The Strathcona’s Sweep the 6th Annual Base Energy Challenge

Lt Blake Tapp

 

As the CO recently observed, it has been a while since anyone referred to us as the “Fat Strats.”   We buried that old nickname a little deeper into the ground on 8 Mar by taking First, Second and Third place in yet another major competition, the Annual Energy Challenge.

The Energy Challenge is hosted annually on the base by Engineer Services and delivered with the help of PSP staff.  It is the culminating event of all energy saving activities held on the base over the year.  Thirteen teams competed in a gruelling 3.5 hour workout on elliptical machines and spin bikes to burn the highest possible number of calories.  

The Regiment dominated this competition, sending one team from Recce Squadron and two from B Squadron.  Not only did we have more representation than anyone else, we took all the awards.  Recce Squadron’s team was the result of tryouts and three weeks of training.  B Squadron went for mass with two teams and a week of training.  Both approaches paid off.   Recce’s “Lazy D” team, led by Tpr Luke Downey finished first with 3995 calories burned, (thus winning the competition for the second consecutive year).  B Squadron’s teams High Endurance placing second with 3476 calories, and Fast Orange third with 3382 calories under the coaching of Captains Cpl Justin Wry and Lt Blake Tapp.  Of special note, Recce’s Cpl Brett Herbert achieved the highest single calorie burn in a 30 minute period, 658 calories.

When the dust settled, the total energy produced by all 13 teams competition was only enough to operate a coffee machine for 7 hours.  This should gave everyone pause- that was a lot of sweat and pain for a few cups of coffee- and served as a practical example of how important it is to conserve energy at home and at work.  

The other teams looked either shocked or impressed at the intensity with which the “Fat Strats” attacked this competition.  Tpr Chris Edwards battled not only the machine but also the attempts of other teams to shout him down (they failed).  While sweeping the awards was great, the real reward was the double take that the OPI, DCC Environmental Coordinator Charles Calvert, did he was passed the final score tallies.  Congratulations to all of the teams for doing the Regiment proud once again.