Haines Winter Games features races, curling, fire-building and more

Dozens gathered for the Haines Winterfest’s annual winter games this past Saturday (Feb 26). Kids and adults alike competed in traditional wintertime games including snowshoe races, frozen chicken curling, and a fire building and tea-making competition. KHNS’ Corinne Smith made an audio postcard of the event.

 

Opening Ceremony trumpet

Haines Mayor Doug Olerud opened the winter games, dressed in a toga and crown.

Here ye, here ye, by the Haines borough and the gods of Mt Olympus, I formally declare these winter games open!

Teams of two race down Dalton City’s Main Street, which is covered in fresh snow from the night before. One kid pulls the other riding in the sled, then they switch half way and race back. After that, it’s the curling event, using frozen chickens as curling stones. 

You CANNOT make contact with the swiffer and the chicken ….so it’s not like hockey with a puck. Yeah, it’s basically broom bocce!

The Winter Games is also known for the chili cook off. This year, four chefs vied for the winning medal – and all four crock pots were cleaned out by the end. 

I’m Gina Randles. This is chili number two, which is one of the one’s with a little bit less spice, because we’re trying to make it so that everyone can have some. Past years, we’ve had white chili, green chili, red chili, it looks like we’ve only had red chilis this year… We’ve got so many great cooks in this town, so putting together the chili cook-off is one of my favorite parts of the winter games.

In the final event, teams of kids and some adults raced to build a fire, and heat up a paint can of water to make tea. 

I’m Tom Morphet and this is the tea making event. And it’s a test of how fast you can build a campfire, and make tea. So the point is we don’t cut any fingers off and no one gets a second or third degree burn. And if we get through without either of those happening it’s a big win.

Oh oh put it in, put it there. It’s firing, it’s firing!

We have a boil guys! It’s boiling, it’s boiling! And we also did it without any grown up help! Look, it’s boiling.

Now we have to put the fire out to drink the tea! Yeah. Let’s drink it.

The Winter Games finished up with a medal ceremony where all participants received a medal – a tin-foil wrapped cookie. A sweet ending to a fun day in the snow. 

Trumpet warble, laughs, thank you! Crowd cheers.