Biathalon Tournament!

Marie and I right before leaving White Mountain....hmmm- and about 12 hours before my accident =)
About a month ago I headed off to White Mountain, a nearby village for a Biathalon tournament with two of my skiiers. I had more skiiers, but these were the only two still consistently showing up for practices and elligible.... We were picked up a couple hours early, leaving me scrambling to get a sub in there before I left! We were able to work something out though. Our previous ski tournament had been canceled due to weather- so I was glad we were going to be able to go!
Marie was one of the chaperones for the Nome kids, so I was able to spend some time with her that weekend, and also got to see Quinn, Caitlin, Jared and Hannah ski (Gary's nieces and nephews).
Walking back from a tournament.....At first I just thought this was a box with a coat in it, then I realized there was a tiny kid sleeping in there =)
Getting a ride to the store.....some nice local let us hop on the back of his dogsled (behind his snowmachine). While it may have saved us some walking, my hind end was rather glad to be walking back! I forget how bumpy the roads are in WMO...and dogsleds aren't exactly soft unless there are skins thrown down!
Hanging out in the gym most of Friday evening and Saturday while the guns were having trouble being sited, due to the cold, the kids got pretty bored! They wouldn't let the basketballs be out, so kids came up with their own games-like this- penny toss. Friday, Angie was smart and started a giant game of Pickle in the Middle....which had enough kids to make a big circle and a few people in the middle. She wasn't too fond of my tackle moves though.... =) The amazing part is that she was surprised when I almost took her out!
I was not a bit bored while there- I brought my parkie to work on, and got quite a bit done! I also got some reading done....more relaxing than being at home where I have a million things to do. I purposely left my computer at home so I felt free to relax a bit =)
On our way to White Mountain, we flew into Nome to pick up a couple people from Gambell....and they weren't there yet. My kids were ecstatic...as this means we got to go into the cafe upstairs of the airport and they could get slushies!! I guess you have to be from a village to understand what a treat that was.
Starting line of the race.....

One of my kids from Shishmaref! It was really fun seeing them there....and their coach, my friend Angie.
Hannah Tozier
Caitlin Tozier....
Ha ha! I taught this kid in reading my first year teaching....now he is taller than me! And he is only in about 8th grade! I wish there were more kids like him...!
Kids skiing around before bedtime....
The RELAY RACE! For this one, all the schools are mixed up into different teams and given a color to identify themselves with streamers. There is a short race near the river, just for fun, and is sort of the final event of the tournament.





Skiing back up to the school afterwards....
Riding up to the airport.....
Waiting for the plane.
How we get up to the airport.
Flying co-Pilot!....My two skiiers! Great kids and no trouble at all. I would travel with these two anytime! =)