'It's time to warrior up!' Coach Waneek motivates her team after challenge mishaps
Costly errors cause the Yellow team to fall behind in Canada's Ultimate Challenge
After an excellent start to Canada's Ultimate Challenge, Team Yellow began to struggle. It started with the handcar challenge at Carcross Station, Yukon.
"It's time to warrior up, let's go!" shouts Waneek as Chris "Cuddly" Lewarne and Kate Fabien-Ferrol pump a 200-kilogram handcar across a rail line. But at the end of the challenge, Cuddly takes his foot off the brake before Kate can place the safety wedges under the wheel, buying them a two-minute penalty and a last-place finish.
"I'm mad, I'm pissed. I'm pissed because they can do better," said Waneek.
Next up, teams have to build a bridge across the Yukon River and carry 20 five-kilogram bags across to the other side. A dropped bag adds a costly three-minute penalty.
"You have to be 100% sure you're not dropping it. You hang onto this like it's your baby. Do not drop it," warns Waneek.
Their team is way ahead and then IT happens. "When I see Victoria drop that bag my stomach drops," says Waneek. "And then I still have to coach them through this. Okay, mistakes were made, but the game's not lost."
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"Accidents happen. There's no such thing as a perfect game and there's no such thing as a perfect event, especially in this competition," says Waneek, "I gotta lead my team out of that and keep the energy high and keep the momentum forward."
With an example of stellar comeback coaching, the yellow team kicks it into high gear. Kate makes up lost time by carrying two bags (over 10 kilograms) with her teeth!
"I never wanted to be a hindrance to my team, I never wanted to be the weaker player," Victoria Coman told CBC Sports, "I dropped the bag, literally."
"Had we not dropped that bag? We would have annihilated everybody, right? It was like we won, which was cool," remembers Waneek. With blood, sweat and tears, Team Yellow roared back into third place — even with the penalty.
After a tough couple of challenges, coach Waneek gathered her team for a regroup and a gift of some wise words and traditional, hand-made moccasins for each player.
"To remind you to walk proud, to walk with dignity, to walk gently on Mother Earth, and walk knowing you represent the best of the best of your people."
"I hope that they take forward an understanding of how to win in life," says Waneek.
