eam Yukon archer Korey Smith’s role model is teammate Logan Fink.
Smith, 17, and Fink, 15, play off one another in friendly competition to better their scores.
While neither achieved personal bests in the Canada Winter Games men’s compound bow preliminaries, their coach Rob Gareau was proud of what they accomplished.
“They did very well; as far as I’m concerned they did excellent with the calibre that they’re up against, they done very well,” said Gareau.
“They were nervous a little bit but overall they done very well as far as I’m concerned.”
Fink shot a 518 out of 600, coming in seventeenth and Smith shot 491 earning 18th position.
“It’s pretty good considering the circumstances, so I’m pretty happy with it,” said Fink who was shooting with a brand-new bow that he was not yet comfortable with.
“It wasn’t a personal best for me; I could have shot better,” said Smith who won a silver medal last summer at the North American Indigenous Games in Denver Colorado.
Archery is just another example of how not being able to get to the national competitions in the southern provinces hurts Yukon competitors.
“It plays a factor in it when you can’t compete against individuals; when you’re up against some of the best in the world, the best in Canada you can’t really compete — these boys did very good as far as I’m concerned,” said Gareau.
Gareau did take the team to Victoria, BC, just before the Games so they could get a small taste of the competition they’d be up against, but when it comes right down to it it’s all about having fun said Gareau.
“Oh yeah they’re having lots of fun, they are,” he said.
“When you see the other athletes up on the stage and they’re hollering to them and they’re giving them their support, I mean that’s what it’s all about.
“The Canada Games is to do your best and to just have fun.”