In a season where Hay River's Kason Coombs has been able to do just about anything, it was only fitting he be recognized for it.
The 14-year-old was recognized for all he's done this season with the Youth Male Athlete of the Year honour at the Sport North Awards in Yellowknife on Saturday and it came as a surprise to him.
"I know I worked really hard at everything I did this season, but not enough to get the award," he told SA国际影视传媒 on Monday.
Coombs has been a busy young man on the biathlon circuit with trips to Calforex Cup events in Alberta and the Western Canadian Biathlon Championships in Whistler, B.C.
The big one, though, was the Canadian Biathlon Championships in Valcartier, Que., where he showed everyone just what they were up against in the years to come. He scored himself two gold medals and two silvers in the U17 division to announce himself to the rest of the country.
"Whistler was really cool to compete at because that was Brendan (Green's) first Olympic venue," said Coombs.
Speaking of Green, he was inducted into the NWT Sport Hall of Fame the night before for his exploits on the biathlon trails, but he was also on hand for the award show the following evening and presented Coombs with his honour.
"It was a really special moment to get it from Brendan," said Coombs. "He's such a great athlete and he's a big inspiration to me as someone to look up to, so getting the award from him was really exciting."
Ashley Coombs, Kason's mom, said biathlon has been able to provide plenty of opportunities for her son.
"It's so neat to think about where this sport has taken us," she said. "Kason has gotten to do so many great competitions and has had the opportunity to travel to so many different places. He'd probably never have gotten to do this had it not been for biathlon."
Coombs wasn't the only winner from Hay River on the night. Davida Delorey won the Active For life Award for her work with the Hay River Curling Club. The award is presented to an athlete 55 years of age or older who competes or participates in a team or individual sport in the Northwest Territories. They also inspire the elder generation to stay active for life through sport.
As for Coombs, there's no question about whether he'll still be active in biathlon. It all depends on where it takes him and he has his sights set on a summit Green reached three times during his career.
"Maybe I'll do what Brendan did and make it to the Olympics," he said. "I have a long road ahead of me, but it's my dream to get to the Olympics. That would be great."
