself all these years. She has been so busy making things for other people.

Romay placed and 6th
Ethan placed 7th
Linda placed 7th.