docGateway to Sochi for Paralympians – Media Release
download 
Report Transcription
Gateway to Sochi for Paralympians – Media Release
MEDIA CONTACT: Missy Gresen [email protected] Calls from within Russia: 9254 033 725 Calls from U.S.: 0117 9254 033 725 ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE National Ability Center in Park City is a Gateway to Sochi for Paralympians Global leader in adaptive recreation claims ties to 17 athletes competing in Russia this March PARK CITY, Utah (Feb. 17, 2014) -- As one group of Park City-affiliated athletes gets set to bring some hardware home from the Olympic Games in Sochi, another is gearing up to go for the gold in Russia, too. Next month, 17 paraathletes who have trained in Utah’s famous ski town will head to Sochi to compete in the 2014 Paralympic Games. While some will be representing the U.S., other will be representing their home countries, and all will be carrying a connection to the National Ability Center, a global leader in adaptive recreation and one of the most robust Paralympic sport clubs in America. Indeed, more than half of the Paralympic snowboarders slated to compete in the inaugural snowboard cross event March 14 have ties to the National Ability Center, and the National Ability Center Team Utah Adaptive Snowboard Program. “Team Utah has a world-class coaching staff, a proven athlete development program and access to a private boardercross track at Utah Olympic Park,” said National Ability Center Program Director Ellen Adams. “This creates an amazing opportunity for athletes to achieve their goals.” The snowboarders with links to the National Ability Center and eyes fixed on medaling in Sochi are Nicole Roundy (representing Team USA), Cristina Albert (USA), Heidi Joe Duce (USA), Megan Harmon (USA), Keith Gabel (USA), Tyler Burdick (USA), Dan Monzo (USA), Denis Colle (Belgium), Aitor Puertas (Spain), Igor Ivanov (Russia), Ivan Osharov (Ukraine), and Ben Tudhope (Australia), all of whom made their respective Paralympic teams for boardercross. Other Russia-bound Paralympians who have ties or benefited from the extensive range of programs and facilities the nonprofit organization offers, include alpine skiers Erik Bayindirli (representing Turkey), Danelle Umstead (USA), Arly Velasquez (Mexico), Stephani Victor (USA), Santiago Vega (Chile) and sled hockey player Greg Shaw (USA). All aim to add to the medal count of Olympians who have called Park City home -- such as slopestyle stars Sage Kostenburg, Joss Christensen and Devin Logan. The U.S. Paralympics Winter Games in Sochi, Russia will be held March 7-16, 2014. The games will consist of five sports, 72 medal events (34 men, 34 women, 4 mixed), five athletic venues, 692 athletes and nine competition days. The National Ability Center, a non-profit organization, has been providing recreational opportunities for people of all abilities since 1985, and is proud to train the beginner aspiring youth athlete through to elite level athletes competing in the Paralympics. Located only five minutes from downtown Park City, UT, the National Ability Center provides over 20 different recreation programs including skiing, horseback riding, sled hockey, cycling and more. For more information on the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, visit sochi2014.com. To learn more about the National Ability Center and its array of empowering services, go to discovernac.org. ### COMPETITION PROGRAMS The National Ability Center recognizes Paralympic sport as an integral component of adaptive recreation. We provide training and competition opportunities in Alpine Skiing, Nordic skiing, Snowboarding, Sled hockey, Archery and Cycling at developmental through Paralympic levels. As athletes rise through the ranks, their shared stories help increase public awareness of adaptive recreation and Paralympic sport, as well as provide hope and fuel dreams of others. As a leader in the industry, the National Ability Center develops dedicated athletes through innovation and building partnerships. The partnership between the National Ability Center and the US Olympic Committee/US Paralympics has generated opportunities to attract and develop new athletes, increase and sustain sport and physical activity in the community and raise the profile of Paralympic sport nationally and internationally. This is represented in the long list of world class athletes who are connected to the National Ability Center. In an innovative move, National Ability Center Head Alpine Coach, Ray Watkins, is also the US Paralympic National Team NorAm Head Coach. One of the National Ability Center’s most recent successes in innovation and partnership is with Team Utah Snowboarding. Together we have created a model in integration, where para-athletes train in tandem with elite able-bodied athletes. This program is the first of its kind; and, with an eye on the future of the sport and the potential for eventual expansion of classification criteria, offers opportunities for all athletes, regardless of current classification eligibility. HIGHLIGHTS 5 out of the 10 Para-Snowboard athletes nominated to Team USA for Sochi 2014 are National Ability Center/Team Utah athletes, with another 2 from Team USA getting their start with the National Ability Center. 5 foreign athletes trained with the National Ability Center/Team Utah ParaSnowboard Team and will represent their countries in the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games. Over half the competitive field in the Para-Snowboard event at Sochi trained with the National Ability Center/Team Utah. Post Sochi, the National Ability will host the Huntsman Cup Alpine Nor Am and the US Adaptive Alpine Nationals (Tech events) in March 25-28, 2014 at Park City Mountain Resort; and the Para-Snowboard Team will travel to the US National Para-Snowboard Championships at Copper Mountain, CO April 4th. For more information, contact Jess Roising, [email protected], 435.608.0117 NATIONAL ABILITY CENTER (NAC) Name Stephani Victor Country USA Sport Alpine Ski Relationship Relationship with NAC Park City Home, Currently Trains PT Paralympic Status Confirmed Sochi 2014 Status National Team Member Danelle Umstead USA Alpine Ski Relationship with NAC Trained 2011/12 Home: Park City Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Arly Velasquez Mexico Alpine Ski Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 Representing Home Country Erik Bayindirli Turkey Alpine Ski Current NAC Team Member Representing Home Country Santiago Vega Chile Alpine Ski Current NAC Team Member Confirmed - Sochi 2014 awaiting medical clearance Confirmed Sochi 2014 Greg Shaw USA Sled Hockey Relationship with NAC Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Heidi Joe Duce USA Snowboard X Relationship with NAC Trained 11/12 Season Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Keith Gabel USA Snowboard X Relationship with NAC Trained 12/13 Season Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Denis Colle Belgium Snowboard X Current Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 Representing Home Country Igor Ivanov Russia Snowboard X Relationship with NAC Trained 12/13 Season Confirmed Sochi 2014 Representing Home Country Cristina Albert USA Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Tyler Burdick USA Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Nicole Roundy USA Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Ben Tudhope AUS Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 Representing Home Country Ivan Osharov UKR Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Current Hopeful Representing Home Country Megan Harmon USA Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member Dan Monzo USA Snowboard X Current NAC Team Member Confirmed Sochi 2014 National Team Member ORANGE = Current National Ability Center Competition Program / Representing Home Country LIGHT BLUE = Current National Ability Center Competition Program / US National Team WHITE = Relationship with National Ability Center / Trained in the past Representing Home Country
