Sage Acorn had a good start to the 2023 Arctic Winter Games.
鈥淚 feel really good,鈥� said the 17-year-old speed skater. 鈥淭wo golds and a record, who wouldn鈥檛 want that?鈥�
He earned that gold in the men鈥檚 500m, which he completed in 45.02 seconds, beating the previous time of 45.37 seconds.
Acorn, who鈥檚 been skating since he was four, also had a gold to his name in the 1,000m race as of Wednesday, Feb. 1.
鈥淚n those races I just focused on getting out in front and then I sped it up,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y competition is tough, but luckily the races weren鈥檛 too tough.鈥�
Acorn previously went to Arctic Winter Games for futsal, where his team didn鈥檛 place, but he鈥檚 participated in many skating competitions in the south.
鈥淭he AWGs is not as high level as competitions you鈥檒l go to down south,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are some skaters who are pretty speedy that you have to watch out for.鈥�
He wasn鈥檛 banking on bringing any more ulus home before the end of the Games, but he hoped to.
鈥淧lacement on the podium is always the goal, but there are a couple tough competitors who are close to my level,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檒l have to fight for it.鈥�
Erika Pollard, another Yellowknife skater, was sitting with a gold and a silver at the midway mark of the Games.
鈥淚鈥檝e been speed skating as long as I can remember pretty much,鈥� said the 18-year-old, attending her first AWGs.
She earned gold in women鈥檚 1,000m and silver in the 500m.
鈥淭hey were pretty intense,鈥� said Pollard about the races. 鈥淎 lot was happening. A few falls happened during the race and I just tried to stay on my feet, and it worked out pretty well for me.鈥�
She said she鈥檚 relying on her training to give her the edge.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked very hard for this so I think all the effort I鈥檝e put into it has built up enough for me to succeed, and that鈥檚 why the competition isn鈥檛 overbearing, but its still there, it鈥檚 still pushing me,鈥� said Pollard.
She wasn鈥檛 sure about bringing any more ulus home. 鈥淵ou never know鈥� what happens in a race, said Pollard, but she hopes her training can lead her to even more heights.
鈥淚鈥檓 just very lucky and happy to be here,鈥� she said.
