Did you know…
Games played in the Native Youth Olympics originally gave the umialiks, or whaling captains, a chance to observe the speed, strength, and endurance of the young men who wished to become part of their whaling and hunting crews.
Source: www.weio.org
Date 5/15/08
Anchorage Temperature
Low 41 °F, High 53°F
Daylight 17 hrs 24 mins
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Life in Alaska
The Native Youth Olympics were held April 24-26 in Anchorage at the Sullivan Arena. Teams of junior and senior high school students came from all across the state to compete.
ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK (above)
The high kick event requires the athlete to jump off the floor using both feet, kick a suspended object with one foot, and land on the floor using that same foot -- demonstrating balance to the floor officials. Kicks as high as a basketball net are not uncommon. According to tradition, when a messenger from a hunting or whaling crew is within visual distance of the villagers, he will kick high into the air thereby giving a message that a whale has been shot, or the caribou are running near.
KNUCKLE HOP OR SEAL HOP (below)
This is a game of endurance to pain and a testing of strength. The object is to see how far one can go in a "push-up" position, with elbows bent and knuckles down. The only parts of the body touching the floor are knuckles and toes. From this position, the participant "hops" forward as far as possible keeping the back straight and elbows bent. This game originally was played on the floor of a traditional community center or hut, or outside on the ground. Now, this game takes place on the arena floor.
Meanwhile, in other athletic news…
Alyeska Ski Resort, located 40 miles south of Anchorage, recently held their Spring Carnival. The highlight was the 31st annual Slush Cup, where skiers and snowboarders dressed in outlandish costumes attempted to cross ice cold water without sinking or falling in. As you can see, a lot of people ended up wet!
View the action on YouTube:
Pink-costumed skier
Two Tiggers
Elvis Presley snowboarder
