Drumheller and Olds athletes fared well, bringing home handfuls of hardware from the 2011 Alberta Special Olympic Winter Games.
The athletes arrived via the Valley Bus to Leduc on Friday, February 11 in time to check into their hotel, and were whisked off for supper prior to the opening ceremonies at the Leduc Recreation Centre.With over 500 plus athletes and coaches to feed while the ceremonies were commencing it was hectic said coach Martin McSween.
His team consisted of two athletes, three coaches and one team assistant who were green to the games experience. His five other athletes were of veterans two or more provincial games, and everyone was tired from the drive but excited about the energy and for some seeing old comrades and old rivals.
The athletes enjoyed great entertainment and were finally marshalled into the arena. With speeches from local and provincial dignitaries: Mayors from the three host cities, our current Premier and the CEO of Special Olympics Alberta, the night culminated with the Law Enforcement Torch runners and local athletes bringing in the official torch to say the athletes oath before Premier Ed Stelmach officially opened the games.
Saturday, February 12, and Sunday, February 13, the games were on. The area team included Mitchell Pennington, Eddie Gainer, Jay Dekeyser, Quinn Delisle, Karen McIntyre, Brian Tabor and James Beitzel as well as Tyler Birch from Lethbridge.
Saturday saw athletes compete in two races at the Alpine venue, Rabbit Hill near Devon: Giant Slalom in the morning and Super Giant Slalom in the afternoon. Divisions were Novice, Intermediate and Advance then male and female.
“We were clearly underdogs as our athletes from Drum/Olds did not have the on snow training that the bigger urban centres and Tyler had all season thus far. That said, five of our seven athletes got onto the podium for GS and Super G Saturday,” said McSween.
Mitchell received two silver medals for his efforts in intermediate male, Eddie received a bronze medal (intermediate), Jay received a bronze and a silver medal (advance), Karen received a bronze medal (intermediate), and Quinn (first games ever), won a silver and a bronze medal.
“Quinn started out skiing as a novice, was bumped up a level to intermediate and skied in that division for the balance of the competition. That was a great achievement for him,” said McSween.
He said Brian, James and Tyler skied well and were not far off the mark but, unfortunately did not get to the podium this weekend. James did get bumped up in division from intermediate to advance though which is an improvement for him. Brian skied in intermediate and Tyler was in the advanced group.
After a long day on the slopes the team had time for a short recoup before heading off to the banquet and of course the dance at the Delta South in Edmonton. Athletes were treated to a wonderful meal and athletes shed their fatigue to show some creative moves on the dance floor.
Sunday came fast and the team was back at the hill for more competition in the Slalom event. Two runs for a combined time for results.
“We had wonderful sun which also meant more ice. It was a fast course with some spectacular crashes,” he said.
Eddie had one mishap on his second run after a clean, fast first run which took him out of the running for what may have been his second medal. Only two area athletes were able to get on to the podium for the slalom event; Karen earned herself a bronze medal (intermediate female) and Jay earned a bronze medal in his race (advance male).
