The Special Olympics National Winter Games happens only once every four years.
It was a golden opportunity for a group of Prince George athletes to compete last week in Corner Brook, Nfld., and they skied and snowshoed their way to personal bests under the national spotlight.
Skiers Brian Whitfield, Daniel Lafreniere, Josh Pudney, Kelly Hein, Rita Cavenaile and Barbara Conway and snowshoers Tegan Raines and Chase Caron flew the Prince George flag and five of the skiers climbed the medal podium.
Lafreniere won gold in the 7.5-kilometre race, silver in the 1km and bronze in the 7.5km and 5km events; Whitfield won the 2.5km event and was the bronze medalist in the 7.5km and 5km races; Pudney captured gold in the 1km and silver in 2.5km races; Conway won the 2.5km event and Cavenaile was the silver medalist in the 2.5km race; and Hein placed fifth in the 1km and was sixth in the 2.5km race.
In snowshoeing results, Raines just missed the podium, finishing fourth in the 100m race, and was fifth in each of the 200m and 400m events. Caron was fourth in the 200m race and fifth in the 100m.
The B.C. ski team consisted of 15 athletes and five coaches, including Calvin Dyck of Prince George. Prince George Special Olympics coach Wilma VanHage oversaw a team of 14 snowshoers on Team B.C. along with four other coaches.
Weather conditions at Blow Me Down Cross-Country Ski Club in Corner Brook ranged from warm and slushy to cold and blustery. A snowfall warning Saturday forced the cancelation of the afternoon races.
"When we got there it was quite warm and the winds picked up and brought in cold weather and by the time we left it was cold (-20 C) and snowy," said VanHage.
"It was tough competition and they did really well. The majority came home with at least one medal and they all hit personal bests, and that shows they're improving."
The medal results will help the Prince George athletes meet qualifying requirements for the Special Olympics World Winter Games, March 14-25, 2017 in Austria.
"There are a lot of factors that play into choosing the team," said VanHage.
"Special Olympics Canada will look at their training and if they are capable of going on for two weeks and (national) medal count is one of those factors. There's a chance for everybody."
