Delaware's Special Olympians To Compete In Md. Games At Wisp

Delaware's Special Olympians To Compete In Md. Games At Wisp

Feb. 21, 2008

by Jon Buzby

Three years ago, Delaware's Special Olympics ski teams were all set to head to New Hampshire, to an area famous for world-class ski conditions, but a lack of snow forced the cancellation of those games. So, to avoid not having any place to compete after months of training, Delaware quickly turned to her bordering neighbor for help – Special Olympics Maryland.

Thirty-one skiers and several coaches and family members from Delaware will arrive at the Wisp this Sunday, Feb. 24, for the 2008 Special Olympics Maryland Winter Games. This will be Delaware's third consecutive trip to the games.

"We love the competition and the friendships that have evolved," said Coach Charlie Scrafford. "We have been welcomed with open arms, and that goes a long way."

The ski team will compete in Alpine (downhill) and Nordic (cross-country) skiing events. The fact that they are trekking six hours by bus in the dead of winter is amazing enough, but what makes this team even more special is that its members come from a state without a ski mountain and without any measurable snow accumulation so far this winter.

Starting the first weekend in December, the Alpine ski team meets every Sunday morning at 5 a.m. to catch a bus to Blue Mountain in the Pocono Mountain Region of Pennsylvania. The four-hour drive is long and tedious, but the sight of the snow-covered mountains when they arrive makes it all worthwhile.

Scrafford says the training time on the mountain is very important.

"Since we are a state where the highest point is only about 76 feet above sea level, the trips to the mountain are critical for our training. In the early fall, before we start training on the mountain, we meet at a state park on a weekly basis and hike through the woods, going up and down hills to build our endurance. That way when we do get to the actual snow on the mountain, we can focus more on technique."

The Delaware team is typically the first to arrive at the mountain and spends the entire morning skiing. The skiers focus not only on the events they'll participate in at the games – downhill and slalom races – but also on other resort necessities like riding a ski lift, safety awareness, and of course, how to stay warm. They then grab a quick bite to eat and head back to Delaware, always arriving after dark.

The Nordic ski team trains at Brandywine Creek State Park, in the northernmost part of the state. Without snow, practices are spent focusing on technique, including the often overlooked skill of how to get up after you fall. A routine hike around the park at the beginning of each practice builds the necessary endurance for the longer events in which they'll participate, such as the 1-k, 3-k, and relay races.

On the few weekends when there is a light dusting of snow, which has been very rare the past few winters in Delaware, Nordic practices are longer and sometimes more often, much to the delight of the athletes and coaching staff.

"We practice the fundamentals, we drill constantly, and the athletes ski their individual races endlessly," said head coach Mike Gunton. "When we find a patch of snow, we practice sliding downhill on it until the snow is completely worn away.

"I am very proud of our skiers, for every one of them can ski well, with and without snow," he added.

"It is always very obvious during the competition that, although we don't have much snow in Delaware, our skiers are well-trained and prepared for any type of elements they will face on Wisp Mountain," said Mark Wise, director of training for Special Olympics Delaware. "This is a real credit to the coaching staff."

There will be hundreds of medals awarded throughout the competition. However, in keeping with Special Olympics tradition, it's not just the number of medals that will decide the success of the trip.

"I'll consider the trip a success and be happy if everyone does the best that he or she can, without any injuries," said Scrafford, before boarding the bus for the final training session of the season. "We have trained hard and the athletes are ready for the games. Of course, they all want to win medals, and I'm sure we'll take our share."

Ann Grunert, Special Olympics Delaware executive director, says that Delaware "owes a huge thanks" to Special Olympics Maryland.

"A few years ago we approached them about allowing our athletes to come compete in their games at the last minute," she said. "They not only enabled us to have a place to compete that year, but the staff and volunteers of Special Olympics Maryland, and the entire Wisp Mountain community, have made us feel like part of their family ever since. For that we are greatly appreciative."

At the Special Olympics Maryland Games, both teams will be part of an elaborate opening ceremony Sunday night, participate in time trials on Monday morning, and then compete through the end of the day Tuesday.

In the late afternoon Tuesday, both teams will join Maryland athletes and participate in the closing ceremonies before boarding the bus for the long drive back to Delaware.

It will be the end of a very long ski season, but the medals won and memories made will make the long trek home go by quickly (that and most everyone will be sound asleep for the entire ride).

Jon Buzby is the director of media relations for Special Olympics Delaware and a freelance writer. Persons may find more information online at www.sode.org.