So it is back to the ski hill for Cory as a new ski season is underway and he's off to a good start with a win in the first Kokanee race of the year. In a race in which he usually tries to not finish last, he placed first in his age group. Actually he did finish last, and first, since he was the only racer in his age group!
He found it quite funny when his name was called to receive his first place prize...
Racing on Gandy Dancer on Blackcomb Mountain, Cory shows off his new colours this year, replacing his blue Blue Streak jacket and blue helmet with a new jacket from Whistler Mountain Ski Club and a new lime green helmet...
Racing as the last skier in each run, he was faced with a challenging chewed-up race course, and in his first run, he catches a rut, almost crashes, and misses a gate. This usually means a disqualification but being the only one in his age group, it was ignored and he took home the first place prize of free ski wax!
1st Run
He completes a clean 2nd run with some good speed too for so early in the season..
2nd Run
There are 6 more Kokanee races throughout the winter but with Cory starting a season with no important races until 2014 at the earliest, he'll likely compete in only 2 or 3 of those, as well as some Disabled Skiers Association of BC races at Whistler in April. He hopes instead to get to do some good powder skiing on a new pair of powder skis - much more fun in powder than those thin race skis. He'll also ramp up his basketball work as his team begins serious preparations for the Provincial Summer Games in July 2013. And there's a week in Hawaii planned for mid-March as well.
The 16-year story of a 35-year-old man with autism who has a passion for ski racing, and his dream-come-true of representing Canada at Special Olympics World Winter Games. In February 2020, Cory qualified for Team Canada and was due to compete at Special Olympics' World Winter Games in Russia in January 2023. Those Games have been cancelled. The next World Winter Games are to be held in Italy in 2025. Come along and Race With Cory!
Welcome to Race with Cory and thanks for visiting our blog.
If you wish to read the story from the beginning, click here http://racewithcory.blogspot.com/2007/09/beginnings.html. When you're done, click on "2007" in the right column, then "September", then on "Special Olympics Ski Racing, From Beginner to Racer" and go from there.