Another season done

Connor came away from his cross-country Special Olympics experience this year with two gold medals.  That's what he won last year as well.  He did the same two races - the 50 m and 100 m sprints.

He was supposed to try the 1K this year, but we had a couple of athletes drop, and so his relay team was cut.  I don't know why he couldn't do the individual, but that's how it worked out.

He did a great job competing, and did really well with the hurry-up-and-wait aspect of competition.  We would arrive 15 minutes before his event, but the timekeepers wouldn't be ready until 20 minutes AFTER the start time :/  That was annoying.

Next year, the coach is looking at having us practice at Willamette Pass, which offers alpine as well as cross-country & snowshoe trails.  If that's the case, we'd like him to try alpine skiing.  His favorite part is going fast anyway, and you get to ride up the mountain!  I cannot do the weight-bearing on my knees anymore, so Lee would have to step up to coach - at least until Connor can be left on his own with the other coaches (he's not there yet).  Lee likes downhill skiing though, and I can still come along to assist with the cross-country athletes anyway (or snowshoe, depending on where they need help). 

In a couple of weeks, Lee & Connor will go up for a lesson with some of the other athletes, just to check out the whole alpine scene.  Their regular coach is a ski instructor & will give them a beginner's lesson.  The cost is only $49 for skis, boots, poles, lift ticket & lesson.  And it's not a crowded mountain.  Most times you can just ski straight to the lift and get on. :) 

I think Connor will really like alpine skiing.  Will he still win gold medals?  I don't know - depends on the competition, which I suspect will be more challenging.  But he'll have a great time :)