Skiers Enhance Skills, Enjoy Slopes in Colorado
Glittering white snow, blue skies, swift motion, exhilarationleaving the mundane cares of life behindall add up to the thrills of skiing and snowboarding.
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| Instructor Ryan Moran from the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center teaching Stella Alabi. |
Skiers of various abilitiesfrom US Disabled Ski Team members to beginnersenjoyed The Hartford Ski Spectacular December 8-15, 2002, in Breckenridge, Colorado, conducted by Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA).
US team alpine skiers sparkled during the competitions. Overall winners were Chris Waddell and Csilla Kristof. The events helped the team hone their skills for World Cup racing in Austria this month.
"I think these guys are ready to do so well on the World Cup next month that it's almost scary," said Head Coach Alan Bender, quoted on the United States Ski Team website (www.usskiteam.com).
"As good as the skiing is the team chemistry," added Coach Kevin Jardine. "They work with each other; they help each other. They really pull together, and I think it's going to pay off when we get to Europe."
But the Ski Spectacular is not all about elite athletes. The week included activities for skiers of all ages and abilities. Some programs helped "teach the teachers," as clinics for instructors enabled them to learn from one another and share tips with colleagues. Clinics for beginners included classes in alpine and Nordic skiing, along with the burgeoning sport of snowboarding. Racing clinics aided both learners and more advanced athletes.
Special guests are a regular part of the annual event. This year's special guests included Bill Johnson, Matt Hess, and three New York firefighters.
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| USDST Coach Alan Bender with the winners from The Harford Ski Spectacular Slalom: Gold—Chris Waddell; Silver—Monte Meier; Bronze—George Sansonetis. |
Johnson, 40, is an Olympic veteran who suffered a traumatic head injury while training for a comeback. He has returned to the sport he loves as a disabled skier under the sponsorship of The Harford and the National Brain Injury Association. Staff Sergeant Matthew F. Hess, age 28, lost his left leg below the knee in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan.
The three firefighters were among the New York firefighter special guests who attended the Ski Spectacular in 2001, just a few months after the events of September 11. This year Bob Hillery, Tom Westman, and John Sarubbi, accompanied by his wife, Cathy, returned to volunteer.
Joining in the festivities were members of a sister organization from across the "pond," the United Kingdom's Uphill Ski Club, a 30-year-old adaptive skiing program.
Besides The Hartford, sponsors included United Airlines, Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, Breckenridge Ski Corporation/Vail Associates, Thrifty Car Rental, Ossur, and a new sponsor, Paul Mitchell. Also partnering with DS/USA for the event were Schwartz Communications Inc. and DS/USA host chapter, the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC).
