Cambridge Bay teen competes for Canada on world stage

A teen from Cambridge Bay is heading overseas to represent Team Canada at an international darts competition this week.

For Caidynce Rever, a 15-year-old darts player ranked first in the junior female division in Canada, the World Darts Federation World Masters will be her first international competition.

“I’m so excited but a little bit nervous. It’s my first time leaving the country, too,” said Rever in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.

She said she believes she will be the first Inuk to represent Canada at this competition, a milestone she said is important, adding she adores people saying they look up to her.

To prepare for the tournament, Rever has been playing against adults in tournaments, asking her coach for tips and keeping a steady practise schedule.

The World Masters is being held in Budapest, Hungary, at the BOK Gerevich Aladár National Sports Hall from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13.

According to the tournament website, the WDF World Masters is the oldest and most prestigious darts tournament after the world championships.

Organizers expect more than 1,000 participants will attend from more than 70 countries around the world.

Rever practises twice a week at the Jasper Place Legion in Edmonton, where she now lives, as well as at home as well against her old brother.

She said she first played competitively in February last year, after her mom asked if she wanted to go to a provincial tournament in Alberta.

Rever almost didn’t go.

“That morning, she tried to wake me up and I was like, ‘No let me sleep,’” Rever said with a chuckle.

“They were in the car about to leave, and I yelled out my windows, ‘Wait I’m coming,’ and ended up playing the tournament.”

Since then, Rever has gone on to compete for Team Alberta and plays in a tournament almost every month during the season.

Previously, she had only played for fun against her brothers and recalled her first game, when she was around eight years old in Cambridge Bay.

“I didn’t really play much because it was like a family thing and I joined because my brothers were in it,” said Rever.

“I think I only played a few months, and I quit and didn’t start up again ’til last year in February.”

Rever loves to compete, but said the people the sport has brought into her life is a reason why she plays.

“I like the competition, and I like winning, but it’s also the people I’ve met during darts, they’ve become my dart family.”

She said hopes to inspire other people to try out the sport, even just for fun.

“I feel like a lot of people should try it, even if they’re scared or think they’re bad, there’s always practise,” said Rever.

“That’s what I did, I thought I was terrible, and you just practise and now I feel like it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime thing, especially if you go far and all the travels you can do.”