Sioux Lookout Cadet Excels in Biathlon Challenges

OCdt J.T. Lewis, Unit Public Affairs Representative - Special to The Bulletin

The long travel time it took for Andrew Perry to go from Sioux Lookout to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden this past weekend was time well spent to him. 
Perry was participating, along with 167 other cadets from all around Ontario in the Regional Cadet Support Unit Central 2023-2024 Biathlon Championship Series Stage 3 Regional Run-and-Shoot Competition held November 25-26, 2023, at CFB Borden.
The 17-year-old Flight Sergeant (FSgt) is from 270 Otter Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, located in Sioux Lookout. 
“This has been great fun,” he said Sunday. 
“I came out to the event last year and the year before that and I have just loved the opportunity to come here and compete,” he said. 
“I do really enjoy the skiing part of the competition, so I am a little disappointed this year,” he said. “But it’s always great fun anyway to come and compete, my marksmanship has improved, I’m very happy with that.”
This year, as the snow couldn’t be guaranteed at every qualifying event, a decision was made to make the events run-and-shoot competitions which allow cadets to compete in the series leading up to a national competition. 
For the competition, the participants do a series of running and shooting using an air rifle. In Saturday’s competition, they had to run one kilometre, then shoot at five knock down targets, run another kilometre and do the shoot a second time trying to knock down the five targets, then finish with a one kilometre run for a total of three kilometres. 
Saturday’s competition was a team competition, each participant was paired with a partner from their area for a combined team score. 
Sunday’s competition was a little more intense. It was an individual competition where the participants alternated running a one-kilometre lap and shooting after each lap, for a total run of five kilometres and four trips to the firing point to try and shoot the knock down targets. 
For the competitors to succeed at the shooting aspect, they need to take control of their breathing after the run to shoot the targets well.  
For Perry who is in his sixth year in the cadets, biathlon is not the only thing that draws him to the organization. 
“We are a part of our community up there,” he said. “We do a lot of things, volunteering in the community, serving tea at the Legion for example, or cleaning up the outdoors.”
His favourite part about being in the cadets is the incredible opportunities made available to him. 
“We get to come out, practise marksmanship, do biathlon training, participate in fun competitions like this weekend, wilderness training, and other fun and interesting stuff,” he said. 
From coaching, to officiating, to working as a team, the Cadet Biathlon Championship Series provides opportunities for cadets to develop and test their leadership and team-building skills in a setting that promotes a lifelong appreciation for a healthy, active lifestyle.
At the end of competition Sunday, a tired competitor, Perry, still had a smile on his face and was happy with how the overall weekend went for him.
“It was awesome, it has been absolutely worth the long travel for this,” he said. 
The Cadet Program is open to all youth between the ages of 12-18 years old and develops confident, self-sufficient leaders who form lasting friendships and are engaged in their communities while promoting physical fitness, healthy living, and fostering an interest in the activities of the Canadian Armed Forces. If you are ready for the challenge, visit www.canada.ca/join-cadets.