Three athletes and two coaches from Drumheller along with four athletes and three coaches from Olds were training at Nakiska Ski Resort January 11 and 25, in preparation for the upcoming qualifying ski race in Calgary February 9 at Canada Olympic Park. The qualifier is the criteria for Special Olympics Alberta alpine athletes to compete and coaches to support athletes at the 2015 Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games planned for Grande Prairie, AB. Coach Martin McSween said although there is no ski hill in Drumheller, there are interested athletes who would like to qualify for racing at the provincial games. They have been busy dryland training every Tuesday evening since late October and taking what on snow training the team can afford to ready themselves for this up coming event. Returning athletes include Mitchell Pennington, Jay Dekeyser and Quinn Delisle from Drumheller, Brian Tabor and James Beitzel from Olds along with two new recruits from Olds; Nicole Palardy and Thomas Rooks. McSween said without the support of new coach, Cody Patton and the three coaches from Olds; Dean Peachment, and new coaches Mike Rooks, and Murray Elliott, they would not be able to support these athletes on this endeavour. The athletes are excited and looking forward to this event and this chance to get back in the saddle from a hiatus from the last provincials in 2011 for our veteran racers. The team will be missing one Drumheller athlete who has chosen not to ski and one Olds athlete who was injured in the fall of 2013. McSween said as head coach he is looking forward to see how these athletes will fair and this qualifier will give them a feel and review of what is expected for alpine racing in preparation for the provincials next year.
