Pimp My Slide… Chariots of Champions Inuvik style

Inuvik's Samuel Hearne Secondary School was the site for the first annual Skills Canada NWT/NU Beaufort Delta Chariot of Champions competition (cardboard toboggan race) on Wednesday, March 16, 2005. This event was held in conjunction with Career Quest.

The event involved 50 participants and involved 8 teams in construction of a cardboard toboggan using only cardboard, duct tape, string, one paper clip, and plenty of ingenuity and teamwork. Chariots were designed and constructed in a one-hour time frame the raced on a challenging oval track. Teams were permitted to push, pull, or drag their chariots around the course with at least one student on the toboggan. Design and construction, speed and endurance were criteria for determining the winners of this event.

The top three teams were:
1. The Churchinators: Andy Robertson, Noel Cockney, Vaughn Gordon, Josh Seward, and Paul Rivard
2. Sno Devils: Isaac Lennie, Chad Larocque, Mitchell Park, Sam Lennie, and Brendan Cathers
3. Pimp My Slide (Teacher team): Kim Bramwell, Lorne Guy, Eric Church, Jason King, and Lisa Acker

Click here to view photos of the event

Bragging rights for speed go to The Churchinators whose 30.79 second race time almost melted the track. Team Most Victim to Friction was Venevedechi whose sled shed the most cardboard. Venevedechi was made up of Brendan Callahan, Courtney Larocque, Nick War, and Michael Harrison. The Teamwork award went to Team Inuvik who finished one point shy of 3 rd place. Team Inuvik was Kyle Kuptana, Hester Inuaslurak, Thea Rogers, Daniel Fehr, Derrick Thrasher, and Clark Cooper. Remarkably, all chariots survived the rigors of the race, which suggests that the design and construction of these cardboard toboggans were carefully considered.

“This activity is meant to introduce youth to trade-oriented skills” explained Guy Barnable, Executive Director of Skills Canada NWT/NU. “If students enjoy this sort of project, they should consider a career in trades and technologies.”.

A record number of feverish spectators and team supporters provided added enthusiasm and excitement for a serious yet fun-filled race for participants and the community. The event involved a portion of the student population that traditionally does not get involved in extra curricular activities. This was incredible given the fact that this was an optional event. Samuel Hearne Secondary School, New Beginnings, and their staff did an amazing job of hosting the event.

“Career Quest's Beverley Savelle, Tom Charbonneau, and their team facilitated an excellent Chariots of Champions . They are to be commended for helping make this the success it was”, said Barnable. “It was a great opportunity to share the students' enthusiasm and excitement to get involved in a celebration of skilled-trades careers.”

Along with the 2004-2005 Skills Canada NWT/NU Program Sponsors, the Event Sponsors of the activity include:

Big thanks to the volunteers whose energy contributed to a successful event:

Chariots of Champions Dec. 2004 (Fort Simpson)

Chariots of Champions Feb. 2004 (Fort Simpson)