Photo Courtesy 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games

By Tanner Smith

2024 Mat-Su Artic Winter Games

Team Alberta North prepares for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games

Mar 6, 2024 | 3:21 PM

As the 2024 Arctic Winter Games are set to get going in Matanuska-Sustina Valley, Alaska, from March 10 to the 16, Team Alberta North is making its way there.

Representing northern Alberta are 192 athletes, 93 male and 99 female, 43 coaches, 13 mission staff and two cultural participants. This adds up to 21 different teams, competing in 17 sports, with a majority of this year’s athletes being from the Peace Region.

Competitors for this year’s edition of the games also largely vary in age, with the youngest competitor being a 10-year-old female gymnast and the oldest being a 21-year-old male, participating in the Dene games.

Team Alberta North Mission Staff, Grande Prairie local, and a parent to two Alberta North athletes, Ashleigh Wills explained the games for anyone unfamiliar.

“So Arctic Winter Games is composed of quite a few different sports, from snowshoeing and biathlon to downhill skiing, to the indoor events such as volleyball. There’s also hockey, Arctic sports, and Dene games just to name a few, and it’s for participants who live above the 55th parallel.”

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Wills adds, with a large portion of the athletes being from this area; “It’s no surprise that Grande Prairie is recreation strong. It’s so neat to see that so many local athletes want to do more, and it’s a first games for a lot of them, so they’re not exactly knowing what to expect, but they’re expecting to go out and do their best. So it speaks volumes I feel, especially just hosting the Alberta Winter Games two weeks ago, that Grande Prairie is just strong in Athletics. I’m a proud citizen of Grande Prairie and I’m excited to show us off,” adds Wills.

Wills, who is a parent to both a male and female athlete, (Brooklyn and Jordan Wills) said that this region is also showing many positive signs for young women interested in athletics, as this year’s team features over 50 per cent female athletes.

“Yeah it’s definitely a neat shift for sure, and I think females are just really empowered right now and it’s just so great to see that Grande Prairie is also showcasing that as well, and like I said it’s going to be so neat to watch them compete.”

This will be Wills third time attending the Arctic Winter Games, calling them a “family affair” as her husband and his brothers have competed for many year’s, while her mother-in-law has gone for numerous roles, including mission staff, judge and even a coach.

When trying to explain the atmosphere of the games, Wills said “it’s one of those things (where) you can’t explain the games till you’re there, and you understand the culture and community (which) is just so incredible and everyone is so passionate.”

At the last Arctic Winter Games hosted in Fort McMurray in 2023, Team Alberta North took home third place overall and will look to improve on that in Alaska.

Anyone interested in following along with Team Alberta North throughout the week can check out their social media, or follow along on the live streams.

Wills said she is being “optimistic” not looking at Alaska’s forecast, just checking flight cancellations, but is very excited to experience the culture.

She adds, “Grandma’s already been requesting videos,” and will be cheering on Brooklyn and Jordan Wills, along with the rest of Team Alberta North from home.