SUGARLOAF, HERE WE COME!

Wow. It always amazes me how quickly time flies. Winter and Summer games are always great markers of time for me.

The crew has already headed to the mountain to start setting things up. Linda and I have stayed behind in order to take care of the office and any last minute details. It is such an exciting time of year for all of us. Winter Games is a great kick off to all of the sporting events we have to offer during the year. I have heard rumors of many exciting things to come in 2008 and can't wait to be a part of them. One that I will be working closely on is our young athletes program which will be sporting/play events geared toward children 2-8 to help prepare them to become future SO athletes. I also know that a coaches college is in the works which will be an awesome opportunity for folks to be trained and certified in several sports all in one weekend. It's going to be an awesome year.

So, Winter games are taking place Sunday January 27th through Tuesday January 29th. Our Opening Ceremonies are on MOnday at Noon in front of the BAse Lodge. Let's hope and pray for some awesome weather this year. We ahve 500 athletes who are very excited to participate so we want some sunshine, great conditions, no wind, and blue skies. Is that really too much to ask.

Did you know that this is our 26th year at Sugarloaf. Wow! And I have been there for every year. (no comments on my age please) I also fondly remember our many years at Saddleback Mountain. That is where I did my alpine coaches certification with Toby LeConte! Of course during those years I was more interested in the boys than the skiing.

Are you aware that 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of Special Olympics? I would love to hear stories about your fondest or craziest memories over the years. I would like to put them together in a commemorative type book. I am looking for written stories and also old photos that pertain to Special Olympics. You can send them to our state office and I will certainly return them when I am done.

That's it for today. I'll let you know how the games go...I'm sure they will be awesome.