For most young athletes, judo season starts in September and ends in May.
In north central B.C. the Prince George Open is the plum that awaits them, a chance to show off their martial arts skills in competition.
For some, those will never enter judo's competitive stream, the under-14 tournament this Friday night at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre might be the only time they compete.
"This is their big event - the P.G. Open world championships," quipped event organizer, Aline Strasdin, head coach of the Prince George Judo Club.
The tournament, Friday from 5:30-8 p.m., is part of a weekend of judo activity at the NSC. On Saturday and Sunday a busload of athletes from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island will join a group of locals involved in a Judo BC training camp to help them prepare for the national championships May 25-28 in Calgary.
"(The tournament) is just a kids' event this year because we're having the provincial training camp," said Strasdin, who is expecting about 125 competitors. "Because new provincial coach (Jeremy LeBris) wanted the training camp I didn't not want to have the kids event, so we're including that on Friday night."
Seventeen local athletes are qualified for the national championships and several among that group are medal contenders. The Prince George Judo Club, Hart Judo Academy and North Capital Judo Club will be sending athletes to the Canadian championships in Calgary.
