The Hibiscus Coast Alpine Ski Team at the Special Olympics National Winter Games August 2011

Video Compilation of the Team Warm ups, race, medal ceremony:
Dale Henderson - Intermediate Alpine Skiing Division: Gold Medal in the Super G Slalom event
Ariel Knight - Novice Alpine Skiing Division: Gold Medal in the Slalom event
Coach for Ariel and Manager of HBC - Odette Knight
Alpine Ski Coach for Dale Henderson - Maxine Barrett
Support Person for Hibiscus Coast Team - Mary Henderson
All three of us assisting at various different times on the mountain with these two exceptional athletes as first time qualifiers to the 2011 Special Olympics National Winter Games on Cardrona Ski Field, Wanaka, NZ.
They only required assistance to the start gate and then the most awesome part of the event, proudly watching dale and ariel having 100% responsibility to negotiate themselves through the Slalom race course on there own! Cool! cool! cool!
(Rules of special Olympic National events, no coach or support crew allowed on the Race Course otherwise DQ.. We can start them and then high5 them at the finish).
Dale and Ariel entered the Super G Slalom, Slalom and Giant Slalom Alpine Skiing Events, both did not place in the medals for the other events and received participation medals.
The Intermediate Course Set up on the "White Express - Goldrush Downhill"
The Novice Course Set up on the "McDougalls-Footrot Flats"
The opening ceremony Aug31 and closing ceremony Sept 2.
We were very lucky and had sunny days with the added challenge of -5 and -8 temps with 45km winds, all the althletes that competed from all over the country coped well with the minus weather temps and participated with much excitement and enthusiasm, it was a privilege to witness their high level of skiing and snow boarding ability and skill.
The Special Olympics Athletes Oath:
"LET ME WIN BUT IF I CANNOT WIN, LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT"

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• snow
• sports
• special
• olympics