Excitement builds as World Eskimo-Indian Olympics opens
Day 1 opens with song and ceremony as athletes converge in Fairbanks.
World Eskimo-Indian Olympics 2017
Lofty goals
Competitive action got underway with a preliminary round of women's blanket toss. Judges asked the audience for dozens of assistants to help pull the blanket that launches the competitor into the air. Nick Hanson, of Unalakleet, a competitor on NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" obstacle competition show, gave the crowd a demonstration, doing flips in the air.
Getting carried away
The first day of WEIO ended with the finals in the four man carry event. In this strength contest, athletes carry four volunteers, who each weigh about 150 pounds, for distance around the court. Matthew Sido Evans, who holds the WEIO record in the event, took home the top prize again this year. Hear from Evans, and get a glimpse of the action in this video.
Photos from the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics
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Day 2 of World Eskimo-Indian Olympics opens with powerful pulls
The 2017 World Eskimo-Indian Olympics runs through Saturday at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
Model children
A crowd packed a room to the side of the main arena at the Carlson Center for a competition of a different sort Thursday afternoon. Youngsters modeled fur and skin outfits during the Native baby regalia competition.
Day 3 of WEIO tests leaps, and the bounds of pain
The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics featured the two-foot high kick and the ear pull on its third day.
A kicking medley
The preliminary round of the two-foot high kick thinned the field early Friday afternoon. Here's a slow look at some of the top performers.
Ears of steel
One way to tell if a WEIO event is going to measure pain is that there are no preliminary rounds. An ear can only take so much punishment.
A high-kick homecoming
For Sharlane King, the tears of joy came when she could see it in writing. After results from the two-foot high kick were posted on the wall of the Carlson Center, King couldn't believe her name was at the top.
Meet Miss WEIO 2017
Piiyuuk Olivia Shields was named Miss WEIO late Friday. Shields, from Toksook Bay, is studying elementary education at UAA and hopes to one day return to teach near her home.
WEIO Day 4: One last day to shine at Alaska ‘family reunion’
A ninja warrior talks about competing in his home state, and athletes get a shot at reaching new heights.
Hold my baby and watch this
If the challenges of arm pull — a contest of raw head-to-head strength — weren't enough for WEIO athletes, many had one more thing on their minds Saturday. Young kids competed for their attention between rounds.
Tim Field soars in one-foot high kick, just shy of his own WEIO record
After locking up first place, Tim Field took a shot at the one-foot high kick record Saturday night at the Carlson Center.
Knuckle 'til you buckle: Worl wins WEIO's painful finale
Kyle Worl, of Juneau, handily won knuckle hop, the last event contested at World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. Just don’t shake his hand right away. They’re stinging and peeling.
A celebration on WEIO's last day
To wrap up our coverage of WEIO 2017, here’s a look at the Tanana Dancers performing on a crowded floor at the start of the event’s final evening.
