The Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports/Sugarbush alpine race team competed at the 2019 Special Olympics Winter Games March 18 and 19 at Pico Mountain, Killington, VT.
Eleven athletes competed in slalom, giant slalom, and super-G events: Phillip Kellem, Christopher Riley and Grace Kirpan of Moretown; Tommy Johnson and Josh Bartold of Warren; Gabriel Teran of Montpelier; Justin McQuiston and Bennett Townley of Williston; Lelia Volmer of Craftsbury; Jesse Campbell of Shelburne and new team member Sofia Teixeira of Hingham, Massachusetts. Melisa Lansky of Waterbury trained all season but was unable to compete.
Competing on the advanced course in Division 1, Townley took fourth in slalom and GS and a bronze medal in super-G. Teixeira took fifth in slalom, bronze medal in GS, and fourth in super-G. In Division 2, Johnson took fourth in slalom and fifth in GS and super-G. In Division 3, Kellem took fifth in slalom, GS and super-G. In Division 4, Riley won silver in slalom, GS and super-G. Bartold won bronze in slalom, GS and super-G.
Competing on the intermediate “A” course, in Division 3, McQuiston won bronze in slalom, gold in GS and silver in super-G. Teran took fifth in slalom and sixth in GS and super-G.
Competing on intermediate “B” course, in Division 3, Volmer won silver in slalom and super-G and gold in GS. Kirpan took fifth in slalom and super-G and sixth in GS. In Division 4, Campbell won gold in slalom.
Pico conditions were hard-packed and loose granular under sunny skies.
The athletes and parents wish to thank Vermont Adaptive program director at Sugarbush North Felicia Fowler, race course coaches Norm Staunton and Emily Cioffi, and the many Vermont Adaptive volunteers who individually coached the athletes all season.
Most importantly, the team wishes to extend very deep gratitude to Sugarbush for their continued generosity and support.
For more information about Vermont Adaptive and for information on how to become a volunteer, visit www.vermontadaptive.org, call central Vermont program director Felicia Fowler at 802-343-1193, or contact Vermont Adaptive office headquarters at 802-786-4991.
