For the week of March 19 - 25, 2003

Adaptive race
challenges all

Race on Cozy raises $1,000 for SVSAP

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By MICHAEL AMES
Express Staff Writer

The Sun Valley Adaptive Sports Program specializes in inspiration—bravery and determination in the face of disabilities is commonplace.

But for the SVASP, it isn’t enough that disabled skiers confront Baldy nearly every day of the week.

So, to promote awareness of adaptive skiing, a race was held March 4 on Baldy for any and all to try out the demanding adaptive methods.

Before awareness could be raised at the race, SVASP raised $1,000 in donations from local sponsors who were separated into teams.

The Sawtooth Club and Outabounds Lounge together pitched in $400. Sun Summit also donated $400 and Grumpy’s and Silver Dollar Saloon each offered $100. Other donations included $100 from John and Laura Grabow.

Sun Valley’s Race Department helped set up a challenging course on Warm Spring’s Lower Cozy trail.

Skiers tried both the monoski—a chair used by skiers with spinal injuries—and a three-track system known as an "Outrigger" used by skiers with limited leg use.

For SVSAP instructor Cara Larocca, who had "gone out and practiced on College," the course set up on Cozy was far more daunting than expected.

"It was super-hard," said Larocca about the course itself and also the methods that disabled skiers regularly use.

Jeff Brame, who has been skiing in a "sit ski" for about a year now, has been training and running gates and now has his hopes set on various future Para-Olympic events.

Brame, the only disabled racer in the event, said, "This type of event sees that skiers don’t take for granted their normal skiing and their normal equipment."

For Jeff, it was "great to see SVSAP promoted so well and also good to see normal-body skiers going out and trying the adaptive methods."

 

Race results:

1—Grumpy’s: Ric Lum (3-track) 22.81 seconds; Cam Cooper (monoski) 25.58; Jeff Brame (monoski) 25.99; and Marc Mast (3-track) 28.22. Team total 102.60.

2—Sun Summit (all 3-track): Curt Handsome 26.89 seconds; Sean McEntee 30.49; TJ Baranek 33.04; and Greg Stock 40.80. Team total 131.22.

3—Silver Dollar (all 3-track): Weylin Bibb-Barrett 28.61 seconds; Tanja Thaler 30.55; Jen Smith 37.05; and Cara Larocca (48.61). Team total 144.82.

4—Sawtooth Club and Outabounds: Margaret Campbell 31.55; Christyan Koalachuck 36.65; Marnie DeMichele 37.68; and Idie Mawby 45.29.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.