Team Alaska wins in several Arctic sports events

PALMER — Team Alaska athletes won numerous gold medals and made several top placements during the Arctic Sports competitions being held throughout the week for the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games.

Arctic Sports competitions feature a variety of traditional events akin to those seen in Native Youth Olympics (NYO). Athletes test their skills with events like the One-Foot High Kick, Knuckle Hop, and Arm Pull.

Team Alaska Arctic Game coach Paul Paul said that he’s enjoyed working with his athletes to prepare for the Arctic Winter Games, and he sees a lot of value in the traditional techniques.

“It's the old way, the ancient way to help kids achieve their best," Paul said.

Paul said their athletes have been very respectful throughout the process, which goes a very long way not just in sports but life in general.

“They're willing to listen to us. That's one of the values that needs to be addressed in modern times today," Paul said. “These kids we have, they respect us as coaches and elders too.”

Paul was very impressed with Team Alaska’s performance in the Arctic Sports competitions this year.

“They’re doing really well,” Paul said.

Paul was also amazed by all the other competing teams’ skills and said there was some “stiff competition.”

“Greenland is no slouch either,” Paul said with a laugh.

18-year-old Mat-Su Middle College graduate Lydia Alverts won first place in the Female One-Foot High Kick competition.

“It feels good," Alverts said. “I like going up in the air and trying to go higher. It’s fun.”

Alverts said that she’s been competing in NYO since the fifth grade and all those years of experience have helped her prepare for the Arctic Winter Games. She said that spending a week with her teammates has been a bonding experience that she will never forget. She said that she draws inspiration from them.

“All my teammates have been working really hard, so I’ve been working really hard,” Alverts said.

Much like NYO, the Arctic Winter Games are more about comradery than competition. The spirit of the games is grounded in cultural exchanges and building friendships.

“I would say the biggest thing is I really like is the people I compete with. It just makes it worthwhile to participate,” Alverts said. “It just reminds me that community exists.”

Alverts said that she’s constantly training and striving to improve as an athlete.

“This isn't the end. I’ll keep going," Alverts said.

Kyle Worl won the Male Knuck Hop competition, honoring his family legacy. His father Rodney Worl set the Arctic Winter Games Knuckle Hop record in 1988.

Fellow Team Alaska athlete, Matthew Quinto presented Worl with a special present toward the end of the medal ceremony, an authentic Artic Winter Games jacket from 1988. He said that he greatly appreciated the unexcepted gift.

“It was a surprise,” Worl said. “It fits well and everything.”

Worl said it was exciting to see Alaskan athletes do so well this year. He said that he’s happy the Arctic Winter Games have returned to Alaska and brought so many different people to a place he takes a lot of pride living in.

“I love it. It's exciting all the contingents can see my home state. I think Alaska is an amazing place and I hope they can see that this week,” Worl said.

For more information about the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, visit awg2024.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com