Josh Forest received a self-described National King Miner “hat trick” on June 23 after winning the Nickel Days mining skills competition for the third year in a row.
During Sunday’s awards ceremony inside the C.A. Nesbitt Arena, organizers said that Forest clocked the best time out of all 20 competitors in the jackleg drilling, hose mending, bolting and pipefitting events.
The T-1 mine production supervisor for Vale ultimately cracked the top four in more than half of the contest’s 11 different challenges, all of which took place in the Thompson Regional Community Centre’s south parking lot the previous day.
This strong showing allowed Forest to hold onto the King Miner crown and walk away from this year’s competition with $5,100 in prize money.
Even though he’s been participating in the King Miner contest for over 13 years now, Forest truly made a name for himself back in 2017 by dethroning Bryan Woytkiw, who won the competition’s top prize nine times since 2007.
Since Woytkiw hasn’t taken part in the event since then, Forest has kept a tight grip on the competition in the intervening years and 2019 was no different.
Forest credited his success to his chiropractor and athletic therapist, who help him keep up with some of the younger competitors.
Forest also briefly talked about his history with the competition and how he’s managed to improve after all these years.
“My first year I broke the stoper [drilling] record and I just got hooked ever since,” he said. “So every year I just started picking up little tricks from all the veteran competitors and I’m a good observer I guess. “
Looking forward to next year’s competition, Forest encourages any northern resident to enter, especially since the atmosphere amongst participants is very co-operative and not at all dog-eat-dog.
“There isn’t one person out there competing that won’t help you to overcome your fear,” he said. “It’s just an awesome environment and you’d be silly not to try it out. There’s people here that aren’t even miners and they’re making money.”
King Miner veteran Jason Stykalo also put in an impressive performance throughout Nickel Days weekend, becoming the competition’s first runner-up for the second year in a row. Matt MacGregor and Kerry Roberts rounded out the event’s top four by receiving second and third runner-up, respectively.
Stykalo pulled off another repeat from the 2018 King Miner contest by winning the team event alongside Scott Kennedy, Justin Lefebvre and Alex Martin.
2019 National King Miner Contest winners
National King Miner
King Miner: Josh Forest
First runner-up: Jason Stykalo
Second runner-up: Matt MacGregor
Third runner-up: Kerry Roberts
Team event winners
Scott Kennedy, Justin Lefebvre, Jason Stykalo, Alex Martin
Rookie prize
Ashley Mallett
Stoper drilling
First prize: Alex Martin
Second prize: Josh Forest
Third prize: Kerry Roberts
Fourth prize: Michael Gallant
Jackleg drilling
First prize: Josh Forest
Second prize: Matt MacGregor
Third prize: Justin Lefebvre
Fourth prize: Alex Martin
Bolting
First prize: Josh Forest
Second prize: Matt MacGregor
Third prize: Alex Martin
Fourth prize: Ashley Mallett
Log Sawing
First prize: Frank Bushby
Second prize: Karlyle Knutson
Third prize: Troy Martin
Fourth prize: Evan Bercier
Ladder climbing
First prize: Scott Kennedy
Second prize: Ethan Amyotte
Third prize: Justin Lefebvre
Fourth prize: Jason Stykalo
Hose mending
First prize: Josh Forest
Second prize: Troy Martin
Third prize: Scott Kennedy
Fourth prize: Jason Stykalo
Hand mucking
First prize: Josh Forest
Second prize: Scott Kennedy
Third prize: Jason Stykalo
Fourth prize: Matt MacGregor
Steel packing
First prize: Scott Kennedy
Second prize: Frank Bushby
Third prize: Kerry Roberts
Fourth prize: Justin Lefebvre
Crib building
First prize: Scott Kennedy
Second prize: Josh Forest
Third prize: Frank Bushby
Fourth prize: Kerry Roberts
Pipefitting
First prize: Josh Forest
Second prize: Jason Stykalo
Third prize: Michael Gallant
Fourth prize: Scott Kennedy
Nail driving
First prize: Jason Stykalo
Second prize: Scott Kennedy
Third prize: Ashley Mallett
Fourth prize: Frank Bushby
