FARMINGTON — It was a day of fun for 69-plus Special Olympians at Titcomb Mountain on Friday.
Some were practicing for the start of the Special Olympics Maine State Winter Games on Jan. 26-28 at Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley.
Others were just enjoying the snow and a day on the mountain, Gerold Toothaker, Jay AMVETS Special Olympics Committee chairman and Franklin County area manager for Special Olympics Maine, said.
The competitors included students from RSU 9, RSU 73 and SAD 58. There were also adults competing from Work First in Farmington and Team Opportunities from Carthage, he said.
Snow flew as Olympians snowshoed toward the finish line 25 meters away in a fast-paced race. Others found a more moderate pace.
The snowshoe races followed cross-country ski races of 50 and 100 meters.
AMVETS Post 33 sponsors the winter games locally, along with a competition in May and June. Several volunteers helped competitors adjust ski equipment, line up and time races.
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Jay were preparing lunch for everyone in the ski lodge, he said.
There were 69 competitors signed up to participate but Toothaker estimated there were more than that.
abryant@sunjournal.com
-
- Competitors train for the upcoming Special Olympics Maine State Winter Games on Friday at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington. Starting a 50-meter race, from left, are Caitlin Perry, Henry Mason, Michael Webber and Tim Meservier.
-
- Snow flies at two competitors start a fast-paced 25-meter snowshoe race Friday at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington. AMVETS Post 33 of Jay sponsored the fun day which served as training for the upcoming Special Olympics Maine State Winter Games at Sugarloaf Mountain later this month.
-
- Jay AMVETS Post 33 volunteer Richard Therrien of Livermore adjusts snowshoes for Christian Bowden from Cascade Brook School in Farmington during Special Olympics Maine training at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington on Friday. Supporting Bowden is ed tech Allison Woodcock. Organizer Gerold Toothaker stands in the background at left and Mark Capno of Special Olympics Maine stands at right.
-
- Marie Hinckley, left, an education technician from Mt. Abram Regional High School in Salem, gives Jessica Whitney, center, encouragement before Whitney starts a ski race Friday at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington. Student Ariya Gravelle, right, listens. The games were for fun and practice for attending the Special Olympics Maine State Winter Games next week at Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley.
-
- Off they go in a fast-paced snowshoe race Friday at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington as over 69 Special Olympians spent the day in skiing and snowshoe competition for fun and for practice for Maine Special Olympics.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
