A new generation of Iceman athletes hit the snow on Sunday.
Seventeen junior teams competed in the event -- a record number for the 24-year-old competition, race director Pat Maher said.
"We've had way more junior teams than we've ever had," Maher said. "The great story there is a Grade 6-7 class at Harwin Elementary sent four teams."
The junior competitors tackled a shorter version of the Iceman course, which traditionally includes an eight-kilometre ski, 10km run, 5km speed skate, 5km run and 800m swim. The juniors, who are all under age 15, ski and swim half the distance of the adults and skated 3km.
Latika Kidd, 11, said although the Harwin Frozen Warriors didn't post the strongest times in the junior competition, they're considering it a victory.
"It was awesome," Kidd said. "All of the Grade 6 [students] are going to be doing it again next year."
The mixed Grade 6-7 class decided they wanted to take on the challenge in September, Kidd said.
"We took a vote to decide if we wanted to do it, and we did," she said. "We've been training since September. It was really hard work, there were lots of field trips to ski and skate."
Kidd ran the 5km race for one of the four teams, along with Katherine Giannisis. Giannisis said it was the group's commitment to do it which kept her going during the race.
The class received sponsorships from two local businesses to cover some of the equipment and membership costs.
The Vanderhoof Icebreakers mixed team posted the best time in the junior competition at one hour, 32 minutes and 57 seconds.
Cross-country skier Blake Kingsley, 14, said he'd take competing in sports over playing video games any day.
"We all do sports anyway. It's a lot of fun to get out here," Kingsley said. "It's just a good way to meet new friends."
Kingsley and 13-year-old runner Alexander Nemethy put the team together after they competed in the Iceman last year. Nemethy said the challenge for him was running two 5km sections of the race, with a long break in between.
The youngest team member, Derek Cucovaz, 12, said strong winds challenged him on the ice oval.
Cierra Verduzco, 14, ran the first half of the 10km race. She said it was initially intimidating to be going head to head with older, more experienced runners.
Jeremy Komlos, 14, had the home pool advantage going into the swim. Komlos lives in Prince George and swims with the Prince George Barracudas swim club.
He grew up in Vanderhoof and jumped at the chance to join his former classmates in the Iceman.
All agreed they will be back to compete again in future Iceman competitions.
