Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics were held on Jan. 24 at Lost Trail Ski Area and two staff members from Alberton School were there to help celebrate the events 35th year. Kim Garding, a paraprofessional and kindergarten teacher, Cori Miranda have both worked with kids who have intellectual disabilities.

Garding worked with a student from Chief Charlo in Missoula, and Miranda knew one of the athletes, Ethyn King-Marshall because he was one of her third grade students a few years ago. It was the first year Garding and Miranda have ever volunteered.

Randy Hodgson is one of the event’s first organizers and described how the event was started with a “dedicated core of volunteers who made it their mission to ensure that Special Olympics athletes create memories that will last a lifetime.”

More than 130 athletes ranging from age 8 to 65 and representing schools and towns from across the state, competed in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow shoe race events. There were also medal ceremonies and Olympians also got to have their picture taken with Smokey the Bear. Other groups that help with the event include Bitterroot National Forest employees, sheriff office personnel, and even UM’s mascot Monte, showed up to encourage the athletes.

Dozens of spectators and fans, many with cowbells and noise makers, lined the event courses to cheer on every athlete as they cross the finish line. For many competitors, the annual Winter Games is the highlight of their entire year.

Garding said that the kids are amazing and when she was working with her student, “the more we cheered and the louder we were, the faster he moved.”

While at the event, she said everyone is so excited, “they just love being and doing, it’s the coolest thing. Its unconditional joy, they don’t care as much about the competition as they do about just having a good time. These guys just cheer. Whether they’re on the podium, or near it, they’re screaming with excitement.”

Other activities included snowmobile rides, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and an inner-tube course set up by volunteers from the nearby Trapper Creek Job Corps. There were also snow cat rides, which is what Garding and Miranda helped with this year. Along with plenty of food, snow, and fun.