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Members of the Particular Olympics ski and snowshoe groups waited contained in the Howelsen Hill Lodge on Wednesday, March 15, for an opportunity to hitch their teammates in a photograph and have fun one who wasn’t there.

“We had a mission this yr,” coach Tommy Moore mentioned. “We skied for Sue White. Everybody knew Sue. She’s been the matriarch of this workforce and that is been our mission going into this season and I believe we have represented her effectively.”

Moore additionally mentioned this yr was particular for the athletes who participated in this system and devoted their efforts to their former teammate who died in August 2022. White’s ardour for snowboarding introduced her into the highlight after she earned the chance to compete in Alpine snowboarding on the 2017 Particular Olympics World Winter Video games in Austria, the place Moore was her coach.

White was on high this yr as a bunch of 16 athletes competed in regionals in Glenwood Springs in February, and 13 athletes from that group went to Copper Mountain for the Colorado Winter Video games this month, which embody a parade, cauldron, torchlight parade and fireworks, along with the precise races

Earlier this month, the Alpine and snowshoe groups from Steamboat Springs traveled to Copper Mountain, the place they competed within the Colorado Particular Olympic Winter Video games with different athletes from throughout the state.

Athlete Heidi Brumleve mentioned her good friend’s spirit reached far past the Colorado Winter Video games and may very well be felt this season throughout coaching and at regionals at Argonaut Farms in Glenwood Springs, the place Brumleve took gold within the 200m and 400m occasions and was a part of the workforce that gained silver within the 4×100 relay.

Brumleve was unable to journey to Copper Mountain, however she was sure that Sue White’s spirit was additionally felt there.

“The Olympics are superior,” Brumleve mentioned of the packages. “I liked Sue White trying down on me and I actually miss her.”

Moore mentioned the passion and power White delivered to the game fueled the athletes this winter and that White’s reminiscence made this yr much more particular for individuals who took to the park.

Moore, who has been a coach for 20 years, mentioned the Alpine program met on Sundays at Steamboat Resort about six occasions through the winter. He mentioned this system works with STARS and has grow to be an adjunct in Steamboat.

The alpine snowboarding workforce included Scott Bjorgum, who took house gold within the intermediate large slalom and slalom occasions and silver within the super-G. Drew Boglioli, who gained gold in superior large slalom and silver in super-G and slalom. Taryn Emerson, who gained silver within the novice slalom, large slalom and super-G. Misty Garcia, who gained gold in novice super-G and slalom, and silver in large slalom. Rhianna Gifford, who gained gold within the intermediate slalom and large slalom and silver within the super-G. Ian Horning, who gained gold within the intermediate slalom and bronze within the slalom. Logan McLaughlin, who gained gold within the intermediate slalom and bronze within the large slalom. Amy Pascetti, who gained gold in novice super-G and intermediate large slalom, and silver in slalom. and Nevaeh Smith, who completed with gold within the novice slalom and large slalom and silver within the super-G. Matthew Troeger competed with the workforce at regionals in Daylight in snowboarding, taking first in slalom and second in large slalom, however didn’t make the journey to Copper Mountain.

“I prefer to ski like with my associates, and I love to do the gates,” mentioned Horning, who competed in his first Particular Olympics. “It is nice to be with all of your family and friends.”

Horning’s teammate Logan McLaughlin agreed.

“I like snowboarding and I like the Particular Olympics,” mentioned McLaughlin, who has been 4 occasions. “I like my teammates, I like (coach) Tommy and I like snowboarding.”

The snowshoe workforce entered its second yr with 4 athletes competing, together with Jeffery Dockstader, who took second within the 100-meter sprint. Jamie Kaminski, who gained first within the 100 and 200. Donald Pierce, who gained bronze within the 200 and 400. and Jaimee Purcell-Sexton, who gained silver within the 100 and 200.

The 4 Steamboat snowshoes on the Colorado Video games mixed for a third-place end within the 4×100 relay. Jeffery Turner, who took gold within the 200 and third within the 400, was additionally unable to journey to Copper Mountain for the Colorado State Video games, though he was a part of the relay workforce that gained the silver medal on the regionals.

The workforce was coached by Aimee Jenkins, Susan White and Sarah-Grace Jordan, who’s an worker of Horizons Specialised Companies.

“We have now three guidelines have enjoyable, attempt onerous and have enjoyable. In the event you’re not having enjoyable, we have to speak about it. In the event you’re not attempting too onerous, we’ll speak about it,” Jenkins mentioned. “However we’re all the time going to have enjoyable and we will attempt onerous and we’re undoubtedly going to have enjoyable.”

Coach White mentioned that being on the workforce doesn’t essentially imply that the athlete has to take part within the Particular Olympics, as that’s their alternative.

“We began because the Horizons Journey Membership and we have been constructing from that,” Jenkins mentioned. “Some athletes select to do Particular Olympics from the Horizons Journey Membership, and this yr we had six go to regionals and 4 to state.”

Each the Alpine and Snowshoe packages run all through the winter with athletes assembly for coaching and looking out ahead to state meets on the finish of the yr. Along with coaching, the packages embody warm-up, diet and different vital classes for the athletes.

However on the finish of the day, this program is about greater than sports activities.

“That is a lot greater than snowboarding,” Moore mentioned. “That is past the snow, it is simply lifelong friendships, the camaraderie between every of the State athletes has all the time been one of many largest occasions that each one these guys look ahead to and most of those athletes from across the state do not see one another one another for an entire yr till we meet collectively within the state.’

John F. Russell is the enterprise reporter on the Steamboat Pilot & At this time. To succeed in him, name 970-871-4209, e mail jrussell@SteamboatPilot.com or comply with him on Twitter @Framp1966.