Race With Cory

As we await official word that Cory has qualified for his third straight Special Olympics Canada National Winter Games next year in Thunder Bay, it's a good time to review his races in the last 3 Provincial Games, which are the qualifying races for the National Games.

In 2011, Cory raced at Crystal Mountain near Kelowna, under mostly clear skies and excellent snow conditions, on a race course of medium length.  In Slalom, on the Centennial run, after finishing almost a second behind Jesse Price, from North Vancouver, at the 2007 Games, 4 years later Cory took gold by over a 2.5 second margin over Jesse.  There was a mix-up at the medal presentation so Jesse is not on this podium.

In Giant Slalom, Cory won by over 2.5 seconds over Jesse Price.

In Super G, it was very close.  Competing against a heavier racer is a challenge in Super G, since there are far very gates, less turning, and basically just speed.  He beat David Boudreau, from Surrey and now a teammate of Cory's, by only 2/100ths of a second in the first run, and 11/100ths of a second in the second run.

Any small mistake in this race and Cory would not have finished first and likely not have qualified for the Nationals in 2012 in Jasper.

4 years later, the Sundance run at Sun Peaks near Kamloops was the site of the 2015 Provincial Winter Games.

David Boudreau did not participate in this cycle of competion, but Cory's main rival Jesse would be there again.

Under blue skies and perfect snow conditions, on a very long race course, Cory won the Giant Slalom race by nearly 3 seconds over Jesse, and by 11 seconds over newcomer Taylor Mitchell from Whistler.

In Super G, as always a close race, with Cory beating Jesse by 4/10ths of a second, and Neil Rye of Cranbrook by over 3 seconds... the first time below was for the 1st run, a practice run that did not count..

Then in Slalom, Cory's specialty, he won by an astonishing 14 seconds over Jesse and 20 seconds over Taylor Mitchell.  Cory went on to qualify at the 2016 National Games in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

Then the 2019 Provincial Games last month.  In cold, snowy conditions on a very short race course on the Big Dipper run at Silver Star, Cory would defend his Provincial Champion status in all 3 disciplines once again.  Provincial Champion in Slalom, Giant Slalom, and Super Giant Slalom in 2011, 2015, and now 2019.  

In Giant Slalom, Cory won by nearly 2 seconds over Taylor Mitchell..

by half a second over Taylor in a very short Super G race course of only 8 gates..

and in Slalom, Cory's specialty, by nearly 3 seconds over Taylor and again on a short course...

So that's 9 championship races, over 8 years, on 3 different runs on 3 different mountains, on race courses of different lengths, against 4 different main competitors, in different weather and snow conditions, all under pressure.  All of them wins, not just podium, but 9 gold medals.

Now that's a champion.