Arctic Winter Games offers a lifetime of experience for Alaskan Athletes

In 1976 I was honored to have participated in the Arctic Winter Games in Shefferville, Quebec, Canada.  I was only 16 years old and traveling to an international table tennis tournament.  With only limited local practice and and play with friends and club members I had only one tournament experience before I competed.   Back then the team was selected by a one time tournament with the top 3 finishers immediately chosen as the AWG representatives.  The Anchorage tournament was my only experience prior to competing against the Canadians in only the 4th AWG.  

Now in 2014 this will be the 23rd AWG and now features 9 continents, 2000 athletes, 2500 volunteers, 3000 friends and family members and 600  VIPs and sponsors.  Venues will be spread out in Fairbanks and surrounding locations. A solid transportation system will deliver athletes and coaches to their venue and allow further shuttles to other sports for some exciting spectator action.  

Athletes will be required to wear their credentials at all times allowing them access to ceremonies and venues during their 8 day experience.  Housing in the athletes village will offer recreation, entertainment and sleeping quarters.  We were housed on the nearby military base in a multi story bunk house.  Other locations for athletes could include schools for housing and competition.  Some venues are within walking distance or right inside their  

The Alaskan juniors and juveniles are in for an exciting experience.  Like the "Winter Olympics of the North" The Actic Winter Games features 20 summer and winter sports.  Conventional sports like alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, basketball, volleyball, figure skating, hockey, short track speed skating, biathlon skiing, curling, snowboarding and table tennis.  But also host some less common sports like dog mushing, gymnastics, biathalon snowshoe, Dene Games, Arctic Sports, indoor soccer, badminton, wrestling and snowshoeing. For some this will be a second or third opportunity but for most this will be a frist time experience.  Meeting athletes from all over exchanging trading pins and taking in the new sensations and color of this great experience. 

The athletes will experience a friendly greeting and credential distribution upon arrival.  A festive and welcoming atmosphere will flood the team members as athletes, officials and coaches arrive like celebrities at a rock concert.  Cheering volunteers and spectators will be everywhere offering support and assistance.  Like the Olympics most athletes are attending for the experience and culture of the AWG and are not contenders for the top Ulu metals. And a select few are competing for the hardware and prestege of becoming a champion. 

Teams are selected from various try-outs or selections by coaches.  Some contingents field teams with the only representatives in there sport and larger contingent require team tryouts with tournaments and camps.  The results help guide the coaches to select the best team to fill all 8 positions.   The largest team is from Alaska and although a stron contender in many sports.  Table Tennis over the past 18 years has not been a strong sport for team Alaska.  Dominate teams have been Greenland and Yamal.  In th early years of AWG Alaska and Yukon would battle it out for Gold and Silver.  With top singles in male and female swapping out top honors from 1970 with the first gold ulu in male singles awarded to Alaskan Table Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, Boyd Bennett. 

Memories from the Arctic Winter Games will come from the competition and emotions at the various events.  From the opening ceremonies, marching of the athletes, intense action of the sport and cultural exchange among the participants.  I remember the sports banquet, walking to other sports venues to watch volleyball and badminton.  I was fortunate to have won metals during each of my attendance at the AWG.  I got several trading pins back in the 70's and 80's that I still have today.  Wish I had more photos as the amount of photography back then was limited.  

New 2014 tournaments test skills and themes

The first days of February and March in-club tournaments at the AT & T Sports Pavilion in Anchorage.  Feb. 1st and March 1st, 2014.  Check will feature skill divisions in Open, A, B & C singles.  Theme events will include A/CDoubles.  With combined pair of players limited to U2900 (CLUB RATING LEVEL) skill doulbes. What ever your skill level these tournaments will allow players to match well in a variety of events.  Players are encouraged to enter 2 singles divisions! 

Fall Open & Arctic Winter Games Team Tryouts Tournament

Alaska is know for the long summer days and dark winter nights.  But in preparation for the winter the Alaska Table Tennis club hosted the 2013 Fall Open and Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska Tryouts Tournament. 

Danette Weissler, Young Sun Elliott and Mary Nomani in their women's pool round robin play. With the new wood floor at the AT&T Sports Pavilion the stage was set for the battle of the ages.  Youth vs. the Older experienced players.  

A strong showing of 33 participants with 11 entering for the first time in an Mary Nomani looms large over Gretchen Wehmhoff at the Fall Open Women's Singles. Smiles all around.Alaskan tournament.   Players  were encouraged to enter up to 2 singles division and one doubles.  Most players got some great action with others waiting to play as rounds slowed down in midday.  

A good Alaskan women turnout of 5 females in the women's singles.  They gathered for a round robin of matches for fun, excitement and competition.  First time tournament players Danette Weissler and Young Sun Elliott who are spouses of Mark Weissler and Paul Elliott commented they had a great time.  Great action including juvenile female entrant and first time AK tournament player Erin Sivitz grouped with veteran players Mary Nomani and Gretchen Wehmhoff.  Great to see the women get a good turnout for a fun round robin of play.  Facing of in the finals were 2 previous women's champions, Gretchen Wehmhoff and Mary Nomani.  Ending up on top was 4-time Open Women's Singles champion Mary Nomani defeating Gretchen 7-11, 11-3, 14-12 and 11-4.   Mary's titles date back to 2002.   Look for mixed doubles in the next tournament in January 2014.

The Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska Tryouts were mixed with this fall event.  A good field of 5 juniors and 6 juvenile males & females fought for 2 positions in each division and gender.  Many of them were first time tournament players.  Tossed in to the mix was When not playing, Jimmy was scorekeeping the action. Juvenile male athlete Elijah Kim looks on as he finished in the top group of young players. 2012 juvenile AWG Team Alaska member Jimmy Gao from Homer.  Jimmy came home in 2012 with a bronze medal in the juvenile male team division with Eli Neslund. Jimmy came to town to reclaim his spot on team Alaska as a possible 4 time AWG team Alaska member if he keeps playing until 2018.  At 12 years old he stood his own unchallenged in the juvenile division and took on the big boys in the Open and A division singles.  Jimmy made the AWG cut but a 2nd pick is still to be determined with a closely fought bunch for the 2nd position.  

Sweeping the juvenile division un defeated he faced off with the A division players finishing 2nd in his pool of 4 players.  Advancing to the semi finals he faced Paul Elliott.  

Jimmy's consistant strokes, footwork and effective reverse backhand he spun his way to the finals against another young AWG 2012 Team Alaska athlete, Andrew Kim.  Now too old to tryout again he was up and down thought the day.  Players from Homer, Juneau, Eagle River, JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson) Military base and Anchorage attended this one day event.  

Doubles matches were fought in the morning with 4 teams in both the Open and 4 teams in the B/C Doubles.  A strong pair of Cade Loving and Brant Bennett came out on top pressing their opponants with their consistant play and sharp angles.  Brant Bennett is the grandson of legendary Alaska Table Tennis Hall of Fame member and first AWG coatch, Boyd Bennett.  Brant also was a junior player for Team Alaska in 2008.  

In the B Singles a good turnout of new players and strong local club players were split in to 2 round tobin pools.  The 2 pools would exchange matches with the top 2 players advancing to the semi finals in a cross over matchup.  With the new players not fully understanding the format, several left early with other engaments or unknowing they were to advance beyond the round robin pools.  In a head-to-head matchup semi finals one Cade Loving edged out Mike Mann 11-9, 4-11, 7-11, 11-4 and 12-10.  In the 2nd semi finals Mark easily defeated Sabastein Wetterlin 11-, 11-5 and 11-7.  Mark's focused play against Cade in the final prevaled with his first B singles championship.  

The Open Singles feature 7 of Alaska's top players.  Top seed and new Alaskan player, Rendy Tan was tested but his experience prooved too tough for the local players.  In the 1st pool of 4 stong players, Alaska Yukon Challenge Singles Champion, Chidi was upended with Kyles steady play and Yuriy's come from behind victory.  In the 2nd pool Rendy Tan easily overcame Karl Augestad and Paul Elliott to advance with Karl moving on to the semis.

The top 4 seeds ended up in the Semi-finals but not in their original ranking.  Kyle faced Karl in a rematch from 2012.  Kyle has been playing strong and loves the defensive game with rallies often pushing him back far from the table.  His steady blocks and placements prooved too tough for Karl as Kyle was well intended to move to the finals.  A strong but close 11-8, 11-9, 9-11 and 11-9 victory.  in the 2nd pool a past champion and now part time player, Yuriy Solovov participated but was not well prepared.  Frustration and emotions rattled him in the semi finals matchup with new comer, Rendy Tan.  Randy's agressive style prooved too strong for Yuriy to handle and advance to the finals to face Kyle Yan.  The styles of play in the open pairings displayed Kyle's ability to shag balls from all over the court.  But Rendy's heavy loop drive and tricky placement demonstrated too tough for Kyle to muster up a game agains the top seed.  Rendy Tan was victorious in the Open Singles and Open Doubles with Chidi.

Now several Alaskans will be heading to Portland Oregon to take on the Pac Rim players Nov. 2-3.  Players from Canada, Washington, Oregon, California and other nearby states will be fending or cash and trophies in this strong field of players.  Look for results soon.  Spin on and come out and play on one of the Alaska Table Tennis clubs open drop-in sessions.  See the calendar for dates and times.  

MORE TO COME... Off to play at the drop-in session now.  Thanks, Karl

Excited about the new wood floor at the AT&T Sports Pavilion

Floor requires 2 full days of curing of the new finishing on the surface.If you have not played in a while now is the best chance to experience the thrill and excitement of the sport on a beautiful new wood floor at the AT & T Sports Pavilion in South Anchorage.  The Alaska Table Tennis Club's home had just got a facelift.  With nearly 6 weeks of construction to removal and install the wood floor that rivals any surface in the state!

First appearance the gym actually looks larger and brighter.  Wood is a great surface for footing in table tennis and offer outstanding traction.  Some of the top world tournaments have been played on wood and most tournaments today have wood under the rubberized floor.  Great feel and bounce when pivoting for the ball.  

So bring your gym shoes and be ready for some great action.  See the new court policy and guidelines.  One word of caution is bring a small cloth or towel for traction issues if the floor gathers dust during play.  A brief touch of the wet towel layed next to the table will offer better traction on extreme movements side-to-side.  

Come out and play!

Outdoor ping pong tournament 8/19/13

Check out the 1st Annual Minnesota Park Ping Pong Tournament set for Monday August 19th at 5:30pm. Rain, wind or shine come out and play and watch the action.

Entry link below: limited to 32 and as of 8/12/13 there were 11 spots open.

The Anchorage Park Foundation presents the first annual Minnesota Park Outdoor Ping Pong Tournament to celebrate the new concrete ping pong table at (you guessed it) Minnesota Park on (you guessed it) Minnesota Drive. You will play not only against your opponent, but also against Mother Nature as her gale force winds whip down the Minnesota corridor. Just kidding. That doesn’t happen.
DETAILS:

WHEN: Monday, August 19th at 5:30 PM.
WHERE: Minnesota Park, on Minnesota Drive and 36th, just north of Spenard
FORMAT: Games to 11, 3 serves at a time, win by 2. (We want the tournament over by 7.)
FOOD: Pizza
FRIENDS: All are welcome, even if they are not playing ping pong. Bring your spouses, kids, dogs, enemies.
PRIZES: There will be prizes for the top 3 finishers. Nice ones.
REGISTRATION: There will only be 32 spots available. Fill out this form below or click this link: http://bit.ly/13iqTyB