The winter months in the Northwest didn't produce the most ideal conditions for skiing and biathlon in Saskatchewan, but that didn't stop Flight Corporal Jason Reimer.
Jason attended Cadet National Biathlon March 3 to 10 in Martock, N.S. Jason was joined by cadets from Nipawin and La Ronge.
At most competitions there are four races - mass start, pursuit, team relay and the patrol race. Because of unfavourable snow conditions, there were just three races this year at nationals and Jason finished in the top 10 in all three.
On the first day, the trails were slushy causing it to be a slow start to the week. Jason placed sixth out of 22 competitors in the mass start, which is a race where all the cadets start at the same time and are ranked in three age categories - junior, senior and youth.
March 6, the skiing conditions improved as it had cooled off that day. Jason was sixth out of the gate in the pursuit race and ended up in seventh place after catching a ridge with the edge of the ski and going off track.
The next day, was a non-race day and the cadets toured Halifax on their day off.
March 8 it was back to work and back to the competition. The relay race took place with Jason starting for the team followed by Flight Corporal Boyes from La Ronge and Sergeant Stasiuk from Nipiwan anchoring. The Saskatchewan male composite team placed third and would have captured a bronze medal, but were given a time penalty, beyond their control, and were bumped to eighth.
The overall experience gives cadets who an opportunity to travel and compete nationally. New friendships are made and old ones renewed each year.
