Submitted by Kinnalt Yu on
Here are some photos from the 2010 Spirit Hat Tournament, compliments of Ian Brooks and Andrew Gater:
Brooksie's Photos
Gaterman's Photos
This is a great tournament to enhance and fine-tune your ulty skills for the season. It is also an opportunity to gain an in depth understanding of Spirit of the Game. There are great prizes from Steam Whistle and VC. The ultimate prize is the 5-day dog sled trip for two courtesy of www.borealjourneys.com, valued at over $3000!
At the 2009 Spirit Hat Tournament, Ultimate newcomer Sarah Brown showed true Spirit, and crab-walked and jousted her way to the grand prize, a 5-day all-inclusive mushing adventure for two at Boreal Journeys Sled Dog Kennel. Offered again in 2010, the trip includes 5 nights of lodging at the B&B, with meals, instructions and guiding to lead your own team of dogs for the week, and loads of adventure with 40 new feline friends, Iditarod finishing huskies.
All TUC members receive a $100 discount on the 5-day program, or a $50 discount on the 2-day program, and receive preferred rates on customized programming. Visit www.borealjourneys.com
Sarah's Story - Boreal Journeys Trip 2010
After winning a dog sledding trip with Boreal Journeys Sled Dog Kennels at the TUC Spirit tournament in 2009, we could never have imagined how this adventure would reconnect us with the natural world. Here we were breezing through the Boreal Forest with our own team of dogs having the most quintessential Canadian experience.
The day we arrived, Kaministiquia received a snowfall that made the landscape look like a winter wonderland. During the first couple of days, we became familiarized with the operation of the sled through shorter day trips; meanwhile we were falling madly in love with the dogs. The essence of the trip was dog sledding and developing a bond with our team, but intertwined was a focus on the cultural and natural history of the area. We ate only locally grown, sustainable food like elk stew, curried carrot ginger soup and pork chops with Boreal Birch Syrup marinade. The food was divine and an experience in itself.
On our day of rest, we had the opportunity to be tourist in Thunder Bay. After eating delicious Finnish pancakes at the Scandanavian Home and smoked gouda from the Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, we visited the Ahnisnabae Art Gallery for an introduction to native Canadian art. We finished the day with a visit to the Fort William Historical Park where a Sweet Grass, an Ahnisnabae person, gave us a tour of the trading post that was instrumental during the fur trade.
On the fourth day, we embarked on an overnight camping trip deep in the Boreal forest. We passed moose foot prints along the trail and slide into camp under the moonlight.
Without a doubt, the most incredible experience of my life. As cliché as it may sound, this week was life altering and it will always have a place in my heart. Paul and Adrena opened up their home to show us a part of Canadian cultural and history that we may have otherwise never had known and we are eternally grateful.
