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Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics celebrates 40 years

Ravalli Republic - 3/12/2023

Mar. 12—Cowbells rang out and crowds cheered from the sidelines as 17-year-old Jett Wall of Darby raced among a group of athletes to the finish line in the snowshoe event at Lost Trail Ski Area this week.

His family and coach waited with high-fives and hugs as he finished his race, grinning ear-to-ear, at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics. For many of the athletes who come out to participate, the draw is about more than the downhill skiing and snowboarding events.

"I think with Jett in particular, it's seeing all the people and being involved," Julie Wall, Jett's mom, said. "Getting really excited and hyped on, and everybody cheering for him and just having that camaraderie and everybody together. Especially after the long drought, it's actually a little more special now."

The Bitterroot Special Olympics returned to Lost Trail this week to celebrate their 40th anniversary after a two year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. And while participants may be down from past years as they work to rebuild, what they lacked in numbers they made up for in smiles.

"He loves some of these people he doesn't see, so that's why it was kind of a big letdown over the past few years," Wall said. "Him being able to see for example, Ken (his coach), and all these individuals and everything, he really enjoys it, and I think that's the best part. Everybody sees each other and lots of smiles and hugs and laughs, it's great."

With four decades of experience organizing the event under his belt, founder Randy Hodgson agrees.

"Their ability to meet with peers, see peers, see friends, see volunteers, and the excitement on their faces ... I think they just love that as much as they like the skiing," Hodgson said. "Not to downplay the skiing," he chuckled.

When Hodgson launched the event 40 years ago in the Lost Horse area, there were only 17 athletes. This year 63 athletes, ranging from 10 years old to 65, came out to participate in everything from downhill skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing, about half the number of athletes they had prior to the pandemic.

"One of the things that somebody asked me was, what was one of the most important things that I saw?," Hodgson said. "Or what was the most important things that the athletes called upon every year? And I think it was the social aspect. I think the main thing is watching the growth and development of the athletes from when they were 7 years old, up to 37. Or when they were barely able to do the walk in cross country to now ski downhill. And their social skills have improved. They've just gotten to the point that they've become better humans because of this a bit."

Brothers Andrew and Austin Scrivner, of Stevensville, have been competing at the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics for about 17 years, they said. Andrew, 24, took 1st place in the snowboarding competition this year, while Austin, 23, took 2nd place in one of the skiing events. But they both concurred: the best part about being at the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics was seeing their friends.

"It's definitely the company, and having everyone around is nice," Andrew said. "It's just fun. It's a good time. It's kind of tradition at this point."

"It's fun just having fun." Austin added.

When asked what her favorite event was, 15-year-old Justine Gehrke, a student at Sentinel High School in Missoula, quickly responded "skiing."

Gehrke's mother and grandmother were on hand to support the teen and made up her personal cheering section at the event.

"I love how happy everybody is," Kayla Gehrke, Justine's mom said. "Everybody is so kind and happy, non-judgmental. You're just here to have fun. I absolutely love that part about it."

Kayla and her mother Lisa Gehrke both praised the volunteers and organizers for all the work that goes into making the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics happen.

"The staff and the volunteers, they're absolutely amazing," Lisa Gehrke said. "They make it fun for everybody."

Longtime volunteer Dixie Dies was thankful for all the people and organizations who came out to help with this year's event, and encouraged others to get out and participate.

"It's so worthwhile and so rewarding," she said. "You only need to do it once, and your heart stays at the hill with the athletes."

Hodgeson is hoping the event will attract more community volunteers ready to take up the mantle and help, not just on a two-day volunteer basis when the Special Olympics take place, but throughout the year as coaches and on the steering committee.

"There's a number of people that have been, like myself, at this for 30 plus years, and people just have other things on the agenda. So we just need to get some new blood, some new people involved," he said. "One of the problems the schools are having is volunteer coaches. They need coaches to help volunteer because the athletes should be out practicing prior to the games, but the teachers, it's tough for them to find time to do that. If we can get parent coaches for athletes, whatever, doesn't matter, just take the amount of time to do that would be really helpful."

To volunteer or learn more about the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics, go to www.facebook.com/BitterrootWinterSpecialOlympics.

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