Race With Cory

 It's now August 2022, and with the huge disappointment after the cancellation of the 2023 Special Olympics World Winter Games now behind us, it's time to refocus on the next competitive cycle.

The current cycle started in February 2022, at the Regional competition that was held at Sasquatch Mountain.  As Cory is the only skier from his Region (Delta, Richmond, Burnaby), he was virtually guaranteed to qualify for the 2023 Provincial Winter Games as long as he completed the course without being disqualified for missing a gate.

So he was cautious and yet finished second behind a new young skier but was still over 3 seconds faster than his long-time rival in each of his two runs.  We should know very soon if Cory has officially qualified for the Provincial Games in Kamloops and Sun Peaks next February.

he didn't miss that gate but sure gave it a good shot as he raced by...

It was shortly after that race that Special Olympics announced the cancellation of the World Winter Games.  But Cory still enjoyed some Team Canada 2022 activities and gear.

First of course was his Team Canada 2022 long-sleeved T shirt which he has been very proud to wear...

And then a Team Canada 2022 gathering in Toronto.  Cory is in front of the round column at the back on the left, wearing a blue mask.  These are Team Canada athletes from all sports:  Alpine Skiing, Snowshoeing, Speed Skating, Figure Skating, and Cross-Country Skiing...all wearing red Team Canada 2022 short-sleeved T Shirts...

And now with coaches and mission staff in their Team Canada 2022 grey hoodies....Cory is waving at us from inside the yellow circle...

And now with the Alpine Ski Team, Cory is at the back, fifth from the right...

And again with the entire team, Cory giving us a two-handed wave from the yellow circle....

And while there was no opportunity to race for a medal for Canada, there is a medal now on Cory's trophy wall....

And while there will be no official Team Canada 2022 race suit, several members of the Alpine Ski Team opted to purchase their own, and they will proudly wear these wherever they train and race beginning next season.  Look for an update soon with photos of Cory wearing his as they are expected to arrive within the next couple of weeks...

The rear view will actually look like the 2nd photo, with a large red maple leaf on the back, instead of just "Canada" there...yellow is the traditional colour of Canada's Olympic and World Cup ski team.

But it hasn't been all fun and games for Cory over the last few weeks.  After recovering from cancer in 2019, then a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondilitis in 2021, he has had to deal with a rare but very painful reaction to the medication he takes for AS.  

Physical activity is certainly on hold as he deals with this, while we all hope recovery will come soon and we will start planning some dryland training and some travel to Banff for early season on-snow training in late November and early December.

That will be part of his preparation for the Provincial Winter Games on February 3 & 4, which are in the 2nd year of the cycle and the qualifying event for the National Games in Calgary in 2024.  Cory will be gunning for his 4th consecutive National Winter Games (Edmonton & Jasper 2012, Corner Brook & Marble Mountain 2016, Thunder Bay & Loch Lomond Ski Area in 2020) where he will attempt to qualify for Team Canada 2025, and another chance to represent his country, this time in Turin, Italy in 2025.

Look for more updates as we approach the ski season.